PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

A new method for measuring the flow of traffic a street has to bear by measuring atmospheric noise

A new method for measuring the flow of traffic a street has to bear by measuring atmospheric noise
2013-03-14
(Press-News.org) Researchers from the University of Granada and the Carlos III University of Madrid have patented a new method to measure the flow of motorized traffic that a specific street carries each day, by measuring solely the levels of atmospheric noise. This pioneer system, unique in the world, is an alternative, or a complement, to other methods currently used to measure traffic flow, such as image counting or magnetic discharge levels.

This method, designed by the University of Granada, allows a differentiation between the flow of cars, LGVs, HGVs and motorbikes/scooters along a certain road by solely using the levels of atmospheric noise measured on said road. Its application is perfect for roads on which atmospheric noise is the predominant source (overcoming, by 10 Db, any other source of noise) and where traffic flows are of a medium to intense level. Furthermore, it has the added advantage of being more precise than other estimation methods, since it has been proven that it can estimate the total number of vehicles present on a given road over a very short-time period with a maximum error below 17%, which reduces the error for traffic flow estimations taken from sound recordings made over a longer time period.

The methodology developed by the researchers allows the information to be obtained by processing the experimental data using a Bayesian method, which can be developed in a computer algorithm, in order to systematize the prediction process. It is, therefore, a simple method of simple application (the meters can be fitted on top of a press stand, on a streetlamp or a house front) with virtually no prior installation work needed. Plus, it can used in real time and with no human supervision.

Controlling traffic

As the co-author of the research, Diego Pablo Ruiz Padillo, explains to us, this method can be used to control the type of traffic allowed in certain town or city areas (for example, to restrict HGVs on certain roads or streets); to obtain additional information for city/town planning; how to plan the number of parking spaces available for motorbikes/scooters; traffic-light regulation or to study traffic flow and its impact on the inhabitants of the urban area under study.

Ruiz also points out that the University of Granada group's invention, which has been patented by the Office for Research Results Transfer (OTRI), is, in fact, the processing system; software that, coupled to the noise meters or sound-level meters, allows an estimation of traffic flows, since the information is transmitted wirelessly.



INFORMATION:

In addition to Prof. Ruiz Padillo, the other researchers that have taken part in this Project have been Dr. Laura Martin and Dr Antonio Torija, from the University of Granada, along with Prof. Joaquin Miguez, from the Carlos III University of Madrid.


[Attachments] See images for this press release:
A new method for measuring the flow of traffic a street has to bear by measuring atmospheric noise

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Intense terahertz pulses cause DNA damage but also induce DNA repair

Intense terahertz pulses cause DNA damage but also induce DNA repair
2013-03-14
Terahertz (THz) radiation, a slice of the electromagnetic spectrum that occupies the middle ground between microwaves and infrared light, is rapidly finding important uses in medical diagnostics, security, and scientific research. As scientists and engineers find evermore practical uses for this form of radiation, questions persist about its potential human health risks. New research performed on lab-grown human skin suggests that short but powerful bursts of THz radiation may both cause DNA damage and increase the production of proteins that help the body fight cancer. ...

New beautifully colored long-horned beetle from Yunnan, China

New beautifully colored long-horned beetle from Yunnan, China
2013-03-14
The beetle family Cerambycidae, also known as long-horned beetles or longicorns, is characterized by emblematic extremely long antennae, which are usually longer than the total body length of the animal. The family is rather rich in diversity with more than 20 000 species known, distributed worldwide. Some representatives of these bizarre-shaped beetles, are also known as serious pests with their wood-feeding larvae causing extensive damage to living trees or untreated lumber. The beetles from this family are mainly associated with leaf litter habitats, where the specimens ...

Big improvements in preconception health trends among women of reproductive age reported

Big improvements in preconception health trends among women of reproductive age reported
2013-03-14
New Rochelle, NY, March 14, 2013—A woman's health status before pregnancy is critical for the health and wellbeing of the fetus and mother-to-be. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has set Healthy People 2020 national objectives for women of reproductive age, and young women are making important gains toward achieving some of those health goals, while some trends are less encouraging, as reported in a study published in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on ...

Cord blood effective alternative to matched donor stem cells for kids with rare disorder

2013-03-14
(WASHINGTON)-Transplants of blood-forming stem cells from umbilical cord blood may be an effective alternative to transplants of matched donor bone marrow stem cells to treat children with a rare, debilitating disease known as Hurler's syndrome (HS), according to results of a study published online today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). HS is an inherited metabolic disease characterized by the lack of a critical metabolic enzyme (lysosomal α-L-iduronidase) that breaks down long chains of sugar molecules in the body. In the absence ...

Children of divorced parents more likely to start smoking

2013-03-14
TORONTO, ON – Both daughters and sons from divorced families are significantly more likely to initiate smoking in comparison to their peers from intact families, shows a new analysis of 19,000 Americans. This University of Toronto study, published online this month in the journal Public Health, shows that men who experienced parental divorce before they turned 18 had 48-per-cent higher odds of ever smoking 100 or more cigarettes than men whose parents did not divorce. Women from divorced families were also at risk, with 39-per-cent higher odds of smoking in comparison ...

U of T scientists map genome that causes Dutch Elm Disease

2013-03-14
TORONTO, ON — Researchers from the University of Toronto and SickKids Research Institute announced today that they have successfully mapped the genes in the fungus that causes Dutch Elm Disease. The researchers believe this is the first time the 30 million DNA letters for the fungus Ophiostoma ulmi have been mapped. The findings, published in this week's online journal BMC Genomics, could help scientists figure out how to prevent the fungus from destroying elm trees in the future. "Essentially, Dutch Elm Disease is caused by a fungus that prevents the normal distribution ...

Researchers advance fight against biggest hidden virus

2013-03-14
A virus that most people have probably never heard of, yet most of us carry, is the number 1 infectious cause of congenital birth defects. One in 750 children are born with, or develop, permanent disabilities such as hearing loss or brain damage as a result of CMV (cytomegalovirus) infection in the womb. Major research efforts are underway to combat this invidious disease. Researchers from Cardiff University and the La Jolla Institute, California, have discovered a previously unknown cellular mechanism that could prove critical in creating a CMV vaccine. "CMV is ...

Mutations in VCP gene implicated in a number of neurodegenerative diseases

2013-03-14
New research, published in Neuron, gives insight into how single mutations in the VCP gene cause a range of neurological conditions including a form of dementia called Inclusion Body Myopathy, Paget's Disease of the Bone and Frontotemporal Dementia (IBMPFD), and the motor neuron disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Single mutations in one gene rarely cause such different diseases. This study shows that these mutations disrupt energy production in cells shedding new light on the role of VCP in these multiple disorders. In healthy cells VCP helps remove damaged ...

New cancer diagnostic technique debuts

2013-03-14
Valdivia, Chile, and Washington, D.C.—Cancer cells break down sugars and produce the metabolic acid lactate at a much higher rate than normal cells. This phenomenon provides a telltale sign that cancer is present, via diagnostics such as PET scans, and possibly offers an avenue for novel cancer therapies. Now a team of Chilean researchers at The Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs), with the collaboration of Carnegie's Wolf Frommer, has devised a molecular sensor that can detect levels of lactate in individual cells in real time. Prior to this advance, no other measurement ...

Problems of pathological gambling differ for younger and older gamblers

2013-03-14
To successfully treat pathological gambling, you need to intervene at an early stage, according to Susana Jiménez-Murcia from the University Hospital of Bellvitge in Spain and colleagues. Their study shows that a patient's age influences how severe the psychopathology and clinical aspects of pathological gambling are. Their work is published online in Springer's Journal of Gambling Studies. These days, access to 24-hour, uncontrolled gambling is straightforward thanks largely to the internet. People can access both classic and modern games, from slot machines and lotteries ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

ACP’s Best Practice Advice addresses use of cannabis, cannabinoids for chronic noncancer pain

Beyond photorespiration: A systematic approach to unlocking enhanced plant productivity

How a small number of mutations can fuel outbreaks of western equine encephalitis virus

Exposure to wildfire smoke linked with worsening mental health conditions

Research uncovers hidden spread of one of the most common hospital-associated infections

Many older adults send their doctors portal messages, but who pays?

Fine particulate matter from 2020 California wildfires and mental health–related emergency department visits

Gender inequity in institutional leadership roles in US academic medical centers

Pancreatic cells ‘remember’ epigenetic precancerous marks without genetic sequence mutations

Rare combination of ovarian tumors found in one patient

AI-driven clinical recommendations may aid physician decision making to improve quality of care

Artificial intelligence has potential to aid physician decisions during virtual urgent care

ACP and Annals of Internal Medicine present breaking scientific news at ACP’s Internal Medicine Meeting 2025

New study reveals polymers with flawed fillers boost heat transfer in plastics

Signs identified that precede sudden arrhythmic death syndrome in young people

Discovery of bacteria's defence against viruses becomes a piece of the puzzle against resistance

Pre-eclampsia is associated with earlier onset and higher incidence of cardiovascular risk factors

Warwick astronomers discover doomed pair of spiralling stars on our cosmic doorstep

Soil conditions significantly increase rainfall in world’s megastorm hotspots

NK cells complexed with bispecific antibody yield high response rates in patients with lymphoma

Planetary health diet and mediterranean diet associated with similar survival and sustainability benefits

Singapore launches national standard to validate antimicrobial disinfectant products

Molecular stool test could improve detection of tuberculosis in adults with HIV

Suspected fibrocartilaginous embolus in Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus)

Enhancing heat transfer using the turbulent flow of viscoelastic fluids

Exercise as an anti-ageing intervention to avoid detrimental impact of mental fatigue

UMass Amherst Nursing Professor Emerita honored as ‘Living Legend’

New guidelines aim to improve cystic fibrosis screening

Picky eaters by day, buffet by night: Butterfly, moth diets sync to plant aromas

Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Leanne Redman honored with the E. V. McCollum Award from the American Society for Nutrition

[Press-News.org] A new method for measuring the flow of traffic a street has to bear by measuring atmospheric noise