Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Analysis Of Traffic Crash Data In Kentucky (2004 – 2008), 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 2004 through 2008. 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 …

Predictive Archaeological Modeling Using Gis-Based Fuzzy Set Estimation: A Case Study In Woodford County, Kentucky, Philip B. Mink, John Ripy, Keiron Bailey, Ted H. Grossardt

Kentucky Transportation Center Faculty and Researcher Publications

Analytic predictive archaeological models can have great utility for state Departments of Transportation, but it is difficult to model the likelihood of prehistoric settlement using geographical proxy predictor variables because of the complexity of how settlement choices were actually made, and the complex interaction between these variables using GIS. In many cases classic statistical modeling approaches require too much data to be useful. This research reports on a preliminary predictive model that combines Spatial Analyst and fuzzy logic modeling to capture expert archaeological knowledge and convert this into predictive surface. A test area was defined in Woodford County, KY and …

2009 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 2009 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. The 2009 survey continues to document the results after enactment of the original “secondary enforcement” statewide mandatory safety belt law in 1994 and the subsequent change to “primary enforcement” which was enacted in 2006. Data were collected at 160 randomly selected sites in 18 counties across Kentucky. Data from the individual sites were combined into a statewide percentage considering roadway functional classification, county, and vehicle miles traveled.

The data show that the usage rate in 2009 (79.7 percent) increased several percentage …

The North American Transportation Security Center – Serri Analysis Update, Steven Douglas Kreis, Michael M. Barclay

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Executive Summary

There are over 800,000 hazardous materials (hazmat) shipments over the nation’s roads each day. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), terrorist activity related to the transportation of hazardous materials represents a significant threat to public safety and the nation’s critical infrastructure. Specifically, the federal government has identified the government’s inability to track hazmat shipments on a real-time basis as a significant security vulnerability.

In 2004, the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) completed a study to determine if “smart truck” technology such as GPS tracking, wireless modems, panic buttons, and on-board computers could be …

The North American Transportation Security Center – Fedtrak Specifications And Release Plan, Steven Douglas Kreis, Michael M. Barclay

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Executive Summary

In April 2008, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) completed work on the TSA Hazmat Truck Security Pilot (HTSP). This congressionally mandated pilot program was undertaken to prove that a hazmat truck tracking center was feasible from a technology and systems perspective. The HTSP project team built a technology prototype of a hazmat truck tracking system to show that “smart truck” technology could be crafted into an effective and efficient system for tracking hazmat shipments. The HTSP project team also built the Universal Communications Interface – the XML gateway for hazmat carriers to use to provide data to …

Best Practices For Providing Traveler Information Services To Motorists At Rest Areas And Welcome Centers, Candice Y. Wallace, Jennifer R. Walton, Joseph D. Crabtree

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to look at what Kentucky and other states are doing to provide wireless Internet connectivity (i.e., Wi-Fi service) for motorists at rest areas, weigh stations, and truck rest havens, and to identify technologies and best practices that may have applicability to Kentucky. A secondary objective was to look at the use of kiosks to provide traveler information in rest areas and welcome centers. Information was gathered through a literature review, Internet searches, and telephone interviews with public officials in numerous states. The study identified 18 states that are providing (or have provided) Wi-Fi service …

Best Management Practices To Exchange Information Between The Toc And District Offices, Jennifer R. Walton, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to develop best management practices for exchange of information between the Transportation Operations Center (TOC) and the district offices and regional traffic management centers. Data collected for this study included: meetings with the Study Advisory Committee and key personnel within the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet at the central office and highway district offices; a literature review; a state website review; and telephone interviews with representatives from a few states.

Recommendations were made in the following general areas: use of CARS/511; communication between the TOC and district offices; SAFE patrol; ITS equipment; public information; incident management; …

The North American Transportation Security Center – Deploy Project Collaboration Hardware/Software Infrastructure, Steven Douglas Kreis, Michael M. Barclay

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Vehicle Tire-Pavement Interfacial Surface Pressure Measurements And Assessments, Jerry G. Rose, Timothy E. Guenther

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report examines a method of using Piezoelectric Pressure-Sensitive Ink (Tekscan) Pressure Measurement System to evaluate vehicle tire pressures that are exerted on the surface of pavements. Upgrades to the Tekscan system facilitated refinements from previous research and allows for procedures to be modified in order to account for these improvements. Among the most significant advances is the ability to select various sensitivities within the software program. In addition to the methodology of evaluating calibration practices, sensitivity and sensor selection, it was important to determine how accurately the pressures and wheel loads can be computed from pavement tests. Also examined …

Highway-Railway At-Grade Crossings: Rideability Measurements And Assessments, Jerry G. Rose, Thomas W. Witt, Aaron F. Renfro, Nathan E. Ridgeway

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report provides two analyses for obtaining a quantitative means of rating the condition of railroad‐highway at‐grade crossings based on their measured roughness. Phase One of this report examined 11 crossings in the Lexington area by use of a laser based inertial profiler from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and a Face Rolling Dipstick. Phase Two was a continuation of Phase One with 26 crossings examined using inertial profilers from both the KYTC and the National Center of Asphalt technology. Objective ratings based on rideability were obtained and wheelpath profiles were measured for each crossing. Several roughness indexes were computed …

Highway-Railway At-Grade Crossing Structures: Optimum Design/Installation Practices And Management Program – An Overview, Jerry G. Rose

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Replacing and rehabilitating highway-railway at-grade crossings represent major track maintenance expenses for the U.S. highway governmental agencies and railroad industry. The ideal crossing system is one that will maintain a smooth surface and stable highway/trackbed for a long period of time minimizing costly and inconvenient disruptions to highway and rail traffic.

This report describes the consensus goals for, and the development of, a cooperative, fast-track crossing renewal system for an ideal highway-railway crossing management program. The performance-based process utilizes premium structural materials and construction techniques to provide long-term, cost effective, smooth, and safe crossings. Specifically stressed is the desirability of …

Highway-Railway At-Grade Crossings: Long-Term Settlement Measurements And Assessments, Jerry G. Rose, Mary G. Swiderski, Justin S. Anderson, Lindsay A. Walker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the long-term settlements for a wide variety of at-grade crossings. Twenty-four highway crossings were monitored to determine the effects of enhanced support on minimizing long-term settlements of the crossing surfaces. Settlements of the rail and highway approaches to the crossing areas were compared to settlements of the common crossing areas over an average service period of three years. Long-term settlements of crossings with traditional all-granular support materials were compared to crossings with enhanced support. The enhanced support was provided by substituting a layer of asphalt (termed underlayment) for the all-granular subballast layer. …

The North American Transportation Security Center – Technology Prototype Gap Analysis, Steven Douglas Kreis, Michael M. Barclay

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Executive Summary

There are over 800,000 hazardous materials (hazmat) shipments over the nation’s roads each day. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), terrorist activity related to the transportation of hazardous materials represents a significant threat to public safety and the nation’s critical infrastructure. Specifically, the federal government has identified the government’s inability to track hazmat shipments on a real-time basis as a significant security vulnerability.

In 2004, the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) completed a study to determine if “smart truck” technology such as GPS tracking, wireless modems, panic buttons, and onboard computers could be …

Highway-Railway At-Grade Crossings: Trackbed And Surface Pressure Measurements And Assessments, Jerry G. Rose, Daniel M. Durrett, Lindsay A. Walker, Jason C. Stith

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Techniques are described for installing instrumentation within highway/railway crossings – to measure vertical pressures under moving highway and railway loadings – using earth pressure cells. Also, techniques are described for installing instrumentation between rail base/tie plate interfaces – to measure vertical pressures under moving railway loadings – using pressure sensitive ink sensors. In addition, the sensors were used to measure the surface pressures imparted by highway vehicles on crossing surfaces. Data is presented for several crossings including a wide variety of conditions and loading intensities. The data serves to quantify pressure gradients within highway/railway crossings for application to structural design …

Evaluation Of The Use Of Snowplowable Raised Pavement Markers, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and durability of snowplowable raised pavement markers (RPM) installed on the RPM system in Kentucky. The durability evaluation dealt with the marker housing.

The data show that continued use of the currently approved snowplowable RPM can be justified if the castings are properly installed on new pavements with a commitment that the pavement will be maintained. An evaluation of centerline rumble strips installations showed that they should be considered on rural, two-lane roads with 12-foot lane widths (having new pavements) and paved shoulders.

Evaluation Plan For The Ticketing Aggressive Cars And Trucks (Tact) Program In Kentucky, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky State Police Division of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement in cooperation with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has started a concentrated education and enforcement campaign in an effort to increase the safety and awareness of drivers around commercial vehicles. The University of Kentucky Transportation Center has evaluated this campaign and reported the effectiveness of this effort.

The campaign was focused in two high volume, high crash interstate areas: one in northern Kentucky on I‐75, and one in the Louisville area on I‐65. Several blitzes (including a media and enforcement component) were conducted throughout the year. This evaluation measured the success …

Evaluation Of The Work Zone Safety And Mobility Rule, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule (Rule) was published in the Federal Register in September 2004 indicating that all state and local governments receiving Federal-aid funding were required to comply with provisions of the Rule no later than October 2007. Kentucky received an extension to October 2008. The objectives of this study were to review the requirements of the Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule and provide recommendations for implementation of the Rule to ensure a consistent approach for designing and managing the impacts of work zones. This report documents results from: a) a review of literature and Kentucky’s …

Experimental Painting Of The I-64 Riverside Parkway In Louisville, Ky, Rick Younce, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet conducted a large-scale zone maintenance painting operation on 13 elevated steel bridges along the I-64 Riverside Parkway in Louisville, KY in 2007. That work included abrasive blast-cleaning and painting of steel underlying open deck joints on 3.2 miles of steel structures. The painting was performed by spray application of one coat of a calcium sulfonate alkyd coating. The painting covered an area of 237,060 ft2 of steel cleaned and painted at a unit cost of $15.82/ft2.

The project incorporated a high level of containment as the existing coating possessed lead-based paints and the project was located …

Analytical Strip Method To Antisymmetric Laminated Plates, Liecheng Sun

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

An Analytical Strip Method (ASM) for the analysis of stiffened and non-stiffened antisymmetric laminated composite plates is derived by considering the bending-extension coupling effect for bending, free vibration and buckling. A system of three equations of equilibrium, governing the general response of arbitrarily laminated composite plates, is reduced to a single eighth order partial differential equation in terms of a displacement function. The displacement function is solved in a single series form to determine the displacement, fundamental frequency, and buckling load of antisymmetric cross-ply and angle-ply laminated composite plates. The solution is applicable to rectangular plates with two opposite edges …

Vortex Model Of Open Channel Flows With Gravel Beds, Brian James Belcher

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Turbulent structures are known to be important physical processes in gravel-bed rivers. A number of limitations exist that prohibit the advancement and prediction of turbulence structures for optimization of civil infrastructure, biological habitats and sediment transport in gravel-bed rivers. This includes measurement limitations that prohibit characterization of size and strength of turbulent structures in the riverine environment for different case studies as well as traditional numerical modeling limitations that prohibit modeling and prediction of turbulent structure for heterogeneous beds under high Reynolds number flows using the Navier-Stokes equations. While these limitations exist, researchers have developed various theories for the structure …

Optical Properties Of Coal Combustion Byproducts For Particle-Size Analysis By Laser Diffraction, Robert B. Jewell, Robert F. Rathbone

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Laser diffraction analysis is commonly used for determining the particle-size distribution (PSD) of fly ash. However, there is currently no standard method for preparing samples and analyzing them. The Mie and Fraunhofer optical models are used to calculate the PSD of fly ash from laser diffraction data. The Mie theory is most applicable for particles smaller than 50 mm, and is therefore the most accurate model for the analysis of fly ash. However, the refractive index (RI) of fly ash is complex and not well known. This study presents the analysis of several supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as coal …

Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts 2009 Report, Kentucky Transportation Center, Kentucky State Police

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY’S TRAFFIC COLLISION FACTS report for 2009 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 …

How Driver Risk Perception Affects Operating Speeds, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Ted H. Grossardt, Keiron Bailey

Kentucky Transportation Center Faculty and Researcher Publications

Excessive speed is one of the primary safety hazards facing highway users. However, in many cases operating speeds exceed design speeds, and drivers generally ignore posted speed limits. The main objective of this research was to identify roadway elements and roadside features that could influence driver operating speeds in rural two-lane roads without compromising safety.

Virtual Reality video simulations were employed and drivers recorded the influence of these elements on their judgments about the appropriate driving speed. The driver/participants viewed 22 models projected on a large screen in a darkened room, simulating the windshield of a vehicle.

The viewing sessions …

Reduction Of Stresses On Buried Rigid Highway Structures Using The Imperfect Ditch Method And Expanded Polysterene (Geofoam), Liecheng Sun, Tommy C. Hopkins, Tony L. Beckham

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The study of earth pressure distribution on buried structures has a great practical importance in constructing highway embankments above pipes and culverts. Based on Spangler’s research, the supporting strength of a conduit depends primarily on three factors: 1. The inherent strength of the conduit; 2. The distribution of the vertical load and bottom reaction; and 3. The magnitude and distribution of lateral earth pressures that act against the sides of the structure. Rigid culverts are frequently used in Kentucky for routing streams beneath highway embankments because of rolling and mountainous terrain, numerous streams, shallow depths to bedrock, which creates unyielding …

Kentucky Highway User Survey 2008, Lenahan O'Connell

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study updates surveys of Kentucky driver opinion regarding the quality of Kentucky’s highway system. The survey was conducted in 2008. Data is presented in bar graphs and tables that allow the analysis of changes in public opinion since the first administration of the survey. For most topics, data are available from 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2008. The respondents are 845 Kentucky-licensed drivers, age 18 and over. The study looked at seven characteristics of Kentucky highways and found that satisfaction levels were quite stable since 2003. In regard to overall satisfaction in 2008, 54% of drivers said they were …

Investigation Of Surface Fine Grained Laminae, Streambed, And Streambank Processes Using A Watershed Scale Hydrologic And Sediment Transport Model, Joseph Paul Russo

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Sediment transport at the watershed scale in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky is dominated by surface fine grained laminae, streambed, and streambank erosion; high instream sediment storage; and surface erosion processes. All these processes can be impacted by agricultural, urban, and suburban land-uses as well as hydrologic forcing. Understanding sediment transport processes at the watershed scale is a need for budgeting and controlling sediment pollution, and watershed modeling enables investigation of the cumulative effect of sediment processes and the parameters controlling these processes upon the entire sediment budget for a watershed. Sediment transport is being modeled by coupling the hydrologic …

Three-Dimensional Free Surface Non-Hydrostatic Modeling Of Plunging Water With Turbulence And Air Entrained Transport, Tien Mun Yee

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The advance in computational fluid dynamics in recent years has provided the opportunity for many fluid dynamic problems to be analyzed numerically. One such problem concerns the modeling of plunging water into a still water body, often encountered in pump stations. Air bubbles introduced into the system by the plunging jet can be a significant problem, especially when consumed into operating pumps. The classical approach to investigate the hydrodynamics of plunging jet in pump stations is by physical model studies. This approach is time consuming, tedious and costly. The availability of computational power today, along with appropriate numerical techniques, allows …

The North American Transportation Security Center, Steven Douglas Kreis, Michael M. Barclay

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

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

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Practical Solution Concepts For Planning And Designing Roadways In Kentucky, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Adam Kirk, Donald L. Hartman, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky’s highway agency has embarked upon an initiative tagged “Practical Solutions” which sets its goal toward reducing costs throughout the project development process extended into operations and maintenance of all highway facilities. This study focuses on the planning and design stages of project development. Developing a procedure that yields up to the maximum margin of return for the investment requires an approach that takes into account specific safety issues and the commensurate design elements for each roadway. Such an approach requires that the project 1) achieves the stated goals/objectives and 2) delivers the highest rate of return for the investment. …