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Articles 61 - 71 of 71

Full-Text Articles in Civil Engineering

Implementation Strategies For Real-Time Traffic Safety Improvements On Urban Freeways, Jeremy Harvey Dilmore Jan 2005

Implementation Strategies For Real-Time Traffic Safety Improvements On Urban Freeways, Jeremy Harvey Dilmore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research evaluates Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) implementation strategies to improve the safety of a freeway once a potential of a crash is detected. Among these strategies are Variable Speed Limit (VSL) and ramp metering. VSL are ITS devices that are commonly used to calm traffic in an attempt to relieve congestion and enhance throughput. With proper use, VSL can be more cost effective than adding more lanes. In addition to maximizing the capacity of a roadway, a different aspect of VSL can be realized by the potential of improving traffic safety. Through the use of multiple microscopic traffic simulations, …

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Safety Of Intersections On High-Speed Road Segments With Superelevation, Peter T. Savolainen, Andrzej P. Tarko Jan 2004

Safety Of Intersections On High-Speed Road Segments With Superelevation, Peter T. Savolainen, Andrzej P. Tarko

JTRP Technical Reports

In recent years, the State of Indiana has built a number of intersections where one or both of the roads are located on curves. The AASHTO Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets recommends that in such cases “the alignment should be as straight and the gradient as flat as practical.” This wording, consistent with Part V of the Indiana Design Manual, allows for the design of intersections on curves if other solutions prove to be too expensive. Several of these intersections have raised safety concerns and led to expensive corrective measures. Due to these safety and economic issues, …

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Evaluation Of Safety Enforcement On Changing Driver Behavior - Runs On Red (1 Of 2 Volumes), Andrzej P. Tarko, Naredla Lakshmi Reddy Jan 2003

Evaluation Of Safety Enforcement On Changing Driver Behavior - Runs On Red (1 Of 2 Volumes), Andrzej P. Tarko, Naredla Lakshmi Reddy

JTRP Technical Reports

Red light running (RLR) is a dangerous act. Approximately 22% of urban crashes at signalized intersections are caused nationwide by RLR. Nearly 1,036 deaths were caused nationwide by RLR in the year 2000. Indiana had no previous research conducted in this area; therefore, this research was aimed at estimating the RLR problem in Indiana. The other objectives of this research included: learning drivers’ opinions on the problem, studying the effectiveness of selected countermeasures, and studying the legal issues related to photo-enforcement. A crash statistics study, telephone survey, and extended monitoring of a selected intersection were the three major approaches chosen …

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Evaluation Of Safety Enforcement On Changing Driver Behavior - Runs On Red (2 Of 2 Volumes), Robert C. Zahnke, Maria L. Drake, Jose E. Thomaz Jan 2003

Evaluation Of Safety Enforcement On Changing Driver Behavior - Runs On Red (2 Of 2 Volumes), Robert C. Zahnke, Maria L. Drake, Jose E. Thomaz

JTRP Technical Reports

Red light running (RLR) is a dangerous act. Approximately 22% of urban crashes at signalized intersections are caused nationwide by RLR. Nearly 1,036 deaths were caused nationwide by RLR in the year 2000. Indiana had no previous research conducted in this area; therefore, this research was aimed at estimating the RLR problem in Indiana. The other objectives of this research included: learning drivers’ opinions on the problem, studying the effectiveness of selected countermeasures, and studying the legal issues related to photo-enforcement. A crash statistics study, telephone survey, and extended monitoring of a selected intersection were the three major approaches chosen …

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Traffic Signals In School Zones, Kevin S. Lee, Darcy M. Bullock Jan 2003

Traffic Signals In School Zones, Kevin S. Lee, Darcy M. Bullock

JTRP Technical Reports

Traffic signals are used to control the right of way at intersections. Strict engineering guidelines are published in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) that engineers use to determine if a traffic signal is “warranted”. The warrants provide consistent national balance between mobility, safety, efficiency, and costs. However, signalized intersections are often viewed by the general public as safer then unsignalized intersections. This belief is often heightened when there are personal injuries and even higher when children are involved. Parents, city officials, and local interest groups often vigorously request the installation of a traffic signal. After these requests …

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Improving Efficiency Of Indot Traffic Data Collection Using Gps Devices, Shuo Li, Karen Zhu, Boudewijn H. W. Van Gelder, John Nagle, Carl Tuttle Jan 2002

Improving Efficiency Of Indot Traffic Data Collection Using Gps Devices, Shuo Li, Karen Zhu, Boudewijn H. W. Van Gelder, John Nagle, Carl Tuttle

JTRP Technical Reports

INDOT has utilized many new technologies to reduce travel delay, mitigate traffic congestion, and enhance public and employees’ safety. Many projects are underway, including re-timing of most existing traffic signals and pavement maintenance and rehabilitation. To evaluate signal system performance, prioritize alternatives of improvement, conduct before and after studies and investigate work zone safety, it requires a large amount of traffic data such as travel time, speed and delay. Issues, such as safety, efficiency and cost, may arise associated with the current methods. For the current manual or automatic data collection, it usually requires two operators, a driver and a …

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An Analysis Of Speed Limit Policies For Indiana, Nisar M. Khan, Kumares C. Sinha Jan 2001

An Analysis Of Speed Limit Policies For Indiana, Nisar M. Khan, Kumares C. Sinha

JTRP Technical Reports

The repeal of the National maximum Speed Limit law in 1995 enabled individual states to set their own speed limits. Speed limits are necessary to ensure mobility while preserving highway safety. It is important that states continually monitor and evaluate existing operating speeds in the context of changing patterns of travel, and changing characteristics of highways, vehicles, drivers, and land-use. Any efforts to review existing speed limits should be accompanied by evaluation of policy impacts such as safety and economic productivity. The goal of this research is to develop a set of speed limit policy guidelines for the state. The …

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The Development Of A Speed Monitoring Program For Indiana, Darren L. Jorgenson, Kumares C. Sinha Jan 2000

The Development Of A Speed Monitoring Program For Indiana, Darren L. Jorgenson, Kumares C. Sinha

JTRP Technical Reports

From the passage of the National Maximum Speed Limit (NMSL) of 55 mph in 1974 through its repeal in 1995 speed monitoring programs have been mandated by the federal government. The speed-monitoring program was primarily intended to provide reliable data to be included as a part of the State’s annual certification in order to be approved for Federal Aid highway projects. The repeal of the NMSL in 1995 not only authorized states to set their own speed limits, it also allowed states to develop their own speed monitoring programs. The goal of this research is to provide the framework for …

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A Methodology For The Analysis Of Its Impacts On Mobility, Air Quality, And Land Use, Kumares C. Sinha, Srinivas Peeta, Muhammed Amer Sultan, Kamalakar Poonuru, Nadine-Jenelle K. Richards Jan 1998

A Methodology For The Analysis Of Its Impacts On Mobility, Air Quality, And Land Use, Kumares C. Sinha, Srinivas Peeta, Muhammed Amer Sultan, Kamalakar Poonuru, Nadine-Jenelle K. Richards

JTRP Technical Reports

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is currently implementing (or has implemented) several components of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). This includes a mini Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) implemented on a three-mile stretch of the Borman Expressway to evaluate advanced non-intrusive sensor systems and the associated communication infrastructure for the installation of a full-scale ATMS on the 16-mile stretch of the Borman Expressway. Potential specific ITS technologies that are either being implemented or are being considered include pre-trip information, en-route information, variable message signs, and Hoosier Helpers. It is expected that the implementation of various ITS technologies on the Borman …

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An Evaluation Of Lane Closure Strategies For Interstate Work Zones, Raktim Pal, Kumares C. Sinha Jan 1995

An Evaluation Of Lane Closure Strategies For Interstate Work Zones, Raktim Pal, Kumares C. Sinha

JTRP Technical Reports

A systematic procedure was developed in the present study that can be used to make a decision regarding the appropriate lane closure strategy at a particular interstate work zone. Four criteria were identified which influence such a decision, namely user travel time and vehicle operating cost, traffic control cost, safety, and contractors’ convenience. The influences of these criteria were aggregated using the Analytic Hierarchy Approach. The procedure developed in the present study is systematic in nature, simple to use and sensitive to the policy adopted by a transportation agency. A computer program, LANECLOSE, was developed which can be readily used …

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The Effects Of The All-Red Clearance Interval On Intersection Accident Rates In Indiana, Brian Alan Roper, Jon D. Fricker, Kumares C. Sinha, Robert E. Montgomery Jan 1990

The Effects Of The All-Red Clearance Interval On Intersection Accident Rates In Indiana, Brian Alan Roper, Jon D. Fricker, Kumares C. Sinha, Robert E. Montgomery

JTRP Technical Reports

The research reported is an evaluation of all-red clearance intervals as the second phase of a project involving traffic signal operation. The first phase of the project dealt with leading versus lagging left turn signal phasing. The study analyzed both the short-term and long-term effects of all-red interval on accident rates in Indiana using accident records for the years 1981 to 1987. The results contradict those of previous studies. Statistical tests indicated that all-red clearance intervals did not cause a reduction in accident rates at the intersections studied in Indiana.

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