High-Risk Rural Road Safety Study and Determining the Crash-Reduction Factors for High-Risk Rural-Road Usage

More than 32,000 motorists are killed on U.S. roads and streets annually, and approximately 54% of the accidents occur on rural roads. In an attempt to address and reduce these fatalities, the current transportation act, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equality Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETY-LU), elevated the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) to a core program and included a $90,000,000 High-Risk Rural Road Program (HRRRP) to address and significantly reduce traffic fatalities and incapacitating injuries on rural major or minor collectors, and/or rural local roads. While there were many challenges to properly implement the HRRRP in counties, this study provided important information that was needed to identify the predominant crash types on HRRRP-eligible roads and compiled a list of countermeasures for the predominant crash types that were identified on Kansas’ high-risk rural roads. For the gathered countermeasures, crash reduction factors (CRFs) were also provided from the literature review, and their values were validated by conducting interviews with Kansas county engineers/officials. This study provided valuable information for the county engineers and local government officials while they worked on improving the safety of high-risk rural roads using HRRRP funds.

Structural Design of Asphalt Pavement for Low Cost Rural Roads

On the basis of the equivalent axle load action frequency, the traffic classifications of rural roads as well as their corresponding types are classified. The asphalt pavement structure, road surface types and thickness of the rural roads are suggested for the various action frequency of the equivalent axle load. Furthermore, the roadbase thickness graphs are provided according to different equivalent axle load action frequency with different roadbed modulus and road surface modulus taken into account.

Sustainable Maintenance of Rural Roads in Slovakia

Systematic approach to the maintenance of rural road network is a very important issue from the viewpoint of public costs. Most countries developed custom PMS （pavement management systems） based on deterministic or probabilistic approach. The main goal is to ensure safety and continuity of road traffic on road network with low intensity and lower technical requirements. Article presents PMS used for Slovakia rural road network based on road construction diagnostics, traffic volume, climate factors and evaluation of maintenance works economics effectives by using of software tools like HDM-4 developed by World Bank. Local road administrators of rural road networks often lack the software equipment, most PMS, however effective, are often cumbersome, demanding in regard to energy, know-how and software equipment. The majority of local road administrators of rural road networks thus resort to non-effective reactive maintenance strategies. This article describes an easy to use method, based on predetermined maintenance repair and rehabilitation standards. A simple method, based on road user cost, is introduced that administrator can use to prepare a list of road section eligible for repair according to their repair priority.

Rural Road Investment and Economic Growth

The relationship between rural road①systems and economic systems is interconnectedness.The stimulating effects of investments in rural road infrastructure can be divided into three stages:investment,use,and upgrading.This paper presents this three-stage model of rural road construction to explain the process of stimulating economic growth by investing in rural roads.The investment stage produces a multiplier effect as the investment stimulates the economy.The use stage promotes the development of industries,which determines the stimulation effects of the investment.The upgrading stage produces economic growth leading to the upgrading of additional infrastructure,which generates more investments and also has a multiplier effect.Finally,the total revenue from the three stages,minus their total costs,allows for the calculation of Net Present Value(NPV).The investments can be deemed effective if the NPV is greater than zero.

The Value of Rural Access Roads: The Case Study of Chepyuk and Mitira Wards in Bungoma and Kirinyaga Counties

In this paper we assess the impact of road network on rural regions development using a case study of Chepyuk and Mitira wards. The two case study areas were selected owing to their comparable agro ecological conditions but different political orientation. The wards have identical agro economic activities due to their similarity in climatic and ecological conditions. Household incomes earned from agricultural enterprises and bid rent per unit area of land are used as indicators of development. The condition of road network is used as an indicator of accessing the rural regions in various seasons of the year. The study provides evidence of the economic advantages associated with better market access, primarily due to the good road infrastructure in Mitira compared to Chepyuk. The good road condition is advantageous to Mitira ward residents allowing them to access other markets hence improving the farm gate value of their products. On the other hand, the prices for Chepyuk products are cheap due to constrained market access necessitated by the poor road condition. For instance, the average price of a liter of milk in Chepyuk ward is Kshs.36.65 compared to Mitira where it goes at Kh.55.08. It therefore implies in Chepyuk milk has to be sold at lower price since access to alternative markets is constrained by poor road condition. The disparity in the road network quality has been occasioned by investment policy by both colonial and consecutive post-independence governments which have given preference to the region where Mitira region is located. This is against the constitutional requirement which proposes an equalization fund for infrastructure development to regions lagging behind in terms of development.

A Novel Network Screening Methodology for Rural Low-Volume Roads

Low-volume roads (LVRs) are an integral part of the rural transportation network providing access to remote rural areas and facilitating the movement of goods from farms to markets. These roads pose unique challenges for highway agencies including those related to safety management on the highway network. Specifically, traditional network screening methods using crash history can be effective in screening rural highways with higher traffic volumes and more frequent crashes. However, these traditional methods are often ineffective in screening LVR networks due to low traffic volumes and the sporadic nature of crash occurrence. Further, many of the LVRs are owned and operated by local agencies that may lack access to detailed crash, traffic and roadway data and the technical expertise within their staff. Therefore, there is a need for more efficient and practical network screening approaches to facilitate safety management programs on these roads. This study proposes one such approach which utilizes a heuristic scoring scheme in assessing the level of risk/safety for the purpose of network screening. The proposed scheme is developed based on the principles of US Highway Safety Manual (HSM) analysis procedures for rural highways and the fundamentals in safety science. The primary application of the proposed scheme is for ranking sites in network screening applications or for comparing multiple improvement alternatives at a specific site. The proposed approach does not require access to detailed databases, technical expertise, or exact information, making it an invaluable tool for small agencies and local governments (e.g. counties, townships, tribal governments, etc.).

A New Road to Rural Prosperity

AT peak tourist season, 32-year-old Li Lianfen sees her husband and son just once a week. She has converted her home in Shicheng (Stone City) Village in Beijing’s Miyun County into an inn. City people come here to stay and enjoy the beauty and tran-quility of the mountains around her village. As she has no time to look after her son, he attends a primary school in the county seat 20 kilometers away. His father is a teacher at the middle school nearby. They both stay there in the accommodation provided.

基于路网提取的公路规模估算方法研究

为了对所辖农村地区耕地区域公路需求规模进行估算,研究了一种基于高分遥感影像道路提取矢量路网的农村耕地区域公路网规模估算方法。综合考虑公路网密度及自然村分布情况,设计了路网估算密度系数、自然村密度系数,以所在地形环境作为分类,充分考虑了农村耕地区域公路建设的实际需求并量化计算。实验表明,与交通运输主管部门实际需求相比,该方法的估算准确率可达到实际需求的92.61%。该方法能够在国土系数法、连通度法等传统方法之外提供一种以遥感影像为基础数据的农村耕地区域公路规模测算方法,弥补了传统方法无法充分利用新一代信息技术数据的不足,是传统方法的有效补充。该方法的设计在适用性的角度上合理。

道路网对美丽乡村建设成效的影响

为使道路网建设有效促进美丽乡村建设水平的提高,对道路网影响美丽乡村建设成效的内在规律进行了系统研究。首先,从人居环境、基础设施、经济条件三个维度解析了道路网对美丽乡村建设的影响作用理论机制;接着,在该机制框架下构建了影响因子体系,并通过集成道路网及其关联的多种地理数据设计了各影响因子的测算方法;最后,应用地理加权回归模型进行了实证研究,分析了各影响因子对西安市美丽乡村建设成效考评结果的实际贡献,并通过诊断贡献强度的空间分异提出了相应的对策建议。研究表明:乡村社会经济系统的复杂性决定了道路网影响美丽乡村建设必然是一个多因素作用的复杂过程,具体来说:与美丽乡村建设成效呈负相关关系的影响因子有水电布设难易度、生态环境扰动度及公共服务稀缺度;与美丽乡村建设成效呈正相关关系的影响因子有生产生活可达度、特色经营适宜度及产业振兴发展度;因乡镇街道级小尺度地方性特征差异,以上6个影响因子各自的局域作用强度会有所不同;借助地理信息系统技术挖掘、整合与道路网相关的各类信息数据,是填补乡村交通研究中常见数据缺口的创新方向。

乡村水泥路面拼接窄长加宽板受力特性分析

福建省农村公路水泥路面多为4.5m×5m的单板单车道,随着交通量的增加,多加宽2m成为双车道。建立有限元模型,研究新旧板缝间摩擦系数、拉杆间距、土基模量等参数下水泥板加宽2m前后的受力变化,发现新旧路基模量差对板底拉应力影响最大,拉杆间距影响不大,但对板缝两侧弯沉差影响最大。

“一带一路”沿线规划教育及对华合作初探

城乡规划高等教育合作对推动“一带一路”民心相通具有重要意义,但国内目前对“一带一路”沿线国家城乡规划高等教育的发展及对华合作情况的研究较少。本文收集并梳理了“一带一路”沿线65个国家260所高校所开设的城乡规划及相关专业在师资队伍、课程设置、国际合作等方面的信息,初步总结出“一带一路”沿线国家城乡规划高等教育具有整体水平不高、发展差异显著、产学研用分离、西方色彩浓重四大特征。随后,重点介绍了非洲、东南亚和南亚、中东西亚和中亚等地区代表性高校的城乡规划专业及对华合作情况。最后,从夯实研究基础、平衡区域合作、丰富合作类型、建立合作机制、突出合作重点五个方面提出加强与“一带一路”沿线国家城乡规划高等教育合作的建议。

农村地区道路交通安全综合治理意义及路径分析

农村地区道路交通安全工作是我国平安社会建设的有机组成部分,是确保乡村振兴建设、美丽乡村建设、新农村建设质量的前提条件。针对当前农村道路交通安全问题,需要相关部门结合农村道路特征,分别从安全管理、道路安全、人车安全等角度出发,探究出科学合理、全面有效、操作性强的综合治理策略。

复杂道路监控场景下的车辆检测与跟踪数据集

针对现有大部分车辆检测与跟踪数据集通常存在的采集场景单一、数据集长尾分布以及图像采集环境简单等问题,本文构建一个车辆数据集VeDT-MSS,用于城市以及乡村监控场景下4种车辆类别(小汽车、卡车、公交车和摩托车)的检测以及跟踪研究。该数据集具有交通场景多样化、卡车的类内多样性大、摩托车标注实例占比高以及背景复杂程度高4个显著特性。为了验证该数据集的有效性,在目标检测以及多目标跟踪任务上进行了大量的基线实验。实验结果表明,VeDT-MSS数据集在评估现有算法的鲁棒性和泛化性方面具有实用性。该数据集的提出对促进车辆检测与跟踪研究具有相当的潜力,并为计算机视觉社区评估算法性能提供一个新的数据选择。

基于改进DeepLabv3+模型的农村道路提取方法研究

从国产高分辨率影像中快速准确提取农村道路在信息管理、农村农业现代化等领域具有重要的价值,但由于背景噪音复杂、道路蜿蜒细长、易受阴影遮挡等,传统遥感解译方法提取农村道路信息效率低、精度不高.文章针对农村道路的特征,对DeepLabv3+模型进行改进,设计了一种兼具效率和精度的高分辨率影像农村道路信息提取改进模型.首先,使用Mobilenetv2作为模型的主干,减少模型的参数;其次,在ASPP模块中串联CBAM,加强模型的特征感受能力;最后,添加Dice Loss函数改进损失函数,克服样本的不均衡.实验结果表明,细节的改进使得各项指标明显提升,效率和精度达到了最高;与经典模型相比,改进模型在MPA、MIoU上取得了更高的分数,虽然对深层特征的深度学习需要花费更多的时间,但改进模型在精度效率上均优于其他模型.

适用于农村公路养护维修的再生骨料混凝土性能改善研究

针对当前再生骨料混凝土抗压强度低、抗裂强度低的问题,开展适用于农村公路养护维修的再生骨料混凝土性能改善研究。选择三种化学改善试剂对适用于农村公路养护维修的再生骨料进行试剂浸泡改善,最终确定将水玻璃作为最优改善试剂。在此基础上,优化再生混凝土配合比。最后,实现再生骨料高吸水率处理。通过对改善结果分析得出,采用新的改善方案可以有效促进再生骨料混凝土抗压强度和抗裂强度的提升。

交通出行方式改变对构建乡村生活圈的影响探讨

随着城镇化的不断推进,在我国广大乡村地区出现了一系列人口、产业等方面的变化,农村生产、生活发生了巨大的变革,其中一个非常重要的方面是农村交通条件的改善提升带来的农村出行方式的转变。文章从对农村交通现状特征及问题的梳理和分析入手,进行乡村居民出行特征与乡村生活圈构建五个方面的影响关系的探讨,寻找农村生活圈可持续发展之路。文章认为现代化乡村交通基础设施深刻改变了农村的生产、生活方式,交通条件的全面改善将为乡村生活圈的构建及乡村发展带来深远影响。

乡村振兴背景下“四宜”乡村规划策略与路径研究——以宁夏青铜峡大坝镇新苇路为例

乡村振兴是当代乡村现代化建设和全面建设小康社会的重大战略决策,实现乡村振兴主要路径是规划先行,科学布局。为加快大坝镇新苇路地区经济发展,推动该地区乡村振兴步伐,设计团队通过对宁夏青铜峡大坝镇新苇路沿线三个行政村走访与调研,针对规划区现状及规划建设中存在问题,提出建设宜农、宜业、宜居、宜游“四宜”乡村规划建设思路。主要围绕提升新苇路景观品质提升,保障农业核心地位,推动产业协调发展,重构乡村文化空间,改善村民居住环境等进行规划建设,进一步提高该地区村民生活质量。

农村公路建设与养护施工安全问题分析

随着城乡经济的快速发展和城市化的推进,农村公路规模不断扩大,为农村地区提供了更好的交通条件和便利服务,这对于推动农村经济的发展以及提高农民的生活水平等方面发挥着不可忽视的作用。然而,农村公路的建设与养护施工往往对过往车辆和行人造成安全隐患,因此有必要采取更为严格的措施,强化农村公路建设与养护施工方面的安全管理,不断提高农村公路的安全服务质量。针对目前我国农村公路建设和养护施工安全问题进行探讨,从路网规划、资金投入、规章制度、人员管理、安全培训、现代化手段等六个方面提出相应对策,以确保施工安全和施工路段的交通安全与畅通。

基于计算机视觉的乡村公路无人机巡检技术研究

近年来,无人机技术迅速发展并广泛应用,在乡村振兴中也发挥了积极的作用。特别是乡村道路由于地质条件等原因需要定期进行巡检,受损比较严重的地方必须第一时间进行排查,为能够快速对道路进行巡检,研究采用无人机进行图像采集,运用图像识别方式进行缺陷检测,从而实现快速、智能化巡检,保障乡村道路安全。

人工智能赋能低空经济:应用场景与未来方向

低空经济是指以各种有人驾驶和无人驾驶航空器在海拔3000米以下的各类飞行活动作为牵引,辐射带动相关领域融合发展的新兴经济形态和效益。2024年全国两会期间,“低空经济”被写入政府工作报告。报告提出,“积极培育新兴产业和未来产业”“积极打造生物制造、商业航天、低空经济等新增长引擎”。我们可以通过解析人工智能赋能低空经济、大数据驱动的部分应用场景(智慧城市建设、智慧交通运输、智慧路桥监测、智慧农业农村),理解低空经济创造的新质生产力,探讨低空经济推进智慧城乡建设和国家经济发展的逻辑与路径。