Due to the 2006 European research report on powered two-wheelers (PTWs) riders' traffic safety, Slovenia represents the highest risk for PTW riders in the European Union. Namely, in Slovenia we have the largest number of PTW riders' deaths per billion travelled kilometers in 2006. Since then the traffic safety situation in the field of PTW riders in Slovenia has been improving and we will discuss that phenomenon in the present paper. The paper identifies and analyzes the causes that led to such a critical situation. Further, the evaluation of activities that were carried out to improve the road safety for powered two-wheeler riders in Slovenia in the last past years are discussed. In conclusion a selection of measures and actions is presented that already has been and also should be carried out in the future.
COBISS.SI-ID: 15767574
This paper presents the reasonability of using an increased proportion of glazing surfaces in prefabricated timber-frame buildings with a special focus on energy efficiency by using an enlarged glazing area in the south façade. The research is based on a case study of a two-storey house built in a prefabricated timber-frame structural system taking the climate data for Ljubljana into consideration. Parametric analysis is performed on the variation of an increased proportion of the glazing surface's impact in the south side of the building according to the total surface of the south façade (AGAW) as a basic variable. The analysis was carried out on different exterior wall elements having different thermal properties, while the rest of the parameters, such as the ground plan of the model as well as the active systems, roof and floor slab assemblies, climate condition, etc. remain constant. The basic theoretical contribution of the presented research is the transformation of a complex energy related problem to only one single independent variable (Uwall-value) which becomes the only variable parameter to determine the optimal glazing area size value (AGAWopt) for all contemporary prefabricated timber construction systems.
COBISS.SI-ID: 15986710
Border regions of EU countries are confronted with changes of spatial and economical development. The lack of border crossing strategic information system for regional planning purposes reflects in non-intense cooperation in the field of regional development strategies harmonization. The article presents the methodology developed during Interreg III B project REDECON. Grid-based database with GIS interface, merging socio-economic, environmental and spatial data with vector-based network accessibility data, what enable the public planning departments to analyze and simulate different policy measures concerning transport. The article is focused on the modifications of (during project REDECON) developed methodology, which enable besides cross-border spatial analysis also analysis of current status of public transport demand and supply for finding the areas, where the supply of public transport services does not reach the demand for public transport services. It describes the methodology for selecting the main indicator thematic groups for different public transport demand types, the characterization (evaluation) of suitability of locations in respect to the balance between public transport supply and demand. At the end of the article the results of methodology application are presented on the regional pilot project concerning accessibility of pilot area, regional public transport demands and regional optimization of the public transport supply.
COBISS.SI-ID: 13115670
The paper presents the cost optimization of an underground gas storage (UGS), designed from lined rock caverns (LRC). The optimization is performed by the non-linear programming (NLP) approach. For this purpose, the NLP optimization model OPTUGS was developed. The model comprises the cost objective function, which is subjected to geomechanical and design constraints. The geotechnical problem is proposed to be solved simultaneously. Geomechanical rock mass parameters are determined from geological conditions of a selected suitable UGS location and a special FE model is generated. The rock mass strength stability and safety of the system are then analyzed for various combinations between different design parameters like inner gas pressures, cavern depths, cavern diameters and cavern wall thickness. As a result, geomechanical constraints are approximated and put into the optimization model OPTUGS. This way, the optimization enables not only the obtaining of an optimal solution but also that the rock mass achieves sufficient strength stability and safety. The optimization is proposed to be performed for the phase of preliminary design. The numerical example at the end of the paper demonstrates the efficiency of the introduced optimization approach.
COBISS.SI-ID: 15161366
The construction industry will have to find new ways of building to accomplish radical reductions of pollution and waste. Nano and biotechnology along with information technology have the potential to constitute a new building paradigm. The paper describes the concept of nano- to meter-scale building, which is based on this potential. The concept is not focused on the application of nanomaterials like nanosilica or carbon nanotubes, but on a new way of building, which unfolds from the nano into the meter range. It is based on bionanorobots, producing building materials using carbon extracted from CO2 in the air. Criteria and requirements regarding relevant technologies are defined and compared to the current research in the fields of bioengineering, nanorobotics, and characteristics and production of carbon nanotubes. The paper also presents a concept of a new building technology that would enable control and monitoring of construction at the nano level, as well as requirements regarding design methods and tools including the building information model that will become the only human input to the automated nano- to meter-scale building process. The paper concludes with suggestions for further research and development.
COBISS.SI-ID: 14394134