Transition zones between urban and inter-urban areas: identification and definition criteria

Discontinuity is defined as a spatial or temporal range that interrupts the continuity of something. In any branch of engineering linked to human behaviour (but not only), discontinuities should always be mitigated. A sudden change of stiffness, strength, trajectory, speed or energy is always a problem to solve, trying to contain and govern the laws of nature. Italian standards classify roads starting from their division into urban and inter-urban roads. This distinction does not need any further explanation because it is based on knowledge of the concept of the city, which is obvious in modern society. However, everybody also knows that it is not at all easy to establish where a city finishes and where the boundaries of a rural area are. Moreover, the intuitive distinction between the two types of road is sometimes not sufficient in practical applications. Indeed, there are some roads which although basically interurban, pass through built up areas, even quite large ones, and provide a series of strong administrative and managerial ambiguities. In addition, these roads can also cause behavioural problems to the road users because of the change from one condition to another one. Consequently, they cannot always be easily determined either formally or substantially. This paper is aimed at highlighting the need for a classification of a new road category for transition zones identifying variables to distinguish urban from inter-urban areas. On this point, the paper provides some indicators and thresholds values, useful to classify transition roads between urban and suburban areas. These indicators and thresholds come from a reasonable logical analysis carried out among the elements that typically characterize the type of a road.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.piarc.org/en/order-library/13949-en-Proceedings%20of%20the%20XXIVth%20World%20Road%20Congress,%20Mexico%20-%202011.htm
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Alternate title: Definition criteria for transition zones between urban and extra-urban areas. Abstract reprinted with permission of the World Road Association – PIARC.
• Corporate Authors:

  World Road Association (PIARC)

  La Grande Arche, Paroi Nord, Niveau 5
  F-92055 La Defense Cedex,   France 
• Authors:
  • Colonna, Pasquale
  • Berloco, Nicola
  • 0000-0001-6191-6272
• Conference:
  • 24th World Road Congress
  • Location: Mexico City , Mexico
  • Date: 2011-9-26 to 2011-9-30
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 13p
• Monograph Title: 24th World Road Congress Proceedings: Roads for a Better Life: Mobility, Sustainability and Development

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Classification; Definitions; Highway design; Types of roads; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Highway classification; Transition zones
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01505811
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 2840602679
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 27 2014 11:31AM