Installation and Maintenance of Raised Pavement Markers at State Transportation Agencies: Synthesis of Current Practices

Although raised pavement markers (RPMs) have been widely applied by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), there have been multiple cases where snowplowing activities have damaged pavements as well as the raised pavement markers on INDOT’s roadway assets. Dislodged raised pavement markers could reduce the design life of pavements because they leave openings for water and debris to infiltrate through pavement section. Interviews with INDOT personnel indicated that the proper installation of the markers and careful attention to the tooling of the center line of the concrete pavements could alleviate this problem. To explore issues related to the proper installation of RPMs, this study (INDOT/JTRP SPR 4318) was launched by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)/Joint Transportation Program (JTRP) to develop a synthesis of current practices on installation and maintenance of raised pavement markers at State Transportation Agencies (STAs) in the U.S. The study was conducted using a qualitative exploratory approach focusing on the review of current practices in installation and maintenance of raised pavement markers among STAs. Survey analysis and focused interviews with personnel from STAs, along with reviews of documents provided by STAs were the avenues used for data collection in this project

Using Simulation To Evaluate Web-Based Bidding in Construction

The Internet is changing the whole business model by allowing companies to communicate instantly with suppliers, partners, and customers on a worldwide scale. To enjoy realtime data exchange and higher transaction efficiencies, companies need to use information technology (IT) solutions and change how they distribute goods and how they collaborate within the company with contractors and suppliers. While the Internet is the channel that allows instant interaction between all components of a company, IT provides the ability to streamline the structure and to influence and control the flow of information. In this paper, we evaluate the impact that using the Internet can have on the procurement aspect of the construction industry. Specifically, we describe how the traditional service procurement process in construction is affected by the use of a web-based bidding tool (WBBT). We use a simulation model on a case study to evaluate how the WBBT affected service procurement in a large pharmaceutical company. The paper describes the potential impact of IT solutions in the Construction Industry and on the procurement aspect in particular, before discussing the case study in detail

Frameworks for Systemic and Structural Analysis of Financial Innovations in Infrastructure

Financial innovations have emerged globally to close the gap between the rising global demand for infrastructures and the availability of financing sources offered by traditional financing mechanisms such as fuel taxation, tax-exempt bonds, and federal and state funds. The key to sustainable innovative financing mechanisms is effective policymaking. This paper discusses the theoretical framework of a research study whose objective is to structurally and systemically assess financial innovations in global infrastructures. The research aims to create analysis frameworks, taxonomies and constructs, and simulation models pertaining to the dynamics of the innovation process to be used in policy analysis. Structural assessment of innovative financing focuses on the typologies and loci of innovations and evaluates the performance of different types of innovative financing mechanisms. Systemic analysis of innovative financing explores the determinants of the innovation process using the System of Innovation approach. The final deliverables of the research include propositions pertaining to the constituents of System of Innovation for infrastructure finance which include the players, institutions, activities, and networks. These static constructs are used to develop a hybrid Agent-Based/System Dynamics simulation model to derive propositions regarding the emergent dynamics of the system. The initial outcomes of the research study are presented in this paper and include: (a) an archetype for mapping innovative financing mechanisms, (b) a System of Systems-based analysis framework to identify the dimensions of Systems of Innovation analyses, and (c) initial observations regarding the players, institutions, activities, and networks of the System of Innovation in the context of the U.S. transportation infrastructure financing

Pre-Contract Project Scoping Processes: Synthesis of Practices

Scoping is the process of developing a project’s objectives, need, preliminary cost estimate, and preliminary schedule based on a recognized need that the project is intended to address. This study (INDOT/JTRP SPR-3944) was launched by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)/Joint Transportation Program (JTRP) to develop a synthesis of scoping processes in different State Highway Agencies (SHA). The study was conducted using a qualitative exploratory approach focusing on the review of project scoping practices across different SHAs. Focused interviews with personnel from State Highway Agencies (SHA) along with the review of documents gathered during the literature search and resources provided by SHAs were the avenues used for data collection in the study. The study focused on eleven themes for the assessment of project scoping procedures: (1) primary entity with responsibility for scoping projects, (2) timeline for scoping activities, (3) functional groups within the State Highway Agency involved in scoping, (4) cost estimation procedures, (5) application of Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS), (6) addressing maintenance needs, (7) methods of assessing scope creep, (8) tracking the quality and effectiveness of scoping processes, (9) environmental consideration in scoping processes, (10) data collection and data sharing, and (11) scoping practices which have evolved/benefited the State Highway Agency. The report presents key findings of the study and provides suggestions for further investigation by INDOT

Outsourcing of Laboratory Testing and Inspection Activities at State Transportation Agencies: Synthesis of Current Practices

Outsourcing of project activities at State Transportation Agencies (STA) to the private sector has become ubiquitous over the last several decades. This trend of increased outsourcing is primarily driven by the continued demand for public transportation infrastructure coupled with static or declining levels of in-house STA employees. Many prior studies have reported on the trends, impacts, challenges and costs of outsourcing functions, such as design, but few have focused on the use of consultants specifically for testing and inspection. This paper synthesizes the current state of practice of outsourcing testing and inspection activities across STAs within the United States. Specifically the study used a qualitative approach which included a literature review, surveys of STAs on their current state of practice for outsourcing testing and inspection, questionnaires of consultants that provide inspection services to the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), follow-on interviews with key STAs, and interviews with five Indiana DOT district construction directors to determine the following: Factors/criteria for determining the basis for outsourcing inspections and testing Factors influencing the motivation and decision to outsource testing and inspection Documents and guidelines used for ensuring quality in outsourced tests and inspections Benefits and advantages realized through outsourcing testing and inspection In addition to a synthesis of the current state of outsourcing across the STAs, five key strategies were identified to guide STAs with outsourcing testing and inspection activities. The key strategies include: (1) conducting strategic level planning, (2) developing a system of record to track in-house versus consultant cost, (3) maintaining a strong prequalification program, (4) consistently evaluating consultant performance, and (5) providing training to in-house staff and consultants. Application of these strategies can assist STAs in developing, sustaining, and guiding a quality testing and inspection outsourcing program

Network-Level Scheduling of Road Projects During the Construction Season Considering Network Connectivity

INDOT implements several hundred highway projects annually. One of the unintended (and adverse) consequences of road work is the establishment of work zones or full or partial closure of certain road links and the subsequent impairment of network connectivity during the construction season. The temporary reduction in network connectivity can lead to reduced mobility and decreased accessibility to businesses. The user costs incurred during highway construction can be significant, particularly where the affected links have very high traffic volumes or offer few opportunities to detour. Delay also inflicts costs on the non-traveling public, such as when it is necessary to reroute school buses in communities. Delay-related costs also impact the traveling public and shippers of raw materials and finished products. In some cases, construction-related disruptions cause adverse impacts on adjacent businesses. The main objective of this study was to develop a methodology and software tool that INDOT’s Construction and Contracts Division could use to evaluate the systemic impacts of work zones on a network. The optimal schedules developed using the methodology were checked using data from past projects and was validated by comparing the reduction in user costs compared to actual past construction schedules. The case study results showed that, compared with INDOT’s current plan, the developed framework would greatly reduce the user and business disruption costs associated with network-wide construction plans by providing optimal construction schedules. The developed network-level project scheduling methodology and software tool will help INDOT to plan various construction projects in a given district while considering user and business disruption costs

Warranty Utility Cut Repairs (QC/QA of Utility Cut Repairs)

Poor construction techniques in utility cut repairs often lead to settlement of the patches, increasing the roughness of the pavement and decreasing the rideability of the repaired pavement. Identifying the company responsible for faulty pavement repairs is difficult since multiple utilities may have performed repairs in the same section. The objective of this study was to develop a set of guidelines to assist INDOT in addressing challenges with utility cut repairs. The key research tasks included: (1) a synthesis of utility cut repair guidelines among State Highway Agencies (SHAs), (2) interviews with INDOT engineers and utility contractors to identify the challenges faced in restoring utility cuts, (3) an evaluation of INDOT’s Electronic Permitting System in the context of managing utility cut permit information, and (4) an investigation of automated methods to track/manage utility cut repairs. INDOT specifications require utility cuts to be repaired using the T-section method, backfilled either, with soil compacted to 95% Standard Proctor density or with flowable fill, and edges treated with a tack coat for flexible pavements and dowel bars for rigid pavements. These specifications were found to be in alignment with a majority of the specifications of other State Highway Agencies. INDOT personnel recommended that flowable fill be made mandatory to circumvent the need for compaction, and suggested incorporating pre-qualification requirements for contractors who perform utility cut repairs. INDOT’s Electronic Permitting System lacks data fields to store information about contractors performing pavement cut repairs, record details of the work, such as dimensions of the cut, backfill materials, construction methods, etc., and list information about periodic inspections by INDOT. Including data fields to record such information will facilitate a more effective use of EPS for reviewing and managing permits and tracking the work done by permittees. Enhancements to the EPS System could also automated identification of repaired patches by correlating the global positioning system (GPS) location of INDOT’s pavement monitoring vehicle with the location information of utility cut repairs from the EPS

Workzone Lighting and Glare on Nighttime Construction and Maintenance Activities

Over the last two decades, an increasing number of highway construction and maintenance projects in the United States have been completed at night to avoid or alleviate traffic congestion delays. Working at night entails several advantages, including lower traffic volumes, less impact on local businesses, cooler temperatures for equipment and material, and fewer overall crashes. Although nighttime roadway operations may minimize traffic disruptions, there are several safety concerns about passing motorists and workers in the nighttime work zone. For instance, improper lighting arrangements or excessive lighting levels at the job site could cause harmful levels of glare for the traveling public and workers, which can lead to an increased level of hazards and crashes in the vicinity of the work zone. To address the issue of glare, the current report focuses on determining and evaluating disability glare on nighttime work zones in order to develop appropriate strategies for improving the safety of workers and motorists during nighttime highway construction and maintenance projects. Disability glare is the glare that impairs our vision of objects without necessarily causing discomfort, and it can be evaluated using the veiling luminance ratio (VL ratio). In this study, disability glare values were determined by using lighting data (vertical illuminance and pavement luminance measurements) from the testing of 49 lighting arrangements. Two LED balloon lights, a metal-halide light tower, and an LED light tower were utilized for the field lighting experiments. The glare assessment analyzed the effects of the lighting system setup’s parameters, such as the mounting height, power output, rotation angle, and aiming angle of luminaires on the veiling luminance ratio values (which is a criterion for limiting disability glare). The study revealed the following key findings: (1) an increase in mounting heights of both balloon lights and light towers resulted in lower disability glare levels; (2) compared to the perpendicular and away orientations, orienting the light towers towards the traffic (45 degrees) significantly increases the disability glare levels of the lighting arrangement; and (3) increasing the tilt angles of portable light tower luminaries resulted in an increase in disability glare levels

Risk-Based Construction Inspection

Construction inspection is a critical component in the quality assurance (QA) program to ensure the quality and long-term performance of pavements. Over the years, INDOT has been developing and modifying its standard specification to set requirements for construction inspection and material testing. With the retirement of experienced employees, INDOT is challenged with the lack of knowledge to effectively inspect the critical elements of construction results/deliverables such as pavement, soil embankment, and bridge (decks). There is a critical need for INDOT to allocate limited resources to the riskiest areas and equip construction inspectors with necessary knowledge to conduct inspection, ensure the quality of construction results, and minimize risks to INDOT. This study developed a risk-based inspection guide that has addressed the aforementioned problems of shortage in staffing and loss and lack of knowledge by providing answers in aspects of what, when, how, and how often to inspect. A comprehensive list of testing and inspection activities were extracted from INDOT’s material testing manual, INDOT’s standard specification, and the QA implementation at the Ohio River Bridge (ORB) project. This list was narrowed down to a core set of items based on survey responses and interviews with INDOT domain experts. Testing and inspection activities in the core set were aligned with the construction process. The risk associated with each inspection activity was assessed by considering both the probability of failure and consequence severity of failure in four dimensions: cost, time, quality, and safety. A composite risk index was developed as a single measure for the overall risk. All inspection activities were prioritized based on the composite index. For implementation, a linking mechanism was developed to link inspection activity, pay item, and check items (extracted from specification). This linking mechanism aligns with the business process of construction inspection at INDOT: starting with a pay item, field inspectors retrieve the associated check items and their inspection priority (based on risk), inspection frequency, and inspection criteria. A digital, ontology- and risk-based inspection system was proposed and its conceptual model was delivered to INDOT for its incorporation in the field application of construction documentation, a component of the e-Construction initiatives at INDOT. It will be tested on Project R-30397 through a pilot study