In this study, a bi-level formulation is presented for solving the Equilibrium Network Design Problem (ENDP). The optimisation of the signal timing has been carried out at the upper-level using the Harmony Search Algorithm (HSA), whilst the traffic assignment has been carried out through the Path Flow Estimator (PFE) at the lower level. The results of HSA have been first compared with those obtained using the Genetic Algorithm, and the Hill Climbing on a two-junction network for a fixed set of link flows. Secondly, the HSA with PFE has been applied to the medium-sized network to show the applicability of the proposed algorithm in solving the ENDP. Additionally, in order to test the sensitivity of perceived travel time error, we have used the HSA with PFE with various level of perceived travel time. The results showed that the proposed method is quite simple and efficient in solving the ENDP.

Road freight transportation between provinces of a country has an important effect on the traffic flow of intercity transportation networks. Therefore, an accurate estimation of the road freight transportation for provinces of a country is so crucial to improve the rural traffic operation in a large scale management. Accordingly, the focused case study database in this research is the information related to Iran’s provinces in the year 2008. Correlation between road freight transportation with variables such as transport cost and distance, population, average household income and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of each province is calculated. Results clarify that the population is the most effective factor in the prediction of provinces’ transported freight. Linear Regression Model (LRM) is calibrated based on the population variable, and afterwards Fuzzy Regression Algorithm (FRA) is generated on the basis of the LRM. The proposed FRA is an intelligent modified algorithm with an accurate prediction and fitting ability. This methodology can be significantly useful in macro-level planning problems where decreasing prediction error values is one of the most important concerns for decision makers. In addition, Back-Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) is developed to evaluate the prediction capability of the models and to be compared with FRA. According to the final results, the modified FRA estimates road freight transportation values more accurately than the BPNN and LRM. Finally, in order to predict the road freight transportation values, the reliability of the calibrated models is analyzed using the information of the year 2009. Results show higher reliability for the proposed modified FRA.

The analysis of the experiences in European cities, following the implementation of different transport policy measures, has led to a conclusion that parking policy measures have the dominant effect on the choice of private car as a mode of transport. This effect is the greatest for the commutes to work, characterized by the longest duration of parking space occupancy. Given the aforementioned experiences in developed European cities, the main aim of the study presented here was the determination of a relationship between limiting the duration of parking space occupancy in the Novi Sad city centre and the transport participants’ decision whether or not to use passenger car to commute to work. Based on the established interdependence between these parameters, we developed a mathematical model for calculating a number of expected car (commuting) journeys that terminate in the city centre as a function of limited duration of parking space occupancy.

Since 1996 to 2006, Iran‟s population structure experienced considerable changes. During the mentioned period, the share of the population under 15 decreased from 39.6% to 28%. Considering this decrease, Iran‟s population was quickly guided to oldness which will have irreversible social and economical repercussions on the country‟s future progress. The main objective of this study is to estimate the effects of the elderly on the moving stream of the other pedestrians in Iran‟s sidewalks, which is done for the first time in Iran using the Micro-Simulation method. The Micro-Simulation model of pedestrians is a computerized simulation procedure in which the moving behavior of each pedestrian such as speed, path, and the direction is considered separately. According to the obtained results from this study, an increase in the percentage of the elderly population can lower the sidewalk's level of service. Also, the decrease of the average motion speed and the free walking space for wider paths is not necessarily less than that of narrow paths; in a way that by increasing the width of a sidewalk, pedestrians‟ total average speed and the average walking space decrease up to a specific width and then, start to increase. This decrease in wider sidewalks is more than that in more narrow ones.

Safety in highways is one of the most important subjects in Transportation Engineering. Increasing rate of vehicles and the needs to design or geometrically modifying the highways, emphasized on the safe-designing of the roadways more than before. Between the constructive components of the highway, horizontal curves due to the more occurrences of accidents are of great importance. The American ministry of highway and transportation introduced the software IHSDM, with variant capabilities, to predict accidents. In this research, five types of curves (simple circle curve and clothoid-circle-clothoid) at different intersection angles were designed, and accident rates based on the standard specifications on each curve was predicted by using the IHSDM, and the results are compared with each other. Finally, by processing the curves of accident rates versus the curves types and intersection angle, and comparing them with each other, the necessity of using spiral curves in the highway design is emphasized.

Environmental and occupational noise is common nuisance that affects the health of employees. Performed health checks of employees engaged by Company “Pomorski Saobraćaj” showed that 5% of examined sailors had hearing loss. The results were a trigger for starting experiment on noise risk assessment with objective to discover possibilities of noise pollution presence, precise significant noise sources and describe solutions for eliminating negative effects.

Several measurements on five positions were performed on ferry boat “KAMENARI”, according to EC Physical Agents Directive and Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels Regulations 2007.

Noise on selected positions exceeded the limit for about 1-5dB. Noise exposure level was 84.5dB. Diesel engine, exhaust system and structural noise were main sources of excessive noise.

Experiment shows noise presence as nuisance that affects sailors. Noise presents a serious threat for sailor’s health. It interferes with crew communication and jeopardizes navigation safety. Technical measures, crew health checks and noise monitoring could prevent all negative effects.