Fall Meeting in Texas

As a reminder, No Boundaries' second meeting of 2018 will be held October 16-18 in Austin, Texas. The latest agenda includes:

• Presentations from member agencies on maintenance innovations, asset management programs, and training and apprenticeship programs
• Roundtables on unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), horizontal alignment warning signs, and adopt-a-highway programs
• Updates on No Boundaries' study on innovation programs and our planned sessions at the 2019 TRB Annual Meeting
• A technical tour of the fleet shop where Texas DOT fabricates maintenance vehicles and a demonstration of the agency's pavement management information system

Presentation and event highlights will appear in a future issue of this newsletter.

New Members Are Welcome

No Boundaries membership now stands at 19 state DOTs across the United States: Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York State, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington State, and Wisconsin.

As the program continues activities into 2019, No Boundaries extends an open invitation to new members.

No Boundaries is Transportation Pooled Fund project #TPF-5(330). State DOT commitments to the project can be made using 100% federal funds. Contact Brian Hirt, CTC & Associates, at 402-770-9067 for more information.

Meetings and Events

Training Opportunities

Upcoming TRB Webinars

• Guidelines for Resurfacing, Restoration, and Rehabilitation Projects
  TRB will conduct a webinar on Tuesday, October 2, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time that will present updated geometric design guidance for 3R projects. These guidelines present an approach for estimating the cost-effectiveness of a 3R project, including safety and operational improvements. Presenters will describe a benefit-cost, performance-based approach to determine how valuable a proposed design improvement is. Details.
   
• Moisture Damage in Asphalt Pavements: Forensic Analyses and Research Needs
  TRB will conduct a webinar on Wednesday, October 31, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time that will provide a practical discussion of moisture damage in asphalt pavements. The presenters will discuss real-world examples of how transportation agencies have investigated moisture damage in specific projects; useful cost-benefit considerations when addressing asphalt mixtures that may be susceptible to moisture damage; and the research needed to fill the current gaps. Details.

Asset Management Research

Minimum Levels of Componentisation for Road Infrastructure Assets: Guideline
Austroads

This guideline assists organizations in determining the appropriate minimum level of componentization for road infrastructure assets. The goal is to improve integration and alignment of asset management, financial management, and financial reporting processes in order to produce consistent data sets that can be used to enable equitable reform initiatives. Project page.

Passive RFID-Based Inventory of Traffic Signs on Roads and Urban Environments
Sensors, July 2018

Researchers examined a system that uses passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to aid in the inventory of traffic signs. The system can be used at night and in areas of low visibility. It can also be used to inventory other assets, such as dumpsters or traffic lights. Abstract.

Bridge Maintenance Research

Improving Quality of Bridge Inspections Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
Minnesota DOT

As part of a multiphase research effort on using unmanned aircraft systems to improve the quality of bridge inspections, this project focused on optimizing the value of data collected during the inspection. Researchers also evaluated a collision-tolerant drone for use in confined spaces. Report and project page.

Sustainability-Informed Bridge Ranking Under Scour Based on Transportation Network Performance and Multiattribute Utility
Journal of Bridge Engineering, October 2018

To help bridge managers prioritize their intervention actions for scour protection/prevention, this project developed a sustainability-informed bridge ranking approach for a network of bridges vulnerable to scour using multiattribute utility theory and transportation network analysis. Abstract.

Environmental Research

Most Likely Bridges as Roosting Habitat for Bats: Study for Iowa
Transportation Research Record: Journal of TRB, April 2018

Bridges are commonly used by bats as roosting locations. To help transportation agencies develop bridge maintenance plans while also conserving bat habitats, researchers sought to better understand the types of bridges most likely to be used by bats. Abstract.

Maintenance Worker Safety Research

Evaluation of Work Zone Split Traffic Symbol Sign
Missouri DOT

MoDOT used alternative signage to direct traffic movements to the left and right sides of a bridge rehabilitation work zone area on I-170 in St. Louis. Researchers found that the alternative sign communicated information more clearly and did not cause any adverse impacts to work zone safety and operations. Report.

Investigation of Flashing and Intensity Characteristics for Vehicle-Mounted Warning Beacons
Accident Analysis and Prevention, October 2018

Researchers evaluated the safety effects of the light intensity and flash frequency of vehicle-mounted warning beacons in work zones. The study showed that regardless of the light intensity and flash frequency, reflective vests were effective in alerting drivers to workers' presence in the work zone. Abstract.

Pavement Maintenance Research

Lidar for Maintenance of Pavement Reflective Markings and Retroreflective Signs, Vol. I: Reflective Pavement Markings
Oregon DOT

This project investigated the effectiveness of using mobile lidar technology to evaluate pavement marking and sign retroreflectivity. The study found that mobile lidar point clouds can be used to extract quantitative, accurate estimates of retroreflectivity for pavement markings, providing a safe, cost-effective and reliable solution. Report.

Chip Seal Aggregate Evaluation and Successful Roads Preservation
Construction and Building Materials, August 2018

Chip seals are a cost-effective pavement preservation strategy that can extend the service life of pavements an average of five to six years. In this study, chip seals constructed with quality materials enhanced surface texture properties and reduced the appearance of distresses over the two-year monitoring period for most sections. Abstract.

Preventive Maintenance Study
Washington State DOT

Researchers determined the effectiveness of different preventive maintenance treatments at extending pavement life and used cost data to define which treatments were the most cost-effective. Research results showed that all maintenance treatments were effective in extending pavement life, with crack sealing, wheel path chip rut filling and wheel path chip seal patching as the most cost-effective. Report.

State-of-the-Practice in Chip Seal, Slurry Seal, Micro Surfacing, and Thin Lift Asphalt Overlay Construction Quality Assurance
Nevada DOT

This project identified best practices used by state highway agencies for performing quality assurance on preventive maintenance treatments, such as chip seals, slurry seals, microsurfacing and thin-lift pavement overlays. Report.

Field Investigations on Injection Method for Sealing Longitudinal Reflective Cracks
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, August 2018

This study evaluated the use of a crack injection method to seal longitudinal cracks on newly constructed highways. Repairs were monitored for three years and compared with other treatment methods executed under the same environmental conditions. Test results showed that the crack injection method is a cost-effective repair treatment. Abstract.

Performance Measurement Research

Visual Analysis of Pavement Performance and Related Factors
Midwest Transportation Center

This project used interactive visuals to display pavement performance data in a visually clear and insightful way. Researchers used the data to analyze relationships between types of cracks, road condition and pavement performance of Iowa roadways. Report.

Related research:

Roadside and Vegetation Management Research

Roadway Lighting's Impact on Altering Soybean Growth, Volume 2: LED versus HPS Color Spectral Impact
Illinois DOT

This study investigated the impact of roadway lighting on the growth and development of soybean plants in nearby fields. Results showed little difference in the crop's response to the two types of lighting (4,000K LED and high pressure sodium). Report.

Weed Suppressive Soil Bacteria to Reduce Cheatgrass and Improve Vegetation Diversity on ITD Rights-of-Way
Idaho Transportation Department

ITD evaluated the use of weed-suppressive bacteria (WSB) to reduce the roadside growth of downy brome (cheatgrass) and medusahead, two types of invasive weeds that alter vegetation diversity and provide fuel to wildfires. Researchers found that the volume and timing of WSB application was critical to success in the long-term reduction of weed growth. Report.

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