PLOS ONE: [sortOrder=DATE_NEWEST_FIRST, sort=Date, newest first, q=subject:"Civil engineering"]PLOShttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/webmaster@plos.orgaccelerating the publication of peer-reviewed sciencehttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/search/feed/atom?sortOrder=DATE_NEWEST_FIRST&sort=Date,+newest+first&unformattedQuery=subject:%22Civil+engineering%22All PLOS articles are Open Access.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/resource/img/favicon.icohttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/resource/img/favicon.ico2024-03-29T05:12:49ZDriving factors and grouping paths of rural sports development in China ‐ A qualitative comparative analysis based on fuzzy setsDuan YuHongwei FanNing Zhang10.1371/journal.pone.03001692024-03-28T14:00:00Z2024-03-28T14:00:00Z<p>by Duan Yu, Hongwei Fan, Ning Zhang</p>
The development of rural sports depends on many factors, but the complex causal relationship between various factors and the level of rural sports development is not clear. Using data envelopment analysis (DEA) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), this study aims to examine the driving role of various factors on rural sports development and construct various grouping paths to improve the level of rural sports development in China. The results shows that the area of fitness venues and social capital participation are sufficient conditions for the development of rural sports in China. Resource endowment through government fing, social capital participation and the construction of sports venues and facilities is the key driving factor for rural sports development in China. There are four grouping paths for the high-quality development of rural sports, which are divided into three configurations by combining the grouping characteristics: the state-social capital jointly controlled type driven by economic development and the resource endowment driven by the modernization of the agriculture promotes production and the grassroots organizations that are supported by the advantage of resource endowment. The results of the study highlight the complex causal relationships and key driving factors of rural sports development in China, highlight the differences in rural sports development patterns in different regions, and provide new ideas and guidelines for improving the level and quality of rural sports development.Evaluation and optimization of outdoor wind environment in block based on space syntax and CFD simulationPeng CaoWenhui Li10.1371/journal.pone.02976832024-03-28T14:00:00Z2024-03-28T14:00:00Z<p>by Peng Cao, Wenhui Li</p>
The wind environment quality at the height of pedestrians can significantly affect the thermal comfort and physical and mental health of pedestrians, promote the diffusion of air pollutants and inhibit the formation of urban heat island effect, and has been paid more and more attention in the field of urban and rural planning. This paper takes Jianlan Road commercial pedestrian Street as an example to maximize the thermal comfort of pedestrians. Based on CFD numerical simulation technology and space syntax theory, the pedestrian wind environment of the accessible space of the block is selected for quantitative research. Through numerical simulation, the influence of block spatial form on the wind environment at pedestrian height under the initial condition of uniform air flow is analyzed, and some suggestions are put forward for the optimization of block spatial form. Finally, the block optimization scheme is verified and simulated. The visualization results show that the wind environment quality of the optimized high-accessibility space is significantly improved, the proportion of comfort zone is increased from 58.2% to 86%, and the static wind rate is reduced from 41.8% to 14%. The wind environment optimization effect is obvious.Urban transportation system toughness assessment under New Crown epidemicsTianjun FengXubin Zeng10.1371/journal.pone.03006522024-03-25T14:00:00Z2024-03-25T14:00:00Z<p>by Tianjun Feng, Xubin Zeng</p>
Since the concept of toughness was introduced to transportation systems, transportation system toughness has received extensive attention from researchers in the field of transportation worldwide. In this paper, a methodology for quantifying and assessing the toughness of urban transportation systems is proposed in the context of the New Crown epidemic. Firstly, the definition of urban transportation system toughness in this context is clarified, and the entropy evaluation method is applied to construct the performance curve of urban transportation systems over time. Then, it is proposed to quantify the system’s resistance, recovery, and adaptive ability in terms of the change in the cumulative amount of system performance. Finally, the three characteristic abilities of system toughness are organically combined to obtain a comprehensive assessment of system toughness. Example calculations and analyses are carried out in four Chinese cities with different levels of development, and the results show that the performance of urban transportation systems is positively correlated with their levels of development, and all of them fluctuate greatly under the influence of the epidemic, but Wuhan has the strongest resistance and recovery ability of the transportation system, and shows the highest toughness, followed by Lanzhou, Changchun, and Shanghai. The system toughness quantification and assessment methods proposed in this paper provide a reference for research on improving the ability of urban transportation systems to deal with multiple uncertainty disturbances.Propagation and control of congestion risk in scale-free networks based on information entropyHuining YanHua LiQiubai SunYuxi Jiang10.1371/journal.pone.03004222024-03-22T14:00:00Z2024-03-22T14:00:00Z<p>by Huining Yan, Hua Li, Qiubai Sun, Yuxi Jiang</p>
To study the propagation pattern of congestion risk in the traffic network and enhance risk control capabilities, a model has been developed. This model takes into account the probabilities of five threats (the risk occurrence probability; the risk of loss; the unpredictability of risk; the uncontrollability of risk; the transferability of risk) in the traffic network to define the risk entropy and determine the risk capacity, analyze the mechanism of congestion risk propagation, and explore the impact of risk resistance, the average degree of risk capacity at intersections, and the degree of correlation on congestion risk propagation. Further, a control method model for risk propagation is proposed. Numerical simulation results demonstrate that the risk resistance parameter <i>θ</i> can inhibit the propagation of congestion risk during traffic congestion. The highest efficiency in controlling risk propagation is achieved when <i>θ</i> reaches a threshold value <i>θ</i>*. Furthermore, the average degree of intersection risk capacity <i>α</i> shows a positive correlation with <i>θ</i>* and a negative correlation with control efficiency. However, the degree of association <i>ω</i> has a negative effect on risk propagation control, decreasing the degree of association between nodes aids in risk propagation control.Collaborative optimization model and algorithm for airport capacity and traffic flow allocationPeinan HeWeijun Pan10.1371/journal.pone.02985402024-03-22T14:00:00Z2024-03-22T14:00:00Z<p>by Peinan He, Weijun Pan</p>
How to efficiently utilize the existing airport capacity without physical expansion and considerable economic inputs to meet air traffic needs is one of the important tasks of air traffic management. To improve the efficiency of capacity utilization, it is necessary to find the actual airport capacity properly. In this work, taking Shuangliu International Airport as an example, a methodology for capacity estimation is proposed that combines the empirical method with an analytical approach that uses historical performance data from the airport to construct a capacity envelope to approximate the airport’s actual capacity to the greatest extent, establishes a collaborative optimization model that reflects the inherent relations between airport capacity and arrival and departure traffic demand, adopts an improved optimization algorithm to solve the model, and generates an optimal flight allocation scheme. Priority ratio is introduced to dynamically adjust management preferences for arrival and departure traffic demand to further reveal the synergy mechanism between departure and arrival traffic flow demand and the airport capacity. The result shows that the Flight On-time Performance rate is lifted by 6% in the case study which proves the feasibility of the proposed method, demonstrating its value for maximizing airport capacity and traffic flow demand without requiring expansions on airport scales.Spatial-temporal differentiation of urban eco-efficiency and its driving factors: A comparison of five major urban agglomerations in ChinaXiang LiuXinyuan ZhangMan YuanJia LiuGuolin Zhou10.1371/journal.pone.03004192024-03-21T14:00:00Z2024-03-21T14:00:00Z<p>by Xiang Liu, Xinyuan Zhang, Man Yuan, Jia Liu, Guolin Zhou</p>
This paper utilizes an improved undesirable output DEA model to measure the eco-efficiency of cities in five major urban agglomerations in China during 2006–2020. It employs the Theil Index and Geodetector to investigate the spatial-temporal distribution differentiation characteristics and driving factors of urban eco-efficiency. The main findings are as follows. Firstly, the eco-efficiency of all urban agglomerations showed a fluctuating upward trend, but the eco-efficiency performance of different urban agglomerations in China shows a stratification characteristic. Specifically, the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration consistently ranks first in China, while the mean values of the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration, and Chengdu-Chongqing urban agglomeration are lower than the national average. Secondly, the overall differences in the urban eco-efficiency of all sample cities show a consistently fluctuating downward trend. The factor that affects the level differences of eco-efficiency in different cities is the intra-regional differences. Last but not least, the top three factors affecting the spatial distribution difference of urban eco-efficiency in the whole sample are environmental pollution control investments, innovation level, and environmental infrastructure investments. In the end, this paper proposes that reducing the intra-regional differences is the primary task to achieve the coordinated improvement of urban eco-efficiency in urban agglomerations, and then puts forward some policy suggestions to improve eco-efficiency for the five major urban agglomerations.Encirclement of productive capacities and institutions in context of sustainable developmentRenhan GuoGhulam Rasool Madni10.1371/journal.pone.02973502024-03-21T14:00:00Z2024-03-21T14:00:00Z<p>by Renhan Guo, Ghulam Rasool Madni</p>
The question of whether productive capacities and institutional quality facilitate or impede progress towards sustainable development is a significant issue that has not been extensively explored in prior literature. Despite their importance, these variables are often overlooked in the literature on sustainable development, yet they play a crucial role in enabling efforts to achieve sustainable development. In this study, we examined how productive capacities affect sustainable development, with a moderating impact of institutional quality. The sample was comprised of 44 Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) economies, covering the period from 2000 to 2018. Using a two-step system GMM, we found that the relation between productive capacities and sustainable development is dynamic, positive, and significant. Additionally, institutional quality played a moderating role in achieving sustainable development, especially among regionally connected countries. Our findings suggest that sustainable development is strongly linked to a country’s productive capacities. Therefore, improving productive capacities and institutional quality may lead to long-term development and sustainability. These results are valuable to academia as they provide new thought regarding the influence of productive capacities and institutional quality on sustainable development, and policymakers may benefit from the suggestions presented regarding productive capacities and institutional quality.Built environment and physical activity in adolescents: Use of the kernel density estimation and the walkability indexIsabella Toledo CaetanoRogério César FerminoRenato de Oliveira FalcãoPaulo Roberto dos Santos Amorim10.1371/journal.pone.02996282024-03-19T14:00:00Z2024-03-19T14:00:00Z<p>by Isabella Toledo Caetano, Rogério César Fermino, Renato de Oliveira Falcão, Paulo Roberto dos Santos Amorim</p>
The availability of places for physical activity (PA) and the walkability of the neighborhood can impact the level of PA of adolescents. However, studies of this nature are still limited in Latin America. This study had two objectives: 1- using kernel density estimative, it investigated whether individuals living near PA places that are more intensely distributed than dispersed are more likely to be sufficiently active; 2—checked whether adolescents who live in neighborhoods with better walkability have a greater chance of being sufficiently active. Were evaluated 292 adolescents and PA was measured by accelerometry. Were measured five environmental variables for composing the walkability index. 98 PA points (places) were identified and destinations within these areas were geocoded and kernel density estimates (KDE) of places intensity were created using kernels (radius) of 400m (meters), 800, 1200 and 1600m. Using Logistic Regression, the association between the intensity of PA places (classified into quartiles Q1(smallest)—Q4(largest)) and the probability of being "Sufficient PA"; and the association between walkability (quartiles Q1(least)—Q4(highest)) and the probability of being "PA Sufficient " were estimated (p≤0.05). There were associations only for the intensities of places with the largest radius. Among adolescents who lived in places with higher intensity compared with lower intensity places: 1200m (Q3, OR 2.18 95% CI 1.12–4.22; Q4, OR 2.77 95% CI 1.41–5.43) and 1600m (Q3, OR 3.68 95%CI 1.86–7.30; Q4, OR 3.69 95%CI 1.86–7.30) were more likely to be "Sufficient PA". There were also associations for walkability, where those living in places with better walkability (Q4, OR 2.58 95% CI 1.33–5.02) had greater chances of being "Sufficient PA" compared to Q1. In conclusion, living in places with bigger densities and better walkability increases adolescent’s chances of being "Sufficient PA".Digital inclusive finance, industrial structure, and economic growth: An empirical analysis of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in ChinaWenhai ZhouXiaoyu ZhangXiaomin Wu10.1371/journal.pone.02992062024-03-19T14:00:00Z2024-03-19T14:00:00Z<p>by Wenhai Zhou, Xiaoyu Zhang, Xiaomin Wu</p>
As a product of combining digital technology and traditional finance, digital inclusive finance plays a vital role in economic growth. This paper deeply analyzes the impact of digital inclusive finance on economic growth and the specific transmission path. This research selects the municipal panel data of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei from 2011 to 2020 and empirically studies the impact of digital inclusive finance on economic growth. From the perspectives of industrial structure transformation speed, industrial structure upgrading, and industrial structure rationalization, this study analyzes the role of industrial structure in the impact of digital inclusive finance on economic growth and tests the heterogeneity of the impact of digital inclusive finance on economic growth. The results show that digital inclusive finance has a significant role in promoting economic growth. The depth of use of digital inclusive finance has the most significant impact, followed by the breadth of coverage, and the degree of digitization is the smallest. The industrial structure transformation speed and the industrial structure rationalization play a significant intermediary role in the economic growth effect of digital inclusive finance, and the industrial structure upgrading has no significant impact on the economic growth effect of digital inclusive finance; the promotion effect of digital inclusive finance on economic growth is bigger in the economically developed group, the higher digital inclusive finance group and the technologically developed group, and the promotion effect is smaller in the economically underdeveloped group, the lower digital inclusive finance group and the technologically underdeveloped group. The results provide a strong reference for policy formulation to promote the development of digital inclusive finance and economic growth.Participation and returns from informal service-oriented non-farm enterprises: Evidence from a survey of Nigerian householdsIkechukwu Darlington NwakaOkechukwu Lawrence Emeagwali10.1371/journal.pone.02987942024-03-18T14:00:00Z2024-03-18T14:00:00Z<p>by Ikechukwu Darlington Nwaka, Okechukwu Lawrence Emeagwali</p>
We investigate the factors that influence the selection and productivity of informal service-oriented family enterprises in Nigeria. Using nationally representative micro-data from the Nigerian General Household Survey (2010–2015), we employed random-effect probit and selectivity-adjusted regression models to estimate and analyze the results. The findings reveal that the location of informal Non-Farm Household Enterprises (NFHEs)–whether home-based or non-home-based—significantly impacts the wholesale, retail, personal, and consultancy service sectors operated by informal NFHEs. This impact remains significant even after accounting for variations in individuals, households, or locational characteristics. Furthermore, when considering selectivity in the earnings equation, we found that home-based informal enterprises exhibit lower productivity compared to non-home-based enterprises, a difference that varies across sectors. Overall, factors such as the gender of business owners, educational levels, geopolitical zones, infrastructure, and business characteristics play a crucial role in determining the locational and productivity disparities among service-oriented enterprises in Nigeria. Key recommendations stemming from this study include addressing gender-based segregation and economic disparities, prioritising financial inclusion for small business development, bridging infrastructure gaps, and implementing policies that acknowledge and bolster the informal sector.The impact of rivers and lakes on urban transportation expansion: A case study of the century-long evolution of the road network in Wuhan, ChinaRan PengKeyuan DingHaixu GuoXueliang LiuYehao LiuHuaiyang WengRui Li10.1371/journal.pone.02986782024-03-18T14:00:00Z2024-03-18T14:00:00Z<p>by Ran Peng, Keyuan Ding, Haixu Guo, Xueliang Liu, Yehao Liu, Huaiyang Weng, Rui Li</p>
Throughout history, rivers and lakes have wielded a profound influence on the dynamics of urban transportation expansion. To illustrate this phenomenon, we turn to the century-long evolution of the road network in Wuhan, China, as a case study. The study aims to explore the relationship framework between water bodies and urban transportation, characterized by the sequence of “strong connection” to “weakened connection”, then to “mutual restriction”, and ultimately to “mutual benefit”. Additionally, the analysis of the impact mechanisms of rivers and lakes on urban transportation at different stages of development is also a key research objective. To facilitate our exploration, we select the road networks in Wuhan from four years of 1922, 1969, 1995, and 2023 as the primary research subjects. By establishing water buffers, we scrutinize the evolving characteristics of riverside and lakeside transportation amidst the city’s expansion. Based on the modified shortest path model, we introduce the innovative concepts of “Detour Index” and “Weighted Detour Index” to assess the road accessibility of each node in the city based on its inherent environmental conditions. This allows for the effective analysis of the potential impact of water bodies as “obstacles” on the road network at different stages of urban development. The study found that in the areas adjacent to the rivers and lakes in Wuhan, there is insufficient road accessibility based on their inherent environmental conditions. Particularly, some areas along the rivers may become “terminals” in the urban road network. Furthermore, during the process of urban expansion, the correlation between the urban road network and rivers continues to weaken, while the correlation with lakes continues to strengthen. These conclusions can provide valuable insights for the planning of urban roads near water bodies.Preparing for heat risk is complex: Aligning adaptation and mitigation is essentialCandice Howarth10.1371/journal.pclm.00003712024-03-18T14:00:00Z2024-03-18T14:00:00Z<p>by Candice Howarth</p>Damage detection of road domain waveform guardrail structure based on machine learning multi-module fusionXiaowei JinMingxing GaoDanlan LiTing Zhao10.1371/journal.pone.02991162024-03-15T14:00:00Z2024-03-15T14:00:00Z<p>by Xiaowei Jin, Mingxing Gao, Danlan Li, Ting Zhao</p>
The current highway waveform guardrail recognition technology has encountered problems with low segmentation accuracy and strong noise interference. Therefore, an improved U-net semantic segmentation model is proposed to improve the efficiency of road maintenance detection. The model training is guided by mixed expansion convolution and mixed loss function, while the presence of guardrail shedding is investigated by using partial mean values of gray values in ROI region based on segmentation results, while the first-order detail coefficients of wavelet transform are applied to detect guardrail defects and deformation. It has been determined that the Miou and Dice of the improved model are improved by 8.63% and 17.67%, respectively, over the traditional model, and that the method of detecting defects in the data is more accurate than 85%. As a result of efficient detection of highway waveform guardrail, the detection process is shortened and the effectiveness of the detection is improved later on during road maintenance.A dynamic traffic signal scheduling system based on improved greedy algorithmGuangling SunRui QiYulong LiuFeng Xu10.1371/journal.pone.02984172024-03-15T14:00:00Z2024-03-15T14:00:00Z<p>by Guangling Sun, Rui Qi, Yulong Liu, Feng Xu</p>
Urbanization has led to accelerated traffic congestion, posing a significant obstacle to urban development. Traditional traffic signal scheduling methods are often inefficient and cumbersome, resulting in unnecessary waiting times for vehicles and pedestrians, exacerbating the traffic situation. To address this issue, this article proposes a dynamic traffic signal scheduling system based on an improved greedy algorithm. Unlike conventional approaches, we introduce a reward function and a cost model to ensure fair scheduling plans. A constraint function is also established, and the traffic signal scheduling is iterated through the feasible matrix using the greedy algorithm to simplify the decision-making process and enhance solution efficiency. Moreover, an emergency module is integrated to prioritize special emergency vehicles, reducing their response time during emergencies. To validate the effectiveness of our dynamic traffic signal scheduling system, we conducted simulation experiments using the Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO) traffic simulation suite and the SUMO traffic control interface Traci. The results indicate that our system significantly improves intersection throughput and adapts well to various traffic conditions, effectively resolving urban traffic congestion while ensuring fair scheduling plans.Strategies to enhance the level of service and safety of rural roads: A case studyQiannan AiJun ZhangYuling Ye10.1371/journal.pone.03005252024-03-14T14:00:00Z2024-03-14T14:00:00Z<p>by Qiannan Ai, Jun Zhang, Yuling Ye</p>
Faced with the contradiction between the increasing traffic volume and the aging road infrastructures in the rural area, this paper aims to propose feasible strategies to enhance the level of service and safety, by a case study of the rural area in the north Jintan district. In order to figure out current issues related to rural roads, a carefully designed investigation has been conducted, and the results of the two-week investigation include roads’ basic information, traffic signs and protective facilities, surrounding landscape, and etc. Based on the field driving tests, specific problems including signs category, signs installation and facility maintenance have been fully analyzed. Meanwhile, the problem of roadnet connectivity has also been pointed out through the theory of complex network, and results show that the average node clustering coefficient and shortest path length perform worse than the demonstration plot of other rural districts. For the sake of rural traffic safety and management efficiency, both quantified and qualified strategies have been put forward. The quantified strategies include the regular inspection indicators, the safety sight distance at T-type crossings, as well as the risk severity of sections and the crossings. The qualified strategies involve the management of trucks and roadworks, the setting of signalized intersections, and the timely updates of traffic signs and facilities. Finally, an intelligent management system framework has been established for rural road traffic, with highly interconnected modules of data acquisition, risk identification and information publishing.