Digital Commons Network^™

The Effectiveness Of Longitudinal Rumble Strips On Indiana Roads, Mario A. Barahona, Qiming Guo, Vamsi Krishna Bandaru, Mario A. Romero, Andrew P. Tarko

JTRP Technical Reports

Rumble strips are designed and deployed to reduce run-off-road and head-on crashes by alerting drivers about near-lane departures. Although they have been widely used, their operational safety effectiveness still needs to be investigated under various operational conditions. Rumble strips may have different widths and be installed on edge, shoulder, center, or in any combination of these locations. To perform a comprehensive analysis of rumble strips’ safety effectiveness on rural two-lanes roads across Indiana, both statistical analysis and field test were performed. To statistically analyze this problem, a dataset for road segments with installed rumble strips including crash data, strips’ locations, …

Remaining Service Life Prediction Of Indiana Pavements Using Mechanistic Methods, Seonghwan Cho, Bongsuk Park, Cheng Zhang, John E. Haddock

JTRP Technical Reports

Accurate remaining service life (RSL) prediction facilitates effective pavement maintenance strategies, extends service quality, and reduces costs. This study developed RSL prediction models for major distresses­ in INDOT pavement—including full-depth asphalt flexible, rigid, and composite pavement­—using Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) and International Roughness Index (IRI) data. The structural and functional prediction models were developed based on the analysis of field data and finite element simulation results. All indicators of the structural prediction models could easily be obtained by processing raw FWD data. The IRI prediction models were developed for INDOT pavements using an enhanced approach for analyzing historical IRI databases. …

Feasibility Of Utilizing Native Grasses And Forbs In Lieu Of Exotic Cool Season Grasses On Roadside Rights-Of-Way, Wesley Bollinger, Rabin Bhattarai, Jeffrey W. Matthews

JTRP Technical Reports

We assessed the status of 34 native species plantings along roadsides in Indiana and Illinois and evaluated soil conditions, distance from road, and surrounding landscape cover to determine which factors led to successful long-term establishment of plantings. Cover by seeded native species and native species overall increased with distance from road and decreased with increasing soil nitrate and phosphorous. Number of native species and seeded native species increased with distance from road and greater seed mix diversity. In contrast, richness of non-native, non-seeded species was greater at shorter distances from road. Across all sites, 84 of the 150 native species …

Performance Acceptance And Performance Monitoring Of Pavement Using Falling Weight Deflectometer (Fwd) And International Roughness Index (Iri), Maya Khajehvand, Abdullah Al Mamun, Tommy Nantung, Seong-Hwan Cho, John E. Haddock

JTRP Technical Reports

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) utilizes the International Roughness Index (IRI) and Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) data to prioritize pavement maintenance across interstates, state roads, and U.S. highways. While IRI measures ride quality and FWD assesses structural integrity, their threshold values vary by road type, reflecting differing service expectations. Effective pavement maintenance requires a holistic approach, combining surface condition data from IRI with structural insights from FWD through predictive modeling. Additionally, these metrics should not only estimate service life but also provide indications of potential distress types, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of pavement performance and maintenance needs. The study …

Monitoring Of A Steel-Reinforced Mse Abutment Wall And Evaluation Of Its Bearing Capacity Based On The Cpt And Dcpt, Venkata Abhishek Sakleshpur, Monica Prezzi, Rodrigo Salgado, Peter Becker, Yaser Zafari

JTRP Technical Reports

A two-span bridge, supported by steel H-piles and mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) bridge abutments, was constructed as part of a new interchange on I-65 in Whitestown, Indiana. The east and west MSE abutment walls consisted of precast concrete facing panels, ribbed steel strips, and coarse-grained backfill soil. A section near the middle of the east MSE abutment wall was selected for instrumentation and performance monitoring. A variety of sensors, including earth pressure cells, strain gauges, inclinometers, and crackmeters were used to measure the magnitude and evolution of several quantities, such as the vertical stresses at the base of the leveling …

Communication Of Fixed And Mobile Warnings To Commercial Trucks Using In-Cab Notification, Jairaj Desai, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Jijo K. Mathew, Nathaniel Sturdevant, Edward Cox, Darcy M. Bullock

JTRP Technical Reports

Improving commercial vehicle safety continues to be an important priority for all stakeholders. There has been considerable focus in Indiana on reducing work zone related crashes, particularly those involving commercial motor vehicles encountering unexpected slowdowns or stopped traffic on the Interstate. Connected vehicle data have the potential to warn motorists of impending slowdowns and congestion in real-time. Multiple data providers have recently begun providing in-cab alerts to commercial vehicle drivers in areas of congestion, dangerous slowdowns, and work zone construction to increase driver awareness of potential hazards. This research utilized 1-second frequency data from trucks receiving in-cab alerts for Congestion …

Roadside Right-Of-Way Maintenance Strategies, Cheryl Daniels, Angela Burdell, Patrick Ewbank, Keith Shane

JTRP Technical Reports

The Indiana Department of Transportation’s (INDOT) roadside management program is tasked with multiple items across the state’s 39,000 lane miles. Roadside maintenance is an essential task that keeps INDOT’s rights-of-way (ROWs) safe and functional for drivers. Most roadside vegetation maintenance work for INDOT is outsourced, and INDOT’s in-house staff perform any follow-up vegetation maintenance as needed. INDOT needs to focus on cost-efficient solutions due to budgetary constraints from increased labor, equipment, and contractor costs and no budgetary increases.

INDOT contracted Davey Resource Group, Inc. (DRG) to provide recommendations for updates to INDOT’s roadside ROW vegetation maintenance strategies. DRG completed a …

Automated Record Keeping For Maintenance Operations Via Tracking Of Maintenance Vehicles Using Telematics Tracks, Anugunj Naman, Yaguang Zhang, Aaron Ault, James V. Krogmeier

JTRP Technical Reports

Efficient and accurate record-keeping for maintenance vehicle operations is essential for optimizing resources, improving accountability, and enhancing decision-making for transportation agencies. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) sought an automated system to verify and improve work order records using telematics-based vehicle tracking. This study developed and evaluated a system that leverages GPS data from INDOT’s Data Warehouse to automate work order verification, track vehicle movements, and enhance data accuracy for winter highway maintenance operations.

The system integrates GPS tracking, automated data processing, and visualization tools to address key challenges such as data standardization, GPS accuracy, and time resolution. Results indicate …

Practical Implementation Of Superabsorbent Polymers (Sap) For Internally Cured Concrete, Chibueze Sylvester Ajuonuma, Raikhan Tokpatayeva, Akul N. Seshadri, Jan Olek, Kendra Erk, Alberto Castillo

JTRP Technical Reports

Laboratory investigations and results from a year-long field trial demonstrated that plain Type IL cement and slag cement concrete that was internally cured by superabsorbent polymer (SAP) has increased strength and durability compared to SAP-free mixtures, mixtures containing colloidal nanosilica, and mixtures that were externally cured with a surface-applied curing compound. SAP was successfully delivered to fresh concrete mixtures at the ready-mixed concrete plant by using dissolvable bags containing premeasured amounts of dry SAP particles. No batching adjustments were necessary to successfully utilize SAP in the concrete mixtures.

Backcalculated Dynamic Modulus Master Curve From The Time Histories Of Falling Weight Deflectometer Surface Deflections, Mohammad Ali Notani, Seonghwan Cho, John E. Haddock

JTRP Technical Reports

Accurate structural evaluation of flexible pavements is important for cost-efficient maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) strategies. Traditional back-calculation methods based on Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) data assume elastic behavior, overlooking the viscoelastic nature of asphalt materials and subsequently leading to inaccuracies. This study introduces a mechanistic-based back-calculation technique to estimate the dynamic modulus (E*) master curve directly from FWD time-history data. By integrating layered elastic theory with viscoelastic principles, the proposed method first determines the relaxation modulus, E(t), using Differential-Time Fourier Transform (DTFT) analysis. This time-domain response is then converted into the frequency domain to construct the E* master …

Feasibility Of 3d Scanning Technology For Bridge Inspection And Management, Kyubyung Kang, Jinwu Xiao, Jiashu Hu, Deven Kanakamedala, Jungil Seo, Amit Varma

JTRP Technical Reports

This report evaluates the feasibility of 3D scanning technologies, including LiDAR, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), and UAV photogrammetry, for improving bridge inspection practices. The study identifies challenges in adopting these technologies, particularly for detecting corrosion, section loss, and deformation in steel girders and other critical structural components. A framework is developed to integrate 3D scanning data with defect detection and structural analysis tools, ensuring compatibility with existing bridge inspection and asset management systems. The report provides practical guidelines for optimizing scanning strategies, data processing workflows, and implementation procedures to support Indiana’s bridge inspection practice. The proposed framework is designed to …

Systematic Study Of Type 1l Cement For Mixture Optimization And Carbon Reduction, Jookyeung Sung, Rui He, Na (Luna) Lu, Yining Feng

JTRP Technical Reports

The use of Portland Limestone Cement (PLC, Type 1L), a sustainable alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), has gained traction in the United States as a means to reduce the carbon footprint associated with concrete production. Despite its environmental benefits, the inconsistent field performance, particularly with respect to strength development, durability, and admixture compatibility, has raised concerns about its application. This study aims to systematically evaluate the performance of PLCs in terms of material properties, mechanical behavior, durability, and microstructural characteristics, with the goal of informing optimized mixture designs and supporting broader implementation of PLC in infrastructure applications.

Three cement …

User Manual For Digital Inspection Training System, Yeji Hong, Yuxi Zhang, Zirui Hong, Ruisong Zheng, Hubo Cai, Dulcy M. Abraham

JTRP Technical Reports

Construction inspection plays a pivotal role in ensuring the quality and long-term performance of infrastructure products. INDOT is currently facing the challenge to effectively train novice inspectors and update experienced inspectors with the latest versions of quality requirements to perform construction inspection effectively and more efficiently. This project developed a digital inspection training system to train INDOT inspectors to inspect asphalt pavement construction. Inspectors can access the inspection instructions through a construction process-based approach or a pay item-based approach. The inspection guidance is developed using data and information from INDOT’s Standard Specification (2024), Manual for Frequency of Sampling and Testing …

Demonstration Of Zero Speed Inertial Profilers, Dwayne Harris, Steve Karamihas

JTRP Technical Reports

The Indiana Department of Transportation currently, uses inertial profilers for pavement smoothness quality control and quality assurance. However, this profilers face limitations in urban environments characterized by slow speeds and stop and go traffic. Currently, equipment vendors are developing new profiler platforms that include improved spatial and temporal filters, additional sensors, and novel computational methods to enhance performance in urban environments. This research is to evaluate the performance of these updated systems in urban slow speed environments.

Investigation Of Low Friction On Asphalt Pavements, Jieyi Bao, Cheng Peng, Xiaoqiang Hu, Yi Jiang, Jusang Lee, Shuo Li, Ayesha Shah

JTRP Technical Reports

This study explores low-friction issues in specific asphalt pavements utilizing dolomite aggregates within an Indiana Department of Transportation district. It examines the frictional characteristics of these aggregates, concentrating on initial friction (PSV0) and long-term friction retention (PSV10). Employing a mix of laboratory tests, field data analysis, and statistical modeling, the research assesses how mechanical, physical, and chemical properties influence the overall friction behavior of dolomite aggregates.

The evaluation of Design Mix Formulas (DMFs) revealed no statistically significant effect on pavement friction, with variations more closely tied to aggregate quality and construction practices rather than the mix design itself. Inconsistent friction …

Case Studies Documenting Lessons Learned And Identifying Opportunities For Maintenance Of Traffic (Mot) Improvements, Myles W. Overall, Justin Mukai, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Jairaj Desai, Deborah Horton, Darcy M. Bullock

JTRP Technical Reports

From July 2023 to July 2025, the team performed several dozen after-action reviews of interstate work zones and the associated maintenance of traffic (MOT). These after-action reports generally contain the following information: Date, location, visual images, connected vehicle summary graphics, qualitative discussion of activity, and in some cases press releases or media posts. In general, these themes emerged:

1. MOT plans in some cases do not accurately capture the geometry constraints placed by bridges, guardrail and or barrier wall. It is important that design reviews place careful focus on ensuring lane widths, shoulders, and shoulder treatments fit across the entire cross …

Continued Deployment Of Indiana Work Zone Analytics, Myles W. Overall, Justin Mukai, Jairaj Desai, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Mischa Kachler, John Mcgregor, Darcy M. Bullock

JTRP Technical Reports

Work zones along interstates often have increased congestion and crash rates when locations are close to or over capacity. Having agile monitoring methods to identifying emerging issues and challenges can provide data to transportation agency decision makers to refine maintenance of traffic plans and inform future designs.

This study developed techniques to fuse a multitude of data sources including connected vehicle speeds, connected vehicle hard-braking events, crash reports, digital alerts, commercial vehicle dash camera images, into a weekly interstate work zone report that gives stakeholders a holistic overview of their work zone operations and allowed for easy identification of opportunities …

Connected Vehicle Trajectory Data To Screen Network For Hard-Braking And Hard-Acceleration Events, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Jairaj Desai, Christopher Gartner, Justin Mukai, Nathan Sturdevant, Nathan Shellhamer, Taylor Ruble, Dan Mccoy, Darcy M. Bullock

JTRP Technical Reports

Hard braking and hard acceleration data has been demonstrated as an important emerging data source that provides quicker feedback than crash data. In fact, a strong correlation between hard braking on the interstate and crash rates has been reported in previous studies. A previous study has shown that there are approximately 147 hard braking events in a work zone for every crash. However, there have been subtle changes in acceleration thresholds as well as techniques automotive companies and third-party vendors use to compute hard braking. The motivation of this study is to define scalable and sustainable procedures for obtaining consistent …

Study On The Permissible Depth Of Utilities Under The Mse Walls And Means And Methods Of Protecting The Mse Walls When The Permissible Depth Cannot Be Provided, Md Asad Ahmad, Antonio Bobet

JTRP Technical Reports

Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls may intersect utilities such as pipes and culverts, which may be located within the reinforced backfill or foundation soil. Evidence from previous failures has shown that leakage or collapse of these utilities can lead to severe deformation or loss of wall integrity. Despite the critical implications of pipe failure, there are no standardized guidelines in the U.S. regarding the placement of utilities within or beneath MSE walls, and current practices vary widely among state DOTs. This report describes the mechanical interaction between MSE walls and buried utility pipes and explores configurations where pipes are placed …

Worksite Speed Control System (Wscs), Jairaj Desai, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, John Mcgregor, James Sturdevant, Darcy M. Bullock

JTRP Technical Reports

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Speed Safety Camera (SSC) deployments in reducing traffic speeds through four interstate work zones in Indiana in accordance with Indiana State Law House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1015. The initial deployment of SSC was along interstate I-70 in August 2024, with deployments on I-69, I-465, and I-65 subsequently following in 2025. To evaluate the impact of SSC deployments in Indiana, connected passenger car and connected truck data was used to quantify the change in speed characteristics before and during the SSC deployments. Approximately 100 million passenger vehicle records and 3 million commercial truck records were …

Effective Shoulder Width On Rural Highway System Related To Roadway Departure Crashes, Mario A. Barahona, Vamsi Krishna Bandaru, Mario A. Romero, Andrew Tarko

JTRP Technical Reports

Roadway design plays a crucial role in traffic safety, particularly on rural roads. This research investigates the safety effectiveness of shoulder width on Indiana’s rural two-lane highways, and to use this understanding to provide a basis for more effective shoulder improvement programs. Although previous studies have established the benefits of shoulder widening in other states, limited research has been conducted in Indiana conditions. This research aims to evaluate the safety effectiveness of shoulders on rural roads in Indiana and to propose a practical and systemic approach to identifying road segments that require additional attention and possible need for shoulder improvements. …

Research Support To Indot On I-465 Southeast Variable Speed Limit And Ramp Meter Project, Jairaj Desai, Christopher Gartner, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Edward D. Cox, James Sturdevant, Darcy M. Bullock

JTRP Technical Reports

Traditionally, crash data, crash risk models, video recordings and user surveys have been utilized by agencies to measure the safety benefits of ramp metering technology. Connected vehicle data can now provide an agile evaluation alternative for quantifying impact of ramp meter deployments. Furthermore, in contrast to crash data, connected vehicle near miss events occur much more frequently, so the before-after evaluation can be conducted over a much shorter time period consisting of a few months, or perhaps even a few weeks.

Indiana deployed ramp meters on the southeast section of I-465 around Indianapolis, on or around May 14, 2024, which …

Implementing An Advanced Friction Testing Program For Seamless Coverage Of Indot System, Chengcheng Tao, Yizhou Lin, Junyi Duan, Cheng Peng, Jieyi Bao, Yi Jiang, Shuo Li

JTRP Technical Reports

The interaction between tires and the road surface is crucial for maintaining vehicle stability and safety. The frictional forces at the tire-road interface, along with the coefficient of friction, affect vehicle dynamics, influencing transportation safety. Rapid advancements in transportation technology, infrastructure demands, and safety regulations pose complex transportation challenges, requiring adaptive solutions. The goal of this study is to provide actionable insights for highway agencies, offering improved friction assessment methodologies that support safer and more effective roadway maintenance and design. This study investigates and verify Locked Wheel Skid Tester (LWST) friction measurement on horizontal curves using Sideway-force Coefficient Routine Investigation …

Enhanced Traffic Pattern Knowledge Abstraction And Presentation From 511 Database, Jiannan Ding, Liya Koshy, Tanay Maheshwari, Abin Mathew, Jue Zhou, Stanley Chien, Tianyi Li, Chengcheng Tao, Yaobin Chen

JTRP Technical Reports

The explosive growth in the volume, variety, and velocity of transportation data has placed considerable strain on traditional data infrastructures employed by state departments of transportation (state DOTs). Existing traffic information systems are constrained by fragmented data streams, limited historical archiving, and inadequate interoperability, thereby hindering their utility for comprehensive analysis, causal inference, and predictive modeling. This study addresses these challenges by presenting the design and initial implementation of a traffic data integration platform that unifies multi-source datasets and establishes a foundation for more applications. The platform focuses on data integration and access, incorporating systematic data ingestion pipelines, schema harmonization, …

Further Refinement And Integrated Platform For Indot Traffic Management And Safety Toolset, Stanley Chien, Shu Hu, Yaobin Chen, Mei Qiu, William Lorenz Reindl, Noah Meng, Liya Koshy, Sajan Kumar

JTRP Technical Reports

The SRP-4930, Further Refinement and Integrated Platform for INDOT Traffic Management and Safety Toolset, aims to further refine the previously developed Anomaly Detection and Weaving Analysis programs and create a unified, Web-based user interface for users to access TASI-developed software tools conveniently.

1. The INDOT Application Suite has been successfully developed for centralizing the digital platform developed by Purdue University’s Transportation and Autonomous Systems Institute (TASI). It offers a secure, single point of access to a range of specialized applications, consolidating multiple tools into a unified system.
2. A scalable, lane-wise highway traffic anomaly detection framework that operates exclusively on video-based data …

A Synthesis Study To Identify And Make Recommendations On The Appropriate Nondestructive Testing Tools For Bridge Beam Ends, Piers, And Abutments, Pan Panjehpour, Prince Baah, Sui Nawl Sang, Emmy Kliewer, Karsten Arnold

JTRP Technical Reports

The aim of this research was to identify suitable NDT methods for bridge components by evaluating their advantages, disadvantages, and limitations. The research objectives are: (1) to identify suitable NDT tools and techniques for condition evaluation of bridge beam-ends, abutments, and piers based on their advantages and disadvantages, (2) to identify gaps in NDT tools and techniques for assessing the condition of concrete bridge members (excluding decks), and (3) to recommend NDT methods for further investigation. The scope of this research was limited to reinforced and prestressed concrete bridge piers, pier caps, beam-ends, and abutments, excluding decks. Research culminated in …

Resilient Modulus Improvements To Bases And Subgrades From Geosynthetic Reinforcement, Syed Faizan Husain, Issam Qamhia, Erol Tutumluer, Peter J. Becker

JTRP Technical Reports

This study investigated the benefits of geogrid stabilization in unbound aggregate base layers and developed a framework to incorporate those benefits into mechanistic–empirical (ME) pavement design. The purpose was to address limitations in current design practices that treat geosynthetic stabilized and non-stabilized bases equivalently, despite evidence of enhanced stiffness and improved stress distribution from a geogrid inclusion. Field testing was conducted along US-20 in Indiana using Automated Plate Load Testing (APLT) device during the construction of three full-scale pavement test sections: control (CS), geogrid installed at the base–subgrade interface (GG1), and geogrid installed at mid-depth (GG2). Pavement instrumentation included Bender …

Advancing Accelerated Bridge Construction And Fabrication In Indiana, Camila Duarte, Ashley Thrall

JTRP Technical Reports

The aim of this research was to increase the use of the accelerated bridge construction (ABC) and accelerated bridge fabrication (ABF) in Indiana. Specific research objectives included: (1) understand barriers to implementing ABC and evaluate ABF capabilities in Indiana, (2) investigate the benefits and limits of various ABC/ABF strategies specific to Indiana, and (3) develop guidelines and recommendations for implementing ABC/ABF in Indiana. The focus was on the scoping stage, with the goal of triggering which projects are candidates for ABC or ABF early in the process. Research culminated in (1) a system-level analysis tool that scores all bridges in …

Into The Legal “Twilight Zone”: State Tenth Amendment Jurisdiction Displacing Climate Supremacy, Steven Ferrey

Lewis & Clark Law Review

The Supremacy Clause of the Constitution notwithstanding, western states have utilized their reserved Tenth Amendment Constitutional authority, upheld by federal circuit courts, arbitrarily to block their adjacent states’ sustainable infrastructure to address climate change. The Biden Administration set in motion a rapid electrification of the entire U.S. economy via three different new laws enacted sequentially in 2021, 2022, and 2023. A re-directed federal executive branch now oversees these programs and laws. This Article analyzes how each of those three laws suffers from a critical omission plaguing this most significant infrastructure program in the last half century—now forecast counter-intuitively by some …

The Public Trust Doctrine And Lake Abert: Saving Oregon’S Only Salt Lake, Joseph Arzt

Lewis & Clark Law Review

The public trust doctrine creates a relationship between states and their citizens under which the states are entrusted with protecting natural resources for public use. Though Oregon recognizes the public trust doctrine, recent decisions from Oregon’s Supreme Court have displaced and fractured this doctrine, leaving the current legal landscape surrounding the public trust doctrine in disarray. This Note focuses on Lake Abert, Oregon’s only saline lake, which in recent years, due to mismanagement and neglect, has undergone dramatic ecological shifts. By looking at arguments rooted in Oregon’s Constitution, as well as judicial approaches taken in neighboring states, this Note examines …