ABSTRACT
Technology is the key element in order to increase safety in transport facilities. The ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) concept advises application of high level technologies to roads, such as communication, control and information technologies in particular. The final aim of which is saving of human life, time, budget, environment and energy. Interaction between infrastructure, user and vehicle will be strengthened by means of using technology. Even if ITS utilizes the highest technologies it is an institutional issue. Same idea is valid for tunnel systems. In fact, tunnel systems are the extensions of ITS in tunnels. Tunnels have additional safety features. Contaminated air, poor visibility, accessibility difficulty and fire possibility in the event of an accident are the most significant factors must be taken into account. Safety systems are the primary way of improvement safety level of an underground structure. The systems to be installed in tunnels can be itemized. However there is no unique reply to the question of “What are the parameters and criteria for the type and size of systems shall be installed in a tunnel?”. Parameters can be generalized, but there is no homogeneous application for systems in practice. Various design criteria are being used for safety systems in the world at present. The type and size of systems to be installed in tunnels depend on assessment parameters. Each tunnel has its own conditions. So each tunnel is a unique structure in terms of systems. The main tunnel parameters shall be taken into consideration:
– Tunnel length, – Traffic volume,
– Tubes number, – Lanes number, – Availability of dangerous goods vehicle traffic, – Percentage of heavy good vehicle traffic, – Gradient, – Proposed vehicle speed, – Geographical conditions, – Availability of peak hour traffic, – Wind velocity and direction, – Uni-directional or bi-directional traffic, – Landscape, – Curve, – Etc.
