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Evaluating arterial operational performance plays a pivotal role in arterial system management and enhancement. As a fundamental reference guide for traffic engineers, the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) provides a series of analysis methodologies for evaluating multimodal operations on urban streets, highways, freeways, and off-street pathways. However, the efficient use of the performance evaluation methodology of urban street facilities for motorized vehicles in the HCM can be restricted by a large amount of traffic volume collections at signalized and access point intersections, roadway segment geometric data inputs, and complicated calculation procedures on urban street segments. Further, the use of alternative tools, such as vehicle trajectory data, remains to be explored to supplement the urban street facility calculation framework in the HCM. To bridge the gap, this research utilizes vehicle trajectory data as an alternative tool and proposes a combined vehicle trajectory data and HCM calculation framework to implement and assess the existing performance evaluation methodology of urban street facilities for motorized vehicles in the HCM 7th Edition. A case study was carried out on three major signalized arterials in Sparks, Nevada, for HCM methodology implementation and performance evaluation. Based on evaluation results, it was found that vehicle trajectory data can be utilized as an alternative tool to implement the performance evaluation methodology of urban street facilities for motorized vehicles in the HCM 7th Edition. It is recommended to combine arterial through-vehicle trajectories, the time-space diagram, arterial level of service (LOS), and the poorest segment LOS for arterial operational performance evaluation and further enhancement. The proposed automobile traveler perception score (ATPS) in the HCM was found to be insensitive to reflecting traveler’s perception of service quality. Additional traveler perception-based factors are recommended to be included for further ATPS development and enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 4th industrial revolution and its inherent digitalization are changing every aspect of the construction industry. However, these technological transformations bring new challenges, including cybersecurity. Although a number of studies in recent years have aimed to analyze cybersecurity issues in the construction sector, further research investment in this area is vital. The first step towards identifying needed and promising research directions in this domain is to systematically analyze the existing body of knowledge and detect knowledge gaps. This study addresses this need through a systematic scoping review designed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR). To synthesize the existing knowledge, the extracted information is mapped with multiple benchmarks, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) framework for cybersecurity management. The outcomes of the scoping review indicated that, from the construction perspective, the existing literature mainly focuses on a few areas, including Building Information Modeling (BIM), while other digital systems such as construction robots and prefabrication platforms need to be considered in future works. In terms of cybersecurity management, most of the existing studies focus on identifying risks and protecting assets. Other aspects of cybersecurity management, including detecting intrusions, responding to threats, and recovering from cyber-attacks need to be addressed in future studies. Regarding the technology-mediated countermeasures, the existing studies have explored only a limited number of potential solutions with a considerable focus on Blockchain-based systems, while the application of other countermeasures such as network virtualization can be a basis for future studies. Finally, the existing studies focused on procedural guidelines lack systematic solutions for areas including integrated cyber risk management and organizational change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the aftermath of a disaster, natural or man-made, successful emergency management operations vitally depend on reliable communication infrastructures. However, large-scale extreme events may dismantle telecommunication infrastructures and impair rescue operations. The current state of practice to maintain communication when infrastructures are not operable mostly focuses on using temporary infrastructures including mobile telecom towers. However, these centralized solutions heavily depend on equipment that may not be readily available. To address this issue, this paper aims to create theoretical foundations for, and empirically examine the performance of, a novel decentralized and infrastructure-less communication system that uses an ad hoc mobile network, distributed ledger and Blockchain technology, and an all-to-all broadcasting routing algorithm. When the proposed communication system is used, mobile devices in the affected area connect with each other through device-to-device Wi-Fi Direct, create a temporary mobile ad hoc network, and share spatial information through the stepwise routing algorithm and distributed ledgers. At the end of this process, each device in the network will have spatial information of all available devices in the area. Therefore, when first responders arrive in the affected area, they can locate all devices and have access to all collected information immediately through a direct connection to only one device in the area. The outcomes of this study will fundamentally transform the emergency communication solutions and can significantly shorten the duration of rescue operations by helping first responders locate citizens in the affected area faster and more efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]