Equipment
Being able to access the latest scientific literature as well as relevant software products is one of the prerequisites for our work. Also, there are several measuring instruments at the Chair of Transport Ecology that can be used in projects, research and teaching activities, including:
Measuring bicycle
Bicycle traffic is of key importance to a sustainable traffic development. For optimal bicycle traffic planning it is necessary to provide first-hand information from the cyclists’ point of view. The measuring bicycle is a costumary bicycle with 27 gears that enables us to gather the required data easily and can be equipped with further measuring devices when needed. You can watch a driving video here.
Particulate matter (PM) measuring device
The transportable PM measuring device DustTrak DRX 8534 counts the number and calculates the mass of PM from the classes PM 1, PM 2.5, PM4 and PM 10 in the range from 0.001 to 150 mg/m3. The minimal interval of one second makes high-resolution measuring possible, e.g. enabling us to capture the immediate connection between traffic flow and immission level.
Decibel meter
Laserliner’s decibel meter conforms with class 2 and performs measurements in the range from 30 to 130 dB(A) and dB(C) with an accuracy of +/- 1.5 dB. The small size does not only allow to perform stationary measuring, but also measurements in traffic flow.
High-resolution video cameras
Two GoPro cameras help us recording the cyclist’s surroundings and the traffic conditions while using the measuring bicycle. Complemented with GPS-positioning, it also enables us to link the data collected with spatial information.
Time lapse cameras
Brinno BCC200 is a professional time lapse video camera. Its long-lasting battery (up to 80 days) and HDR-sensor as well as a special night-modus enables us to analyse traffic under difficult conditions over a long time. Depending on the temporal resolution it can also record continuous survey material over one or more days.
Fith Wheel (Peiseler Wheel)
While driving, the Peiseler Wheel records speed-time-profiles of vehicles, that are later used to model the caused emissions. The Peiseler Wheel consists of a control, display and hub unit. The hub unit, basically functioning as a wheel impulse generator, counts the wheel’s rotations in a certain time period. It thereby is attached to a non-driven wheel.
GPS data logger for use in motor vehicles
The GPS data logger can be charged using the vehicle's cigarette lighter and records GPS tracks.
Tablet
A SAMSUNG Galaxy Tablet with SIM can be used to for examply comfortably interview pedestrians or other passers-by.
Access to literature
Our local library, the Sächsische Landes- und Universitätsbibliothek (SLUB), provides access to a large amount of scientific literature. Besides the local stock, this also includes an interlibrary loan service as well as access to the best-known international databases, e.g. Academic Search Complete (EBSCOhost), Web of Science Core Collection (Thomas Reuters), Science Direct (Elsevier), WTI Frankfurt or WISO Social Sciences. In addition, our chair maintains its own up-to-date library, offering a variety of traffic ecological related literature, especially Grey Literature.
Software products and tools
In addition to the common Microsoft-office products, we often use ESRI ArcGIS and IBM SPSS Statistics within our projects. Our emission calculations are always based on the latest version of the Handbook Emission Factors for Road Transport (Handbuch für Emissionsfaktoren HBEFA).
Service bicycle
Our own service bicycle contributes to a more sustainable traffic behavior. It can be used for everyday journeys around the campus by employees as well as other interested parties upon request.