1. Bruce Holdhusen, PE
MnDOT Research Services
“Assessment and Recommendations for the Operation of Standard Sump Manholes as a Best
Management Practice for Stormwater Treatment”
Standard sumps (manholes) provide a location for pipe junctions and maintenance access in stormwater
drainage systems. MnDOT funded a research project at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) of the
University of Minnesota to determine whether standard sumps could be used as stormwater treatment
devices. The results of the study showed that standard sumps can remove sand and sometime coarse
silt particles from stormwater runoff. However, standard sumps are susceptible to washout of the
captured sediments during less frequent storm events, e.g. during 2-yr events. With appropriate
maintenance these sumps may qualify as a best management practice (BMP) for the removal of
suspended sediment from stormwater runoff.
To decrease the maintenance frequency and prevent standard sumps from becoming a point source of
suspended sediment under high flow conditions, a porous baffle, named the SAFL Baffle, was designed
and tested as a retrofit to standard sumps. Laboratory results obtained with the SAFL baffle indicate
that with the right baffle dimensions, porosity and position in the sump, sediment washout from the
sump can be almost eliminated during high flow conditions, and removal efficiency can increase by
more than 10% during low flow conditions.
2. Barnie Jones
Oregon DOT
Imaging Tools for Evaluation of Gusset Plate Connections in Steel Truss Bridges
Collapse of the I-35W Bridge in Minnesota has resulted in considerable interest in steel truss and gusset
plate connection performance. As an outcome of the investigation into the collapse, steel truss bridge
connections are required to undergo review. This additional scrutiny requires development of new tools
to efficiently and effectively evaluate the large numbers of steel truss bridge connections.
Digital imaging techniques have been developed at Oregon State University to enable rapid collection of
field geometric data from in-service gusset plates. The present tools provide a basic set of functionality
including rectification, metrification, and selected data extraction. These basic functions need
enhancement to take full advantage of the advancements available to bridge inspection and
management with digital imaging. Such enhancements should enable transportation agencies to
efficiently and effectively collect geometric and condition data and use this data to evaluate and rate
gusset plate connections.
3. Larry Orcutt
CalTrans
Virtual Design Construction
Caltrans is continually looking for ways to deliver construction projects more efficiently. In order to
produce high-quality results on an increasing volume of projects, the department will need to
implement innovative methods to lower project support costs, accelerate project schedules, have
transparency and accountability, improve existing processes and procedure, and encourage the
responsible use of resources. Caltrans, through the Division of Research and Innovation, is exploring the
implementation of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC). VDC is a cutting-edge system of integrated
multi-disciplinary performance models of design-construction projects. VDC creates an integrated
framework and set of methods linking design-construction modeling to organizational, scheduling, and
finance data. This framework enables projects to find integrated solutions to complex interrelated
problems.
The VDC toolkit includes:
·
Product visualization tools (AutoCAD ADT, Revit) are used to create a
common understanding among project participants on how the project
will look when it is completed. It can also be used to coordinate the
work of various disciplines like mechanical, electrical and plumbing.
·
Product and process modeling and visualization tools (CommonPoint
Project 4D, NavisWorks Timeliner) allow project teams to understand
how the building will be constructed over time.
·
Organizational and process modeling tools (VDT, SimVision) allow
project teams to simulate the organizational effort needed to
complete the project and to identify potential risks in project
organization that might lead to delays. n
·
Online collaboration tools (iRoom, Project Based Learning Lab) allow
geographically distributed team members to collaborate using a shared
model of product, organization, and process.
4. Crawford Jencks
NCHRP
a. NCHRP initiated Project 14-12, “Highway Maintenance Quality Assurance”
State DOTs expend tremendous resources to maintain their highways, bridges and other facilities.
Many states use Maintenance Management Systems to plan and budget maintenance activities, but
until recently DOTs’ quality assurance programs were largely limited to the realm of construction.
To expand the use of QA programs in highway maintenance, the project’s goal was to create a
template for an MQA program that could be implemented by any state DOT. A program allows
agencies to make educated decisions about where to invest limited maintenance resources and to
assess the benefits of investing in one type of asset over another. The program template took the
form of NCHRP Report 422: Maintenance QA Program Implementation Manual. Published in 1999,
the report lays the groundwork for developing and implementing an MQA program, including
guidelines for a Level of Service rating system and for field inspections, analysis and reporting. This
was one of the earlier efforts in what has now become known as “asset management.” (This was
also a project where everything worked. There were true champions on the panel, an excellent
contractor with experience, a responsive panel that thought about implementation, and follow-on
workshops that continue to this day. The culture of maintenance was changed.)
b. NCHRP Projects 20-24(11) and 08-69, AASHTO Asset Management Guide: Volumes I and II
The initial AASHTO Transportation Asset Management Guide, Volume I, expanded the concept of
asset management as it is now understood by state DOTs. Previous to Volume I, asset management
was viewed in terms of private maintenance contracts first initiated by a few states in the late
1990s. Volume I presented asset management in much broader business-related terms for
optimizing resources (what-if scenarios) and the management of assets agency-wide needed to
deliver and operate the services and facilities provided by state DOTs. Later, NCHRP was again
called on to produce Volume II to provide more specific guidance on the implementation of the
asset management concept within state DOTs. The original guide—Volume 1—helped answer the
questions. What is asset management? How can an agency assess itself on a maturity level? What
represents good practice?’ Volume 2, which is subtitled A Focus on Implementation, expands on
specific implementation strategies.
5. Deb Elston
FHWA
"Development and Evaluation of Selected Mobility Applications for VII"
An Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program project launched by the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) in 2007 is exploring how the new capabilities of intelligent vehicles and
highway infrastructure can be used to reduce congestion and effectively increase highway capacity.
Key elements of the research include modulating the speed and spacing of individual vehicles in
relation to unseen events further downstream to keep traffic flowing smoothly; giving speed
advisories to individual drivers to manage traffic flow and density; and maneuvering three-truck
platoons, including tackling the technical challenges of automating lane changing, merging, and
joining and leaving the platoon. The project is being conducted under a cooperative agreement with
the Partners for Advanced Transit and Highways (PATH) program of the University of California,
Berkeley, in cooperation with Caltrans.
6. Cameron Kergaye
Utah DOT
a. My presentation will focus on adaptive traffic signal control. UDOT installed this type of
control a few years ago and recently completed evaluations regarding comparative
performance and optimization. We have also analyzed robustness of timings for varying
conditions of traffic flows which provides recommendations for traffic engineers.
b. Sandra Larson also suggested that I present on our recent bridge move. This was a 354' long
double span 3.8M pound bridge that was moved across 8 lanes of interstate in just a few
hours. This presentation would be on accelerated bridge construction in general and
feature several bridges recently moved in place.
7. Bill Stone
Missouri DOT
a. New LiDAR Technology Offers Faster, Less Expensive Field Data
Collecting data to design MoDOT projects can be time consuming and expensive. Furthermore,
traditional field data collection can place employees dangerously close to traffic. However, Light
Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) based mapping technology has emerged as a potential solution to
field data collection problems.
b. MTI Geotechnical Research Program
The geotechnical load test program was the largest to date in the United States. This research
developed a site characterization process for determining the soil/rock strength to be used at each
site of a new bridge foundation. This will provide a more accurate determination of soil/rock
strength at each site, giving MoDOT the most economical design for each structure. Also, the
program completed the most comprehensive load test program ever performed in weak rock and
produced local calibration factors for LRFD design of dilled shafts. Results from the research
determined it is appropriate to include both side friction and tip resistance for drilled shaft design,
which could significantly decrease drilled shaft lengths.
Cost and Risk Analysis formulated guidelines for design based on risk assessment for classifications
of roadways and types of bridges. The basis of the research is that a small slope failure on a minor
road with a few dozen cars a day has a much different risk level than a major roadway with
thousands of cars using the roadway daily; yet similar factors are used. This research produced a
practical design approach for foundations and slopes. Results from this research were used to
develop Load and Resistance Factor Design specifications as required by FHWA.
8. Leni Oman
Washington DOT
State Highways as Main Streets: A Study of Community Design and Visioning
State highways are a town’s main street in many communities. In the State of Washington, this is
true for more than 500 miles of state highway. These main street highways provide local access for
communities while serving regional mobility needs. Unfortunately, sections of these main street
highways have some of the highest rates of pedestrian and traffic collisions in the state. As well,
modification of these highways can affect community livability and safety. Projects on main street
highways were found to have design changes in the later stages of a project, increasing costs and
delaying construction.
To better incorporate the needs of communities, WSDOT tested the use of community-design and
visioning during project development. The process engages the community more actively than
traditional transportation planning, allowing the agency and community to work together
collaboratively.
Early findings show that this approach has helped avoid costly changes to the project’s scope and
schedule and improved project delivery times.
Main street highways are important to Washington’s communities and this study demonstrated that
additional investment in community design helps ensure improved safety, mobility, and efficient
project delivery while supporting the community’s needs.
***IF NEEDED*** If the Symposium coordinators have plenty for the planning category and gaps in
other subject areas, Leni is happy to find another project to talk about. Some other areas that she
could readily grab are traffic management (incident induced delay and response management) or
materials (expanding the use of BST to higher ADT roadways). Wa bridge seismic research is also a
good subject for her but probably not the most relevant for the Symposium’s audience.