Filippo Marciano

Safety of Users in Road Evacuation: Supply ad Demand-Supply Interaction Models for Users

This paper presents the results that were obtained in the SICURO research project that was carried out by the Laboratory for Transport Systems Analysis (LAST) of Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria (Italy). Microscopic models able to simulate supply and demand-supply interaction of a road transportation system in emergency conditions are described. A microscopic link model (car-following) is specified and calibrated. Parameters are calibrated from data observed during a real simulation of evacuation executed in the test site of Melito Porto Salvo (Italy). A computer application is performed in order to reproduce the evacuation phases observed. Some indicators for testing the performance of a road transportation network in emergency conditions are defined and estimated.

Safety of Users in Road Evacuation: Calibration of Cost Functions And Simulation

This paper on the calibration of cost functions and simulation is from the proceedings of 14th international Conference on Urban Transport and the Environment in the 21st Century, which was held in Malta in 2008. This paper is one of five papers that focus on the safety of users in road evacuation. In this paper, the authors present advancements in Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) microscopic models that are used for the simulation of supply and demand-supply interaction of a road transportation system in emergency conditions. These microscopic models are related to link and node models specified in the research project SICURO, carried out by the Laboratory for Transport Systems Analysis (LAST) of the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria in Italy. The models include microscopic link (car-following) and gap-acceptance (rejection) models for non-signalized intersections; the models are calibrated from data observed during a simulation of an evacuation conducted at Melito Porto Salvo, Italy.

Safety of Users in Road Evacuation: Modelling and DSS for Transport Supply and Supply-Demand Interaction

This paper describes how several Decision Support Systems (DSS) implementing transport modeling have been developed in last two decades to support transport planning in ordinary conditions. However, especially since 9/11, great efforts have been made to adapt the existing DSS, on the one hand, and develop dedicated DSS, on the other, to simulate transportation systems in emergency conditions in order to support evacuation planning and/or operative stages. Nowadays, several DSS are available on the market, or have been developed as research prototypes, for the above purpose. In this paper, based upon a comprehensive literature review, a selection of DSS are analyzed and compared according to their ability to support evacuation planning activities. An application is set up to test transport system simulation through a DSS implementing a microscopic Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) model in order to support evacuation planning. The objective is to test the response capabilities of a DSS in supporting the validation of procedures to be undertaken in the event of emergency evacuation. The aim of the work is to provide planners, technicians and agencies with detailed understanding of the potential and shortcomings of modeling and DSS currently available both on the market and in research.

Signal setting design on a road network: application of a system of models in evacuation conditions

This paper presents an application of a system of models and procedures for signal setting design on a road network in evacuation conditions. The system of models, based on a what-to approach, generates signal setting parameters taking into account users behaviour at path choice level. The application has been executed on a real experimental test site with the objectives of validating the system of models and minimizing evacuation times.

Within-day traffic assignment and signal setting in road evacuation: a procedure with explicit path enumeration

This paper discusses the problem of signal setting design of intersections in a road network as an optimization problem subject to equilibrium constraints where travel flows must be consistent with travel times generated by signal setting parameters. The authors propose a framework for signal setting design of road intersections with explicit path enumeration. The framework has two main components: an optimization procedure for signal setting design and a within-day simulation procedure to capture effects of signal setting modification on path choice behavior. This paper describes the elements of the simulation procedure and illustrates some disaggregate results obtained from its application on an experimental test site.

A System of Models for Signal Setting Design of a Signalized Road Network in Evacuation Conditions

Signal control is considered an effective strategy to increase network capacity and to mitigate congestion. This paper will propose a system of models and procedures for the signal setting design of signalized intersections in a road transport network with endogenous estimation of origin-destination path flows. The system of models and procedures is able to support signal setting design for a road transport network both in ordinary and evacuation conditions.

Hand Arm Vibration, Grip Strength Assessment and the Prevalence of Health Disorders Among Stone Crushing Workers

This research was conducted to analyze the hand-arm vibration exposure levels in the workplace and the effects of vibrations on the health of stone crushing workers. The results suggested that the levels of vibration for rock drilling operators, measured through two different types of systems, were exceeding the Threshold Limit Values. Therefore, a higher percentage of workers may be affected with hand-arm vibration syndrome. In addition, the Hand Activity Level score was calculated with the support of a physician in order to analyze the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders. Prolonged exposures to hand-arm vibration may also lead to loss of grip strength and proper functioning of hand. A digital hand dynamometer was used to calculate the grip strength of the workers using powered drill machine. A significant decrease of 5.86 kg of force in average grip strength of the workers was found before and after 1 h of drilling.

Analytic hierarchy process to support the safety and ergonomic assessment of alternatives in “manuable” material handling

Abstract This paper has two objectives: to describe a multi-criteria ergonomic approach for choosing the best alternative for “manuable” material handling, and to show the application of this methodology to a case study. In this paper, the authors use the single-word term “manuable” to refer to the definition “can be performed manually”. The case study results validated the approach and indicated that the use of the manipulator tested may be ergonomically preferable to manual material handling in situations in which the handled weight is large (20 kg) and when the weight of the load is low (5 kg), albeit slightly.

Leanness measurement methods in manufacturing organisations: a systematic review

The interest of lean companies in tools to monitor and control their lean implementation process, i.e. their leanness level, is continuously increasing. A multitude of diverse approaches have been proposed in the literature for that purpose. In order to provide some guidance both to practitioners interested in selecting a tool and academics aiming at developing a new approach, a systematic review of the methods to measure leanness in manufacturing organisations is carried out. Thirty-one methods are identified and critically analysed based on a set of comparative dimensions. The main strengths and weaknesses of each approach are highlighted. In particular, this paper’s results show that only less than a third of the methods are able to assess leanness in a complete way, taking into consideration both the degree of lean practices adoption and the performance outcomes resulting from implementation. In order to contribute to the reinforcement of a unifying view of the leanness concept, a new leanness definition is developed. Some further gaps in the literature are pointed out, providing directions for future research.