MODELLING AND ANALYSIS OF AN URBAN ROAD TRAFFIC NOISE POLLUTION (CASE STUDY OF AN INTERRUPTED FLOW TRAFFIC NOISE AT A SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION)

This research aimed at modeling interrupted flow traffic noise at a signalized intersection. In this study, a new approach has been used with SPSS and Arc GIS with urban road traffic noise. The measured parameters of noise include noise equivalent level, volume of light vehicles, heavy vehicles and time mean speed. The results showed that the Spearman correlation coefficient between the interface and the level of the noise at morning, evening and total time were 0.241, 0.35 and 0.45. The spearman correlation coefficient between the interface of the buildings and the intersection of all types of vehicles passing through the morning, evening and total time equal to 0.534, 0.328 and 0.409. The results showed that noise level can be predicted through the speed variables of the vehicles, the volume of vehicles passing heavy and the use of land use of buildings. According to the results and the noise maps for the modeling noise of the estimated coefficients from the equation, it can be found that in building highway in urban, closer look on internationally acting Green Building Labels and noise protection is seen as an important part of the social sustainability aspects of a building.

DESIGN MANUAL ADJUSTMENTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS FOR AUTOMATED VEHICLES: CITY OF TORONTO CONTEXT

With the introduction of Automated Vehicles (AVs) in not so distinct future, we need the urban transportation infrastructure to be ready for their sustainable deployment. A key aspect of this readiness is to introduce the right modifications in the road design and the associated adjustments in terms of traffic control. This project focuses on Ontario Traffic Manual and Canadian Capacity Guide. We investigate the adjustments required for interrupted flow and model these adjustments using microsimulation tool VISSIM. Results shows that autonomous vehicles alone even with recommended modifications, without connectivity features would not improve our network as we anticipated, especially at low market penetration rates when Human Drive Vehicles (HDVs) are still on the streets. Furthermore, investments to our current infrastructure need to be made in order to allow communication with the vehicles and keep them updated on the congested, in order to reach the optimal benefit from this technology.

DESIGN MANUAL ADJUSTMENTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS FOR AUTOMATED VEHICLES: CITY OF TORONTO CONTEXT

With the introduction of Automated Vehicles (AVs) in not so distinct future, we need the urban transportation infrastructure to be ready for their sustainable deployment. A key aspect of this readiness is to introduce the right modifications in the road design and the associated adjustments in terms of traffic control. This project focuses on Ontario Traffic Manual and Canadian Capacity Guide. We investigate the adjustments required for interrupted flow and model these adjustments using microsimulation tool VISSIM. Results shows that autonomous vehicles alone even with recommended modifications, without connectivity features would not improve our network as we anticipated, especially at low market penetration rates when Human Drive Vehicles (HDVs) are still on the streets. Furthermore, investments to our current infrastructure need to be made in order to allow communication with the vehicles and keep them updated on the congested, in order to reach the optimal benefit from this technology.

Effect of Signal Control on Bimodal Travel Time Distributions

Vehicles traveling along interrupted flow facilities often exhibit travel times with bimodal distributions. The characteristics of these distributions have been studied extensively in the literature, yet the effect of signal control on bimodality have received little attention. Most researchers theorize that the slower group experiences signal delay while the faster group does not. We investigate the effect of signal control on bimodal distributions, specifically the difference between average travel times of two groups of vehicles. Testing is performed in simulation and compared against field results of both sampled data using Bluetooth sensors as well as non-sampled data from the NGSIM vehicle trajectories. In coordinated corridors with platooning, we find that red time is a strong indicator of gap between average travel times.

Clinical Evaluation of Homoeopathic Medicines in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Background Symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in elderly men and has a significant impact on their daily lives. Surgical procedures are currently used for the conventional treatment for BPH; but they have been associated with clinically significant adverse effects in patients. Objectives The main purpose of this article is to evaluate the role of homoeopathic medicines for the treatment of BPH. Materials and Methods Clinically diagnosed 30 subjects of BPH were given homoeopathy treatment and followed up for a period of 1 year. Homoeopathic medicines were prescribed to the subjects according to the principles of homoeopathy. Effects of homoeopathic medicines were analysed periodically by American Urological Association score (AUA score) and ultrasonography. Results Marked amelioration of symptoms and reduction in size of prostate gland in BPH subjects were observed after homoeopathic treatment when analysed by AUA score and ultrasonography. There was marked reduction in various symptoms of BPH like nocturia, straining, incomplete sensation after urination, interrupted flow of urination with dribbling of urine and urgency significantly from 21.60 ± 4.64 units to 12.23 ± 3.68, that is, ∼57% reduction in symptoms of obstruction of bladder problem. The reduction was statistically significant (p = 0.001). However, transabdominal pelvic ultrasonic scan did not show statistically significant results. Conclusion Homoeopathic medicines can prove to be an alternative treatment of BPH.

Characteristics of Stop and Go Wave in One Dimensional Interrupted Pedestrian Flow Through Narrow Channel

Pedestrian microscopic simulation models can aid crowd management only if they can reproduce the crowd behavior correctly. To calibrate and validate the model, it is important to understand crowd movement during various activities involved in mass gathering events. A common practice in such gathering is to hold attendees in waiting area in near corridors separated by crowd barriers before the event and allow entering the event only after a designated time. The crowd is released in small batches to avoid overcrowding inside. Long waiting hours, anger, excitement, competitive feeling etc. can make crowd aggressive during such entries. Crowd flow characteristics due to such behavior is difficult to recreate in pedestrian experimental studies in laboratory setting. This paper studied interrupted flow of such crowd through a narrow corridors made of strong railing channel inside a temple. Interrupted flow lead to formation of one dimensional stop and go waves. These stop and go waves were studied from the trajectory data. The average speed of waves propagating over longer distance were also estimated. The quantitative output from this study can be used to calibrate and validate simulation models of such activity during mass gathering events.