bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of the Amendments of the Public Education Act on the School Activity of Physical Education Teachers
Authors: Elbert Gábor
Published: December 2009

The Effect of the Amendments of the Public Education Act on the School Activity of Physical Education Teachers

As a result of the legal regulations in the period after the 1989-1990 transition, teachers working in public education, in our case physical education teachers, were engaged in several activities which were not directly related to the competence of in-school educational work. Consequently, there has been a shift in their scope of activities. The author of this paper is interested in the experience of physical education teachers during the period. The objective of the paper is to reveal what effects such a comprehensive and permanent change had on the teaching of physical education in schools, and on the life of physical education teachers. In order to investigate the subject of research the analysis of legislative documents, in-depth interviews and the survey method were applied. The results show that in the period after the 1989-1990 transition, the work of teachers was not only hindered by the structural changes in accordance with educational legislation and the permanent amendment of documents, but the lack of consistency in pedagogical work as well. For the teachers taking part in the preparation of curricula, the extension of their activities resulted in a double workload. The decision that marks were replaced with textual evaluation in grade 1 of primary schools was not received positively on the part of physical education teachers. Based on the results it can be concluded that the efficient work of physical education teachers would be greatly assisted by more predictable legislation, which would ensure the possibility of planning in advance. Olympism, Olympic culture, sports education, pedagogy of sport
Good Editorial Practice: Editors as Educators
Authors: Marusic Matko , Marusic Ana
Published: December 2009

Not Uploaded,Key Words: Bibliometrics; Cross-Cultural comparison; Education; Professional; Retraining; Indexing; Journals; periodicals; Practice guidelines; Practice patterns; Publishing; Training support.DOI: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i1.2434Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol. 6, No. 1, Issue 12, April, 2008 Page: II-IX
A Study of Atypical Manifestations of Enteric Fever in Childern
Authors: Shakya K. N. , Baral M. R. , Shrestha R.
Published: December 2009

Not uploaded.Key Words: Enteric fever; Atypical features; Susceptibility patternDOI: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i1.2436Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol. 6, No. 1, Issue 12, April, 2008 Page: 1-4
A Cross Sectional Survey of Kidney Transplatation Cost
Authors: Dulal Ram Krishna , Karki S. , Dahal A.
Published: December 2009

Not uploaded.Key words: Cost; Hemodialysis; TransplantationDOI: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i1.2437Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol. 6, No. 1, Issue 12, April, 2008 Page: 5-10
Unsafe Abortion a Neglected Tragedy
Authors: Vaidya Achala , Giri A
Published: December 2009

Not uploaded.Key words: Abortion; Exploration; Pelvic peritonitis; trimestir; Unsafe abortionDOI: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i1.2438Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol. 6, No. 1, Issue 12, April, 2008 Page: 11-15
Safe Injection Practices and Awarness among Health Care Workers in Tertiary Level Hospitals Kathmandu, Nepal
Authors: Bhandari Tulsi Ram
Published: December 2009

Not uploaded.Key words: Blood-borne diseases; Infection prevention; Needle stick injury; Universal precaution.DOI: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i1.2440Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol. 6, No. 1, Issue 12, April, 2008 Page: 22-27
Epidemilogy of Cyclospora Cayetanensis in HIV/AIDS Patients in Kathmandu, Nepal
Authors: Ghimire T R , Mishra P. N. , Sherchan J. B.
Published: December 2009

Not uploaded.Key words: Cyclospora; Epidemiology; Human Immuno Deficiency virus; NepalDOI: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i1.2441Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol. 6, No. 1, Issue 12, April, 2008 Page: 28-37
Prevalence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Children
Authors: Thapa Santosh , Pant D. K. , Ghimire P. , Thapa P. B.
Published: December 2009

Not uploaded.Key words: Multidrug resistant; Prevalence; Staphylococcus aureus.DOI: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i1.2442Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol. 6, No. 1, Issue 12, April, 2008 Page: 38-41
Patient's Opinion on Nursing Care
Authors: Sharma Bhaumika , Dhakal S.
Published: December 2009

Not uploaded.Key words: Care; Communication; Interpersonal; NursingDOI: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i1.2443Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol. 6, No. 1, Issue 12, April, 2008 Page: 42-48
Validation of Lingual and Carcass Cyst with Enzyme Linked Immunoelectrotransfer Blot (EITB) for the Diagnosis of Porcine Cysticercosis
Authors: Joshi Durga Datt , Pandey K. R. , Sekhar R. , Dorny P. , Bista P. R. , Vercruysse J.
Published: December 2009

Not uploaded.Key words: Cysticercosis; Porcine; Carcass; LingualDOI: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i1.2445Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol. 6, No. 1, Issue 12, April, 2008 Page: 53-57
Violence Prevention and Control at Hospital
Authors: Mishra Rakesh C.
Published: December 2009

Not uploaded.Key words: Violence; Disoriented; Uncooperative patientsDOI: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i1.2446Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol. 6, No. 1, Issue 12, April, 2008 Page: 58-60
The Popularity for Portable Audio Players- A Public Health Threat
Authors: Garg Krishna , Mukherjee S.
Published: December 2009

Not uploaded.Key words: Public Health; Audio players; SoundDOI: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i1.2447Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol. 6, No. 1, Issue 12, April, 2008 Page: 61-62
Evaluating Effectiveness of Dynamic Speed Display Signs in Transition Zones of Two-Lane, Rural Highways in Pennsylvania
Authors: Cruzado Ivette , Donnell Eric T.
Published: December 2009

Although law enforcement is an effective way to manage speeds, it requires significant resources to ensure adequate spatial and temporal compliance. In some cases, alternative speed management methods may be necessary to deter drivers who travel faster than the posted speed limit. One such method is through the use of dynamic speed display signs (DSDSs) that help motorists self-enforce their speed. DSDSs measure the speed of approaching vehicles and communicate the speed to drivers on a digital display. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation invested in several portable DSDSs and selected several locations to use them along two-lane, rural highway transition zones. Transition zones are longitudinal roadway sections that contain changes in the posted speed limit; they are commonly encountered in Pennsylvania where high-speed, two-lane highways pass through rural communities. The section of highway that passes through the rural community has a lower posted speed limit than the upstream, high-speed section of the highway. A before, during, and after observational study of free-flow vehicle operating speeds was undertaken at 12 transition zones to determine the effectiveness of DSDSs. The results of the analyses indicate that the DSDSs are effective in reducing free-flow passenger car operating speeds by an average of 6 mph (10 km/h) while in place and activated. However, the speed reductions observed while the DSDSs were in place faded after the devices were removed from the study sites.
Evaluation of Alternative Procedures for Setting Curve Advisory Speed
Authors: Bonneson James A. , Pratt Michael P. , Miles Jeff
Published: December 2009

This paper examines procedures for setting curve advisory speeds, identifies issues associated with these procedures, and describes a proposed procedure that overcomes many of these issues. The proposed procedure consists of three elements: a criterion for setting the curve advisory speed, a method for determining this speed, and an engineering study method that confirms the need for an advisory speed plaque. One conclusion is that challenges associated with the use of the ball-bank indicator hinder achieving curve advisory speeds that are uniform in curves and consistent with driver expectation. The proposed procedure is shown to overcome these challenges.
Improving Signing from the Installation Perspective
Authors: Hawkins H. Gene , Chacon Michael A.
Published: December 2009

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) provides valuable guidance about all aspects of traffic signing. However, MUTCD guidelines are developed primarily by and for engineers. Field personnel who install signing can find it difficult to get needed information from the MUTCD for a variety of reasons. The need for signing guidelines targeted specifically to field crews was recognized as part of a research project that identified the need to improve sign placement for guide signs on conventional highways. As part of that project, researchers worked with the state transportation agency traffic operations staff to create the Sign Crew Field Book. This document uses illustrations to establish target sign placement criteria for sign height, sign lateral offset, and sign longitudinal placement on the approach to, and departure from, an intersection. The intersection sign placement guidelines emphasize the treatment of the signs on the approach and departure as a system of signs rather than a collection of individual signs that are placed at inconsistent distances from one intersection to another. The field book also contains information on the arrangement of components within a guide sign assembly, sign placement for divided highway intersections and crossovers, delineator and object marker placement, markings for bridges and guardrails, and mailboxes. The field book has been well received and was recently updated to reflect changes in the MUTCD since it was first published.
Advance Warning Signals
Authors: Schultz Grant G. , Talbot Eric S.
Published: December 2009

A driver approaching a signalized intersection at which the light has turned yellow must make a decision whether to stop or proceed. A signal that is properly timed will generally provide an opportunity for a safe and legal maneuver. As approach speeds increase, however, executing a safe maneuver becomes more difficult. One countermeasure used to provide advance warning of an approaching intersection or an impending signal change at such an intersection is an advance warning signal (AWS). Several AWS systems have been installed throughout the United States, including four in Utah. The effectiveness of the Utah systems has been evaluated as a function of intersection safety by using crash history, speed distribution, and red-light running (RLR) metrics. The results of the research suggest that the contribution of the AWS systems to the safety and operation of the intersections can be interpreted as both positive and negative. The AWS systems have helped to maintain higher operating speeds and may also have improved capacity when vehicles do not need to stop. Meanwhile, speeds have been reduced in the time just before the onset of the yellow interval. However, the additional information provided to drivers may have encouraged some drivers to attempt to beat the light, as evidenced by an increase in RLR even with shortening of the lead flash time. The increase in RLR, however, has not led to an increase in the overall crash frequency or crash rate at these intersections.
Assessment of Traffic Control Device Selection Guidelines for Horizontal Curves
Authors: Pratt Michael P. , Bonneson James A.
Published: December 2009

The purpose of curve warning signs and travel path delineation devices is to alert drivers to the presence and severity of a downstream horizontal curve. The advisory speed plaque is the primary device for conveying the appropriate speed message to drivers, but additional devices such as chevrons are often used at sharp curves to emphasize the curvature. This paper describes the development and evaluation of guidelines for selecting traffic control devices for horizontal curves on rural highways. The developed guidelines are based on considerations of side friction and kinetic energy. These guidelines incorporate a curve speed model that was calibrated using data from 41 curve sites in Texas. The developed guidelines are also compared with the guidelines in the 2007 proposed amendments to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which are based on considerations of speed differential.
Effect of Luminance and Text Size on Information Acquisition Time from Traffic Signs
Authors: Schnell Thomas , Yekhshatyan Lora , Daiker Ron
Published: December 2009

Although visual performance was measured in terms of visual response time in many psychophysical studies, such an approach has not been used in evaluating the effect of luminance on traffic sign legibility performance. Traffic sign and retroreflective sign sheeting performance at night have been historically identified with the threshold (farthest) distance for legibility and in many cases from stationary vehicles with no restrictions on viewing time. Because traffic signs are not always read at threshold distances or threshold luminances and because the time available to read traffic signs is usually limited in the real world, a proper assessment of sign legibility performance requires determining information acquisition times above threshold conditions. This study investigated the effect of (legend) luminance and letter size on the information acquisition time and transfer accuracy from simulated traffic signs. Luminances ranged from 3.2 cd/m2 to 80 cd/m2 on positive-contrast textual traffic sign stimuli with contrast ratios of 6:1 and 10:1, positioned at 33 ft/in. and 40 ft/in. legibility indices, and viewed under conditions simulating a nighttime driving environment. The findings suggest that increasing the sign luminance significantly reduces the time to acquire information. Similarly, increasing the sign size (or reducing the legibility index) also reduces the information acquisition time. These findings suggest that larger and brighter signs are more efficient in transferring their message to the driver by reducing information acquisition time, or alternatively, by increasing the transfer accuracy. In return, reduced sign viewing durations and increased reading accuracy are likely to improve roadway safety.
Examination of Highway–Rail Grade Crossing Collisions Nationally from 1998 to 2007
Authors: Raub Richard A.
Published: December 2009

Most studies of highway–rail grade crossing collisions have looked at specific classes of warning devices (e.g., gates). Some limited work on crossings with passive warnings is available. This study, using FRA data, examines 10 years of collisions nationally at public crossings with the four primary crossing warning systems: crossbucks only, stop signs, flashing lights, and gates. The study examines and compares collisions and collision rates. Overall, crashes and fatalities at highway–rail crossings have been decreasing while the number of crossings, vehicles, and train movements has been increasing. The number of public highway–rail crossings, the number of collisions, and the percentage of collisions resulting in a fatality are not well correlated. Some important characteristics of collisions are these: a train striking a vehicle is more likely to cause a fatality, male drivers outnumber female drivers by three to one, drivers younger than 25 are overrepresented, and drivers older than 65 are more likely to be killed than those in other age groups. Additionally, collisions are more likely to occur during the day and in clear weather. As timetable speeds increase, drivers are less likely to run into a train. The highest collision rates based on traffic volume occur where stop signs are used. Collision rates vary by state, and the ranking in rates by device also varies substantially from state to state. Finally, though useful, the databases maintained by FRA could be improved to be more comprehensive, both for research and for identification of potentially dangerous crossings.
Evaluation of Effectiveness of Stop Sign Treatments at Highway–Railroad Grade Crossings
Authors: Millegan Hal , Yan Xuedong , Richards Stephen , Han Lee
Published: December 2009

The safety benefit of stop sign treatments at passive highway–rail crossings has been a subject of research for many years. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the stop sign treatment on crossing safety. Using the FRA database, the research focused on 26 years of vehicle–train accident history in the United States from 1980 through 2005. A before-and-after and cross-sectional statistical analysis was conducted for 7,394 public highway–railroad grade crossings that were upgraded from being controlled only by crossbucks to stop signs, without other traffic control devices or automatic countermeasures. The study found that accident rates based on annual accident frequency per 1,000 crossings were significantly higher during the period when crossings were controlled only by crossbucks than when they were controlled by stop signs. Further, this study developed negative binomial accident prediction models for paved and unpaved highway–rail grade crossings that included the effect of stop sign treatment. Taking account of specific attributes of crossings controlled only by crossbucks, decision makers and traffic engineers can use the models to examine the accident risks at crossings and assess the potential effectiveness of stop sign treatment.
Libby North Corridor Study
Authors: Zanto Lynn , Riley Jean , Eggertsen-Goff Lani Kai
Published: December 2009

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) developed the corridor-planning process to bridge the gap between its statewide long-range transportation policy plan and project-level National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes. MDT cooperated with Lincoln County, Montana; the USDA Forest Service; and FHWA to complete the Libby North Corridor Study. The approach used new rules and regulations: 23 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 450, Appendix A: Linking the Transportation Planning and NEPA Processes. Corridor planning complements NEPA and ensures that decisions are made at the appropriate level with consideration of low-cost alternatives and available funding. Environmentally complex issues in the Pipe Creek area, north of Libby, prompted the study. It was uncertain whether any project was possible on this secondary highway (MT-567) because of its environmentally challenging location: parallel to Pipe Creek (Bull Trout Critical Habitat), within the Kootenai National Forest and grizzly bear habitat distribution area, and just outside the Cabinet–Yaak grizzly bear recovery zone. If this project had been developed under traditional methods beginning with the NEPA-compliant environmental review, a full environmental impact study would have been likely. Concerned that any reconstruction would be insurmountable and not fundable because of environmental sensitivities, MDT and the county took a step back. The corridor was reassessed at the planning level to obtain a better understanding of corridor limitations and needs and to determine what improvements, if any, could be pursued. With the aid of many stakeholders and agencies, the study identified recommendations for improving safety, maintaining the scenic character of the corridor, and minimizing impacts to threatened and endangered species.
Energy Use and Emissions of Idling-Reduction Options for Heavy-Duty Diesel Trucks
Authors: Gaines Linda L. , Hartman Christie-Joy Brodrick , Solomon Matthew
Published: December 2009

Pollution and energy analyses of different idling-reduction (IR) technologies have been limited to localized vehicle emissions and have neglected upstream energy use and regional emissions. In light of increasing regulation and government incentives for IR, this research analyzed the full fuel cycle effects of contemporary approaches. It compared emissions, energy use, and proximity to urban populations for nine alternatives, including idling, electrified parking spaces, auxiliary power units, and several combinations of these. It also compared effects for the United States and seven states: California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. U.S. average emissions impacts from all onboard IR options were found to be lower than those from a 2007-compliant idling truck. Total particulate emissions from electrified parking spaces were found to be greater than those from a 2007 truck, but such emissions generally occurred in areas with low population density. The lowest energy use, carbon dioxide emissions, and nitrogen oxide emissions are seen with a direct-fired heater combined with electrified parking spaces for cooling, and the lowest particulate-matter emissions were found with a direct-fired heater combined with an onboard device for cooling. As expected, state-to-state variations in the climate and grid fuel mix influence the impacts of the full fuel cycle from IR technologies, and the most effective choice for one location may be less effective elsewhere.
In-Cab Air Quality of Trucks Air Conditioned and Kept in Electrified Truck Stop
Authors: Lee Doh-Won , Zietsman Josias , Farzaneh Mohamadreza , Li Wen-Whai , Olvera Hector A. , Storey John M. E. , Kranendonk Laura
Published: December 2009

At night, long-haul truck drivers rest inside the cabins of their vehicles. Therefore, the in-cab air quality while air conditioning (A/C) is being provided can be a great concern to the drivers’ health. The effect of using different A/C methods [truck's A/C, auxiliary power unit (APU), and truck stop electrification (TSE) unit] on in-cab air quality of a heavy-duty diesel vehicle was investigated at an electrified truck stop in the El Paso, Texas, area. The research team measured the in-cabin and the ambient air quality adjacent to the parked diesel truck as well as emissions from the truck and an APU while it was providing A/C. The measured results were compared and analyzed. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that the TSE unit provided better in-cab air quality while supplying A/C. Furthermore, the truck and APU exhaust emissions were measured, and fuel consumption of the truck (while idling) and the APU (during operation) were compared. The results led to the finding that emissions from the APU were less than those from the truck's engine idling, but the APU consumed more fuel than the engine while providing A/C under given conditions.
Predicting Near-Road PM2.5 Concentrations
Authors: Chen Hao , Bai Song , Eisinger Douglas , Niemeier Deb , Claggett Michael
Published: December 2009

Scientific evidence has increasingly shown an association between particulate matter (PM) and adverse human health impacts. Accurately predicting near-road PM2.5 concentrations is therefore important for project-level transportation conformity and health risk analysis. This study assessed the capability and performance of three dispersion models–-CALINE4, CAL3QHC, and AERMOD–-in predicting near-road PM2.5 concentrations. The comparative assessment included identifying differences among the three models in relation to methodology and data requirements. An intersection in Sacramento, California, and a busy road in London were used as sampling sites to evaluate how model predictions differed from observed PM2.5 concentrations. Screen plots and statistical tests indicated that, at the Sacramento site, CALINE4 and CAL3QHC performed moderately well, while AERMOD under-predicted PM2.5 concentrations. For the London site, both CALINE4 and CAL3QHC resulted in overpredictions when incremental concentrations due to on-road emission sources were low, while underpredictions occurred when incremental concentrations were high. The street canyon effect and receptor location likely contributed to the relatively poor performance of the models at the London site.
Evaluation of In-Use Emissions from Refuse Trucks
Authors: Farzaneh Mohamadreza , Zietsman Josias , Lee Doh-Won
Published: December 2009

The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the in-use emissions from heavy-duty diesel refuse trucks during their different modes of operation. The paper presents a collection of field emissions data from a sample of three side-loader refuse trucks in El Paso, Texas. The gaseous (carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and total hydrocarbons) and particulate matter emissions rates were measured by means of two portable emissions measurement systems. The collected emissions data were divided into four distinct operation modes: city driving, highway driving, trash collection, and landfill activities. Emissions data were analyzed and operational and emissions characteristics of each mode were investigated. The trash collection and highway driving were found to produce the highest amount of pollutants for a side-loader refuse truck. It was also observed that while most of the highway driving occurred outside the boundary of the residential areas, almost all the trash collection activities occurred in residential areas. An in-depth analysis on trash collection mode was performed to investigate further the emissions characteristics of trash collection modes. The results of these studies will be used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using landfill gas generated at landfills as a liquid natural gas fuel source for refuse trucks.
Development and Use of Emissions Inventories for Construction Vehicles
Authors: Lewis Phil , Frey H. Christopher , Rasdorf William
Published: December 2009

Real-world data are insufficient to estimate actual emissions from construction vehicles and to develop effective decisions aimed at reducing emissions. A methodology is developed here for inventorying construction fleet emissions on the basis of representative real-world measurements of construction vehicles by means of a portable emissions measurement system (PEMS). The PEMS enables measurements of actual duty cycles and their corresponding fuel use and emissions. The methodology is demonstrated via application to a fleet of publicly owned construction vehicles used primarily for highway maintenance. Selected backhoes, front-end loaders, and motor graders, representing various model years and engine emissions standards, were measured with PEMS during use. Tests were performed for B20 biodiesel and petroleum diesel (PD) fuels. Emission factors from the PEMS data, combined with owner records of annual fuel consumption for over 1,000 vehicles, were used to estimate annual inventories of tailpipe emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide. The emissions inventory was stratified by pollutant, vehicle type, fuel type, and engine tier and was used to assess fleet management strategies aimed at reducing emissions. Case study results illustrate that total fleet emissions would be reduced by 3% to 24% when B20 fuel was being used exclusively instead of PD exclusively, 11% to 50% when all Tier 0 and Tier 1 engines were replaced with Tier 2 engines, and 31% to 72% when B20 fuel was used exclusively in the highest engine tier available. Recommendations are made about development and practical applications of emissions inventories for construction fleet management.
Energy and Environmental Assessment of High-Speed Roundabouts
Authors: Ahn Kyoungho , Kronprasert Nopadon , Rakha Hesham
Published: December 2009

Recently, an increased number of roundabouts have been implemented across the United States to improve intersection efficiency and safety. However, few studies have evaluated their energy and environmental impacts. Consequently, this study quantifies the energy and environmental impact of an isolated roundabout on a high-speed road by using second-by-second speed profiles derived from traffic simulation models in conjunction with microscopic energy and emission models. The study demonstrates that, at the intersection of a high-speed road with a low-speed road, an isolated roundabout does not necessarily reduce vehicle fuel consumption and emissions compared with other forms of intersection control (stop sign and traffic signal control). This case study found that the roundabout reduces the delay and queue lengths on the intersection approaches. However, the roundabout results in a significant increase in vehicle fuel consumption and emission levels compared with a two-way stop. The study demonstrates, for this case study, that the roundabout provides efficient movement of vehicles when the approach traffic volumes are relatively low. However, as demand increases, traffic at the roundabout experiences substantial increases in unnecessary delay in comparison with a strategy that uses signalized intersection control.
Development and Application of Macroscopic Emission Model for China
Authors: Yu Lei , Xu Yaofang , Song Guohua , Hao Yanzhao , Guo Shuxia , Shi Qinyi
Published: December 2009

A macroscopic emission model is an important tool in a wide-area emission assessment, which is typically used to calculate and develop a national or regional emission inventory. China has had its own emission models. The use of modified versions of U.S. or European models, which has been the practice in the past, can lead to significant errors in emission estimates. This paper attempts to develop a macroscopic emission model for China on the basis of a combined use of real-world emission data collected in China and some supplementary modeling data from MOBILE. The paper first analyzes the fundamental features and calculation logic of existing models, the basis of the structure and modeling framework of the proposed macroscopic emission model for China. Then, a detailed description of the data collection, data analysis, and calculation processes of the key modules is presented. Subsequently, the paper implements the model by using Visual Basic computer language and the Microsoft Access database, which provide two data input approaches: default parameters and user-provided parameters. These approaches offer model flexibility and improve the model's regional applicability and output accuracy. Finally, a case study of the proposed model for estimating emissions for Beijing in 2008 is presented. Through use of the same data set, the outputs generated by the proposed model are compared with outputs from MOBILE6.2. The emission model developed in this research is shown to reflect the real-world emission level in China better than MOBILE6.2.
Modal Analysis of Vehicle Operation and Particulate Emissions from Connecticut Transit Buses
Authors: Jackson Eric D. , Holmén Britt A.
Published: December 2009

Transit buses represent a significant source of particulate exhaust emissions, especially in urban areas, but few previous studies have quantified these emissions by using real-world, onboard sampling while the vehicles operate in the transportation network. In this study, real-world particle number emissions for hybrid diesel–electric (HDE) and conventional diesel (CD) buses are examined for various vehicle operating conditions and road types in the Hartford, Connecticut, region. The results presented in this paper are based on analysis of the unique second-by-second Connecticut Transit on-road transit bus emissions and operations data set collected between January and November 2004. The modal analysis results indicate that hybrid buses operate differently than do conventional diesel buses. Although the distributions of vehicle specific power (VSP) values (in kw) were similar for the two bus types, the distributions of engine operation parameters (load and speed) were different. More important, VSP alone cannot be used to distinguish between vehicle types for modeling engine operation of, and possibly emissions from hybrid and conventional vehicles. Furthermore, modal analysis of ultrafine particle emissions indicates that in some situations the HDE buses do not outperform the CDs and may even produce higher emission rates than do the CD buses tested. Thus, there are routes and conditions in which transit authorities should avoid the use of HDE buses similar to those tested here when particle emissions are of concern. The observed high particle emissions on steep uphill grades for hybrids indicate that careful route selection for hybrid buses is warranted to optimize the environmental benefits of the hybrid vehicles.
Effect of High-Occupancy Toll Lanes on Mass Vehicle Emissions
Authors: Kall David N. , Guensler Randall L. , Rodgers Michael O. , Pandey Vishal S.
Published: December 2009

High-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes were recently proposed for I-85 in Atlanta, Georgia, as a way to relieve congestion and to provide a reliable commute time for single-occupant drivers who are willing to pay a toll. It is important to evaluate the air quality impacts of such a proposal in the context of environmental regulations, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and transportation conformity regulations. Several factors affect mass vehicle emissions, such as vehicle activity, speed, age distributions, and class distributions. These factors are incorporated into a base scenario that models the current conditions on I-85 with high-occupancy vehicle lanes by using data collected in the corridor during the summer of 2007, and a future scenario that models the implementation of HOT lanes on this corridor by using information from cities that already have HOT lanes. The MOBILE-Matrix modeling tool, recently developed by the Georgia Institute of Technology, is used for the emissions analysis by means of the input factors described above. It calculates mass emissions for five pollutants: hydrocarbons (HC), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or smaller (PM2.5), and PM10 (with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm or smaller) as a function of fleet composition and on-road operating conditions. The modeling work predicts extremely small increases in mass emissions for NOx, CO, PM2.5, and PM10, and an extremely small decrease in mass emissions for HC. In addition, the postimplementation emissions changes fall well within the motor vehicle emissions budgets for the facility that are used in air quality planning. Therefore, implementation of HOT lanes on I-85 in Atlanta should not violate the emissions budget requirements of the federal Transportation Conformity Rule. For NEPA purposes, this analysis could be used to make the case that air quality impacts are not significant, and therefore further detailed analyses are not required.
Environmental Impacts of High-Emitting Vehicles
Authors: Park Sangjun , Rakha Hesham
Published: December 2009

High-emitting vehicles (HEVs), also known as high emitters, are responsible for a large proportion of total mobile-source emissions, even though they represent a small portion of the total vehicle fleet. Studies conducted in the 1990s indicated that between 7% and 12% of the vehicle fleet accounted for 41% to 63% of total carbon monoxide (CO) emissions; 10% of vehicles were responsible for 47% to 65% of hydrocarbon (HC) emissions; and 10% of vehicles were responsible for 32% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. However, these conclusions were confined both temporally and spatially because the studies used remote-sensing data or inspection and maintenance test data that were collected at a specific location and time. Consequently, the objective of this study is to quantify the contribution of HEVs at a network level by using comprehensive modal emission models (CMEMs) and Virginia Tech-Micro (VT-Micro) microscopic vehicle emission models. This study applies two approaches besides the use of the CMEM and VT-Micro models. First, the study quantifies the HEVs’ contribution by using different predefined drive cycles. Second, a simulation of a highway and arterial network is applied. The study results demonstrate that HEV emission contributions to total HC and CO emissions are consistent with what is reported in the literature. However, the contribution of NOx emissions is greater than what is reported in the literature. The study demonstrates that the contribution of HEVs to total vehicle emissions is dependent on the type of roadway facility (arterials versus highways), the background normal vehicle composition, and the composition of HEVs.
Improvements to On-Road Emission Modeling of Freeways with High-Occupancy Vehicle Facilities
Authors: Boriboonsomsin Kanok , Barth Matthew , Xu Karen
Published: December 2009

Because high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) facilities have become an integral part of the freeway systems in many parts of the United States, transportation practitioners must estimate emissions from these facilities accurately. This study examined the differences between HOV and mixed-flow (MF) lanes relative to their traffic dynamics as described by speed and acceleration profiles of the collected driving trajectory data, as well as to their vehicle fleet composition. It was found that the model year distributions of vehicles in the two lane types at selected locations were not significantly different. However, the differences in speed, acceleration, and road load power of their driving data samples were statistically significant at each of the six levels of congestion tested (i.e., Levels of Service A through F). Hence, lane correction factors were developed for adjusting freeway emission factors to result in emission factors specific for an HOV lane. These correction factors have higher impacts on HOV emission rates of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) than of hydrocarbon (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). For CO and CO2, the impact can be as much as 30% and 10%, respectively, at very low speed. The difference between NOx emission rates of HOV and MF lanes is less than 5%. HC emission rates for HOV lanes are different from those for MF lanes by merely ±2%. These lane correction factors can be used to improve the accuracy of emission analyses for freeways with HOV facilities.
Environmental Impacts of a Major Freight Corridor
Authors: Lee Gunwoo , You Soyoung (Iris) , Ritchie Stephen G. , Saphores Jean-Daniel , Sangkapichai Mana , Jayakrishnan R.
Published: December 2009

The San Pedro Bay Ports (SPBP) complex of Los Angeles and Long Beach in Southern California is one of the largest container port complexes in the world. This complex contributes significantly to both regional and national economies in California and the United States, respectively. However, the ongoing growth and economic benefits of the SPBP are threatened by negative externalities associated with port operations, particularly increasing congestion and air pollution. The objective of this paper is to explore a new approach to estimating vehicle emission impacts of freight corridor operations related to the port area, particularly those associated with heavy-duty diesel trucks. The paper combines a microscopic traffic simulation model to capture detailed vehicle trajectories (speeds and accelerations) and congestion effects, with an emission model and a spatial dispersion model to facilitate the estimation of the health and environmental justice impacts of freight corridor operations. Focus is on the I-710 freeway in the Alameda Corridor from the SPBP area up to downtown Los Angeles, California, some 20 mi north. Several scenarios were evaluated in addition to the 2005 base scenario: replacement of the current fleet of port heavy-duty diesel trucks with zero-emission vehicles, elimination of port heavy-duty diesel truck trips that would correspond to shifting more containers to other modes such as rail, and implementation of a truck-restricted lane, preventing trucks from using the leftmost lanes. The results show that fleet replacement with cleaner trucks yields the most emission reductions both quantitatively and spatially.
Issues and Methods for Transdisciplinary Planning of Combined Wildlife and Pedestrian Highway Crossings
Authors: Ahern Jack , Jennings Lee , Fenstermacher Beth , Warren Paige , Charney Noah , Jackson Scott , Mullin John , Kotval Zenia , Brena Sergio , Civjan Scott , Carr Ethan
Published: December 2009

Highways are increasingly understood as barriers to wildlife and pedestrian movement and as significant causes of landscape fragmentation–-especially in suburban and periurban areas. FHWA's Transportation, Community, and System Preservation (TCSP) Program encourages innovative solutions to reduce the impact of highways on the communities they link and traverse. This paper is based on research and public participation as part of an FHWA–TCSP sponsored feasibility study for a combined wildlife and pedestrian crossing to mitigate highway impacts on wildlife and recreation, and on the communities of Concord and Lincoln, Massachusetts. The interdisciplinary study team included representatives from landscape architecture, urban planning, wildlife biology, civil engineering, and landscape history. The study included diverse public participation and collaboration throughout the project. The paper defines significant planning issues likely to pertain to similar projects and offers a transdisciplinary method for conducting planning or feasibility studies for combined wildlife–pedestrian crossings. The method is innovative for its interdisciplinary integration and its inclusion of public officials, nongovernmental representatives, citizens, and other stakeholders. The study is being considered for further research and possible implementation by FHWA with support from the host communities and a private conservation organization.
Estimation of Vehicle Pass-By Noise Emission Levels from Onboard Sound Intensity Levels of Tire–Pavement Noise
Authors: Donavan Paul R. , Lodico Dana M.
Published: December 2009

As a portion of the overall research work for NCHRP Project 1-44, field tests were performed on in-service pavements to demonstrate the applicability of the onboard sound intensity (OBSI) method for quantifying the effect of different pavement types in relation to total vehicle noise emissions measured with the controlled pass-by (CPB) and statistical pass-by (SPB) methods. Testing included the simultaneous measurement of OBSI on two specific candidate test tires, CPB on test vehicles equipped with those tires, and SPB of both light and heavy-duty vehicles. With the SPB data, the relationship between OBSI tire–pavement noise and average vehicle noise emissions were examined for both light vehicles and heavy trucks. To account for site-to-site variation, pass-by results were normalized by using the measured relationships between OBSI and CPB levels for each site. On the basis of these results, it was found that SPB levels for both light vehicles and heavy trucks could be predicted accurately with a standard deviation of 0.8 dB for both vehicle categories for an average of sites that used OBSI data obtained from either of two candidate light-vehicle test tires.
Measurement of Vertical Distribution of Truck Noise Sources during Highway Cruise Pass-Bys by Acoustic Beam Forming
Authors: Donavan Paul R. , Rymer Bruce
Published: December 2009

A measurement program was completed to determine the vertical distribution of heavy-truck noise sources for pass-by events on an in-service highway for vehicles operating under cruise conditions. In addition to data on heavy trucks, some data were obtained for medium trucks and light-duty vehicles. The measurements were performed with acoustic beam forming, which provided visualization of the sound radiation of passing vehicles as well as means for calculating the vertical distribution of noise source level. The data set includes pass-by events for 125 heavy trucks, 30 medium trucks, and nine light vehicles operating nominally at 55 mph on two asphalt surfaces. The purposes of the research were to compare the source height splits assumed in the FHWA traffic noise model (TNM) to the results of this work, examine the acoustic benefit of sound walls designed to block the line of site of truck exhaust outlets, and obtain a better understanding of truck noise sources. For heavy trucks, the pass-by noise is dominated by tire noise produced by the drive axles, with other secondary sources related to the power train occurring in some cases. Noise from elevated exhaust outlets was not observed except in one or two special cases. For all vehicle types, ground level sources (tire noise) produced the highest noise levels. Furthermore, the vertical source distributions were found to be virtually identical for heavy and medium trucks. For truck and light vehicles, it appeared that the current source height splits assumed in TNM may be biased toward higher upper-source strength.
Evaluation of Test Variables for Onboard Sound Intensity Measurements
Authors: Lodico Dana M. , Donavan Paul R.
Published: December 2009

As a portion of the overall research work for the NCHRP 1-44 project, an examination of test variables was conducted for the onboard sound intensity (OBSI) method of measuring tire–pavement noise at the source. The intent of this investigation was to provide guidance on test variables for users to determine the control limits needed to implement the OBSI procedure. An extensive review of literature about onboard tire noise measurement methods identified pertinent variables that could affect the repeatability and reproducibility of the measurements. The sensitivity of OBSI results to variations in pavement temperature, the configuration of the OBSI measurement fixture, tire inflation pressure, test vehicle type, test speed, and load were measured. The testing was done on both asphalt and cement concrete pavements with two different test tires: the ASTM standard reference test tire and the Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 tire. This paper summarizes the evaluation and results of the test parameter investigation, the information obtained, and the implications for development of a rational test procedure.
Preserving a Historic National Park Roadway
Authors: Upchurch Jonathan
Published: December 2009

The Hermit Road is a historic roadway in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. It was first constructed in 1912 by the Santa Fe Railroad and improved from 1934 to 1935 by the Bureau of Public Roads and the National Park Service. An 8-mi scenic roadway along the south rim of the Grand Canyon, the Hermit Road offers several overlooks and parking areas that give the visitor breathtaking views of one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The original design of this roadway reflects many features of context-sensitive design. Historic features of the roadway include stone masonry walls at overlooks and pullouts, weep holes in masonry walls, and stone culvert headwalls. After seven decades, the Hermit Road was showing its age. The National Park Service faced the challenge of how to retain a high level of historic integrity while also rehabilitating and improving the Hermit Road. The pavement surface was in poor repair; some of the road and overlook historic features were endangered. The narrow road, 18 to 20 ft wide, presented a safety concern. Improvements constructed in 2008 included widening and resurfacing; the enhancement of existing overlooks, parking areas, and trails; and the addition of a pedestrian and bicycle trail on a separate alignment. These improvements were accomplished with minimal impact on historic and natural resources. This paper describes the environmental compliance process, roadway design issues, and how historic integrity was generally retained in the roadway design. The perspectives of historic preservation, environmental protection, resource conservation, and roadway design are presented.