Minimizing Shadow Area in Mountain Roads for Improving the Sustainability of Infrastructures

José Ángel Aranda, María Moncho Santonja, Gil Saurí Má and Guillermo Peris-Fajarnés
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José Ángel Aranda: CITG (Research Centre in Graphic Technology), Department of Graphic Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
María Moncho Santonja: CITG (Research Centre in Graphic Technology), Department of Graphic Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Gil Saurí Má: Department of Graphic Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Guillermo Peris-Fajarnés: CITG (Research Centre in Graphic Technology), Department of Graphic Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-16

Abstract: The lack of sunlight on mountain roads in the wintertime leads to an increase in accidents. In this paper, a methodology is presented for the use of sunny and shady areas to be included as a parameter in road design. The inclusion of this parameter allows for the design of an iterative method for the projected infrastructures. The parameterization of the road layout facilitates the possibility of applying an iterative process of modifying the geometric elements that constitute it, examining different layout alternatives until a layout is achieved in which the surface area in the shady area is minimized, increasing the road safety and minimizing environmental impact. The methodology has been defined, generating and analyzing the results of the solar lighting study using a file in IFC format capable of integrating with the rest of the design elements (platform, signaling, structures, etc.) and thus obtaining a BIM format which allows the model to be viewed in three dimensions and moves towards 4D and 5D. The model used for the study was a high mountain road located in the province of Teruel (Spain). It is a road section characterized by successive curves in which several traffic accidents have occurred due to running off the road, partly because of the presence of ice on the platform.

Keywords: spatial analysis; shadows; visualization; environmental management; roads; BIM (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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