Civil Engineering

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/30

The Department of Civil Engineering has strong affiliation with the Western Transportation Institute (WTI) and the Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE), a graduated NSF research center. The department is also affiliated with a Montana Department of Transportation Design Unit located on the MSU campus.

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 24

Two-Lane Highways: Indispensable Rural Mobility
(MDPI AG, 2022-03) Al-Kaisy, Ahmed
Two-lane highways refer to roadways consisting of two lanes in the cross section, one for each direction of travel. Occasionally, passing lanes may be added to one or two sides of the roadway extending the cross section to three or four lanes at those locations. In this entry, two-lane highways strictly refer to roads in rural areas meeting the previous definition and do not include urban and suburban streets.
Capacity at All-Way Stop Control Intersections: Case Study
(SAGE Publications, 2023-08) Al-Kaisy, Ahmed; Doruk, Dorukhan
This paper presents an empirical investigation into the capacity of all-way stop-controlled (AWSC) intersections. Video data was collected over four days at an AWSC intersection site in Bozeman, Montana. The site is characterized by single-lane approaches and high level of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Using strict protocols, video records were processed at the individual vehicle level and several information metrics were extracted for each vehicle in the data set on all approaches. Study results indicate that the total intersection capacity at the study site varied between 400 and 1,400 vehicles per hour. The study suggests that the wide range of capacity observations is largely associated with the pedestrian crossing activity at the study site. Statistical tests confirmed that both pedestrian crossing activity and the level of conflict have significant effects on intersection capacity at the 95% confidence level. For movement type, the right-turn movement was not found to have a significant effect on intersection capacity while left-turn movement was found to negatively affect the intersection capacity. The results presented in this paper offer valuable information on AWSC intersection capacity, given the limited amount of information in the literature and the dated nature of those empirical observations.
A Novel Network Screening Methodology for Rural Low-Volume Roads
(Scientific Research Publishing, Inc., 2023-01) Al-Kaisy, Ahmed; Raza, Sajid
Low-volume roads (LVRs) are an integral part of the rural transportation network providing access to remote rural areas and facilitating the movement of goods from farms to markets. These roads pose unique challenges for highway agencies including those related to safety management on the highway network. Specifically, traditional network screening methods using crash history can be effective in screening rural highways with higher traffic volumes and more frequent crashes. However, these traditional methods are often ineffective in screening LVR networks due to low traffic volumes and the sporadic nature of crash occurrence. Further, many of the LVRs are owned and operated by local agencies that may lack access to detailed crash, traffic and roadway data and the technical expertise within their staff. Therefore, there is a need for more efficient and practical network screening approaches to facilitate safety management programs on these roads. This study proposes one such approach which utilizes a heuristic scoring scheme in assessing the level of risk/safety for the purpose of network screening. The proposed scheme is developed based on the principles of US Highway Safety Manual (HSM) analysis procedures for rural highways and the fundamentals in safety science. The primary application of the proposed scheme is for ranking sites in network screening applications or for comparing multiple improvement alternatives at a specific site. The proposed approach does not require access to detailed databases, technical expertise, or exact information, making it an invaluable tool for small agencies and local governments (e.g. counties, townships, tribal governments, etc.).
A New Approach for Identifying Safety Improvement Sites on Rural Highways: A Validation Study
(MDPI AG, 2024-02) Dhakal, Bishal; Al-Kaisy, Ahmed
The research presented in this paper examines a new proposed approach for identifying safety improvement sites on rural highways. Unlike conventional approaches, the proposed approach does not require crash history, but rather utilizes classified variables for traffic volume, geometric features, and roadside characteristics that do not require access to exact data or extensive technical expertise. The research validates the performance of the proposed approach using field data from a large sample of rural two-lane highway segments in the state of Oregon including traffic, roadway, and crash data. A mathematical model for the prediction of the EB expected number of crashes using multivariate regression analysis is developed and used as the network screening criterion. The model’s independent variables include roadway geometry, roadside characteristics, and traffic exposure, while the dependent variable is the EB expected number of crashes. Using observed crash history as a reference, the performance of the proposed approach was compared to two of the well-established methods in practice, namely, the Empirical Bayes (EB) and the potential for safety improvement (PSI) methods. The study results suggest that by using crash density for highway segments, the performance of the proposed method was lower than that of the EB and PSI methods. This is despite the high R-square value of the predictive model used in the proposed method. However, when using crash frequencies for highway segments, the performance of the proposed method was found comparable to the well-established EB and PSI methods.
High-Level Assessment ofStatewide GNSS-RTN Business Models
(2023-06) Al-Kaisy, Ahmed; Raza, Sajid
The applications of geospatial technologies and positioning data embrace every sphere of modern-day science and industry where geographical positioning matters. Among all other fields, geospatial technology plays a remarkable role in the transportation sector and has the potential to play an even more critical role in future autonomous transportation systems. In this regard, the GNSS-Real-Time Network (GNSS-RTN) technology is promising in meeting the needs of automation in most advanced transportation applications. The GNSS-RTN is a satellite-based positioning system that uses a network of reference stations to provide centimeter-level accuracy in positioning data in real-time. The technical aspect and working technology of GNSS-RTN are widely studied, however, only limited research has been conducted on the various GNSS-RTN business models currently in use nationally and internationally. Therefore, this study aims at assessing the various GNSS-RTN business models currently used in practice as well as those that are deemed potentially viable but have not yet moved to practice. Eight different business models were cataloged and used in the current assessment. All business models were assessed using three criteria: state control, sustainability, and state/agency costs. The findings of this research are important in helping state agencies make informed decisions as they build, expand or manage their own GNSS-RTN systems.
Empirical Bayes application on low-volume roads: Oregon case study
(Elsevier BV, 2021-12) Al-Kaisy, Ahmed; Huda, Kazi Tahsin
ntroduction: This paper investigates the Empirical Bayes (EB) method and the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) predictive methodology for network screening on low-volume roads in Oregon. Method: A study sample of around 870 miles of rural two-lane roadways with extensive crash, traffic and roadway information was used in this investigation. To understand the effect of low traffic exposure in estimating the EB expected number of crashes, the contributions of both the observed and the HSM predicted number of crashes were analyzed. Results and Conclusions: The study found that, on low-volume roads, the predicted number of crashes is the major contributor in estimating the EB expected number of crashes. The study also found a large discrepancy between the observed and the predicted number of crashes using the HSM procedures calibrated for the state of Oregon, which could partly be attributed to the unique attributes of low-volume roads that are different from the rest of the network. However, the expected number of crashes for the study sample using the HSM EB method was reasonably close to the observed number of crashes over the 10-year study period. Practical Applications: Based on the findings, it can still be very effective to use network screening methods that rely primarily on risk factors for low-volume road networks. This is especially applicable in situations where accurate and reliable crash data are not available.
Practical Guidelines for Estimation of Rest Area Use on Rural Interstates and Arterial Highways
(2012-01) Al-Kaisy, Ahmed; Veneziano, David; Kirkemo, Zachary S.; Dorrington, Christopher
Rest areas perform a critical role in the highway network. These areas provide passenger vehicle occupants and heavy vehicle operators with an opportunity to use a restroom, walk around, stop for a meal, sleep for a period of time, or even pause to use a cellular phone. These activities also have a direct impact on the various aspects of rest area planning and design. Existing guidance for rest area planning and design is largely based on national trends, which may not represent patterns of use in rural states. This paper presents a series of practical guidelines that may be used in the design and rehabilitation of rest area facilities, particularly those in rural areas. The guidance was developed by the use of empirical observations of rest area use at 44 study sites in the state of Montana. Given the amount of data collected and used in this research, it is reasonable to expect that the guidelines developed are representative of a significant proportion of existing and future rest area sites in rural locales. However, each rest area is different, and careful consideration should be given when the guidelines outlined in this paper are used.
Remote Sensing of Weather and Road Surface Conditions
(2013-01) Ewan, Levi A.; Al-Kaisy, Ahmed; Veneziano, David
Advances in road weather sensing technologies have made noninvasive road weather sensors a valuable component in many intelligent transportation systems (ITS) applications. This study investigates the reliability of using such a sensor for a proposed weather-responsive variable speed limit system. The Vaisala surface state and temperature sensors (DSC-111 and DST-111) were selected for the proposed application. The sensors' ability to provide accurate and reliable data was tested under various conditions in a controlled laboratory environment. Specifically, four outputs of interest from the sensors were tested in this investigation: surface state, snow and ice depth, water depth, and grip level. Testing results showed that the sensors determined the surface state (dry, moist, wet, snowy, and icy) accurately and reliably. The sensors' snow depth readings were found to be inaccurate, while the sensors' ice depth measurements were found to be relatively close to the actual depths. For water depth, only a limited number of readings were close to the actual depths, while other readings were highly inaccurate. In an effort to test the potential of the sensor in providing reliable inputs to the proposed ITS application, a calibration was conducted for the sensor water depth measurements at various water depths and sensor installation angles. Calibration results showed that the water depth could be accurately estimated with the calibrated sensor measurements, regardless of water depth or sensor installation angle. Sensor estimates of grip level were found to be highly correlated to the coefficient of static friction for the conditions considered in this study.
Perceived Risk of Phoning While Driving: A Case Study from Jordan
(2015-10) Ismeik, Muhannad; Al-Kaisy, Ahmed; Al-Ansari, Khalid
The use of mobile phones while driving is banned in most countries since it impairs driving performance and is believed to increase crash risk. The aim of this research is to identify the prevalence of phoning while driving in Jordan and to examine the association between drivers’ perception of risk and potential predicting variables. A sample of 423 drivers was surveyed to gather information on their mobile phone use while driving as well as their risk perception. Data collection took place anonymously at diverse locations through a self-report questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed to highlight the association between risk levels and drivers’ demographics and exposure characteristics. An alarming rate of 93.1% of drivers, mostly young male college students, engaged in this unsafe behavior despite being aware of the associated risk and legislative laws. Findings suggested gender, employment status, age, education level, driving experience, and daily traveled distance were associated with mobile phone use while driving. Recommendations to enhance traffic safety were proposed and further research directions were highlighted.
Traffic Safety Along Tourist Routes in Rural Areas
(2016-01) Wang, Yiyi; Veneziano, David; Russell, Sam; Al-Kaisy, Ahmed
Little is known about the safety of tourist drivers in the United States. Most domestic studies have focused on traffic deaths and injuries of U.S. citizens traveling abroad and cite factors such as driving on the left, lack of seat belt use, and alcohol consumption. U.S. states that have a number of tourist attractions and the roadways to reach them may be interested in whether traffic safety is problematic for drivers who are tourists. To that end, this research investigated the contributing factors for crash severity and crash likelihood of visiting drivers in or near three national parks in rural areas. Driver-level data from the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California revealed risk factors for crash severity, including age, geometry, and seat belt use. The second data set offered a more microscopic view at the road level and was used to anticipate crash frequency of visiting drivers at the road link level. Moreover, the second data set contained road geometry, traffic volume, environment, and crash counts aggregated at the segment level along a 57.8-mi stretch of U.S. Hwy 89 (a primary route to the north gate of Yellowstone National Park) in Montana that is frequently used by tourists. Crash risk factors (e.g., geometry and traffic intensity) affected local and nonlocal (tourist) drivers in different ways. Further exploration of crash trends in specific parks would be valuable in understanding the overall trends and contributors to crashes in tourism areas and to determine effective improvement measures.

Civil Engineering

Browse

Filters

Settings

Sort By

Results per page

Search Results