• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.101-111
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• 2012

PURPOSES: Because expressway ramps are very complex segments where diverse roadway design elements dynamically change within relatively short length, drivers on ramps are required to drive their cars carefully for safety. Especially, ramps on expressways are designed to guarantee driving at high speed so that the risk and severity of traffic accidents on expressway ramps may be higher and more deadly than other facilities on expressways. Safe deceleration maneuvers are required on off-ramps, whereas safe acceleration maneuvers are necessary on onramps. This difference in required maneuvers may contribute to dissimilar patterns and severity of traffic accidents by ramp types. Therefore, this study was aimed at developing prediction models of the severity of traffic accidents on expressway on- and off-ramps separately in order to consider dissimilar patterns and severity of traffic accidents according to types of ramps. METHODS: Four-year-long traffic accident data between 2007 and 2010 were utilized to distinguish contributing design elements in conjunction with AADT and ramp length. The prediction models were built using the negative binomial regression model consisting of the severity of traffic accident as a dependent variable and contributing design elements as in independent variables. RESULTS: The developed regression models were evaluated using the traffic accident data of the ramps which was not used in building the models by comparing actual and estimated severity of traffic accidents. Conclusively, the average prediction error rates of on-ramps and offramps were 30.5% and 30.8% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prediction models for the severity of traffic accidents on expressway on- and off-ramps will be useful in enhancing the safety on expressway ramps as well as developing design guidelines for expressway ramps.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.133-143
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• 2012

PURPOSES: Using the collected data for crash, traffic volume, and design elements on ramps between 2007 and 2009, this research effort was initiated to develop traffic crash prediction models for expressway ramps. METHODS: Three negative binomial regression models and three zero-inflated negative binomial regression models were developed for individual ramp types, including direct, semi-direct and loop, respectively. For validating the developed models, authors compared the estimated crash frequencies with actual crash frequencies of twelve randomly selected interchanges, the ramps of which have not been used for model developing. RESULTS: The results show that the negative binomial regression models for direct, semi-direct and loop ramps showed 60.3%, 63.8% and 48.7% error rates on average whereas the zero-inflated negative binomial regression models showed 82.1%, 120.4% and 57.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusively, the negative binomial regression models worked better in traffic crash prediction than the zero-inflated negative binomial regression models for estimating the frequency of traffic accidents on expressway ramps.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.297-302
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to investigate the kinematic gait parameter of lower extremities with different gait conditions (level walking, stair, ramp) in hemiplegic patients. Methods: Ten hemiplegic patients participated in this study and kinematic data were measured using a 3D motion analysis system (LUKOtronic AS202, Lutz-kovacs-Electronics, Innsbruk, Austria). Statistical analysis was performed using one-way repeated measure of ANOVA in order to determine the difference of lower extremity angle at each gait phase with different gait conditions. Results: Affected degree of ankle joint in the heel strike phase showed significant difference between level walking and climbing stairs, and toe off phase showed significant difference between level walking and climbing stairs, ramps, and climbing stairs. Affected degree of knee joint showed no significant difference in all attempts. Affected degree of hip joint in the toe off phase showed significant difference between level walking, ramps and stairs, and climbing ramps. Swing phase showed significant difference between sides for level walking and stairs, climbing ramps. Affected ankle joint of heel strike and toe off, and affected hip joint of toe off and the maximum angle of swing phase in the angle was increased. Unaffected side of the ankle joint, knee joint, and hip joint showed a significant increase in walking phase. Conclusion: These findings indicate that compared with level walking, different results were obtained for joint angle of lower extremity when climbing stairs and ramps. In hemiplegia patient's climbing ramps, stairs, more movement was observed not only for the non-affected side but also the ankle joint of the affected side and hip joint. According to these findings of hemiplegic patients when climbing stairs or ramps, more joint motion was observed not only on the unaffected side but also on the affected side compared with flat walking.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.16 no.3 s.62
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• pp.38-45
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• 2007

In the architectural space of modem age, expanding to the vertical and horizontal direction for the interaction between space and space is becoming an indispensable factor, and in this expansion, ramps are being positioned as one of the important factors. With an increased use of ramps, they show a variety of changes in types, functions and even concepts. The space where modem ramps are used exhibits a phenomenon that accommodates and expands many functions as well as the confined function of moving people, and is widening the scope of recognition on the functions of ramp. In addition, this phenomenon can be seen as an architectural reflection on the complexation trend of the modem society, the components comprising a ramp contact the body of experiencers closely and thus have a direct effect on their behavior or feeling, and owing to this, it is a space where new functions and meaning are highly likely to be derived. In this study, spaces where ramps are used stay away from an element of uniform vertical movement but have an independent environment within the entire space, thereby being used as a space dominating the nature of the building, not a subsidiary element of it. In this study, therefore, it could be known that spaces in which ramps are used are different in their meaning according to the patterns, not as an element of uniform vertical movement. In addition, these conclusions are the results by analyzing the patterns of ramps taking place in modem spaces and are thought to be helpful in understanding spaces where ramps are used.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.607-616
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• 2015

The demand for cars has been so steadily increasing based on the economic growth that the number of registered cars reached 18,870,000 as of the end of December, 2012. Due to this, the demand for the parking lots also rises continuously. Because of the limited ground space, the buildings ever becoming larger, and the trend of underground parking spaces, recent parking spaces are generally constructed underground. Accordingly, the parking lot ramps slope is limited to less than 17% by relevant laws to ensure the driver safety. However, when a driver enters a parking lot ramps whose slope is slightly steep, he frequently experiences his car body colliding with ramp brackets and often sees the scratches on ramp floor. Thus, this study is intended to prevent any damage to a structure and to contribute to ensuring the riding comfort and safety of drivers and passengers by presenting the details of proper vertical curve to prevent the collision of vehicles with ramp brackets through a vertical analysis of the first and last parts of a parking lot ramps. Because it is necessary to decide the appropriate and suitable vertical slope of a parking lot ramps, this study first identified the problems through site inspection, targeting the parking lot ramps of large buildings frequently that are used by many random people. Next, the possibility of mutual collision was assessed through a theoretical analysis of the first and last parts of a parking lot ramps. Lastly, the vertical curve of a parking ramp was analyzed to estimate its details, which was presented in this study. In conclusion, if the vertical curve presented through this study is used, it will help prevent any damage to the cars and structures, ensure the riding comfort and safety of the drivers, and further reestablish the criteria for vertical installation of a parking lot ramps.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.123-135
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• 2007

The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between traffic accidents occurring at trumpet interchange ramps according to accident type as well as the relevant factors that led to the traffic accidents, such as geometric design elements and traffic volumes. In the process of analysis of the distribution of traffic accidents, negative binomial distribution was selected as the most appropriate model. Negative binomial regression models were developed for total trumpet interchange ramps, direct ramps, loop ramps and semi-direct ramps based on the negative binomial distribution. Based upon several statistical diagnostics of the difference between observed accidents and predicted accidents with four previously developed models, the fit proved to be reasonable. Understanding of statistically significant variables in the developed model will enable designers to increase efficiency in terms of road operations and the development of traffic accident prevention policies in accordance with road design features.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.25 no.1 s.94
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• pp.73-79
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• 2007

This study deals with traffic accidents at the ramps of trumpet interchanges. The purpose of the study is to analyze the relations between tke turning direction of ramps (and combinations with other factors) and traffic accidents. In Pursuing this analysis, this study gives particular attention to the combination of turning direction and grade and the combination of turning direction and radius of curvature in the case of the trumpet interchange ramps. The null hypothesis tests show that the average accident number and average accident rate ate rejected at the 90% and 95% significance level respectively Also. the null hypothesis tests show that the combinations or turning direction and Evade as well as turning direction and radius are all rejected at the 95% significance level. In summary, right turn movements ate more dangerous than left turns on the trumpet interchange vamps. Also, ramps with a right turn and up grade or with a left turn and radius more than 200m have more traffic accident Potential than other types of ramps.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.7-16
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• 2008

Severe congestion is happening at urban freeway off-ramps in Seoul. Major causes of congestion at off-ramps are a shortage of capacity and inefficient signal operations at the downstream intersection at off-ramps. It is necessary to control congestion by improving design or operations in the downstream intersection. In this study, the authors analyzed the case of the Jungdong interchange that was improved for design in the downstream intersection. When a freeway and an arterial road cross, diamond interchanges are usually selected with a single-point urban interchange (SPUI) as an alternative. To compare the effectiveness of a diamond interchange with a SPUI, the authors applied these two configurations to the Jungdong interchange using a simulation. The result of the analysis shows that congestion at off-ramps in diamond interchanges can be reduced by improving signal operations such as the application of "4 phase with overlaps" and that diamond interchanges are more efficient than a SPUI with a frontage road. Efficient operation of the downstream intersection by these findings can minimize congestion of not only the downstream intersection but also the freeway mainline.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.393-403
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• 2020

One of the growing concerns of the wind energy production is wind ramp events. To improve the wind ramp event forecasts, the nonlinear Kalman filter bias correction method was applied to 24-h wind speed forecasts issued from the WRF model at 70-m height in Zhangbei wind farm, Hebei Province, China for a two-year period. The Kalman filter shows the remarkable ability of improving forecast skill for real-time wind speed forecasts by decreasing RMSE by 32% from 3.26 m s_-1 to 2.21 m s_-1, reducing BIAS almost to zero, and improving correlation from 0.58 to 0.82. The bias correction improves the forecast skill especially in wind speed intervals sensitive to wind power prediction. The fact shows that the Kalman filter is especially suitable for wind power prediction. Moreover, the bias correction method performs well under abrupt weather transition. As to the overall performance for improving the forecast skill of ramp events, the Kalman filter shows noticeable improvements based on POD and TSS. The bias correction increases the POD score of up-ramps from 0.27 to 0.39 and from 0.26 to 0.38 for down-ramps. After bias correction, the TSS score is significantly promoted from 0.12 to 0.26 for up-ramps and from 0.13 to 0.25 for down-ramps.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate difference of the muscle activation patterns of the upper body during wheelchair cycle ramps ascent of different slopes for disabled with spinal cord injury. Three subjects who is disabled with spinal cord injury participated in this study. Surface electromyography (EMG) data (reaction time [RT], onset-offset time, and peak value of muscle activation) were collected biceps, triceps, upper trapezius, anterior deltoid, latissimus dorsi, and upper rectus abdominal muscles during wheelchair cycle ramps ascent ($0^{\circ}$, $3^{\circ}$, and $6^{\circ}$). For latissimus dorsi muscle, RT and peak value of muscle activation was were increased and offset time was delayed as the slope increased (p < 0.05). These results indicate that wheelchair cycle ramps ascent might cause excessive overuse of latissimus dorsi muscle.