Civil Engineering Commons^™

Real-Time Arterial Traffic Signal Performance Measures, Christopher Day, Edward Smaglik, Darcy Bullock, James Sturdevant

Darcy M Bullock

Increasing demand for highway system capacity compels transportation agencies to extract as much capacity as possible from existing systems. Traffic signals represent a major component of highway systems. Improvement of traffic signal operation requires accurate performance measures. Despite recent improvements in computing technology, traffic signal controllers are currently not able to capture useful performance measures on a cycle-by-cycle basis. This report presents a set of performance measures that could be collected on a cycle-by-cycle basis by a traffic signal controller given the capability to log phase indications and detector actuations. The performance measures investigated here include the volume-to-capacity ratio and …

Input-Output And Hybrid Techniques For Real-Time Prediction Of Delay And Maximum Queue Length At Signalized Intersections, Anuj Sharma, Darcy M. Bullock, James A. Bonneson

Darcy M Bullock

Vehicle delay and queue length are quantitative measures of intersection performance. The technological advancement in the field of vehicle sensors and traffic controllers has reached a point where it has enabled efficient measurement of these performance measures. Two techniques are presented for real-time measurement of vehicle delay and queue length at a signalized Intersection, and these automated delay and queue estimates are compared with manually ground-truthed measurement. These techniques were evaluated at an instrumented intersection in Noblesville, Indiana. The root-mean-square error by both techniques was below 0.7 veh-s for-estimation of average delay and less than 0.15 vehicle for estimation of …

Pilot Study On Real-Time Calculation Of Arrival Type For Assessment Of Arterial Performance, Edward J. Smaglik, Darcy M. Bullock, Anuj Sharma

Darcy M Bullock

The Highway Capacity Manual uses the arrival type (AT) as a mechanism to account for the quality of traffic signal coordination in the calculation of delay at a signalized intersection. Although there is much discussion in the literature regarding the accuracy and precision of this approach, the AT parameter provides a simple mechanism for grading the performance of traffic signal coordination. This paper describes data collection limitations of current traffic signal controllers and proposes a procedure where the AT parameter can be calculated by traffic signal controllers in real time. Given that the nation received a score of 61 out …

Quality Control Procedures For Weigh-In-Motion Data, Andrew P. Nichols, Darcy M. Bullock

Darcy M Bullock

For the past two decades, weigh-in-motion (WIM) sensors have been used in the United States to collect vehicle weight data for designing pavements and monitoring their performance. The use of these sensors is now being expanded for enforcement purposes to provide virtual weigh stations for screening vehicles in traffic streams for overweight violations. A study found that static weigh stations in Indiana were effective for identifying safety violations, but ineffective for identifying overweight vehicles. It was also determined that the alternative approach to identifying overweight vehicles using virtual weigh stations requires a high level of WIM data accuracy and reliability …

Performance Requirements And Evaluation Procedures For Advance Wide Area Detectors, Anuj Sharma, Matthew Harding, Brad Giles, Darcy M. Bullock, James R. Sturdevant, Srinivas Peeta

Darcy M Bullock

Dilemma zone protection ideally requires the exact position and speed of all the vehicles approaching the intersection. However, point detectors, typically used to protect vehicle incursion into the dilemma zone, only provide binary information about the presence or absence of a vehicle at a fixed point in space. The information regarding position and speed of the vehicle in subsequent time steps is extrapolated. The extrapolation error increases with the increase in projection time. Wide area detector (WAD) overcomes this drawback by tracking each vehicle at all times until they move out of range. Such a detector has the potential to …

Vendor Comparison Of Video Detection Systems, Avery Rhodes, Edward J. Smaglik, Darcy M. Bullock

Darcy M Bullock

Video detection has become increasingly popular for presence detection at signalized intersections because of its versatility. However, several reports have documented performance problems in specific systems. This paper quantifies the performance of three different commercially available video detection systems. The systems were tested in May and September 2005 for presence detection accuracy. Prior to the May 2005 test, a representative from each vendor configured the video detection zones to match the loop detection zone as closely as possible. The outputs from the loop detection for the through-right and left-turn lane groups were compared with the corresponding output from each of …

A Real-Time Offset Transitioning Algorithm For Coordinating Traffic Signals, Darcy M. Bullock, Montasir Abbas

Darcy M Bullock

This report introduces an adaptive real-time offset transitioning algorithm that can be viewed as an integrated optimization approach designed to work with traditional coordinated-actuated systems. The Purdue Real-Time Offset Transitioning Algorithm for Coordinating Traffic Signals (PRO-TRACTS) adds to the controllers the ability to adaptively change their offsets in response to changes in traffic pattern, providing an intermediate solution between traditional coordinated-actuated control systems and adaptive control systems. To facilitate implementation, a new National Transportation Communication for ITS Protocol (NTCIP) object for capturing detector actuation at the controller’s level is defined in this report. The unique cycle-based tabulation of volume and …

Quantifying The Life Cycle Benefits Of Performance-Based Design In Sustainable Design, David Isaac Carmona

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Quantifying the Life Cycle Benefits of Performance-Based Design in Sustainable Design

David Carmona

For this thesis, a method is developed and tested for use with performance based design to quantify the sustainable and financial benefits of designing buildings to a structural performance level higher than Life-Safety. This paper starts to answer the question, “which would be a better investment: build structures to a performance level of Immediate Occupancy (IO) with the likelihood of less damage and downtime after an earthquake or continue to build to the building code’s implied minimum performance level of Life-Safety (LS)?”

An ASCE 7-05 designed …

Theory For Dynamic Longitudinal Dispersion In Fractures And Rivers With Poiseuille Flow, Lichun Wang, M. Bayani Cardenas, Wen Deng, Philip C. Bennett

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We present a theory for dynamic longitudinal dispersion coefficient (D) for transport by Poiseuille flow, the foundation for models of many natural systems, such as in fractures or rivers. Our theory describes the mixing and spreading process from molecular diffusion, through anomalous transport, and until Taylor dispersion. D is a sixth order function of fracture aperture (b) or river width (W). The time (T) and length (L) scales that separate preasymptotic and asymptotic dispersive transport behavior are T = b²/(4D _m), where D_m is the molecular diffusion …

Bs News March/April

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Real-Time Change And Damage Detection Of Landslides And Other Earth Movements Threatening Public Infrastructure, Michael J. Olsen, Shawn Butcher, Evon P. Silvia

TREC Final Reports

Geologic hazards such as coastal erosion, landslides, seismic loading, etc. constantly threaten public highway construction and maintenance. Repeat surveys using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS, ground-based LiDAR) enable rapid 3D data acquisition to map, see, analyze, and understand the processes generating such problems. Previously, change detection and analysis between scan surveys was conducted during post-processing upon return to the office, instead of while collecting data in the field. Change detection in the field improves the effectiveness and efficiency of the field investigation. We have developed a new algorithm that quickly geo-references scans upon field acquisition and simultaneously performs change detection by …

Beneficial Reuse Of Corrugated Paperboard In Civil Engineering Applications, Gregory M. Stone

Master's Theses

Abstract

Beneficial Reuse of Corrugated Paperboard in Civil Engineering Applications

Gregory Michael Stone

An investigation was conducted to explore the potential for reuse of corrugated paperboard. Corrugated paperboard represents a large fraction of the municipal solid waste generated and discarded in the United States. Alternative applications for reuse can provide a significant benefit by reducing the volume of waste being disposed and by reducing the use of raw materials. Four civil engineering applications were examined for potential beneficial reuse of corrugated paperboard: slurry trench construction, vertical drilling, directional drilling, and controlled low strength materials (CLSM).

For the purpose of this …

Predict The Service Life Of Pavement: Evaluate Moisture Sensitivity And Oxidative Aging Of Asphalt, Yang Lu

Yang Lu

Pavements are subject to different stresses during their service life. Correctly predicting the service life provides decisive information to pavement design and rehabilitation. A properly designed pavement material will perform adequately during its design life, and normally the distresses will not exceed the allowable limits. However, premature pavement failure may often appear due to several degradation factors. Moisture sensitivity and asphalt aging properties are two main factors that contribute to the pavement service life reduction. In this editorial, the author will give some comments on the current research status about these two phenomena.

Central Philippines Earthquake, February 06, 2012, Md. Nurul Alam

Md. Nurul Alam

No abstract provided.

Strength And Fatigue Of Three Glass Fiber Reinforced Composite Bridge Decks With Mechanical Deck To Stringer Connections, Andrew Gleason, Peter Dusicka

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Replacement of the steel grating deck on the lift span of the Morrison Bridge in Portland, OR, will utilize glass fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) panels to address ongoing maintenance issues of the deteriorated existing deck, improve driver safety and introduce bridge water runoff treatment. This report outlines the testing methods and results of an experimental program aimed primarily at evaluating a new open cell deck. While most FRP panels are connected via shear studs that are grouted within isolated pockets, the panels in this case were bolted directly to the steel stringers. Two different FRP deck options were evaluated for …

Lightweight Concrete Made From Crushed Oil Palm Shell: Tensile Strength And Effect Of Initial Curing On Compressive Strength, Hilmi Mahmud

Hilmi Mahmud

Oil palm shell (OPS) is a waste lightweight aggregate originating from the palm oil industry, which is approximately 50% lighter than conventional aggregate. In this study, crushed old OPS was used as coarse aggregate. Compressive strength under different curing conditions and the splitting tensile and flexural strengths were compared with those of the normal weight granite concrete. The test results showed that OPS concrete with a compressive strength in the range of 34-53 MPa has a splitting tensile strength range of 2.8-3.5 MPa and flexural strength range of 4.4-7.0 MPa. The sensitivity of compressive strength of OPS concrete in this …

Micromechanical Study Of Two-Phase Flow During Air Sparging, Shengyan Gao

Dissertations

Air sparging (AS) is an in-situ soil/groundwater remediation technology, which involves the injection of pressurized air/oxygen through an air sparging well below the region of contamination. The efficiency of the in-situ sparging system is mainly controlled by the extent of contact between injected air and contaminated soil and pore fluid. Hence, characterizing the mechanisms governing movement of air through saturated porous media is therefore critical to the design of an effective cleanup treatment. However, in spite of the success of air sparging as a remediation technique for the clean-up of contaminated soils, to date, the fundamental mechanisms or the physics …

Development Of Gis Database For Hayward Fault, Olugbope Maku

Theses

Earthquake activity and its attendant effects on the earth surface have been a major concern for some time now, especially considering their negative effects in loss of human life, property damage including the emotional impact on witnesses. This study focuses on the Hayward Fault, located in the heart of population center in Contra Costa County of the San Francisco Bay Area, California.

Geographical Information System (GIS) has proved to be a valuable tool in recent years in the study and analysis of earthquakes to complement emergency response efforts. GIS has been adapted to estimate the impact of the geologic hazards …

Modeling Groundwater Levels On The Calera Aquifer Region In Central Mexico Using Modflow, Jairo E. Hernández, Prasanna H. Gowda, Terry A. Howell, Jean L. Steiner, Francisco Mojarro, Ernesto P. Núñez, José R. Avila

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A conceptual model for the Calera Aquifer has been created to represent the aquifer system beneath the Calera Aquifer Region (CAR) in the State of Zacatecas, Mexico. The CAR area was uniformly partitioned into a 500 X 500 m grid generating a high resolution model that represented the natural boundaries of the aquifer. A computer model was calibrated and validated to verify output from the model corresponding to situations that matched the historical aquifer performance. Predicted groundwater levels were compared with measured data collected from nine observation wells between 1954 and 2004 to evaluate model performance. The main objective of …

Lynches Lane Reed & Willow Bed Facility Final Report South Dubin County Council, Liam Mccarton, Sean O'Hogain, Don Mcdonald, Anna Reid

Reports

This final report will present results from a two year study to monitor the performance of a hybrid reed willow bed facility at Lynches Lane, in the administrative area of South Dublin County Council (SDCC). Design specifications for the facility are presented. Monitoring results for a two year period including influent and effluent parameters, rainfall, potential evapotranspiration, and soil classification are also presented and discussed. During the two year monitoring period the system achieved a zero discharge. This report will discuss the potential application of similar systems within South Dublin County Council administrative area. This is in the context of …