Engineering Commons^™

Health, Transportation, And The Built Environment: Building A Roadmap For Change With Smaller Cities, Cynthia Carlson, Semra Aytur, Kevin Gardner, Shannon Rogers

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Presentation at the 2011 Active Living Research Annual Conference.

Factors That Impact Seat Belt Usage And Injury Severity Of Belted Front Seat Occupants, Siri Konje Lawrencia Nukenine

Dissertations

Factors influencing seat belt usage have been extensively researched in the safety analysis literature. Most of this research has focused on factors that influence seat belt usage for a driver and front seat passenger in a vehicle. Few research studies have investigated factors that impact seat belt usage for back seat occupants. This research investigates the factors associated with seat belt usage for front-seat as well as backseat occupants of vehicles in the state of New Jersey. Using logistic regression, seat belt usage models were developed to examine the contribution of several variables on seat belt usage for five vehicle …

Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts 2011 Report, Kentucky Transportation Center, Kentucky State Police

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY’S TRAFFIC COLLISION FACTS report for 2011 is based on collision reports submitted to the Kentucky State Police Records Branch. As required by Kentucky Revised Statutes 189.635, “every law enforcement agency whose officers investigate a vehicle accident of which a report must be made...shall file a report of the accident...within ten days after investigation of the accident upon forms supplied by the bureau.” The stated purpose of this requirement is to utilize data on traffic collisions for such purposes as will improve the traffic safety program in the Commonwealth. Data contained in this report are based solely on the observations …

Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks, Syed R. Rizvi, Stephan Olariu, Christina M. Oinotti, Shaharuddin Salleh, Mona E. Rizvi, Zainab Zaidi

Computer Science Faculty Publications

(First paragraph) Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) have recently been proposed as one of the promising ad hoc networking techniques that can provide both drivers and passengers with a safe and enjoyable driving experience. VANETs can be used for many applications with vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications. In the United States, motor vehicle traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for all motorists between two and thirty-four years of age. In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 33,808 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. The US Department of Transportation (US-DOT) estimates that …

Roadside Grading Guidance - Phase I, Kevin D. Schrum, Francisco D. B. Albuquerque, Dean L. Sicking, Ronald K. Faller, John D. Reid

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

Provisions for the design of roadside foreslopes are not readily available. As a result, engineering judgment is often employed. Unfortunately, this can lead to inconsistent designs, where, inevitably, some designs will be too costly and other designs will be too dangerous. Therefore guidance has been compiled to lend consistency to the design of these foreslopes while maintaining the most economical and safe design.

This guidance was prepared after conducting a benefit-cost analysis using the Roadside Safety Analysis Program (RSAP). A large test matrix was developed in an attempt to simulate the most possible scenarios, leaving interpolation to a minimum. However, …

Evaluation And Modeling Of The Safety Of Open Road Tolling System, Muamer Ali Abuzwidah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this thesis is to examine the traffic safety impact of upgrading Toll Plazas (TP) to Open Road Tolling (ORT). The ORT could enhance safety but could also pose some traffic safety concerns at Toll plazas. Crashes from eight years were investigated by evaluating the crash data before and after the implementation of the ORT. The study was conducted by using two approaches: 1) a simple before and after study and with a comparison group; 2) a modeling effort to help understand the relationship between the crash frequency and several important factors and circumstances such as injury severity, …

Towards Reducing Traffic Congestion Using Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control On A Freeway With A Ramp, George Arnaout, Shannon Bowling

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Purpose: In this paper, the impact of Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) systems on traffic performance is examined using microscopic agent-based simulation. Using a developed traffic simulation model of a freeway with an on-ramp - created to induce perturbations and to trigger stop-and-go traffic, the CACC system’s effect on the traffic performance is studied. The previously proposed traffic simulation model is extended and validated. By embedding CACC vehicles in different penetration levels, the results show significance and indicate the potential of CACC systems to improve traffic characteristics and therefore can be used to reduce traffic congestion. The study shows that …

Selection Of Source And Use Of Traffic Information In Emergency Situations, R. Michael Robinson, Asad Khattak

VMASC Publications

The access and the use of advanced traveler information systems (ATISs) by drivers during normal commuting have been extensively assessed and analyzed. Emergency managers and transportation officials have extended the results of studies of ATIS use under routine conditions to emergency scenarios under the assumption that drivers' responses to information under emergency conditions mimic those seen under normal driving conditions. A recent survey of potential hurricane evacuees suggests the need to revisit this assumption. Results indicate that although commercial radio reports and variable message signs continue to be the sources of traffic information cited the most frequently, other information sources …

Optimal Loop Placement And Models For Length-Based Vehicle Classification And Stop-And-Go Traffic, Heng Wei, Qingyi Ai, Deogratias Eustace, Ping Yi

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Faculty Publications

Inductive loops are widely used nationwide for traffic monitoring as a data source for a variety of needs in generating traffic information for operation and planning analysis, validations of travel demand models, freight studies, pavement design, and even emission impact analysis of traffic operation. The loop data have also been used for vehicle length-based classification in many states including Ohio. The dual-loop detector consists of two single loop detectors which are placed apart at a fixed short distance, and this configuration enables the dual-loop detector data a potential real-time data source for speed and vehicle classifications. However, the existing dual-loop …

Analysis Of Existing Work-Zone Sign Supports Using Manual For Assessing Safety Hardware Safety Performance Criteria, Jennifer D. Schmidt, Ronald K. Faller, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Dean L. Sicking

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Over the years, numerous work-zone, portable sign support systems have been successfully crash tested according to the Test Level 3 safety performance guidelines provided in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 350 and accepted for use along our nation’s highways. For this study, several crashworthy sign support systems were analyzed to predict their safety performance according to the new evaluation criteria provided in the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). More specifically, this analysis was conducted to determine which hardware parameters negatively affect a system’s safety performance. To verify the accuracy of the analysis, eight systems, four with the …

Highway Safety Investigation Manual For The Oregon Department Of Transportation, Karen Dixon, Christopher Monsere

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Across the state, region, and nation highway safety investigators have developed a wide variety of tools and techniques for highway safety investigation procedures. Analysis techniques can range from systematic evaluation approaches such as the Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT’s) Safety Priority Index System (SPIS) down to specific localized safety assessment strategies. It is important to develop consistent methods for safety evaluations across Oregon to ensure that safety investigations are conducted in a similar manner. It is also important to develop a screening process for proper highway safety investigations and document the procedures used for this assessment.

The objective of this …

Evaluation Of The Iqa Delay Estimation Method, Yaye Keita, Mitsuru Saito

CUTR Faculty Journal Publications

The Incremental Queue Accumulation (IQA) method is the new delay estimation method for signalized intersections adopted for the Highway Capacity Manual 2010. Using a signalized intersection and a remote data collection facility, the IQA method was evaluated for its accuracy and for potential challenges that practitioners may encounter as they use the new method. The results were compared with delays obtained by the delay estimation models included in the Highway Capacity Manual 2000. It was found that the IQA method was promising and theoretically more robust than the current delay estimation model, but field data collection could be challenging. © …

Universal Design Of Transportation Systems: A Case Study Of Access And Mobility Of People With Disabilities At Selected Intersections In Dar Es Salaam, Nurdin Mushule

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The pedestrian facilities at intersections must be usable by pedestrians of all ages and capabilities. Intersections in particular must be designed to safely accommodate pedestrians of all ages and physical and mental abilities. Often, however, intersection designs fail to accommodate people with visual and mobility disabilities. In this regard, for pedestrians with disabilities, intersections can prove to be a challenge. Some of those challenges include provision of insufficient pedestrian clearance time due to use of inappropriate design pedestrian speed. Most importantly, the required facilities to enable People With Disabilities (PWD) to use the intersection without hindrance may be missing. Obstacles …

Local Evaluation For The Cumberland Gap Tunnel Regional Its Deployment, John Crossfield, Len O'Connell, Candice Wallace, Jennifer Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report is the local evaluation of an Intelligent Transportation System deployment for the Cumberland Gap Tunnel and U.S. 25E corridor in Tennessee and Kentucky. This report examines the planning for the deployment and the systems and components used to achieve the goals of the deployment. The goals and expectations of the ITS deployment were to provide updated travel information to drivers in the vicinity of the Cumberland Gap Tunnel and along the U.S. 25E corridor; to improve the integration of the tunnel systems; to improve incident detection, verification, and response times along the U.S. 25E corridor; and to develop, …

Investigating The Use Of A New Universal Breakaway Steel Post -- Phase Iii, Dean L. Sicking, Ronald K. Faller, Robert W. Bielenberg, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Jennifer D. Schmidt

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Sustainable Practices And Related Performance Measures At State Highway Agencies, Lenahan O’Connell

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report identifies seven ways in which an SHA can harm the environment: (1) excessive consumption of virgin materials; (2) unnecessary levels or amounts of storm water runoff; (3) release of environmental contaminants by SHA employees and contractors; (4) inadequate environmental training of employees and contractors; (5) wasteful use of energy by SHA employees and contractors; (6) the promotion of excessive driving by the public and concomitant release of green house gases; and (7) inadequate oversight mechanisms and procedures to prevent unsustainable practices. The report then identifies the sustainable practices and related performance measures SHAs can use to prevent or …

Development Of The Mgs Approach Guardrail Transition Using Standardized Steel Posts, Scott K. Rosenbaugh, Ronald K. Faller, Robert W. Bielenberg, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Dean L. Sicking, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Second Generation Precast Deck Panel (Nudeck) System, Kromel E. Hanna, George Morcous, Maher K. Tadros

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Dynamic Impact Testing Of Wood Posts For The Midwest Guardrail System Placed Adjacent To A 2h:1v Fill Slope, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Robert W. Bielenberg, Ronald K. Faller, Dean L. Sicking, Mary D. Mcghee, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Performance Evaluation Of Brass Breakaway Couplings, Joseph G. Putjenter, Scott K. Rosenbaugh, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Ronald K. Faller, Dean L. Sicking, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Layer Moduli Of Nebraska Pavements For The New Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Guide, Soohyok Im, Yong-Rak Kim, Hoki Ban

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Pedestrian Activity On The Uah Campus, Morgan Chamberlain

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of The Locations Of Kentucky’S Traffic Crash Data, Eric R. Green, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This research study evaluated the current accuracy of the location information provided in Kentucky‟s crash data. Since the year 2000, the Kentucky Open Portal System‟s (KYOPS) eCrash form has included latitude and longitude data as well as the more traditional County, Route and Milepoint data (CRMP). The Kentucky Transportation Center conducted a research report in 2004 that evaluated the effectiveness of using latitude and longitude, or GPS, as a means to locate traffic crash data.1 This previous study found that both the CRMP and GPS location data had substantial problems resulting in the location data only being accurate about 50 …

Kennedy Interchange Crash Study, Eric R. Green, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges project is a construction and reconstruction project being undertaken to address long-term transportation needs in the Louisville metropolitan area. Partial justification for construction of the new downtown bridge and reconstruction of the Kennedy interchange is the existing safety issues and the potential for improved safety. Crash rates for the interchange area have not been fully documented to establish the existing level of safety and degree of the problem relative to state and national statistics. The objective of this study was to analyze and evaluate crash data for the Kennedy Interchange area of Louisville and …

An Exploratory Survey Of Drivers’ Knowledge Of Right Of Way At Freeway On-Ramp Merging Areas, Deogratias Eustace, Stephen Owusu-Ansah, Vamsi Krishna Indupuru

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Faculty Publications

Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death in the United States. The most recent data available show that in 2006 there were almost 6 million police-reported motor vehicle crashes in the United States where a total of 42,642 people were killed and an additional 2.6 million were injured. The majority of these motor vehicle crashes occurred at intersections or within the intersection influence areas. Traffic conflicts occur at intersections due to traffic streams moving in different directions interfering with each other, and as a result they become areas with high potential for traffic crashes compared with …

Corrosion Behaviour Of Brass In The Vembanad Estuary, India, Andy Mathiazhagan, Rani Joseph, Kanjiramparayil Puthilon Narayanan, Palaniandy Seralathan

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Corrosion characteristics of brass panels were investigated in the Vembanad estuarine water (Cochin Harbor), India over a period of one year. The corrosion rate of brass samples during exposure was determined by gravimetric method and fouling on panels was assessed, exposure-wise, in terms of biomass. Corrosion products were identified by X-Ray diffraction. The results of the study were discussed in the light of the seawater characteristics.

A Wide Speed Range Sensorless Control Technique Of Brushless Dc Motors For Electric Propulsors, Min-Fu Hsieh, Hung-Ju Liao

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This paper presents a sensorless drive technique for permanent-magnet brushless DC motors applied to electric propulsors of small ships or underwater vehicles. Propulsors enveloping electric motors (e.g., POD or subsea thrusters) have been increasingly applied due to their advantages of excellent maneuverability, high efficiency and low maintenance costs. To secure reliable operation under water, sensorless control is considered as an appropriate technique. However, conventional sensorless techniques often suffer problems of narrow speed range and low efficiency, particularly when the propulsors sustain heavy load at high speed operation. Hence, a sensorless technique with a wide speed range is developed in this …

The Study Of Ship Collision Avoidance Route Planning By Ant Colony Algorithm, Ming-Cheng Tsou, Chao-Kuang Hsueh

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Maritime traffic is becoming more complex every day. At present, due to technological advances and to new maritime regulations, there is increasing demand for new nautical marine instruments to be installed into the bridge, and the breadth of navigational information complicates on-duty officers’ decisions. Therefore, if decision support tools can be used to help deal with navigational decision-making, human errors arising from subjective judgments can be reduced, and sea transport safety improved. This research uses the concept of e-navigation as a framework, positioning collision avoidance path planning as the main theme, and applies an Ant Colony Algorithm (ACA) in the …

Final Warranty Evaluation I-275 Kenton/Boone Counties Mp 1.06-7.15, Tim C. Scully Jr., R. Clark Graves

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The center performed a visual survey on the eastbound and westbound side of the pavement on the warranted section of I-275. The center’s evaluation team looked for any distresses that exceeded the threshold levels outlined in the warranty specification.

Rapid Construction Of Pacific Street Bridge, Kromel E. Hanna, George Morcous, Maher K. Tadros

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.