Road Ecology: Science and Solutions

About this book

A central goal of transportation is the delivery of safe and efficient services with minimal environmental impact. In practice though human mobility has flourished while nature has suffered. Awareness of the environmental impacts of roads is increasing yet information remains scarce for those interested in studying understanding or minimizing the ecological effects of roads and vehicles. Road Ecology addresses that shortcoming by elevating previously localized and fragmented knowledge into a broad and inclusive framework for understanding and developing solutions. The book brings together fourteen leading ecologists and transportation experts to articulate state-of-the-science road ecology principles and presents specific examples that demonstrate the application of those principles. Diverse theories concepts and models in the new field of road ecology are integrated to establish a coherent framework for transportation policy planning and projects. Topics examined include: foundations of road ecology roads vehicles and transportation planning vegetation and roadsides wildlife populations and mitigation water sediment and chemical flows aquatic ecosystems wind noise and atmospheric effects road networks and landscape fragmentation Road Ecology links ecological theories and concepts with transportation planning engineering and travel behavior. With more than 100 illustrations and examples from around the world it is an indispensable and pioneering work for anyone involved with transportation including practitioners and planners in state and province transportation departments federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations. The book also opens up an important new research frontier for ecologists.