Vegetation Cover in Road Environment (original) (raw)
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Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Silvarum Colendarum Ratio et Industria Lignaria, 2016
This paper concerns the edge effect of a provincial road on the broadly understood inventory characteristics of the neighbouring inland dune pine stands in the "Puszcza Notecka" Forest in Poland. The observations were conducted in the pine stands in the fresh coniferous forest and fresh mixed coniferous forest sites. Twelve rectangular experimental sites, called belt transects, were established perpendicular to the road axis. Each of them consisted of 3-4 plots located at different distances from the pavement edge. In the course of the survey of the flora, a total of 108 plant taxa, out of which 70% are found solely in the immediate vicinity of the road, 25% were found both along the road and in the stand interior and 5% were found only inside the stand. The shrub layer and the forest floor vegetation layer showed a higher coverage and species richness with the opposite trend observed for mosses and lichens. Despite the significant participation of synanthropic plants, there was no invasion of alien species. Due to the low volume of traffic and the lack of maintenance treatments of road surface, the reasons of changes in the species composition are attributed to the modifications of light and humidity conditions.
Designing vegetation and tree belts along roads
Environmental Methods for Transport Noise Reduction, 2014
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2002
This paper investigates and evaluates the effects of ecological management on the vegetation of roadside verges in the Netherlands, conducted by the Ministry of Transport (Public Works Department). A total of 545 relevés, made between 1986 and 1988, were reexamined in 2001. Data were analysed for changes in number of species, rarity of species, red list (endangered) species and syntaxonomical species groups. The total number of species almost did not change. Common species increased while rare species decreased. The red list species declined by 40%. Species from shrub and woodland, from fertile, wet soils and from nitrophilous fringes increased, while species characteristic of relatively open and nutrient-poor habitats and some pioneer communities decreased. Plant communities were valued, and phytosociological changes were evaluated, using the deductive method of Kopecký and Hejný and knowledge about vulnerability, rarity and replaceability. In 44.5% of the 465 evaluated relevés, the vegetation value remained unchanged, in 23.0% it decreased and in 32.5% it increased. The different trends tended to counterbalance one another, resulting in an unchanged mean vegetation value. The increase in vegetation value is mainly due to the increase in relevés containing species rich Arrhenatheretum-subassociations. The decrease is mainly due to a decrease in moist heath, dry sandy pioneer communities and grasslands on relatively poor soils, and the increase of species-poor nitrophilous tall herb communities and woody vegetation. In some of the verges studied, the vegetation value decreased as a result of inappropriate management and construction. Suggestions for improvement are given. Local successes indicate that appropriate management can considerably improve the botanical value of roadside verges, and consequently their value for other life forms.
Accident Analysis & Prevention, 2013
This paper reports the results of a driving simulator study which sought to analyze the effect that: (a) three roadside configurations on a two-lane rural road lined with trees have on speed and lateral position of the driver, depending on different cross-sections as well as geometric elements; (b) the beginning of the guardrail barrier has upon the driver's behavior whenever this occurs on the left curve, right curve or tangent.
Resources, 2022
Improving road safety is not only reliant on engineering aspects but also on the surrounding landscape, which plays an indispensable role in drivers’ visual perception. As a part of road landscapes, green areas affect road safety by screening or framing views. While vistas could be highlighted in safe spots in order for road users to enjoy their travel, in dangerous scenic points, visual attractions need to be concealed to lessen visual distractions and the risk of accidents. This study aims at optimizing road safety through sustainable landscape design in one of the dangerous Tehran–Dizin road bends to meet both road safety and environmental requirements. In doing so, cone of vision formulas have been applied to calculate measures of green landscape features so as to hide visual distractions and upgrade safety. To design such a green landscape, green resources and their characteristics have been elaborated, and native species have been suggested in plant composition, which can impr...
Assessment of scenic beauty of the roadside vegetation in northern England
Landscape and Urban Planning, 2003
This paper presents the results of a questionnaire survey of the views of the road users about the scenic beauty of current roadside vegetation and their perceptions of roadside vegetation with improved scenic value. A majority (83%) of the 183 respondents described scenic quality of roadside vegetation as an important feature of roadside environment indicating awareness among the public about the landscape aspects of the roadside environment. The roadside vegetation was described by a majority of the respondents as unpleasant and drab. The respondents showed a positive attitude towards establishing a variety of vegetation types instead of a uniform seed mixture. Grass swards with flowering herbs near the road and trees further away was the most preferred combination of plant types for re-vegetation of road verges. They also showed a greater preference for the re-establishment of native species in the re-vegetation of roadside verges. However, they did not support higher expenditure on the improvement of scenic beauty of roadside vegetation that calls for introduction of cost-effective methods for re-vegetation and management of roadside verges.
A Guide for Roadside Vegetation Management
2009
Implementing a comprehensive turf management program significantly reduces the overall cost of managing the vegetation along state roadways. This guide provides methods for efficiently and effectively managing the activities that will achieve and maintain a high level of turf quality. The information in this guide is presented in four sections: Section 1: Turf Management Resources defines terms, describes soil characteristics and identifies the different types of turfgrasses and desirable plants managed by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Section 2: Turf Management Procedures covers the methods and procedures used to manage turf including methods for successful establishment, and cultural practices necessary for maintaining the turf at a desired level of quality. Section 3: Operator Safety covers safe operation of mowing equipment. Section 4: Equipment Maintenance covers maintenance of mowing equipment.
Impact of Roadside Landscape to Driving Behaviour; A study with reference to Southern Highway
5th International Conference on 'Cities, People and Places'- ICCPP-2017 , 2017
The highways, road networks, and other transportation links in cities hold an important role in connecting a network of cities but, at the same time, it had created more issues towards quality of the habitation when consider current cities. Lack of Safety on Roads becomes a major issue in the developed and developing world due to over population of humans as well as vehicles, which lead to many fatal incidents than any other course. There are many factors which affects accidents on roads and among those factors, the 'Driving behavior' plays a crucial role in Road Safety. Driving is an action of humans, which allows him/her motion through space from place to place. The road landscape creates the character and the spatial quality, of the space that the driver move through. The rate of information gathered from the surrounding context is vital to decide the driving safe. The accuracy of the information for a safe driving action depends on the visual perception of the driver. 'Southern Expressway', which was introduced recently, allowed people to move quickly from Western to Southern destinations of Sri Lanka and time to time accidents were also recorded. So, the spatial qualities of the existing road landscape might have impacted on the accidents happened on Southern Highway from its initiation, which was the hypothesis of the research. The study focused on identifying the spatial characteristics of Southern Highway by Data collection and Data analysis. Data is collected by two means, then analyzed based on accidents recorded and "Black-Spots" were identified, live recording of the expressway was analyzed to understand the spatial characteristics in the identified 'Black-spots'. In conclusion, the study focus on to analyze the significant spatial characteristics of Road Landscape in Southern highway, and reveal that there is a direct influence from the spatial characteristics in identified accident Black-spots. The study conclude to analyze only three spatial characteristics, due to the scope and time limitations and there is an opportunity to further studies in many other spatial characteristics in road landscape.