Safety

Development of the Flight Crew Human Factors Integration Tool

Gosling, Geoffrey D.
Roberts, Karlene H.
1998

In May 1996, the FAA announced a new and innovative approach to reach a goal of "zero accidents," known as the Global Analysis and Information Network (GAIN). This would be a privately owned and operated international information infrastructure for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of aviation safety information. It would involve the use of a broad variety of worldwide aviation data sources, coupled with comprehensive analytical techniques, to facilitate the identification of existing and emerging aviation safety problems. A major component of the GAIN approach is the application...

Development Testing and Evaluation of Advanced Techniques for Freeway Incident Detection

Ritchie, Stephen G.
Abdulhai, Baher
1997

In this research, the authors introduce and define a universal incident detection framework that is capable of fulfilling all components of a set of recognized needs. An algorithm is presented that has the potential to fulfill the defined universality requirements. It is a modified form of a probabilistic neural network (PNN) that utilizes the concept of statistical distance. The first part of the report presents a definition of the attributes and capabilities that a potentially universal freeway incident detection framework should possess. The second part discusses the training and...

Development of System Safety Performance Measures In Support of The Global Analysis and Information Network

Gosling, Geoffrey
1998

In May 1996, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a new and innovative approach to reach the goal of "zero accidents," known as the Global Analysis and Information Network (GAIN). This is envisaged as a privately owned and operated international information infrastructure for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of aviation safety information that would involve the use of a broad variety of worldwide aviation data sources, coupled with comprehensive analytical techniques, to facilitate the identification of existing and emerging aviation safety problems. In support of...

Configuration and Maneuvers in Safety-Consciously Designed AHS Configuration

Hitchcock, Anthony
1995

This paper sets out a configuration for an Automated Highway System (AHS) which is believed to have advantages from a safety viewpoint. The configuration and operating principles are described. The scheme requires that vehicles change lanes directly from platoon to platoon, and that entry and exit be made also without platoons merging or splitting on the automated lanes. The protocols for the maneuvers needed are described in detail.

Collision Analysis of Vehicle Following Operations by Two-dimensional Simulation Model: Part I - Effects of Operational Variables

Chan, Ching-Yao
1997

This research project investigates the behaviors of vehicles in collisions, especially when they are closely spaced. The study uses a two- dimensional simulation program, EDSMAC, which allows longitudinal and lateral movements as well as the yaw motion of vehicles. The simulation model calculates impact forces in collisions and estimates the resulting vehicle damage. Collision situations are simulated. The subsequent post- impact vehicle trajectories are then analyzed. By varying parameters in simulation cases, one can evaluate the potential effects of such variables in vehicle-following...

Brake Dynamics Effect On IVHS Lane Capacity

Maciua, Dragos B.
1994

This paper attempts to assess the effects of brake system dynamics and inter-vehicle communication delays (microscopic characteristics) on the capacity of an automated highway system (macroscopic characteristics). Simulations were conducted to investigate the relationship between the microscopic and macroscopic characteristics. Recommendations are made regarding the maximum desired delays, intra-platoon and inter-platoon distances and platoon size in order to achieve the highest possible capacity while maintaining a high degree of safety.

Automatic Steering for Conventional Truck Trailers: Development and Assessment of Operating Concepts for Improving Safety, Productivity and Pavement Durability

Tsao, H.-S. Jacob
Dessouky, Yasser
Rangavajhula, Krishna
Zeta, Joseph Benjamin
Zhou, Lihong
2006

Trucking productivity can be significantly increased by moving freight with longer combination vehicles (LCVs). However, LCV operations not only raise safety concerns for the surrounding traffic and the LCV drivers themselves but also can damage roadways and bridges not equipped to support the operations. All the discussion about truck size and weight limitations or about the pros and cons of LCV operations is predicated on the use of conventional tractors and trailers. We however observed that a root cause of several major issues associated with LCV operations is the problem of off-...

Automated Assessment of Safety-Critical Dynamics in Multi-Modal Transportation Systems

Grembek, Offer
Ragland, David
2016

With the advent of emerging technologies, urban intersections are being increasingly equipped with various types of video-based and in-pavement sensing systems to facilitate round-the-clock monitoring and optimization of multi-modal flows. In comparison, the assessment of the safety performance of these facilities continues to be largely based on either crash history or citizen grievances. Herein lies an opportunity to apply advanced sensing platforms to proactively monitor safety-critical events of multi-modal road users. This work presents a traffic safety monitoring framework which...

Association Between Roadway Intersection Characteristics and Pedestrian Crash Risk in Alameda County, California

Schneider, Robert J.
Diogenes, Mara Chagas
Arnold, Lindsay S.
Attaset, Vanvisa
Griswold, Julia
Ragland, David R.
2010

Each year from 1998 to 2007, an average of approximately 4,800 pedestrians were killed and 71,000 pedestrians were injured in United States traffic crashes. Because many pedestrian crashes occur at roadway intersections, it is important to understand the intersection characteristics that are associated with pedestrian crash risk. This study uses detailed pedestrian crash data and pedestrian volume estimates to analyze pedestrian crash risk at 81 intersections along arterial and collector roadways in Alameda County, California. The analysis compares pedestrian crash rates (crashes per 10,...

Assessing the Safety Benefits of Automated Freeways

Anwar, Mohammed
Jovanis, Paul P.
1993

This research is aimed at the identification of all types of accidents that have occurred on freeways which may affect the vehicle movement in the assumed automated left lane. The emphasis was on six-lane or more urban freeways. The accident data was obtained from the California TASAS ( Traffic Accidents Surveillance and Analysis System) data base and were used to identify all the accidents that originated outside the potential automated area and which affected movement of traffic in the leftmost lane.