Transportation Intelligence

Volume 1 Number 2

February 2003

snowplow Development & Management
Getting the 'Big Dig' Back on Track
A public works project that is the largest, most complex, and most expensive ever undertaken in the United States is creating an eight- to 10-lane underground expressway through the middle of Boston. (In Focus, vol. 2 #2 Summer/Fall 2002, p.24)

Pavements
Pavement Management Systems: A Powerful Tool for Performance Monitoring
A recent Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) study examined how existing pavement management data, combined with materials and construction-related data, could be used to evaluate new design or materials concepts such as Superpave in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, and Washington State. (Focus, November 2002, p.1-3)

Design & Construction
Steel Bridge Fabrication Technologies in Europe and Japan (3.4 MB PDF file - 64 pages)
This FHWA-sponsored tour scanned newly developed manufacturing techniques that are in use abroad for steel bridge fabrication and erection. The trip focused on the role of steel production, design, innovation, and fabrication in modern steel fabrication facilities in Japan, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom. (FHWA International Technology Report FHWA-PL-01-018)

Environment
California Communities Make New Kind of War on Weeds
Since the state of California has no fewer than five distinct ecosystems, the types of weeds found in the state and the best methods for controlling them may be diverse. Some seemingly new, but surprising old, methods may work well in today's budget-stretched, regulation-conscious climate. (Tech Transfer Newsletter, Spring 2002, p.4-9)

Design & Construction
Context Sensitive Solutions Since the interstate highway system is essentially finished, the transportation world is turning its attention to local communities and the linkage between land uses and the transportation systems that connect them. Interest is increasing in "flexible", "context-sensitive", and "dual-purpose projects". Focus is shifting away from just the roadway, bus stop, or sidewalk to how transportation facilities can help make localities more economically stable, safe and productive. (Tech Transfer Newsletter, Summer 2002, p. 8-9) Sound Approaches to Roadside Erosion Control Counties, townships, and towns with gravel roads have somewhat different erosion-control problems compared to those with city streets, highways, and Interstates. Even so, good erosion-control techniques have much in common and are needed by agencies and contractors at all levels. (Better Roads, vol. 72 #5 May 2002, p. 24-29) Transit-Oriented Development and Joint Development in the United States: A Literature Review (3.6 MB PDF file - 144 pages) This digest summarizes the literature review of TCRP Project H-27, "Transit-Oriented Development: State of the Practice and Future Benefits." This digest provides definitions of transit-oriented development (TOD) and transit joint development (TJD), describes the institutional issues related to TOD and TJD, and provides examples of the impacts and benefits of TOD and TJD. (Transit Cooperative Research Program #52, October 2002) Does Your Interchange Design Have You Going Around in Circles? Traffic congestion is such a problem that engineers and researchers across America are making it their personal missions to find innovations that will enhance traffic flow, ultimately leading to alleviation of congestion. The roundabout might be one alternative to diamond interchanges. (Public Roads, vol. 66 #3, November-December 2002, p. 43-47) Back to Top

Design & Construction

Context Sensitive Solutions
Since the interstate highway system is essentially finished, the transportation world is turning its attention to local communities and the linkage between land uses and the transportation systems that connect them. Interest is increasing in "flexible", "context-sensitive", and "dual-purpose projects". Focus is shifting away from just the roadway, bus stop, or sidewalk to how transportation facilities can help make localities more economically stable, safe and productive. (Tech Transfer Newsletter, Summer 2002, p. 8-9)

Sound Approaches to Roadside Erosion Control
Counties, townships, and towns with gravel roads have somewhat different erosion-control problems compared to those with city streets, highways, and Interstates. Even so, good erosion-control techniques have much in common and are needed by agencies and contractors at all levels. (Better Roads, vol. 72 #5 May 2002, p. 24-29)

Transit-Oriented Development and Joint Development in the United States: A Literature Review (3.6 MB PDF file - 144 pages)
This digest summarizes the literature review of TCRP Project H-27, "Transit-Oriented Development: State of the Practice and Future Benefits." This digest provides definitions of transit-oriented development (TOD) and transit joint development (TJD), describes the institutional issues related to TOD and TJD, and provides examples of the impacts and benefits of TOD and TJD. (Transit Cooperative Research Program #52, October 2002)

Does Your Interchange Design Have You Going Around in Circles?
Traffic congestion is such a problem that engineers and researchers across America are making it their personal missions to find innovations that will enhance traffic flow, ultimately leading to alleviation of congestion. The roundabout might be one alternative to diamond interchanges. (Public Roads, vol. 66 #3, November-December 2002, p. 43-47)

Maintenance

Winter Maintenance in Sweden
Effective snow and ice control is a vital service provided by European highway authorities in order to ensure as far as possible that road users can travel safely and with minimum disruption in cold and severe climatic conditions. This report, compiled for Task Group 3: Best Practices of the COST Action 344 group, covers winter maintenance practices on Swedish state roads. (VTI Report 351, 27 March 2002, 30 pages)

Using Epifluorescence Optical Microscopy to Identify Causes of Concrete Distress: Case Study
Materials-related distress (MRD) has affected many portland concrete cements. Identifying the specific cause of MRD is not always possible, but with the use of appropriate techniques and a diagnostic approach, the cause can be determined in many cases. In one case study, determination of the effective water-to-cement ratio (w/c) by epifluorescence microscopy was key to understanding this the cause of distress. (Transportation Research Record 1798, 2002, p.22-30)(Request this article from TIS)

Assessment and Rehabilitation of Existing Culverts (3.5 MB PDF file - 74 pages)
Transportation agencies have more pipes and culverts than bridge structures in their transportation systems. As transportation drainage infrastructures age, the need for repair or rehabilitation often becomes more critical. As a result, the number of pipes and culverts being repaired or rehabilitated is increasing each year. This synthesis study was initiated to determine the state of the practice of pipe assessment, the selection of appropriate repair or rehabilitation methods, and the management aspects of a pipe program. (NCHRP Synthesis of Highway Practice #303, 2002)

Pavements

Water Damages on Asphalt - Laboratory Testing of the Adhesion between Bitumen and Aggregate
The Norwegian PROKAS project was initiated in 1998 with a main objective to develop or adopt improved systems for mix design and quality control of asphalt mixes and pavements. PROKAS is divided into three main areas: Materials, Mix Design and Quality Control. (Nordic Road and Transportation Research, 2002 #2, p. 12-14)

Bituminous Paving Mixtures 2002
This collection of 24 peer-reviewed papers from the Transportation Research Board discusses the construction, maintenance and performance evaluation of bituminous mixtures including Superpave and rubberized asphalt. (Transportation Research Record 1789, 2002, 224 pages) (Borrow this item from TIS)

Development & Management
Making It Happen the Fast Way Despite the publicity that attended the extremely rapid reconstruction of the I-40 bridge near Webbers Falls, OK, little has been said about the mechanisms that made the fast reconstruction of this major east-west artery possible. The chronicle of events sheds some light on how it was that two different levels of government were able to restore the I-40 bridge to full operating capability so rapidly. (Public Roads, vol. 66 #3 November-December 2002, p. 32-35) Privatizing the Maintenance of Transportation Assets//Privatisation de l'entretien du patrimoine routier Over the last several years, privatizing the maintenance of transportation assets has grown as a means of asset management in a variety of situations. This paper focuses on the use of contract maintenance, particularly the privatization of the management of all roadway assets, as an effective means of asset management. (Routes/Roads, #316 October 2002, p. 49-63) (Request this article from TIS) Back to Top

Development & Management

Making It Happen the Fast Way
Despite the publicity that attended the extremely rapid reconstruction of the I-40 bridge near Webbers Falls, OK, little has been said about the mechanisms that made the fast reconstruction of this major east-west artery possible. The chronicle of events sheds some light on how it was that two different levels of government were able to restore the I-40 bridge to full operating capability so rapidly. (Public Roads, vol. 66 #3 November-December 2002, p. 32-35)

Privatizing the Maintenance of Transportation Assets//Privatisation de l'entretien du patrimoine routier
Over the last several years, privatizing the maintenance of transportation assets has grown as a means of asset management in a variety of situations. This paper focuses on the use of contract maintenance, particularly the privatization of the management of all roadway assets, as an effective means of asset management. (Routes/Roads, #316 October 2002, p. 49-63) (Request this article from TIS)

Environment

Stormwater utilities proving invaluable for flood protection, habitat enhancements and regulatory compliance
The stormwater utility is providing communities nationwide with the ability to implement stormwater projects that can assist in flood protection, water quality improvements, pollutants load reductions, and habitat enhancements. (APWA Reporter, vol. 70 #1 December 2002-January 2003, p. 24-25)

The Scan of the Wild
As development and urban expansion increase in many areas around the globe, the transportation systems built to serve this growth can adversely affect existing wildlife populations and the natural habitats they occupy. Increasingly, transportation agencies must address impacts to wildlife and habitat resources when planning and implementing transportation improvements. (Public Roads, vol. 66 #3 November-December 2002, p. 2-5)

Safety

How To Make Street and Road Intersections Safer
The U.S. faced nearly three million intersection-related crashes last year, or about 44% of all reported road accidents, and about 8,500 fatalities at intersections, or 23% of all road accident deaths. Specific steps can help cut these numbers. (Better Roads, vol. 72 #7 July 2002, p. 18-23)

Effect of Rumble Strip Configuration on Sound and Vibration Levels
Rumble strips have been used for many years in work zones and other situations that merit special measures for alerting drivers. However, little research has been conducted on the effectiveness of rumble strips in work zones, and even less research has been conducted on the configuration of rumble strips. This article examines what effect changes in rumble strip configurations have on the level of noise and vibration produced.(ITE Journal, vol. 72 #12 December 2002, p.28-32) (Request this article from TIS)

Security

The Challenge of Cyber Threats to the Engineering Profession
Cyber systems are not ''engineered'' in the same manner as systems that civil or mechanical engineers or engineers in other disciplines utilize. Clearly the cyber systems provide a great service, but they are not designed in the explicit way that structural members are. Therefore, the vulnerability of these systems and the need for authentication and other essential steps to assure the security of the data transmitted and processed by the cyber systems will require a new approach by engineers as they become more dependent on these systems. (Journal of Infrastructure Systems, June 2002, p. 53-55)

Securing the Roads
In the months following the terrorist acts of 11 September, intense effort has been focused on understanding the state of security of travel on the nation's roadways, and on improving the existing level of security. These efforts have taken place within and across modes and between agencies that had not previously had reasons to work together. The activity has encompassed agencies at federal, state, and local levels, as well as the private sector, academia, and many associations supporting these participants. Progress has been significant but not particularly visible. This article describes some of the effort, the findings, and the results. (AASHTO Security Committee article)

Protection of Critical Complex Transportation Infrastructures
The interconnectedness of physical large-scale infrastructures, including transportation, banking and finance, telecommunications, and electric power, renders their modeling and thus their joint protection against terrorist acts a complex task. This paper explores the sources of difficulties in modeling such complex systems, and the related needs for research and development. Finally, the paper discusses public policy implications and offers a sample of research needs to address the emerging threats to the nation's infrastructures. (TRB Committee on Critical Infrastructure Protection, 19 March 2002)