Engineering Commons^™

Proposed Charlotte To Atlanta High-Speed Passenger Rail Line: An Economic, Infrastructural, And Developmental Analysis In The Upstate Of South Carolina, Ian C. Macurda, Kimberly Whitehead

SC Upstate Research Symposium

This research paper is an in-depth analysis of the high-speed passenger rail line proposed between Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA and its impact on the economy, infrastructure, and future development of the Upstate of South Carolina. Currently, passenger rail service between Charlotte and Atlanta is offered on Amtrak at late hours throughout the night on its long-distance passenger rail line The Crescent from New York City, NY to New Orleans, LA. The train is often delayed and is operating at a deficit for Amtrak, like most of their long-distance routes. Traffic on Interstate 85 through the Upstate is another issue …

Performance Assessment Of Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials With Low To High Thermoregulation Range In Asphalt Binder, Anil Kumar Baditha, Ayyaz Fareed

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Symposium

Asphalt pavements face significant challenges due to low temperature cracking and rutting caused by extreme temperature fluctuations and traffic loading. These issues result in higher maintenance costs and reduced service life of the pavements. To address this, researchers explored the use of Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials (MPCMs) to induce thermoregulation in asphalt pavements. However, the existing research focused on high-temperature performance of binders, highlighting the need of research on evaluating the low-temperature performance. Therefore, the study aims to evaluate the impact of incorporating MPCMs on low to high temperature performance of binders. Three types of MPCMs were incorporated into asphalt …

Use Of Waste Plastics In Asphalt Mixes: Addressing The Variability Of Source, Venkatsushanth Revelli, Anil Kumar Baditha

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Symposium

Use of waste plastics in asphalt mixtures suffers from a serious problem of significant variability with global sources; preventing proper guidelines for field applications. The aim of this study is to address the variability in source of waste plastic and its impact on asphalt mixture design. The study was designed to provide a selection criterion to evaluate the suitability of waste polyethylene (PE) for asphalt pavements. PE obtained from five sources was used as a replacement for asphalt binder. Dry mixing of plastics with asphalt and aggregate was performed at the dosage levels of 3%, 6%, and 9%. The changes …

Analyzing Video And Isobus Data To Understand Risk And Safety Practices For Roadside Mowing, Nathan Sprague, Timothy Wiegman, J. T. Evans

Graduate Industrial Research Symposium

In Indiana, roadside mowing covers 11,200 miles, presenting significant risks. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) seeks safer methods, including automated evaluations and autonomous robots. Analyzing 120 hours of video and ISOBUS data, we quantify mower interactions with the road and obstacles, finding mowers on -road up to 91% of the time in rural areas and 57% on highways. Key obstacles identified include signs and posts. This research aids in developing risk assessment models and safety evaluations, aiming to improve mowing safety and efficiency, and it supports future development of autonomous mowing technologies.

Investigating The Severity And Rate Of Occurrence Of Motorcycle Crashes Across Different Land Uses In Georgia, Robert Edwards

Symposium of Student Scholars

In 2020, motorcycle crashes reached their highest number of fatalities nationally since 1975, when 5,579 motorcyclists were killed. Georgia, in recent years, has seen an increase in the number of fatal multi-vehicle crashes involving motorcycles. This would be indicative of the general trend and nothing more if the number of motorcycle crashes reported outside of urban populations did not increase—despite lockdown measures—by 1.7% in 2020. In this investigation, employing a thorough examination of the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Crash Data (GDOT) compiled from the last ten years and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) compiled from the last five years, …

Behavior Analysis Of Cement Concrete With Combination Of Waste Rubber And Glass, Abdulaziz Alebra

Symposium of Student Scholars

Glass and Rubber waste materials are valuable materials to use rather than throw which we have more than enough to use and recycle. Recycled glass and rubber materials can reduce and help major climate issues in our times based on the statistics reducing glass can bring down air pollution by 20% and also reduce water pollution by 50% as well as can reduce the use of landfill space. A laboratory study will be launched, and tests will be conducted following the ASTM standards, ASTM C143 for a concrete slump, and ASTM C31 for making and curing concrete specimens. Samples of …

The Intersection Of Utility Coordination And Sue, Natalie Parks, Ken Kerr

Purdue Road School

ASCE recently released two new SUE standards—ASCE 38-22 is the updated SUE standard commonly used during the utility coordination process during design, and ASCE 75-22 is the new utility as-built standard that is essential for the accurate location of newly relocated facilities in construction. This presentation will illustrate the interaction and relationship between SUE and utility coordination to enhance project deliverables and reduce risk during construction.

Alternative Delivery: Beyond Design-Build, Steve Davidson, William Stringer

Purdue Road School

Owners are facing increased pressure to deliver major infrastructure projects in a timely and cost-efficient manner. Pain from inflation and labor/material short- ages are felt nationwide. To maximize limited budgets, owners are exploring alternative delivery methods. Attendees will learn about the benefits and pitfalls of progressive design-build (PDB) and construction manager/general contractor (CM/GC). Presenters will share best practices for determining if PDB and CM/GC are appropriate for your project and provide case study examples.

Environmental Assessments On A Local Project, Robert Winebrinner, Trevor Wieseke, Summer R. Elmore, Alison Krupski, Mike Maurovich

Purdue Road School

This presentation will go through the environmental process of a recent $125M local project within Noblesville. What are the major differences between the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process as it relates to an environmental assessment (EA)? What is required, what is not required, and what is optional? How long does the process take? Join us as we walk through this exciting process and experience.

Design, Collaborate, Thrive: The Broad Ripple Avenue Project, Jessica Hawley, Emily Nelson, Ericka Miller

Purdue Road School

Broad Ripple Avenue (College Avenue to Winthrop Avenue) needed large-scale stormwater improvements. With the help of the Lochmueller Group and the Broad Ripple Village Association, Indianapolis DPW perceptively took this opportunity to also improve pedestrian facilities and regional multi-modal connectivity by combining multiple regional projects into one construction contract. This consolidation allowed for a cohesive public message through proactive public involvement. Presenters will share how consensus was built between invested parties through a successful public and private partnership.

I-70 Truck Automation Corridor Update, Diane Newton, Scott Manning, Anmol Sidhu

Purdue Road School

Truck automation arrived in the Midwest in 2022 with the advertising of procurement for truck platooning and Level 2 and 4 automations on trucks in operations on I-70. We will discuss the readiness of infrastructure and industry to accept this technology, debunk the headlines on automation, discuss real-world feedback from both technology and trucking industries, and spotlight the partners who are helping INDOT and DriveOhio advance this project.

Decades In The Making: Reimagine Pleasant Street, Alison Krupski, Tanner Mckinney, Mike Maurovich

Purdue Road School

The Reimagine Pleasant Street project is a multi-year initiative that will result in improved east-west connectivity, accessibility, and safety for the City of Noblesville, while still honoring its urban character and historic features. Participants will learn how the project team addressed the challenges and complexities of completing this $125 million local project in the heart of the city. Construction for phase 1 began in the fall of 2022, and phases 2 and 3 will start in the fall of 2023.

How To Prepare Meaningful Crash Analysis, Taylor Ruble

Purdue Road School

Many people outside of traffic engineering are required to conduct a crash history analysis as part of their scoping efforts for non-safety funded projects. Some engineers may not have much experience working with crash data or may not know how best to manipulate it to arrive at meaningful results. Using real-world examples, this presentation will walk through each step in requesting, filtering, diagramming, and interpreting crash data.

Using Raised Crosswalks To Elevate Pedestrian Safety, Bradley Pease, William Hall

Purdue Road School

Discussion of how and when Carmel implemented raised crosswalks for successful traffic calming and enhanced pedestrian safety.

Traffic Signal Preemption Near Active Railroad Crossings Revisited, Gregory Richards

Purdue Road School

This session is an updated version of “Traffic Signal Advance Pre-emption Design within 200’ of Active Railroad Crossings,”—a 2012 Purdue Road School presentation. The issue of Traffic Signal Preemption has changed, positively and negatively, for INDOT and the railroads. A review of the updated traffic signal preemption material will benefit designers, operations staff, and local agencies.

Planning For Pedestrians And Bicyclists During Construction Projects, John Habermann, P.E.

Purdue Road School

This session will explore how the Texas Department of Transportation Waco District addressed pedestrian/bicyclist safety and mobility during a multi-year construction project along I-35. This presentation will demonstrate the value of online tools, field implementations, and data collection. Attendees will learn the value of assembling a stakeholder steering committee; counting pedestrian and bicyclists before, during, and after construction; effectively using pavement clings; and using a webpage dedicated to pedestrian/bicyclist updates.

Interstate Highway Congestion Policy Request: When And How, Douglas Homan, Alan Holderread, Michelle Witkowski

Purdue Road School

This session will highlight current IHCP tables, policy tables, request templates, analysis tools, INDOT queue analysis spreadsheet, INDOT detour route summary spreadsheet, hourly day-of-the-week con- version factors, additional modeling efforts, common and repeated mistakes, IHCP exception checklist, and example projects.

Indiana’S New Strategic Highway Safety Plan, Michael A. Holowaty

Purdue Road School

Over the past 2 years, Indiana has been part of a nationwide surge in the number of motor vehicle fatalities and serious injuries. Even before that time, traffic deaths remained stubbornly high in comparison to other industrial peer nations. In 2022, INDOT engaged with stakeholders and partners inside and outside of state government to create a new Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). The new SHSP is aligned with the FHWA Safe Systems Approach and will help facilitate the changes brought by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation (BIL Act) to state and local safety programs. This presentation will introduce the structure of …

Going The Extra Mile: Responding To Eastern Kentucky Flooding, Ed Green

Purdue Road School

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) responded to one its worst transportation challenges ever when historic flooding struck Appalachia and Eastern Kentucky counties in 2022. The transportation agency responded immediately to the disaster, and in the months following the event, KYTC was charged with assessing bridges for safety, clearing roads and streams, and restoring access to allow responders to reach those in need. New programs were quickly developed to address needs ranging from the installation of temporary bridges to the creation of temporary shelters for displaced residents. During this, C2 Strategic Communications partnered with KYTC to develop a communications campaign to …

Economic Development And Infrastructure, Gary J. Pool

Purdue Road School

This presentation will cover how the developments on the Olio Road Corridor have affected Hancock County’s roadway deterioration and construction, revenue and funding, and public involvement.

Innovative Intersection Traffic Modeling: Tips, Tricks, And Things Often Overlooked, Nathaniel Shellhamer, David Reamer

Purdue Road School

INDOT is actively pursuing innovative intersection treatments across the state to improve safety and mobility. Traffic analysis of these intersections is critical to ensure they will perform as intended, but can often be complex. This session will explore several best practices for modeling innovative intersections and will highlight commonly overlooked elements that are key to proper traffic analysis.

Experimenting With Orange Pavement Markings On Indiana Roadways, Michael R. Williamson, Joseph Bruno

Purdue Road School

This session presents the status of experimental orange pavement markings on Indiana roadways. The presentation includes a summary of the MUTCD experimentation request and an evaluation of orange pavement marking types— including tapes and paints with a focus on color and retroreflectivity retention. The effects of driving behavior on the safety of work zones, vehicle lane positioning, and public opinion are also discussed.

See A Sign? Make A Call, John Habermann, P.E.

Purdue Road School

DOT staff and technology resources have the proven potential to help combat human trafficking if DOT employees know the indicators of human trafficking and how to cooperate with requests from agencies for information that can be derived from DOT assets. The Texas A&M Transportation Institute, NCHRP, and the Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition will discuss the intersection of human trafficking with the transportation sector. Attendees will also learn the main components of human trafficking, the basic signs of human trafficking on DOT facilities, and resources to use in their own states.

Spatial Data Analysis For The Development Of Expected Adverse Weather Charts For Transportation Construction Projects, S M Rahat Rashedi, Akosua Ofosua Okyere-Addo

SDSU Data Science Symposium

Problem - Seasonal and daily weather events impact construction projects across the various climate regions of South Dakota in differing fashions. Additionally, the impacts for similar weather events can impact grading, surfacing, and structural construction activities in various ways. Adverse weather conditions can cause major delays which may lead to time extensions and increase project cost.

Purpose – To address these issues, South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) developed Working Day Weather Charts in 1998. However, advances in construction practices and weather prediction as well as climatic changes have occurred over the interim 25 years. This study is focused on …

Spatial Data Analysis For Traffic Safety Network Screening, Akosua Okyere-Addo, S. M. Rahat Rashedi

SDSU Data Science Symposium

Problem - The roadway system represents a major investment, both public and private, and a valuable resource that enables mobility and accessibility to users. Due to degradation of aging infrastructure and increasing traffic, transportation agencies are seeking to effectively update or improve the system. With rising costs, tight budgets, and limited land resources, agencies are seeking effective techniques for identifying critical mobility and safety concerns. Historically, assignment of crashes to portions of the network, whether segments or intersections, has been the primary manner to link crash and road elements.

Purpose – The primary goal is to explore a potentially more …

Causes Of Cement Concrete Pavement Diseases In High-Cold And High-Altitude Areas And Progress In Repairing Techniques, Tiejun Hou

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The climatic characteristics of high-cold and high-altitude areas are low temperature, large temperature differences, and strong ultraviolet radiation. This paper analyzes the causes of cement concrete pavement diseases in high-cold and high-altitude areas and summarizes the common disease types of cement concrete pavements in high-cold and high-altitude areas. Moreover, new repair techniques to improve the maintenance quality of cement concrete pavements in high-cold and high-altitude areas are introduced.

Using Rwis Data For Winter Maintenance Decision Support, Tony Coventry

Purdue Road School

Road weather information systems (RWIS) data is the key component to winter maintenance decision support systems (MDSS) and solutions. In this session we will learn about the FHWA’s Weather Data Environment (WxDE), a national road weather data sharing program; how the data is integrated into decision support solutions, network monitoring, and research projects. Discussion will also include strategic application of road weather data in winter maintenance decision making.

Streamlining Project Development Through Planning & Environmental Linkages, Karen Hadley, Brett Lackey

Purdue Road School

As transportation agencies continue to explore ways to be more efficient in the project development process, they are embracing integrated methodologies like planning and environmental linkages. This tool is practical, yet highly effective and inclusive, and teams across the country are experiencing its value. This presentation will highlight a variety of use cases, discuss lessons learned and best practices, and specifically address how planning and environmental linkages can be applied in Indiana and the Midwest.

Importance Of Proactive Safety Analysis For Corridor Planning, Martin Guttenplan, Houssam Ghandour

Purdue Road School

A proactive safety analysis approach assists decision makers in addressing high-risk crash elements, particularly on low-volume roadways. Using corridor planning best practices and lessons learned, this presentation will explore creative and proactive approaches for holistic planning solutions. It will also validate 2020 pandemic crash data accuracy and highlight prioritization methodologies and AASHTO and FHWA guided countermeasures applied to at-risk locations.

Perspectives On Past And Present Mutcds, David Boruff

Purdue Road School

This session will describe the history of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Prime focus will be on the Indiana version, including the procedures that have been and those that are currently used to adopt Indiana’s manual. Pending it’s adoption prior to Road School, a summary of the significant changes in next edition of the MUTCD will also be presented.