Final project: Trafic safety to and from the St. Michael College
The project
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With our focus on research and development, we, as students, aim to tackle challenges for companies or businesses. This final project held particular significance for us. Just weeks before commencing this endeavor, a classmate and friend of ours was involved in a fatal car accident. The news sent shockwaves through the school, leaving us all profoundly saddened. We were determined that such a tragedy should never be repeated. Consequently, we devoted our final project to enhancing the safety of the journey to school for our fellow students, teachers, and all members of our school community.
ResearchThis project was conducted in collaboration with the municipality of Zaanstad. Through our research, we discovered numerous ways to enhance road safety on the route to our school. Our initial step involved gathering input from fellow students regarding areas they perceived as hazardous crossings. One particular spot that garnered significant attention was the roundabout situated in front of our school. Additionally, we recognized the importance of educating and informing students about road safety practices. Many crossings, while inherently safe, posed risks due to students' lack of awareness or failure to adhere to traffic rules.
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You can read the full research by clicking the link below
DesignFollowing the initial research phase, we transitioned into the design stage of the project. Our first priority was to develop several design concepts for the new roundabout. This involved various considerations such as prioritizing cyclists' right of way, implementing sharper corner angles, eliminating ground markings, and incorporating additional traffic signage. Through iterative design processes, we refined these concepts until arriving at a single, comprehensive design for the new roundabout.
Simultaneously, we focused on devising strategies to positively influence the behavior of cyclists. To achieve this, we conceived an extension for the school website aimed at providing educational resources and guidance on safe biking practices. This extension underwent testing with individuals from the ICT department within our school community. Their valuable feedback allowed us to identify areas for improvement and refine the design further, ultimately culminating in the development of the final design iteration. |
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Results
All the design concepts were consolidated into a single, cohesive final design. The roundabout now features sharp turns strategically positioned to naturally slow down cyclists, with ground markings removed and new signage installed for enhanced clarity and safety. You can view the culmination of our efforts, the final result, on the right side of the screen.
Furthermore, the extension for the school website has been completed, showcasing the finalized design. You can find the ultimate iteration of our website extension by pressing the link below. |
Personal improvement during this project
This project has been instrumental in honing my creativity and refining my ability to actively listen to others. If you'd like to explore a detailed description of these improvements utilizing the STARRT method, please click the button below.