• Title/Summary/Keyword: Road visibility

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Assessing the Refractive Index of Glass Beads for Use in Road-marking Applications via Retroreflectance Measurement

  • Shin, Sang Yeol;Lee, Ji In;Chung, Woon Jin;Cho, Sung-Hoon;Choi, Yong Gyu
    • Current Optics and Photonics
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    • v.3 no.5
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    • pp.415-422
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    • 2019
  • Retroreflection of vehicle headlights, as induced by spherical glass beads, is a key optical phenomenon that provides road-surface markings with greatly enhanced visibility, thus better securing a driver's safety in the nighttime as well as in unclear daytime. Retroreflectance of glass beads is a quite sensitive function of their refractive index, so that measurement of the refractive index of glass specifically in the shape of spherical beads needs to be performed within a reasonable uncertainty that is tolerable for road-marking applications. The Becke line method has been applied in assessing refractive index of such glass beads as e.g. an industrial standard in the Republic of Korea; however, the reference refractive-index liquids are not commercially available these days for refractive index greater than 1.80 due to the toxicity of the constituent materials. As such, high-refractive-index glass beads require an alternate method, and in this regard we propose a practically serviceable technique with uncertainty tantamount to that of the Becke line method: Based on comparison of calculated and measured retroreflectance values of commercial glass beads, we discover that their refractive index can be determined with reasonable precision via the retroreflectance measurement. Specifically, in this study the normalized retroreflectance originating from a single glass sphere is computed as a function of refractive index using the Fresnel equations, which is then validated as coinciding well with retroreflectance values measured from actual specimens, i.e. glass-bead aggregates. The uncertainties involved are delineated in connection with radius and imperfections of the glass beads.

A study on the design and applicability of stereoscopic sign for improving the visibility of traffic sign in double-deck tunnel (복층터널 교통표지판 시인성 향상을 위한 입체표지판 설계 및 적용 가능성에 대한 연구)

  • Park, Sang-Heon;Hwang, Ju-Hwan;Han, Sang-Ju;An, Sung-Joo;Kim, Hoon-Jae
    • Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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    • v.20 no.6
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    • pp.899-915
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    • 2018
  • In this study, in order to construct an eco-friendly advanced road transportation network, the multi-layer tunnel, which is a small-sized car road, is designed to have a height of less than 60 cm. However, the shape of the tunnel is low and the height of the traffic sign is small. In order to solve these problems, traffic sign characters were designed in three dimensions, and the possibility of applying the design of the three - dimensional sign that can obtain greater visibility than the existing signs at the same distance and the possibility verification through virtual simulation were performed. The three-dimensional sign is horizontally installed on the ceiling of the multi-layer tunnel. To be seen vertically, it is enlarged by a certain ratio by the perspective, and the width and height are enlarged. Respectively. In addition, 3D simulation was performed to verify the visibility of the stereoscopic signs when the driver ran through the stereoscopic sign design specifications. As a result of the design and experimental study, it was confirmed that the stereoscopic sign could be designed through the theoretical formula and that it could provide the driver with a larger traffic sign character because there is no limitation of the facility limit compared to the existing vertical traffic sign. Also, we confirmed that it can be implemented in the side wall by using the stereoscopic sign design principle installed on the ceiling part. It was confirmed that the design of the stereoscopic sign can be designed to be smaller as the distance that the driver visually recognizes the sperm is shorter, the height of the protrusion vertically at the lower part of the stereoscopic sign becomes higher. As a result of 3D simulation running experiment based on the design information of the stereoscopic sign, it was confirmed that the stereoscopic sign is visually the same as the vertical sign at the planned distance. Although the detailed research and institutional improvement of stereoscopic signs have not been made in Korea and abroad, it is evolved into a core technology of new road traffic facilities through various studies through the possibility of designing and applying stereoscopic signs developed through this study Expect.

An Investigation for Driving Behavior on the On-Ramp Merging Section in Urban Underground Roads Using a Driving Simulator (주행 시뮬레이터를 활용한 도심 지하도로 유입연결로 합류부 주행행태 분석)

  • Seungwon Jeong;Soohwan Kim;Dongmin Lee;Gunki Jung
    • The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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    • v.21 no.6
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    • pp.97-114
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    • 2022
  • Unlike ground roads, the on-ramp merging section of underground roads cannot be seen by drivers of main road due to tunnels. In this study, a driving simulator was used for analysis, and virtual driving experiments were carried out to assess the driver's visibility for different design factors. The driver's driving behavior was analyzed by setting scenarios considering the length of chevron markings and the approach speed from the main road. The results of the analysis were used to determine the design factors for ensuring visibility when constructing the virtual driving environment for each scenario. These factors, including speed, lane change points, and driver's gaze ratios, were reviewed for significance using a statistical approach. As a result, in scenarios with a higher approach speed from the main road, it was discovered that there was a difference in driver's behavior between specific scenarios depending on the length of the section with chevron markings. Based on these findings, this study suggests implications and feasible solutions to improve driver safety on the on-ramp merging section of underground roads.

Effects of Security Lighting Lamps on Discomfort Glare to Indoor Occupants

  • Lee, Yoon Jeong;Kim, Jeong Tai
    • KIEAE Journal
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    • v.15 no.4
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    • pp.21-28
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    • 2015
  • Purpose: Although security lights are used to secure pedestrian visibility and safety at nighttime, they can generate light trespass in the neighboring residential space. To prevent this, standards for acceptance limits on vertical illuminance and light pollution by the windows of residential buildings are presented. Method: This study thus representatively selected three types of lamps and, through an evaluation and analysis of the physical and subjective discomfort glare per lamp, proposed a discomfort glare index for each lamp. The evaluation and analysis according to the lamps were conducted through experiments. The variables were the security lights' lamps (NH 100W, MH 70W, LED 50W), installation angles ($0^{\circ}$, $20^{\circ}$), and installation distances (3m, 5m, 7m, 9m). Result: According to the results of the discomfort glare evaluation depending on the angles and distances of the security lights, the following minimum standards are proposed: for NH 100W, a discomfort glare index of 30 and an installation distance of 4m; for MH 70W, a discomfort glare index of 32 and an installation distance of 4m; and, for LED 50W, a discomfort glare index of 31 and an installation distance of 6m, respectively. In addition, this paper recommends the use of MH 70W, when the road width is 4m-6m, and LED 50W, when the road width is over 6m, respectively.

A Study on the Location of Bicycle Crossing considering Safety of Bicycle Users at Intersection (자전거 이용자의 안전성을 고려한 교차로 자전거 횡단도의 설치 위치에 관한 연구)

  • Hwang, Junghoon
    • International Journal of Highway Engineering
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.91-98
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    • 2014
  • PURPOSES : Recently, there are increasing bicycle accidents along with increasing bicycles users. Bicycle accidents occurred frequently by perpendicular collision form at intersection inner. In order to improve safety of bicycle, drivers need to be aware of bicycles on the road and intersection geometric designs need to be designed to reduce risk associated with collisions between bicycles and car. This study aims to review the location of bicycle crossing in the viewpoint of bicycle safety. METHODS : Four types of bicycle crossing by curve radius and driver's check around the behavior are set to simulate the risk of collisions between bicycles and car turning right. Simulation using fortran programming are conducted on total 60 cases. RESULTS : Bicycle crossing located behind of crosswalk is lower the risk of collisions with car in all cases. In addition to the larger curve radius of pavement edge at intersection and the more pay attention to the rear by the turn head to the right is too low the risk of collisions with car. CONCLUSIONS : It is show that the location of bicycle crossing is safer behind than in front of crosswalk in the viewpoint of bicycle safety.

A Study on Jet Fan Start Time in Medium-Length Tunnel Fires (중규모터널 방재용 제트팬 초기 가동시간에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Doo-Young;Lee, Chang-Woo
    • Tunnel and Underground Space
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    • v.20 no.6
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    • pp.465-474
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    • 2010
  • Although the number of medium-length road tunnels, less than 1 km in length, has increased recently more than 30 percent each year, their ventilation and fire safety system design guidelines have not been established yet. The guidelines for long tunnel design are adopted even for the medium-length road tunnels. Therefore the necessity is brought up to optimize the ventilation and fire safety systems based on their own design guidelines. This study aims at determining the optimal start time of jet fan in case of 20 MW fires by analyzing smoke backlayering range, temperature distribution, range of poor visibility, evacuation time and critical velocity. The CFD study results are expected to contribute to propose the optimal fan operation mode.

Design and Implementation of Sensor-based Secondary Vehicle Accident Prevention System (센서 기반의 차량 2차사고 방지 시스템 설계 및 구현)

  • Lim, Kyung-Gyun;Kim, Gea-Hee;Jeong, Seon-Mi;Mun, Hyung-Jin;Kim, Chang-Geun
    • Journal of Digital Convergence
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    • v.15 no.12
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    • pp.313-321
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    • 2017
  • Traffic accidents in the country have steadily increased. Although IOT technologies have been applied so as to prevent the primary accident, practical solutions to prevent the secondary accident have not been suggested. A general guideline is simply recommended. In this paper, utilizing existing communication technology, we implement a proposed model and its simulation to prevent the secondary accident. When it is possible for a driver to secure visibility, the secondary accident can be prevented; In areas like tunnel, mountain terrain, and curve road with heavy traffic, where the driver has difficulty in securing the visibility, the secondary accident rates after the primary accident have been increasing. Therefore, we implement an accident prevention system that determines the primary accident utilizing sensor technology and prevents the secondary accident communicating through V2V or V2I. After the simulation, we found that the proposed model and the existing model made no difference with regard to the secondary accident rates when the visibility of the driver is secured; With the application of the proposed model, however, the accident rates decreased for 3-7 percent even though the visibility and communication were not secured.

Application of Artificial Neural Network to the Prediction of Pollutant Concentration in Road Tunnels (인공신경망을 이용한 도로터널 오염물질 농도 예측)

  • Lee, Duck-June;Yoo, Yong-Ho;Kim, Jin
    • Tunnel and Underground Space
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    • v.13 no.6
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    • pp.434-443
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    • 2003
  • In this study, it was purposed to develop the new method for the prediction of pollutant concentration in road tunnels. The new method was the use of artificial neural network with the back-propagation algorithm which can model the non-linear system of tunnel environment. This network system was separated into two parts as the visibility and the CO concentration. For this study, data was collected from two highway road tunnels on Yeongdong Expressway. The tunnels have two lanes with one-way direction and adopt the longitudinal ventilation system. The actually measured data from the tunnels was used to develop the neural network system for the prediction of pollutant concentration. The output results from the newly developed neural network system were analysed and compared with the calculated values by PIARC method. Results showed that the prediction accuracy by the neural network system was approximately five times better than the one by PIARC method. In addition, the system predicted much more accurately at the situation where the drivers have to be stayed for a while in tunnels caused by the low velocity of vehicles.

Analysis of Traffic Crash Severity on Freeway Using Hierarchical Binomial Logistic Model (계층 이항 로지스틱모형에 의한 고속도로 교통사고 심각도 분석)

  • Mun, Sung-Ra;Lee, Young-Ihn
    • International Journal of Highway Engineering
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    • v.13 no.4
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    • pp.199-209
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    • 2011
  • In the study of traffic safety, the analysis on factors affecting crash severity and the understanding about their relationship is important to be planning and execute to improve safety of road and traffic facilities. The purpose of this study is to develop a hierarchical binomial logistic model to identify the significant factors affecting fatal injuries and vehicle damages of traffic crashes on freeway. Two models on death and total vehicle damage are developed. The hierarchical structure of response variable is composed of two level, crash-occupant and crash-vehicle. As a result, we have gotten the crash-level random effect from these hierarchical structure as well as the fixed effect of covariates, namely odds ratio. The crash on the main line and in-out section have greater damage than other facilities. Injuries and vehicle damages are severe in case of traffic violations, centerline invasion and speeding. Also, collision crash and fire occurrence is more severe damaged than other crash types. The surrounding environment of surface conditions by climate and visibility conditions by day and night is a significant factor on crash occurrence. On the orher hand, the geometric condition of road isn't.

The effect of road weather factors on traffic accident - Focused on Busan area - (도로위의 기상요인이 교통사고에 미치는 영향 - 부산지역을 중심으로 -)

  • Lee, Kyeongjun;Jung, Imgook;Noh, Yunhwan;Yoon, Sanggyeong;Cho, Youngseuk
    • Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.661-668
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    • 2015
  • Them traffic accidents have been increased every year due to increasing of vehicles numbers as well as the gravitation of the population. The carelessness of drivers, many road weather factors have a great influence on the traffic accidents. Especially, the number of traffic accident is governed by precipitation, visibility, humidity, cloud amounts and temperature. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effect of road weather factors on traffic accident. We use the data of traffic accident, AWS weather factors (precipitation, existence of rainfall, temperature, wind speed), time zone and day of the week in 2013. We did statistical analysis using logistic regression analysis and decision tree analysis. These prediction models may be used to predict the traffic accident according to the weather condition.