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Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts 2007 Report, Kentucky Transportation Center, Kentucky State Police

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY’S TRAFFIC COLLISION FACTS report for 2007 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 …

Investigating The Use Of Small-Diameter Softwood As Guardrail Posts (Dynamic Test Results), Jason A. Hascall, Ronald K. Faller, John D. Reid, Dean L. Sicking, David E. Kretschmann

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

A modified version of the Midwest Guardrail System (MGS), utilizing small-diameter round wood posts, was developed, tested, and evaluated. Three systems were developed using different species of timber, Douglas Fir, Ponderosa Pine, and Southern Yellow Pine. A combination of Barrier VII computer simulation modeling and several series of cantilever bogie tests, conducted in both a rigid sleeve and soil, were used to determine the required diameter of post for each species in order to serve as an equivalent substitute for the standard steel post used in the barrier system. The final recommended nominal sizes were determined to be 184 mm …

Material Selection And Design Consideration For Moisture Damage Of Asphalt Pavement, Jamilla Emi Sudo Lutif, Yong-Rak Kim

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Best Management Practices Used By Kytc For On-Site Erosion Control, David L. Allen, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

New erosion control procedures (ECP) have recently been implemented by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). Previously, consultants and designers developed the ECP as a part of the design plans. In many cases these did not work in the field. The new procedures allow construction personnel to develop and implement their own ECPs on site.

This study conducted a survey of construction personnel in the KYTC to determine their level of familiarity with the new ECPs and to determine any issues that may have developed with the new procedures. The results of the survey concluded that most KYTC construction personnel were …

Crumb Rubber In Performance-Graded Asphalt Binder, Wayne Jensen, Magdy Abdelrahman

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Utilization Of Index Stations For Prediction Of Interstate Traffic Volumes, R. Clark Graves, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

To facilitate the collection of traffic volumes along the Interstate System and better utilize the available resources. A method to factor adjacent traffic count locations from index counts collected on an annual basis has been proposed. This process utilized the current permanent stations along with other stations identified as Index Stations to calculate the AADT at the Estimated from Index (EFI) stations. This report provides a summary of the process which was developed and a measure of the potential accuracy of the predicted traffic volumes.

Traffic Control Procedures For Emergency Responders, Jennifer Walton, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to develop a training course and handbook to guide on-scene emergency responders responsible for controlling traffic during a roadway crash and subsequent clearance.

Traffic control is an essential component of incident response in order to move road users safely and expeditiously past or around a traffic incident, and to reduce the likelihood of secondary crashes. Emergency responders, with the exception of law enforcement, are provided limited or no training in traffic control but yet by nature of their job often have to perform such duties. There is a need to provide basic knowledge and …

Annual Update Of Data For Estimating Esals, Jerry G. Pigman, Clark Graves, Brad Rister, David Cain, Neil Tollner

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A revised procedure for estimating equivalent single axleloads (ESAL’s) was developed in 1985. This procedure used weight, classification, and traffic volume data collected by the Transportation Cabinet’s Division of Planning. The procedure was developed and documented as Research Report UKTRP-85-30, and was titled “Estimation of Equivalent Axleloads”. Since the revised procedure was adopted, there have been several changes; the most recent being documented as Report KTC-95-7 titled “Equivalent Single Axleload Computer Program Enhancements”. Results documented in Report KTC-95-7 included improvements in the processing of ESAL data by aggregation of the functional classes to increase the accuracy of the estimates within …

Seismic Evaluation And Ranking Of Bridge Embankments Along I-24 In Western Kentucky, Wael Zatar, Issam E. Harik, Peng Yuan, Ching Chiaw Choo

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study represents one of the Seismic Evaluation of I-24 Bridges investigative series. The focus is on slope or embankment stability and liquefaction potential of embankments of bridges along I-24 in Western Kentucky. A rating system is derived to assist in identifying and prioritizing bridge embankments that are susceptible to failure during to projected seismic events. Embankments of one hundred and twenty seven (127) bridges along I-24 in Western Kentucky are evaluated for 50-year and 250-year seismic events. Fifty-two (52) of the 127 embankments were rated as ‘critical’ for the 50-year event, and 60 were rated as ‘critical’ for the …

Site Investigation Of Bridges Along I-24 In Western Kentucky, Wael Zatar, Issam E. Harik, Peng Yuan

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Determination of the seismic risk of the I-24 bridges requires evaluating the current condition of all individual elements of the bridges. All bridges along the I-24 were visually inspected, pictured, and the records were stored in a database. Data of the visual inspection and the pictures were combined to form the completed site inspection forms of the I-24 bridges. Main visually observed deficiencies of the bridge elements were pointed out. The site inspection forms of all bridges on/over the I-24 in western Kentucky are used together with the bridge inventory to obtain different statistical figures regarding the characteristics of the …

Detailed Seismic Evaluation Of Bridges Along I-24 In Western Kentucky, Ching Chiaw Choo, Issam E. Harik, Peng Yuan

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report presents a seismic rating system and a detailed evaluation procedure for selected highway bridges on/over I-24 in Western Kentucky near the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ). The rating system, based upon structural vulnerability, seismic and geotechnical hazards, and socioeconomic factors, was used to rank 127 (82 on and 45 over I-24) bridges on/over I-24. A total of 14 bridges were selected and subsequently evaluated using a capacity/demand ratio method outlined in the Seismic Retrofitting Manual for Highway Bridges by the Federal Highway Administration. The focus was on four bridge components; namely the expansion joints, bearings, columns, and footings. …

Seismic Evaluation Of The Cumberland River Bridges On I-24 In Western Kentucky, Wael A. Zatar, Wei-Xin Ren, Issam E. Harik

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The main objective of this study is to assess the structural integrity of the I-24 parallel bridges at the Cumberland River crossing in western Kentucky. Due to its importance, the bridge is evaluated for the 250-year event and the maximum credible 500-year event. The scope of the work included: 1) Field testing of the main bridge; 2) Finite element modeling and calibration; 3) Time-history seismic response analysis for the main spans; and 4) Seismic evaluation for both the main and the approach spans. The seismic analysis for the 250-year event indicates that the main spans of the bridge can resist …

Seismic Evaluation Of The Tennessee River Bridges On I-24 In Western Kentucky, Tong Zhao, Wei-Xin Ren, Issam E. Harik, Jin-Dong Hu

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report presents the seismic evaluation of the approaches and parallel bridges on I-24 crossing the Tennessee River between Marshall and Livingston counties in Western Kentucky. The main bridges are steel tied-arch bridges. The bridges are situated within the influence of the New Madrid Seismic Zone. The seismic evaluation program consisted of field testing, 3-dimensional finite element modeling and seismic response analysis. The dynamic properties of the main bridges are determined through field testing, and are used to calibrate the finite element models. The finite element model is then subjected to time histories of the 250-year and 500-year earthquake events. …

Preliminary Seismic Evaluation And Ranking Of Bridges Along I-24 In Western Kentucky, Wael Zatar, Issam E. Harik, Peng Yuan, Ching Chiaw Choo

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study represents one of the Seismic Evaluation of I-24 Bridges investigative series. The focus is on preliminary seismic evaluation and ranking of bridges according to their seismic vulnerability. Bridges along I-24 are considered in this investigation. The ranking will assist in identifying and prioritizing bridges for secondary evaluation, retrofit measure, or other course of action. The rating system described herein is based on a methodology provided by the FHWA Retrofitting Manual for highway bridges. One hundred and twenty seven (127) highway bridges were evaluated and rated in this process for projected 50-year and 250-year seismic events. The Tennessee River …

Post Earthquake Investigation Field Manual For The State Of Kentucky, Ann G. Sardo, Thomas E. Sardo, Issam E. Harik

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The rapid assessment of a bridge structure’s safety and functionality is an essential component to restoring vital lifeline routes after a major earthquake. Appropriate posting categories are used to assure the safety of the traveling public. The objective of this manual is to provide a rapid and efficient method of inspecting bridge structures after an earthquake. The primary users of this manual are intended to be the initial Kentucky Transportation Cabinet personnel who will initially reach the bridge sites. It is recognized that such first-line personnel will possess a variety of backgrounds and, therefore, a systematic method of evaluating the …

Seismic Evaluation Of I-24 Bridges And Embankments In Western Kentucky–Summary Report, Wael A. Zatar, Issam E. Harik, Ching Chiaw Choo

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

I-24 is considered as one of the high priority and emergency routes in the region. Hence, it is essential that I-24 remains functional and operational after an earthquake event. The objective of this study is to perform seismic evaluation and risk assessment of bridges and embankments along I-24 in western Kentucky. The assessment assists identifying and prioritizing bridges that are susceptible to failure.

The study aims at evaluating the seismic risk for 127 bridges, of which 82 bridges lies on I-24 and 45 bridges cross over I-24. This report is the first (1st) in a series of seven reports for …

Analytical Model For Staging Emergency Evacuations, Vivek V. Korikanthimath

Dissertations

Disaster response in areas of high population density is centered on the efficient evacuation of people and possibly goods. Developing evacuation plans suitable for different levels of urgency based on the intensity of threat is a challenging task. In case of densely populated cities (e.g., New York, Los Angeles), the level of threat is enhanced by the congestion of their transportation systems, and the decision to evacuate a region simultaneously or by dividing it into multiple stages (or zones) affects the required evacuation time and associated delays.

The evolution of the traffic conditions on the evacuation route can vary significantly …

Analysis Of Traffic Crash Data In Kentucky (2001 – 2005), Eric R. Green, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents an analysis of traffic crash data in Kentucky for the years of 2001 through 2005. A primary objective of this study was to determine average crash statistics for Kentucky highways. Average and critical numbers and rates of crashes were calculated for various types of highways in rural and urban areas. These data can be used in Kentucky’s procedure to identify locations that have abnormal rates or numbers of crashes. The other primary objective of this study was to provide data that can be used in the preparation of the problem identification portion of Kentucky’s Annual Highway Safety …

2006 Safety Belt Usage Survey In Kentucky, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to establish 2006 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. The 2006 survey continues to document the results after enactment of the original “secondary enforcement” statewide mandatory safety belt law in 1994 and the change to “primary enforcement” which was enacted in 2006. Data were collected at 200 randomly selected sites spread across Kentucky. Data from the individual sites were combined into a statewide percentage considering roadway functional classification, geographic region, and vehicle miles traveled. The data show that the usage rate in 2006 (67.2 percent) was slightly higher than that …

An Analysis Of The Direct And Indirect Costs Of Utility And Right-Of-Way Conflicts On Construction Roadway Projects, Paul M. Goodrum, Fady Kari, Adam Smith, Ben Slaughter, Chris N. Jones

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Utility conflicts are unfortunately a common occurrence on many roadway projects. This report examines the frequency and severity of utility conflicts both within and outside of Kentucky. Understanding which type of utility conflicts most likely occur and the potential magnitude of their costs when will help the Cabinet better understand the risk of utility conflicts on future projects. The report details a series of five case studies that quantified the direct and indirect costs of utility conflicts on previous projects. The report also reports on the result a national survey of 45 state utility directors (out of a possible of …

Quantification Of The Benefits Of Access Management For Kentucky, Adam Kirk, Jerry G. Pigman, Barry House

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report describes the benefits quantification performed for the proposed access management plan for Kentucky. This study evaluates the capacity, safety and economic impacts associated with access management programs. The proposed Kentucky access management program will seek to standardize driveway and traffic signal spacing on all state maintained roadways in the state. The TRB Access Impact Calculator developed as a part of by NCHRP Report 420, was used to evaluate the potential benefits of the proposed plan on a sample of Kentucky roadways. The results of this analysis were then extrapolated to the statewide system to estimate total annual savings …

Cooper Drive Pedestrian Study, Adam Kirk, Nikiforos Stamatiadis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The purpose of this report is to summarize the findings of the pedestrian study conducted for Cooper Drive from Nicholasville Road to Sports Center Drive on the University of Kentucky Campus in Lexington, KY. This study was initiated by the University of Kentucky Parking and Transportation Services in response to high pedestrian crossing volumes on Cooper Drive. Cooper Drive is crossed daily by a large number of pedestrians to access the main campus from the stadium parking lot and Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC). This study examines several roadway alternatives that have potential to improve these pedestrian movements in …

Evaluation Of Kentucky’S “Buckle Up Kentucky: It’S The Law And It’S Enforced” 2006 Campaign, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green, Ronald E. Langley

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this report was to document the results of the “Buckle Up Kentucky: It’s the Law & It’s Enforced” 2006 campaign in Kentucky. The campaign involved a combination of earned media, paid media, and enforcement. The earned media started about five weeks prior to Memorial Day 2006 and continued through the enforcement periods. Two separate paid media campaigns and enforcement periods were conducted. One dealt specifically with pickups while the other was a general campaign for all drivers. The pickup media campaign started four weeks prior to Memorial Day and lasted two weeks followed by a one-week enforcement …

Development Of A Traffic Sign Inventory System (Sign Click), Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A system is not currently in place to inventory traffic signs in Kentucky. A sign inventory database would be beneficial for those responsible for maintenance and management of signs. The overall safety provided the driving public could benefit from an efficient inventory system that increases an agency’s knowledge of existing signs. In addition, a comprehensive inventory and mechanisms for updating the inventory could reduce the potential for liability associated with outdated, inappropriately placed, or missing signs. Software is available for this kind of inventory; however it can be expensive and would lack the specific features that could be developed in-house. …

The Reflective Mariner An Approach For Ecdis Training And Operational Usage, Scott W. Muller

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The emergence of the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) on the bridge of modem vessels offers the possibility of improving the safety and efficiency of maritime operations. Despite its benefits, improper use of ECDIS relegates the watch officer to passive monitoring, which in tum places the mariner "out of the control loop" in the assessment of vessel control functions and equipment malfunctions. It is therefore vital to train mariners to be active in their ECDIS monitoring. This thesis presents a training strategy aimed at developing the "Reflective Mariner": an approach to help mariners maintain their active use of …

Socio-Economic Impacts Of Computer Viruses In Tanzania, M Victor

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This paper reports on a research project conducted with an objective of identifying and assessing various approaches used by different computer users (Management, System Administrators and end users) in Tanzania to combat computer viruses (CVs), and to assess users' awareness level on CVs. Specifically, the study aimed at assessing the awareness level on CVs to the Tanzanian business community; analyze the socio -economic impact caused by CVs in Tanzania and; assess existing methods, capacity and limitations on controlling CVs in Tanzania. Data was collected using both questionnaires and interview from financial institutions such as NBC and BOT, and telecommunications sector …

Coatings, Sealants, And Fillers To Address Bridge Concrete Deterioration And Aesthetics-Phase 1, Sudhir Palle, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study addresses experimental evaluation and testing of concrete coatings for maintenance purposes on structural (steel reinforced) concrete. The test methods employed are intended to identify coatings and sealers for eventual incorporation into a qualified products list for structural concrete coatings. Some of the methods/procedures used in this study will be used in the future to evaluate additional coatings and sealers. Developmental work focused on identifying relevant coatings systems and laboratory tests. The objectives of experimental project monitoring were to: 1) identify existing viable concrete coatings along with their properties/ characteristics/surface preparation requirements and determine effective acceptance/evaluation tests for those …

Making Kytc Geotechnical Reports Available On The Web, Gerald A. Weisenfluh, Rebecca Wang

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Geotechnical Branch of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) prepares technical reports that contain drawings, explanations, and recommendations for road and structure construction projects in Kentucky. These design reports, once complete, also serve as historical reference materials for new projects and are utilized by State contractors, regional transportation offices, as well as the KYTC staff in Frankfort, KY. In order to reduce the support needed to distribute these documents to their constituents, the KYTC required a Web-based system for storing and disseminating the reports. The system developed under this project allows KYTC staff to upload an electronic document from any …

Early Stage Benefit Cost Analysis For Estimating Economic Impacts, Doug Kreis, Brian Howell, Lenahan O'Connell

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study reviewed the various software packages and other methods in use for estimating the economic impacts of proposed transportation projects. A total of 13 economic software packages were examined as potential applications in meeting KYTC’s business needs. It was determined that only the TREDIS model from the Economic Development Research Group, Inc. or the TranSight model from Regional Economic Models, Inc. could potentially meet Kentucky’s needs as defined in the project.

Characteristics And Engineering Properties Of The Soft Soil Layer In Highway Soil Subgrades, Tommy C. Hopkins, Tony L. Beckham, Liecheng Sun

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this research was to examine the conditions and characteristics of soil subgrades that had been stabilized using mechanical compaction. Goals of the study are to identify and examine the engineering properties and behavior of the “soft layer’ of material observed at the top of untreated, highway pavement soil subgrades. Alternative methods of preventing, or mitigating, the development of the soft layer are discussed.

Evidence is presented that shows that a soft layer of soil frequently develops at the top of untreated, highway soil subgrades. Data are presented that show strengths obtained from mechanical compaction are largely destroyed …