2011 Research Symposium Presentations by Iowa DOT
Annette Dunn Maintenance TowPlow Winter operations:
TowPlow is a plow towed by a snowplow truck that can clear a huge swath through fallen and drifted snow. One truck does the work of two. When fully configured, a
TowPlow can clear two and a half highway lanes or two lanes and part of the shoulder. The trailer-mounted
TowPlow is designed to tow behind and work alongside a truck with a standard plow mounted on the front. This combination increases the single unit's clearing path.
Yes
Adam Shell
Eric Abrams
Traffic and
Safety
IT Division
Travel Demand Model: Traffic forecasting affects every aspect of the Iowa DOT’s core business activities. The ability to accurately predict future transportation demands continues to improve as different types of data sets can now be stored, displayed, managed, and analyzed in computer software that combine geographic information systems (GIS) and transportation modeling capabilities. Various datasets, including socioeconomic information, traffic count information, and travel survey information, are used to model future travel demand on
Iowa’s roadways. In 2009, the Iowa DOT completed the development of a traffic model that could be used in support of transportation system evaluation in the state.
The final product, known as the Iowa Travel Analysis
Model (iTRAM), can be used to evaluate the impacts of current and future highway projects and policy initiatives.
More specifically, iTRAM can be used to forecast auto and truck traffic, conduct external and through trip analysis, and evaluate the impacts of highway financing such as project prioritization and highway tolling. iTRAM is executed and maintained in the TransCAD software package, which has a full complement of GIS and transportation modeling tools.
Yes
Geospatial Infrastructure at Iowa DOT: DOTs need GIS infrastructure to locate, manage and share location based information across the enterprise. Eric will review how
Iowa DOT uses a linear referencing system to locate events and features along a 114,000 mile road transportation system and how GIS web based services
Yes

Brad Cutler,
Shawn Blaessing
Bob Dawson
T&S,
Maintenance materials materials design allows GIS data to be shared. GIS history and physical infrastructure will also be reviewed.
Asset Management at the Iowa DOT’s Highway Division :
The asset management program within the Iowa DOT’s
Highway Division is developing in tandem with the GIS program. The Highway Division GIS Coordinators are working with field and office staff to identify best collection means for capturing a variety of assets along the roadway. This talk will identify some of the potential means for capturing and disseminating this information throughout the agency. Examples include sign inventory system, and other road side features like culverts and guard rails. Technologies explored include Oracle Spatial, a variety of GIS software, Videolog, and GPS data collection tools.
Yes
A method to rapidly predict service life and susceptibility to deicing salt deterioration of aggregates
used in Portland cement concrete:
Several methods have been developed by the Iowa
Department of Transportation to classify coarse carbonate aggregate (limestone and dolomite) used in
Portland cement concrete (PCC). The result is a predictor of the reactivity of carbonate aggregates to deicing salts and as such, a predictor of an aggregate’s effect on pavement performance and service life. A newly proposed version uses three test methods (X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and the Iowa pore index test) to derive what is referred to as the “salt susceptibility quality number”. This, along with a second classification using the Iowa pore index test can be used to determine the Durability Class rating for an Iowa DOT aggregate source approval. This presentation will describe these tests and the variables used in the predictive algorithm.
Several
ADA compliant sidewalks and facilities yes yes
Yes
Scott Schram
Deanna Maifield,
Mike Ross
Dave Claman prelim bridge LiDAR information for 2-D hydraulic modeling: LiDAR provides elevation data accurate to within 8 inches which can used for creating DTM’s (contour maps) for 2-D hydraulic modeling, flood forecasting, flood mapping, inundation maps and many other hydrologic and hydraulic applications. yes

John Parker
Phil Mescher
Ed Engle
Kim Snook
Ahmad Abu-
Hawash
Angie Poole
The presentation will show the many uses and advantages of utilizing LiDAR data for 2-D hydraulic modeling and many other concepting and design applications.
Syst. Planning Passenger Rail City Pairs: John Parker
The Iowa Travel Analysis Model was recently used to determine the number of person trips between various cities in the Midwest. The person trips were used to estimate the potential ridership of passenger rail service if it would be developed among various cities.
This process utilized many shortcuts using the Travel
Modeling Software TransCAD. The eventual outcome could be summarized with help from the report done by the consultant.
Syst. Planning Boundary v. Boundary – Who decides on a planning boundary and what does it mean?: Phil Mescher A presentation on all the boundaries that exist and what each one means in regards to transportation planning.
Urban area, urbanized area, planning area, micropolitan,
Rail megapolitan. Boundaries have impacts on roadway classification, funding, jurisdiction, etc.
TBD
Driver services TBD
Bridges
OLE
Jason Omundson materials
Terry Wipf
TBD
GPR
Yes
Yes tentative tentative tentative tentative tentative