Transportation Engineering Commons^™

Test Matrices For Evaluating Cable Median Barriers Placed In V-Ditches, Ronald K. Faller, Scott K. Rosenbaugh, Mario Mongiardini, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Demand Responsive Signal Control Strategy (Drsc) Incorporating Queue Length Information In Real-Time Signal Control, Rahul Rajbhara

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Most of the existing vehicle detection systems, namely inductive loops, video cameras etc. are incapable of measuring the queue lengths at signalized intersections. However, with the advent of modern technology, newer detection methods such as probe vehicles equipped with wireless communications (Connected Vehicles), particularly under the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration [52), and radar detection currently provide this capability [53). This thesis presents a Demand Responsive Signal Control Strategy (termed as DRSC) for an isolated signalized intersection. The control strategy incorporates real-time queue length information (obtained from probe vehicles) into the signal control logic. Demand based maximum green time for each upcoming/new …

Clearing Paths For Emergency Vehicles Using Shock Wave Theory And Vehicle-To-Vehicle Communication, Craig Austin Jordan

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A new strategy to enable an EV to navigate through congestion at signalized intersections more efficiently has been developed and is presented in this thesis. The proposed strategy involves communicating control messages to vehicles to change their driving behavior and to traffic signals to change their timing plans so that EV s can proceed through congested intersections as quickly as possible. To achieve this, specific vehicles are instructed to hold their positions to create a split in the vehicle queue at a critical location in one lane. The split allows the EV to change lanes and proceed unimpeded at its …

Temporary Flood Barriers, Sarah M. Mccormack, Chris Vandyke, Ashley Suazo, Doug Kreis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report investigates the use and effectiveness of temporary flood barriers (TFBs) to mitigate the impacts of flood waters on Kentucky’s roadways. TFBs are structures, usually filled with sand, which are constructed along the edges of roadways and thus serve as a buffer against rising waters. In doing so, they can protect the structural soundness of roads, and ensure that roads remain open to traffic during flood events. The report is divided into four main sections. The first chapter introduces the concept of TFBs and notes situations in which they have been effectively deployed. The second chapter surveys the different …

Kentucky Department Of Vehicle Regulation Internet Applications Study, Andrew Martin, Jennifer Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The study identified 107 unique interactive services, and 13 unique information services on state vehicle regulation agency web sites. The average state has roughly 15 percent of all existing services. States with larger populations, number of registered vehicles and drivers tend to have more total services and transaction services. The general flow of the data indicates a fast level of growth, as companies and individuals embrace the efficiency and flexibility of online transactions. The W3C Unicorn Validator, Link Sleuth, Web Accessibility Checker and Hubspot Marketing Grader scores were combined to generate a web design score for each state. Washington received …

Research On Roadway Performance And Distress At Low Temperature, Yong-Rak Kim, Soohyok Im, Hoki Ban

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

This research project investigated the performance and damage characteristics of Nebraska roadways at low-temperature conditions. To meet the research objective, laboratory tests were incorporated with mechanistic numerical modeling. The three most common pavement structures in Nebraska were selected and modeled considering local environmental conditions and pavement materials with and without truck loading. Cracking of asphalt overlay was predicted and analyzed by conducting finite element simulations incorporated with cohesive zone fracture. Parametric analyses were also conducted by varying pavement geometries and material properties, which could lead to helping pavement designers understand the mechanical sensitivity of design variables on the overall responses …

Safety Improvements At Highway-Railroad Crossing For Pedestrians And Bicyclists And The Assessment Of Long-Term Effects Of Centerline Curbing, Aemal Khattak, Zheng Luo

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Seismic Hazard Assessment Of Oregon Highway Truck Routes, Peter Dusicka, Selamawit Tesfayesus Mehary

TREC Final Reports

This research project developed a seismic risk assessment model along the major truck routes in Oregon. The study had adopted federally developed software tools called Risk for Earthquake Damage to Roadway Systems (REDARS2) and HAZUS-MH. The model was the first time REDARS2 has been adopted and used in research outside of the original development team, presenting a number of unique challenges. The development of the model was a complex, intensive process that required a significant research effort, manipulation and adjustment of data. Furthermore, limitations of the software tools themselves had been identified that prevented the inclusion of important aspects such …

Wim Data Collection And Analysis, Jerry G. Pigman, Clark Graves, David Q. Hunsucker, David Cain

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this study were to review and analyze current procedures in order to implement a process for collecting and analyzing weigh-in-motion (WIM) data to insure an adequate and accurate representation of weights of vehicles using Kentucky’s roadways. A literature review of WIM data collection equipment, practices and procedures indicated that a range of options are available and used by other agencies. Piezoelectric cable detection systems were most frequently used and provided adequate accuracy, if attention is given to monitoring and calibration.

An overall assessment of Kentucky’s WIM data collection program resulted in recommendations for: 1) increased use of …

Improved Models Of Cable-To-Post Attachments For High-Tension Cable Barriers, Robert W. Bielenberg, Cody S. Stolle, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Improved Models Of Cable-To-Post Attachments For High-Tension Cable Barriers, Robert W. Bielenberg, Cody S. Stolle, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Computer simulation models were developed to analyze and evaluate a new cable-to-post attachment for high-tension cable barriers. The models replicated the performance of a keyway bolt currently used in the design of a high-tension cable median barrier being developed at the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility. Component tests of the keyway bolts were simulated and compared to the component test results. Accurate friction, fracture strain, and stress-strain material properties were determined for a solid element model of the keyway bolt by applying actual load curve measured from the test to a simulated pull cable. By simulating the material properties of the …

Speed Limit Recommendation In Vicinity Of Signalized High-Speed Intersection, Anuj Sharma, Laurence Rilett, Zifeng Wu, Shefang Wang

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Integrating Probe Vehicles And Stationary Detector Data To Construct Accurate Cumulative Curves To Study Bottlenecks, Khairul Azfi Anuar

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Advancements in sensors technologies have given researchers and practitioners access to an immense amount of traffic data from multiple types of sensors. However, because of the diversity of the data types, developing a relationship between the different data sources can be challenging. To further complicate the issue, the presence of error or noise makes it difficult to infer any reliable conclusions from the data. To develop a relationship between different data sources, a new methodology is proposed in this thesis for fusing stationary detector data and probe vehicle data to construct an accurate cumulative curve. To remove or to reduce …

Utc Public Transportation Survey, Andra Blanariu

Honors Theses

Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority, the public transit system in Chattanooga, covers most of downtown Chattanooga and its surrounding areas. In the fall of 2011, the enrollment rate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga reached over 11000. During the same semester, UTC housed around 2900 students on their campus, which is located in downtown Chattanooga. Based on an on-board survey offered by CARTA in August of 2011, only nineteen percent of their riders are students. While the Chattanooga State Community College is not located downtown, CARTA's survey showed that their students compose the majority of student bus riders. The …

The Application Of Sensors On Guardrails For The Purpose Of Real Time Impact Detection, Matthew D. Sturtevant

Theses and Dissertations

The United States roadway system has deteriorated over time due to its age, increasing delays in completing preventative maintenance, and the lack of timely repairs following damage to the infrastructure. Proper asset management drives the need for generalized methods to integrate new sensing capabilities into existing Intelligent Transportation Systems in a time efficient and cost effective manner. In this thesis, we present a methodology for the deployment of new sensors into an existing ITS system. The proposed methodology employs a three phase approach that incorporates data modeling, spatial analysis in Geographic Information Systems, and cost optimization to provide enhanced decision …

Phase Ii Development Of A Non-Proprietary, Four-Cable, High Tension Median Barrier, Jennifer D. Schmidt, Dean L. Sicking, Ronald K. Faller, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Robert W. Bielenberg, Scott K. Rosenbaugh, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Developing And Implementing Strategies To Address “Freddie Freeroader”, David Q. Hunsucker, Mark S. Spellman, Mark Bell

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Although the majority Kentucky’s citizens pay their fair share of motor vehicle registration taxes, there are indications that a number of citizens evade motor vehicle property and usage tax through a variety of means. Some individuals license their cars in states that have no, or very low, property taxes on motor vehicles; others abuse the use of temporary tags, or simply fail to renew the registration on their vehicles. As a result, Kentucky is losing income that would be used to repair the state’s roadways and fund local services such as schools, libraries, health departments, and police and fire services. …

Determination Of The Maximum Mgs Mounting Height -- Phase I Crash Testing, Cale J. Stolle, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Ronald K. Faller, Robert W. Bielenberg, Scott Rosenbaugh, Dean L. Sicking, John D. Reid, Erin A. Johnson

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Customer Relationship Management And Firm Performance: An Empirical Study Of Freight Forwarder Services, Kuo-Chung Shang, Chin-Shan Lu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This study empirically identifies customer relationship management (CRM) and examines its impacts on firm performance in the context of freight forwarder services. Using data collected from a survey of 144 freight forwarding firms in Taiwan, a structural equation modeling exercise was conducted to identify crucial CRM dimensions and their influences on the perceived financial performance. Results indicated that CRM dimensions such as customer response and profit interaction are found to have significantly positive effects on the perceived financial performance aspects of profit and growth rate. This research not only investigates crucial CRM but also proposes a model for empirical studies …

Fuzzy Decision On Optimal Collision Avoidance Measures For Ships In Vessel Traffic Service, Chien-Min Su, Ki-Yin Chang, Chih-Yung Cheng

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This article proposes a new collision avoidance decision method for ships, allowing ships at risk of collision to take timely collision avoidance measures to ensure safe passage. Through vessel traffic service (VTS) collision alert system, an analysis can be made for the probability of a ship collision and an early warning can be issued. For ships in potential collision danger, the proposed method will use Microsoft Visual Studio to establish a knowledge base of international regulations for preventing collisions at sea. Thus, based on an analysis of the situation when encountering other ships, the knowledge base will suggest an appropriate …

Railroad Subgrade Support And Performance Indicators: A Review Of Available Laboratory And In-Situ Testing Methods, Michael T. Mchenry, Jerry G. Rose

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The quality and support of the subgrade portion of a railroad trackbed are vital to the overall performance of the track structure. The subgrade is an integral component of the track structure and its performance properties must be considered in order to effectively assess its influence on subsequent track quality. European and Asian railways are particularly advanced in implementing subgrade performance indicators into their track designs and assessments. As train speed and tonnage increase in the U.S., the evaluation and influence of subgrade performance will become even more paramount. There are numerous means of measuring and predicting subgrade performance. Both …

Phase I Development Of An Aesthetic, Precast Concrete Bridge Rail, Scott Rosenbaugh, Ronald K. Faller, Robert W. Bielenberg, Dean L. Sicking, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Sustainable Transportation At The University Of Central Florida: Evaluation Of Ucf Rideshare Program, Zimride, Joseph Patrick Defrancisco

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the second-largest university in the United States, UCF has experienced the largest enrollment in its history. A more densely populated campus has in turn caused increased traffic congestion. Despite increased parking permit fees and newly constructed parking garages, traveling and parking on campus is unpredictable. In effort to reduce congestion on campus, a rideshare program was implemented in Summer 2010. Several universities across the nation have successfully used carpooling as a viable alternative mode to manage traffic and parking demand. This thesis evaluates the UCF rideshare program, Zimride, using stated- and revealed-preference surveys. Preliminary results indicate most students prefer …

A Comprehensive Severity Analysis Of Large Vehicle Crashes, Haluk Laman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this thesis is to determine the contributing factors affecting severe traffic crashes (severe: incapacitating and fatal - non-severe: no injury, possible injury, and non-incapacitating), and in particular those factors influencing crashes involving large vehicles (heavy trucks, truck tractors, RVs, and buses). Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) crash reports of 2008 have been used. The data included 352 fatalities and 9,838 injuries due to large vehicle crashes. Using the crashes involving large vehicles, a model comparison between binary logit model and a Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) decision tree model is provided. There were …

Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts 2012 Report, Kentucky Transportation Center, Kentucky State Police

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY’S TRAFFIC COLLISION FACTS report for 2012 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 …

Project-Risk Management And Decision Analysis In Maritime Maintenance And Repair, Michael C. Plumb, C. Ariel Pinto, Rafael Landaeta, Resit Unal, Thomas Murphy

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

The purpose of this paper is to provide insights regarding the implementation of using Project Risk Management (PRM) and Decision Analysis (DA) in managing projects for complex systems such as maritime vessels. The PRM approach apprehends many forms of risk both internal and external within a given project and assists the manager in determining the level of importance of each individual project phase and component to optimize project success. Ship Maintenance and Repair project decision-making requires that risk management and risk analysis techniques be applied in order to guide management in making better decisions to meet ship service life perspective. …

Development Of Performance Measures And Revenue Projections For State Highway Transportation Systems, Dwight V. Denison, Christopher Jepsen, Bryan Gibson, Candice Wallace, Doug Kreis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The purpose of this report is to develop a pilot model that demonstrates how metrics can be identified and reported in a “dashboard” format to be used to monitor the progress of a transportation system in efficiently meeting established priorities. An additional component of this research is to examine the revenue implications of a shift away from the traditional funding mechanism on the financial viability of state transportation systems.

Climate Change Impact Assessment For Surface Transportation In The Pacific Northwest And Alaska, John Macarthur, Philip Mote, Miguel A. Figliozzi, Jason Ideker, Ming Lee

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The states in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska region share interconnected transportation networks for people, goods, and services that support the regional economy, mobility, and human safety. Regional weather has and will continue to affect the physical condition and serviceability of these networks, yet the nature of climate changes and their potential impacts on the regional transportation system and its use are very poorly understood. The world’s leading climate scientists, such as the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change, have reached consensus that global climate changes are being observed and will continue into the future, particularly increasing temperatures. Given this fact, …

Evaluation Of Ice-Melting Capacities Of Deicing Chemicals, B. M. Gerbino-Bevins, Christopher Y. Tuan, M. Mattison

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Common deicing chemicals include sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium magnesium acetate, potassium acetate, potassium formate, and corn or beet-based deicer solution. Liquid deicers are commonly used for pre-wetting road salt, sand or other solid deicers, or mixed with salt brine as liquid deicer. Although manufacturers provide performance data under specific conditions, a standardized test is very much needed. Samples of sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium acetate, and beet juice-based chemical deicers were selected for performance evaluation. The SHRP Ice-Melting Capacity Test has been used in many research projects, but the results do not always correlate well …

Impact Of Intercity Tolls In Portugal – An Environmental Perspective, Jorge Bandeira, Margarida Coelho, Miguel Pimentel, Asad Khattak

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Alternative road pricing schemes are promising strategies to alleviate congestion and other environmental problems related to urban and regional road transportation. However, in practice, environmental issues are not often taken into account, especially at regional level. In 2010, due to the financial crisis in Portugal, several tolls were introduced in some motorways that were previously financed by the government. One of these cases was the A29 motorway, which connects the cities of Aveiro and Oporto. After the introduction of tolls about 50% of the Average Daily Traffic shifted to alternative routes or modes. This paper discusses the impact that tolls …