The geostatistical methodology proposed in this article is able to provide quantitative data of the ground vibrational movements to the decision support systems to determine the priorities of the seismic interventions adaptation of existing transport infrastructures but also in the design phase of new infrastructures. This paper shows the use of geostatistics to estimate the arrival time and the value of the ground acceleration peak of the vertical and epicentral oscillation components of the Norcia earthquake of 2016. The validity of the non-stationary geostatistical methodology is confirmed by the calculated estimation errors in the 38 sites of the accelerometric stations and used to verify the representativeness of the estimated data. The histogram of the 38 normalized estimation errors is close to a Gaussian distribution with the frequency of the ± σck class of 73.7% instead of 68.3%. This result was obtained for both seismic variables treated, arrival time of the maximum acceleration and peak ground acceleration value (PGA).
Road crashes have been internationally recognized as one of the main causes of death. On one hand, in Europe, many governments are struggling with the ambitious target of zero road deaths by 2050. On the other hand, they are facing remediation of illegal waste dumps, subject to European infringement procedures and involving a lot of workers and heavy materials transportation. With the aim to further explore occupational health and safety (OHS) issues related to the remediation of such contaminated sites close to urban areas, we decided to focus our attention on road crashes involving people while working in the transport of materials and goods (i.e., occupational road safety). In the scientific literature, it is considered an emerging matter of concern, but no significant contribution nor specific procedures have been provided in this research field for workers in charge of contaminated sites. With the aim to fill such a gap, we decided to, first, investigate the impacts of a landfill remediation site (Malagrotta landfill, near Rome—Italy) on road safety in the surrounding context. Then, road safety management measures for workers driving heavy vehicles from and toward the reference site were suggested through the means of cluster analysis. The main road accident determinants (road safety signs and traffic conditions) for heavy vehicles in the Rome municipality, derived from a sample of 166 events, occurred in the period 2017–2021 on target road infrastructures for the case study. The events were finally grouped with a k-means three-centroid solution. Overall, despite the intrinsic limits related to the data’s details, this paper provides a specific and data-driven methodology to address occupational road safety near a landfill remediation site and encourages further research in this field.
Let's define "multihazard": a chain of sequential events intersection, each one conditioned by the previous. The present study affords an in-depth insight into road tunnel multihazard. The paper stems from interest in analyzing the conditions of occurrence and development of two important accident events: San Gotthard (Switzerland, 2001) and San Benedetto tunnel (Italy, 2016). The first originated from the improper human behavior of a driver who invaded the opposite lane colliding frontally with another vehicle. A fire developed involving the vehicles' fuel, cargo of goods, bituminous conglomerate of the pavement and collapse of the vault concrete with eleven victims and damage to the structure. The second which occurred during the seismic activity of 2016 in central Italy (Umbria), caused the break and relative 20-30 cm displacement of two sides of the tunnel pavement. The first part of the paper deals with the study of seismic hazard conditions around the San Benedetto tunnel and fragility of concrete lining and asphalt pavement. In the second part the deepening concerns the probability estimation of a potential intersection of a seismic event with forced swerve, collision, and fire. The seismic induced break plays the role of the human factor in the Gotthard multihazard accident. The overall length of TERN Italian tunnels is greater than the one of all other countries joint lengths and for this reason, Italy can be called the Country of Tunnels. The risk of fire in tunnels in Italy must be compliant with Alarp criteria of acceptability and tolerability according to a Legislative Decree of 2006 which in turn complies with the European Directive of 2004. The quantitative and interactive "Play Gu@larp" procedure is described, which allows and support in risk-based design, reducing risk under compliance conditions.
Fire tests are used to determine whether fire protection products meet the minimum performance criteria set out in codes and legislation, as well as to certify these products. Experimental large-scale fires are used to test the performance of safety systems in tunnels, which are confined environments with a high probability of accidents and significant consequences due to the evolution of the event and whether there is the capability of counteracting it by safety measures. In this study, we conducted a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines. We searched the Scopus and Web of Science databases for publications from 2013 to 2022, resulting in a selection of 72 articles. An analysis was conducted on the following main topics: tunnel fires, fire characteristics (measured variables, spread, and smoke), model-scale tests, automatic shutdown systems, and ventilation solutions. One of the most important contributions of this study is the suggestion that fire tests represent an effective method not only to prevent fire events in tunnels but also to ensure the resilience of the infrastructure. Based on this state-of-the-art literature review, future tunnels could be designed by linking new smart technology and artificial intelligence to create interactive and high-performing safety systems.
Industrial production has brought increased wellbeing in the last years, but the amount of solid waste has undoubtedly increased. Thus, open dumpsites and landfills have been created throughout the world, with serious impacts on the environment and public health. In such a context, occupational health and safety (OHS) issues related to workers that have to deal with landfill characterization or management have not been considered sufficiently. To reduce such a research gap, in 2019 a research project started in Italy on OHS risk assessment in landfills. In fact, in such facilities, workers can be subjected to direct contact with the polluted environment and might not be completely aware of the entity and type of pollution (e.g., in open dumpsites). Starting with the analysis of INAIL data on accidents at work which occurred in Italy during the period 2008–2019, a specific risk analysis was carried out with the goal of defining risk determinants and profiles by means of K-means cluster analysis. Such an analysis allowed us to recognize the use of work equipment and the work environment as the main determinants of the accidents on the one hand, and the “driver of the excavator” as the most risky activity on the other. The achieved results take a step forward towards the characterization of occupational health and safety issues in landfills. Accordingly, the research outcomes represent a basis on which to address further research work in this field.
In the last decade, green solutions for road tunnels have steadily emerged in the field of engineering. The focus has been on using renewable energy sources to conserve energy and address issues of disaster risk management, territorial resilience and vulnerability, especially as these issues relate to critical infrastructures (CIs), such as roads and railways. Focusing on the equilibrium of the infrastructure through integrated system services and their external effects guarantees a better evaluation of both effects as they relate to other systems and energy consumption optimisation. To this end, a systematic literature review has been conducted herein that collects and analyses studies carried out in the last decade that relate to green energy solutions in tunnels. Upon a review of the Scopus database from 2013 to 2022, 46 conceptual and empirical studies were selected. Classifications and discussions were then developed according to the main issues identified (e.g., energy saving in road tunnels, zero-energy tunnels, renewable energy sources, tunnel safety lighting, and sustainable infrastructure). Each contribution constitutes a part of the current literature that combines the problems of tunnel safety (as represented by the energy costs of safety devices, e.g., tunnel lighting systems) with issues of renewable energy sources in tunnels. The results of this systematic review offer ideas for future directions of the ‘green’ vision for tunnel infrastructure. This study represents the state-of-the-art of renewable energy solutions currently present worldwide. Gaps in the literature that have yet to be addressed include how to build a green system as well as how to balance its life costs. The review supports the claim that the integration of renewable energy sources can exploit innovative solutions related to the concept of resilience.
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