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Assessment Of Freeway Traffic Parameters Leading To Lane-Change Related Collisions, Anurag Pande, Mohamed Abdel-Aty

Civil and Environmental Engineering

This study aims at ‘predicting’ the occurrence of lane-change related freeway crashes using the traffic surveillance data collected from a pair of dual loop detectors. The approach adopted here involves developing classification models using the historical crash data and corresponding information on real-time traffic parameters obtained from loop detectors. The historical crash and loop detector data to calibrate the neural network models (corresponding to crash and non-crash cases to set up a binary classification problem) were collected from the Interstate-4 corridor in Orlando (FL) metropolitan area. Through a careful examination of crash data, it was concluded that all sideswipe collisions …

Application Of Data Mining Techniques For Real-Time Crash Risk Assessment On Freeways, A. Pande, M. A. Abdel-Aty

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Data mining is the analysis of large "observational" datasets to find unsuspected relationships that might be useful to the data owner. It typically involves analysis where objectives of the mining exercise have no bearing on the data collection strategy. Freeway traffic surveillance data collected through underground loop detectors is one such "observational" database maintained for various ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) applications such as travel time prediction etc. In this research data mining process is used to relate this surrogate measure of traffic conditions with rear-end crash occurrence on freeways. Crash and dual loop detector data from 36.25-mile instrumented Interstate-4 corridor …

Cpt-Based Probabilistic And Deterministic Assessment Of In Situ Seismic Soil Liquefaction Potential, Robb E.S. Moss, Raymond B. Seed, Robert E. Kayen, Jonathan P. Stewart, Armen Der Kiureghian, K. Onder Cetin

Civil and Environmental Engineering

This paper presents a complete methodology for both probabilistic and deterministic assessment of seismic soil liquefaction triggering potential based on the cone penetration test (CPT). A comprehensive worldwide set of CPT-based liquefaction field case histories were compiled and back analyzed, and the data then used to develop probabilistic triggering correlations. Issues investigated in this study include improved normalization of CPT resistance measurements for the influence of effective overburden stress, and adjustment to CPT tip resistance for the potential influence of "thin" liquefiable layers. The effects of soil type and soil character (i.e., "fines" adjustment) for the new correlations are based …

Investigation Of The Performance Of The New Orleans Flood Protection System In Hurricane Katrina On August 29, 2005: Volume 1, Raymond B. Seed, Robert G. Bea, Remon I. Abdelmalak, Adda G. Athanasopoulos, Gordon P. Boutwell, Jr., Jonathan D. Bray, Jean-Louis Briaud, Carmen Cheung, Diego Cobos-Roa, Julien Cohen-Waeber, Brian D. Collins, Luke Ehrensing, Dan A. Farber, W. Michael Hanneman, Leslie F. Harder, Kofi S. Inkabi, Anne M. Kammerer, Deniz Karadeniz, Robert E. Kayen, Robb E.S. Moss, Jennifer Nicks, Seshu Nimala, Juan M. Pestana, Jim Porter, Keunyong Rhee, Michael F. Riemer, Karlene Roberts, J. David Rogers, Rune Storesund, Anand V. Govindasamy, Xavier Vera-Grunauer, Joseph E. Wartman, Conor M. Watkins, Ed Wenk, Jr., Solomon C. Yim

Civil and Environmental Engineering

This report presents the results of an investigation of the performance of the New Orleans regional flood protection system during and after Hurricane Katrina, which struck the New Orleans region on August 29, 2005. This event resulted in the single most costly catastrophic failure of an engineered system in history. Current damage estimates at the time of this writing are on the order of $100 to $200 billion in the greater New Orleans area, and the official death count in New Orleans and southern Louisiana at the time of this writing stands at 1,293, with an additional 306 deaths in …

Investigation Of The Performance Of The New Orleans Flood Protection System In Hurricane Katrina On August 29, 2005: Volume 2, Raymond B. Seed, Robert G. Bea, Remon I. Abdelmalak, Adda G. Athanasopoulos, Gordon P. Boutwell, Jr., Jonathan D. Bray, Jean-Louis Briaud, Carmen Cheung, Diego Cobos-Roa, Julien Cohen-Waeber, Brian D. Collins, Luke Ehrensing, Dan A. Farber, W. Michael Hanneman, Leslie F. Harder, Kofi S. Inkabi, Anne M. Kammerer, Deniz Karadeniz, Robert E. Kayen, Robb E.S. Moss, Jennifer Nicks, Seshu Nimala, Juan M. Pestana, Jim Porter, Keunyong Rhee, Michael F. Riemer, Karlene Roberts, J. David Rogers, Rune Storesund, Anand V. Govindasamy, Xavier Vera-Grunauer, Joseph E. Wartman, Conor M. Watkins, Ed Wenk, Jr., Solomon C. Yim

Civil and Environmental Engineering

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Placement Conditions On Decomposition Of Municipal Solid Wastes In Cold Regions, James Hanson, Nazli Yeşiller, K. A. Howard, Wei-Lien Liu, S. P. Cooper

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The effects of placement practices on decomposition of wastes were investigated at Anchorage Regional Landfill (Anchorage, Alaska) since 2002. Temperatures and gas concentrations of wastes placed at various seasons were monitored. Wastes were placed at sub-freezing temperatures during cold seasons. Waste temperatures generally increased upon placement. High variation was observed in waste temperatures near the surface whereas steady temperatures were obtained at depth. High maximum stable temperatures resulted from warm placement conditions. Steady temperatures between approximately –1 to +35°C were observed. The central portion of a frozen waste band (with a total initial thickness of 7 m at placement, currently …

Recyclability Index For Automobiles, Alexander Tsuji, Yarrow Nelson, Andrew Kean, Samuel A. Vigil

Civil and Environmental Engineering

A rating system was developed to quantify the environmental impacts of light-duty motor vehicles at the end of their life-cycle based on recyclability, toxic material content and ultimate disposal. Each year, 10-11 million vehicles are retired from service in the United States. The vehicle material not recycled is called automotive shredder residue (ASR). About 4.5 to 5 million tons of ASR are disposed in U.S. solid waste landfills annually. The volume of this residue is likely to increase as vehicle manufacturers continue to use more plastics and composites in their designs to reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency. The rating …

Using Genetic Algorithms And Particle Swarm Optimization For Optimal Design And Calibration Of Large And Complex Urban Stormwater Management Models, Misgana K. Muleta, Paul F. Boulos, Chun-Hou Orr, Jun Je Ro

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Computer models are vital for the evaluation and management of urban drainage systems. Usefulness of these models, however, depends on how well they are calibrated. Properly calibrated models can be used to conceive, evaluate and compare various design improvement alternatives. Unfortunately, calibration and design of urban stormwater models, especially with the commonly used trial-and-error approach, are an expensive, time-consuming process and normally represent the most painful step of a modeling exercise. Their success depends mainly on the engineering expertise of the modeler and budget availability. The effort is complicated by the fact that these models normally necessitate the evaluation of …

An Innovative Geocentric Decision Support Solution To Comprehensive Planning, Design, Operation, And Management Of Urban Drainage Systems, Paul F. Boulos, Misgana K. Muleta, Chun-Hou Orr, Jun Je Ro

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Geographic Information System (GIS) is quickly becoming a critical component to develop and sustain asset management for today’s wastewater utilities as most of their data is geographically referenced. This technology offers sophisticated data management and spatial analysis capabilities that can greatly improve and facilitate urban drainage infrastructure modeling and analysis applications. This paper presents a comprehensive GIS-based decision support system that integrates several technologies for use in the effective management of urban stormwater collection systems. It explicitly integrates ESRI ArcGIS geospatial model with advanced hydrologic, hydraulic, and water quality simulation algorithms, nature-based global optimization techniques including genetic algorithms for design …

Biodegradation Of Hydrocarbons Assisted By Arroyo Willows In Controlled Mesocosms Conducted At The Former Guadalupe Oil Field, Kevin Crossley, Yarrow M. Nelson

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Abstract of paper presented at conference.

Biotreatment Of Synthetic Drill-Cutting Waste In Soil, Laleh Rastegarzadeh, Yarrow Nelson, Todd G. Ririe

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Oil and gas drilling operations create drill cutting wastes around the world. Drill cutting waste includes synthetic drilling fluids typically consisting of petroleum-based compounds mixed with clay-type materials and water. Biological treatment is an effective means of disposing of drill cutting wastes, but proper biodegradation conditions are critical. In this study biological treatment of drill cutting wastes containing Saraline® (synthetic paraffin mineral oil) was examined using a variety of amendments to study the effect of different conditions on the biodegradability of synthetic drill cutting wastes. Soil was collected from a drilling site in Southeast Asia and soil microcosms were incubated …

Biodegradation And Toxicity Of Hydrocarbons Along Vertical Transects In A Groundwater Plume, Yarrow M. Nelson, Andrew Lassen, Christopher L. Kitts, Paul Lundegrad, Gonzalo Garcia

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Abstract of paper presented at conference.

Incorporating Parameter Uncertainty Into Attenuation Relationships, Robb E.S. Moss, Armen Der Kiureghian

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Strong ground motion attenuation relationships estimate the mean and variance of ground shaking as it decreases with distance from an earthquake source. Current relationships use “classical” regression techniques that treat the input variables or parameters as exact, neglecting the uncertainties associated with the measurement of ground acceleration, moment magnitude, site-to-source distance, shear wave velocity, etc. This leads to a poorly constrained estimate of the uncertainty of strong ground motions. This paper discusses the work in progress on; a) estimating the statistics of parameter uncertainty, and b) incorporating the parameter uncertainty into the regression of strong motion attenuation data using a …

Tsunamigenic Probabilistic Fault Displacement Hazard Analysis For Subduction Zones, Robb E.S. Moss, Thaleia Travasarou

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The recent Sumatra earthquake and subsequent tsunami has provoked greater awareness of the hazard posed by coseismic fault displacement associated with sea-floor subduction zones. This catastrophic event has focused renewed efforts on tsunami forecasting, modeling, and detection. Yet the mechanism that causes this type of tsunami, coseismic fault displacement of a sea-floor subduction zone, is still treated deterministically. This paper describes a methodology for probabilistic fault displacement hazard analysis (PFDHA) for a sea-floor subduction zone, and presents example displacement hazard curves for the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The goal of this probabilistic methodology is to quantify the uncertainty and associated hazard …

Cpt-Based Probabilistic Assessment Of Seismic Soil Liquefaction Initiation, Robb E.S. Moss, R. B. Seed, R. E. Kayen, J. P. Stewart, Armen Der Kiureghian

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The correlation of seismic field performance with in situ index test results has been proven to be a reliable method for defining the threshold between liquefaction and non-liquefaction. The objective of this research was to define, in the most accurate and unbiased manner possible, the initiation of seismic soil liquefaction using the cone penetration test (CPT). Contained in this report are the results of this research.

Case histories of occurrence and non-occurrence of soil liquefaction were collected from seismic events that occurred over the past three decades. These were carefully processed to develop improved CPT-based correlations for prediction of the …

Soils Magic: Bringing Civil Engineering To The K–12 Classroom, David J. Elton, James Hanson, David M. Shannon

Civil and Environmental Engineering

An investigation was conducted to assess the effectiveness of a series of kindergarten through 12th grade (K–12) educational outreach activities related to civil engineering. In particular, a program called Soils Magic that contains a series of simple geotechnical engineering experiments was delivered in various formats to K–12 students. This paper provides an overview of the Soils Magic program and provides further details of selected experiments from the program. This paper highlights the experiences of various civil engineering professors bringing the program to school children to promote the excitement and accessibility of the engineering profession. Suggestions are provided for conducting successful …

Normalizing The Cpt For Overburden Stress, Robb E.S. Moss, Raymond B. Seed, Richard S. Olsen

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Effective overburden stress can have a significant influence on cone penetration test (CPT) measurements. This influence can lead to an incorrect assessment of soil strength/resistance for such purposes as liquefaction triggering analysis. For an accurate measurement of tip and sleeve resistance, unbiased by overburden stress, it is essential to normalize these index measurements appropriately. Presented herein is a comprehensive study reviewing all aspects of CPT normalization. A result of this study is a variable normalization procedure for the CPT that is based on both empirical results and theoretical analysis. This paper presents these results in the form of an improved …

Atms Implementation System For Identifying Traffic Conditions Leading To Potential Crashes, Mohamed Abdel-Aty, Anurag Pande

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Predicting a crash occurrence is the key to traffic safety. Real-time identification of freeway segments with high crash potential is addressed in this paper. For this study, historical crashes and corresponding traffic-surveillance data from loop detectors were gathered from a 36-mi corridor of Interstate 4 for 4 years. Following an exploratory analysis, two types of logistic-regression models (i.e., simple and multivariate) were developed. It was observed that, although the simple models have the advantage of being tolerant in their data requirements, their classification accuracy was inferior to that of the final multivariate model. Hence, the simple models were used to …

Renewable Materials And Construction Waste Management, Samuel A. Vigil

Civil and Environmental Engineering

No abstract provided.

Renewable Energy, Samuel A. Vigil

Civil and Environmental Engineering

No abstract provided.

Water Conservation And Wastewater Treatment, Samuel A. Vigil

Civil and Environmental Engineering

No abstract provided.

Comprehensive Analysis Of The Relationship Between Real-Time Traffic Surveillance Data And Rear-End Crashes On Freeways, Anurag Pande, Mohamed Abdel-Aty

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Rear-end collisions are the single most frequent type of crash on freeways. Their impact on freeway operation is also most noticeable because almost all of them occur during periods of medium to heavy demand. Preliminary explorations of average traffic speeds before a crash measured at loop detector stations surrounding the crash location showed that rear-end crashes can be placed into two mutually exclusive groups: first, those that occur under extended congestion and, second, those that occur with relatively free-flow conditions prevailing 5 to 10 min before the crash. With loop detector data preceding these two groups of rear-end crashes contrasted …