http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/matter_energy/transportation_science/ Transportation Research. From designing the best transportation systems to improving drivers' speed and safety, find research on transportation science here. en-us Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:05:02 EDT Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:05:02 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/matter_energy/transportation_science/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080917074132.htm Spanish highways are increasingly incorporating walkways specially designed for wild animals, or mixed use structures designed for other purposes, which connect wildlife from one side of the road to the other. Researchers have analysed 43 walkways used by vertebrates to quantify the importance of these structures, which facilitate animals’ natural movements and reduce mortality caused by vehicles and, consequently, traffic accidents. Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080917074132.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080915105733.htm The next major advance in computer processors will likely be the move from today's two-dimensional chips to three-dimensional circuits, and the first three-dimensional synchronization circuitry is now running at 1.4 gigahertz at the University of Rochester. Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080915105733.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080910142425.htm The thought of a bus moving along city streets while its driver has both hands off the wheel is alarming. But a special bus steers not by a driver, but by a magnetic guidance system developed by engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, with remarkable precision. Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080910142425.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080908135908.htm Is road transport the best way to send oranges from Spain to northern Germany? Or would it be better to ship them by rail or waterway for part of the route? A new software package determines the cheapest, fastest or most environmentally compatible mode of transportation. Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080908135908.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080903172421.htm Researchers are developing an air traffic control system that can track multiple flight locations and changing weather conditions and help controllers optimize traffic flow and air safety. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080903172421.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080905164326.htm Information and communications systems in road vehicles are progressing steadily, but the research community behind these developments remains fragmented. Now a European initiative has linked key knowledge centers and is paving the way for the next generation of ‘joined up’ intelligent vehicle research. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080905164326.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080903112034.htm It seems paradoxical but the more people ride bicycles on our city streets, the less likely they are to be injured in traffic accidents. International research reveals that as cycling participation increases, a cyclist is far less likely to collide with a motor vehicle or suffer injury and death - and what's true for cyclists is true for pedestrians. Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080903112034.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080901085724.htm Research carried out in Sweden suggests that there are three critical manoeuvres that lead to loss of control of heavy trucks and subsequent accidents. Writing in the International Journal of Vehicle Safety, the researchers explain that negotiating a bend is the main cause of loss of control, closely followed by avoidance manoeuvres, and road-edge recovery. Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080901085724.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080902102538.htm A study recently published in ARVO's online Journal of Vision may inform the next generation of in-car driving assistance systems. New research finds that when drivers fix their gaze on specific targets placed strategically along a curve, their steering is smoother and more stable than it is in normal conditions. Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080902102538.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080901140921.htm Researchers have developed a special dashboard computer to act as a single conduit for all devices emerging in modern cars – GPS, mobile, PDAs, intelligent car technologies. It should mean a better, more relaxed and even safer driving experience. Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080901140921.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080827163814.htm Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory and collaborators have uncovered the first experimental evidence for why the transition temperature of high-temperature superconductors cannot simply be elevated by increasing the electrons' binding energy. The research demonstrates how, as electron-pair binding energy increases, the electrons' tendency to get caught in a quantum mechanical "traffic jam" overwhelms the interactions needed for the material to act as a superconductor -- a freely flowing fluid of electron pairs. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080827163814.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080819170441.htm New research shows that sharing digital files locally relieves pressure on the Internet service provider by as much as five times, while actually speeding up the transfer. Sat, 23 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080819170441.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080729141129.htm Road safety, energy efficiency, and traffic congestion are the main challenges currently faced by the European transport system. The use of new in-vehicle technologies has the potential to contribute to safer, cleaner and more efficient transport solutions throughout Europe. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080729141129.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080728081344.htm If you want to avoid the most dangerous routes on the road the next time you start your daily commute or the family vacation, the information you need is now available. University of Minnesota researchers have developed an interactive map online that outlines every road fatality in the nation. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080728081344.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080710115137.htm An analysis of yearly vehicle deaths compared to gas prices found death rates drop significantly as people slow down and drive less. If gas remains at $4 a gallon or higher for a year or more, traffic fatalities could drop by more than 1,000 per month nationwide, according new findings. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080710115137.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080702172613.htm Researchers are developing a new in-car navigation system which informs motorists about traffic jams ahead and advises the driver of the best route for their journey before they reach the congestion. The 'Congestion Avoidance Dynamic Routing Engine' (CADRE) uses Artificial Intelligence to interpret live traffic information shared between vehicles fitted with a special GPS. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080702172613.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080624110906.htm The persistent, annoying blare of an ignored car alarm may become a sound of the past if a cooperative, mutable and silent network of monitors proposed by Penn State researchers is deployed in automobiles and parking lots. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080624110906.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080622224438.htm Imagine a plane that has wings made out of glass. Thanks to a major breakthrough in understanding the nature of glass by scientists at the University of Bristol, this has just become a possibility. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080622224438.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080623175408.htm Researchers at Purdue University have determined that raising the speed limit from 65 to 70 on Interstate 65 in Indiana has not increased the probability of fatalities or severe injuries. Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080623175408.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080604194701.htm The number of road traffic deaths in China has soared almost 100 percent in two decades, reveals a study published in the journal Injury Prevention. Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080604194701.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080603102747.htm Leading low-cost airlines with a preference for small, inexpensive airports are now the largest airlines in the United States and Europe, according to an MIT expert on airport design and operations, who said that airport planners in major metropolitan areas need to accept this paradigm shift and build flexibility into airport design. Low-cost airlines require terminals about half the size of those of the legacy airlines, because they use space more intensively. Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080603102747.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080527155459.htm Engineers have created a method that uses pervasive Bluetooth signals from cell phones and other wireless devices to constantly update how long it takes vehicles and pedestrians to travel from one point to another. The method envisioned by engineers represents a potentially low-cost leap in technology to provide information for everything from the speed of the morning commute to the sluggishness of airport security lines. Wed, 28 May 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080527155459.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080516122010.htm Women run a three times greater risk than men of incurring a debilitating injury in a rear-end collision. This is partly due to differences between the sexes regarding sitting position. Neck injuries among vehicle drivers as a result of being rear-ended remain a major problem for victims and cost insurance companies and society huge sums. Women run three times the risk of incurring debilitating neck injuries compared with men. For both women and men, the findings show that the driver's seat entails twice the risk compared with the front passenger seat. Tue, 20 May 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080516122010.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080513101713.htm As cars become entertainment centers and data-gathering devices, the amount of information they're collecting about you is rapidly growing. And guess who might be interested? Insurance companies, advertisers, government agencies, your boss and perhaps your spouse. On the other hand, say researchers, an intelligent car with a caring voice might persuade humans to drive more safely. Thu, 15 May 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080513101713.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080513101610.htm How can traffic be monitored and controlled more effectively? Scientists have now developed methods of determining the traffic situation across a wide area, and have refined processes that enable traffic to be optimally channeled. Traffic jams on the way to work, to the shops or to a holiday destination -- a common experience for most of us. Wed, 14 May 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080513101610.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080508115822.htm The newest version of the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy use in Transportation model will provide researchers with even more tools to evaluate and compare the environmental impacts of new transportation fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. The newest update released May 9 will allow scientists to model combustion of ethanol produced from Brazilian sugarcane and used by U.S. automobiles; production and use of bio-butanol as a potential transportation fuel; and production and use of biodiesel and renewable diesel via hydrogenation, coal/biomass co-feeding for Fischer-Tropsch diesel production and various corn ethanol plant types with different process fuels. Sat, 10 May 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080508115822.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080501093517.htm Most local TV newscasts feature news of car crashes, fires and other injury-causing events, but relatively few contain information on preventing such injuries, a new study finds. However, if a police or fire official is interviewed, prevention is much more likely to become part of the story -- suggesting that more media training to help them deliver prevention messages could improve public awareness. Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080501093517.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080412175201.htm The largest road safety research project ever launched in Europe will usher in a series of powerful road-safety systems for European cars. But, in the long term, its basic, experimental research could lead to a car that is virtually uncrashable. A truck exits suddenly from a side road, directly into your lane only dozens of metres ahead. Suddenly, your car issues a warning, starts applying the brakes and attempts to take evasive action. Realising impact is unavoidable; in-car safety systems pre-tension the safety belts and arm the airbag, timing its release to the second before impact. Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080412175201.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080412174944.htm The device that will manage the telematics communications of next-generation vehicles may already be in our pockets. Multiple application 'nomadic' devices like the mobile phone are ideal for telematics solutions. Automotive manufacturers are now facing up to that reality. It hasn't been easy. Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080412174944.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080412175905.htm A huge European project into car and road safety has developed a system that will read satellite navigation maps and warn the driver of upcoming hazards -- sharp bends, dips and accident black spots -- which may be invisible to the driver. Even better, the system can update the geographic database. Suddenly, all drivers can become mapmakers. You are driving along an unfamiliar road, using your satellite navigation to find your way. But clever technology in your car is also tracking the route, looking at the terrain, and upcoming bends and intersections. It has information on accident blind spots, dips in the road, and more. Linking into other in-car wireless communication systems, it can even communicate with other vehicles in the vicinity. Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080412175905.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402204950.htm You are driving in heavy traffic. The brake lights on the car in front of you come on. Is the car slowing or is it going to stop? It slows to 25 mph and the lights go off. You drop back. The car in front of you stops suddenly! You stop just in time. The car behind you collects your rear bumper. Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402204950.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401112407.htm A car that navigates city streets without a driver -- steered only by a computer? That might seem impossible to many. But researchers are presenting such an automated vehicle at this year's Hannover Messe in April. Its core element is a 3-D laser scanner. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401112407.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080331172511.htm Since 1975, more than 100,000 motorcycle riders in America have died in crashes. The majority of states required motorcycle helmets in 1975, but today, only 20 states have universal helmet laws that require all riders to wear helmets, 26 states have partial coverage laws (usually only for young riders), and four states have no helmet laws. The motorcyclist fatality rate has increased in states that repealed their universal helmet laws during the past decade. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080331172511.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080328070103.htm Independent tests conducted by engineers at the US Department of Energy on a BMW Hydrogen 7 Mono-Fuel demonstration vehicle have found that the car's hydrogen-powered engine surpasses the super-ultra low-emission vehicle level, the most stringent emissions performance standard to date. Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080328070103.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080311151159.htm Rather than improving motorist safety, red-light cameras significantly increase crashes and are a ticket to higher auto insurance premiums, researchers conclude. Researchers analyzed several comprehensive studies of the effectiveness of red-light cameras nationwide to provide insight to Florida communities debating the cameras' merits. They recommend engineering solutions to improve intersection safety, particularly to accommodate elderly drivers. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080311151159.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080305104905.htm Scientists have shown that just listening to a cell phone while driving is a significant distraction, and it causes drivers to commit some of the same types of driving errors that can occur under the influence of alcohol. Brain imaging reveals drivers are distracted even if they don't talk. Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080305104905.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080304075707.htm A new study from a Japanese research group explains why we're occasionally caught in traffic jams for no visible reason. The real origin of traffic jams often has nothing to do with obvious obstructions such as accidents or construction work but is simply the result of there being too many cars on the road. Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080304075707.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303212740.htm Child passengers, ages 12 to 16, are more likely to die in a car crash than younger children, according to a new study. This risk increases with each teenage year. The study offers evidence-based guidelines for parents and policymakers to help protect this vulnerable age group. Researchers examined 45,560 crashes involving 8- to 17-year-old passengers. Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303212740.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080227182956.htm In a car commercial, it would sound odd: active suspension, six-wheel drive with independent steering for each wheel, no doors, no windows, no seats and the only color it comes in is gold. But NASA's latest concept vehicle is meant to go way, way off-road -- as in 240,000 miles from the nearest pavement, driving on the moon. NASA is working to send astronauts to the moon by 2020 to set up a lunar outpost, where they will do scientific research and prepare for journeys to destinations like Mars. Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080227182956.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080226092749.htm Overtaking on two-lane roads is easier if drivers use what is known as an overtaking assistant, a system which indicates when it is safe to overtake. This system prevents reckless drivers overtaking when it is not safe, and can also aid cautious drivers in overtaking slower vehicles. This is the proposition of young researcher. Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080226092749.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080218214401.htm People with sleep apnea -- a breathing disorder that disrupts sleep -- are at double the risk of being in a car crash, a new study finds. The study also found that patients with sleep apnea are three to five times more likely to be in a serious car crash involving personal injury. Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080218214401.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080211102444.htm Interlocks, breath-testing devices that prevent a vehicle's ignition from starting if the driver is above a preset blood alcohol limit, can dramatically reduce driving-while-impaired offenses among first-time offenders, a new study shows. Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080211102444.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080213090530.htm Night-time noise from aircraft or traffic can increase a person's blood pressure even if it does not wake them. Scientists monitored 140 sleeping volunteers in their homes near London Heathrow and three other major European airports. The researchers measured the volunteers' blood pressure remotely at 15-minute intervals and then analyzed how this related to the noise recorded in the volunteers' bedrooms. Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080213090530.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080205203510.htm Driving might be a badge of freedom for teen-agers, but it can also be deadly. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of teen fatalities in the United States, accounting for 44 percent, according to the National Safety Council. A new study suggests that urban sprawl could put teens at more risk. There is a strong relationship between the number of miles a teen drives and the risk of injury or death. Teens in sprawling counties were more than twice as likely to drive more than 20 miles per day as teens in compact counties were -- and the younger they were, the more miles they drove. Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080205203510.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080130185654.htm A free, downloadable training program developed teaches teen-age drivers how, when and where to anticipate and avoid potentially fatal traffic hazards. It's called a "Risk Awareness and Perception Training (RAPT) Program" and all the training is done on a personal computer. Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080130185654.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080129125438.htm Women and children younger than three years old who travel in the rear seats of the car are more likely to die in the event of a road crash than men. The research work also points out that the left side of the inside is more dangerous than the central or the right side. Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080129125438.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080125232911.htm By monitoring tiny fluctuations in the Earth's magnetic field caused by a passing plane, a team of European researchers has developed an innovative system to increase airport safety even in the worst weather conditions. Using magnetic field detectors they have developed a unique system to pinpoint the location of aircraft at airports even in places where other traffic monitoring systems face difficulties. Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080125232911.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080123100654.htm Most states have graduated licensing for teen drivers but such programs should be even more restrictive, according to a new study. Teens are at excess risk, they say, for all crash types, which include a combination of various elements: characteristics of the teen driver, time of day, day of week, driver behavior and the context within the vehicle. Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080123100654.htm