1
Road Construction Safety Project
Road Construction
Safety Project
End-Product Design
Feasibility Report
May04-01
Client –
Faculty Advisors – John Lamont and Ralph Patterson III
Team Members:
ClintonDawson
Angel Anderson
Amit Agarwal
Matthew Baker
Josh Keith
Abdul Nuhu
Nancy Suby-Bohn
November 18, 2003
DISCLAIMER: This document is provided as part of the requirements of a civil engineering course and an electrical engineering course at IowaStateUniversity and does not constitute a professional engineering design or a professional land surveying document. Although the information is intended to be accurate, students, instructors, and IowaStateUniversity make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information. The user of this document shall ensure that such use does not violate Iowa law with regard to professional licensing and certification requirements, including any work resulting from this student-prepared document required to be under the responsible charge of a licensed engineer or surveyor.
1
Road Construction Safety Project
CONTENTS
List of Figuresiv
List of Tablesv
List of Symbolsvi
List of Definitions vii
1Introductory Materials
1.1Executive Summary 1
1.2Abstract 2
1.3Acknowledgement 3
1.4Problem Statement: Identifying the Client’s Needs 4
1.4.1General Problem Statement 4
1.4.2Current Setup 4
1.4.3Current Problems 4
1.4.4Current Costs 5
1.4.5General Solution Approach 5
1.5Operating Environment 6
1.6Intended User(s) and Intended Use(s) 6
1.7Assumptions and Limitations 8
1.8Expected End Product and Other Deliverables 8
2Approach and Product Design Results 9
2.1Requirements and constrains 9
2.1.1 Functional Requirements 9
2.1.2 Constraints 9
2.2Before Entering the System11
2.2.1Design Objectives11
2.2.2Alternatives11
2.3Entering Advanced Warning Area–Entering Work Zone14
2.3.1Design Objectives/Current Problems14
2.3.2Alternatives14
2.3.3Recommendation15
2.4Advanced Warning Area – Stopping Queue16
2.4.1Design Objectives/Current Problems16
2.4.2Alternatives16
2.4.3Recommendation17
2.5Entering Traffic Space – Entering Controlled Area18
2.5.1Design Objectives/Current Problems18
2.5.2Alternatives18
2.5.3Recommendation19
2.6Traffic Space – Speed Control Area21
2.6.1Design Objectives/Current Problems21
2.6.2Alternatives21
2.6.3Recommendation23
2.7Exiting of System in Termination Area – All Clear24
2.7.1Design Objectives/Current Problems24
2.7.2Alternatives24
2.7.3Recommendation25
2.8Public Educating of the New Traffic Control Idea26
2.8.1Design Objectives/Current Problems26
2.9 Evaluation26
2.9.1Matrix Process26
2.10Educational Applications31
2.10.1 Target audience31
2.10.2 Material32
2.10.3Media32
2.10.4 Scope34
3Resources and Schedules35
3.1Personnel Effort35
3.2Financial Requirements36
3.3Project Schedule37
3.4Deliverable Schedule38
4Closure Materials39
4.1Project TeamInformation39
4.1.1Client Information39
4.1.2Faculty Advisor Information39
4.1.3Student Team Information40
4.1.4Additional Faculty Involved41
4.2Conclusion43
4.3References44
4.4Appendix A: Diagrams45 4.5 Appendix B: Alternatives Grid 52
4.6 Appendix C: Crash Data57
List of Figures
Figure 1: Component Parts of a Temporary Traffic Control Zonevii
Figure 2: Before Entering the System11
Figure 3: Entering Advanced Warning Area – Entering Work Zone14
Figure 4: Advanced Warning Area – Stopping Queue 16
Figure 5: Entering Traffic Space – Entering Controlled Area 18
Figure 6: Traffic Space – Speed Control Area 21
Figure 7: Exiting of System in Termination Area – All Clear 24
Figure 8: Two-lane Highway46
Figure 9: Examples of Work Zone Sign Options 47
Figure 10: Example of Rumble Strips48
Figure 11: Example of Portable Traffic a signal on trailers48
Figure 12: Example of a Portable Speed Sign on a Trailer to be Modified 49
Figure 13: RS-4 Standard Road Plan50
List of Tables
Table 1– Weighted Matrix: Effectiveness28
Table 2 – Weighted Matrix: Plan Guidelines29
Table 3 – Weighted Matrix: Overall30
Table 4 – Resources: Estimated Personnel Effort Requirements 35
Table 5 – Resources: Revised Personnel Effort Requirements 35
Table 6 – Resources: Estimated Financial Standing36
Table 7 – Resources: Actual Financial Standing36
Table 8 – Resources: Project Cost/Labor36
Table 9 – Resources: Project Deliverables38
List of Definitions
2-Lane Highway: A highway road which has two lanes of traffic total, each traveling in the opposite direction. (See Figure 1 of Appendix)
Alternatives Grid: A grid which outlines the various alternatives and technologies and their applications and ranks them on various criteria to arrive at a final decision.
Controlled Area: The part of the system where the actual construction is taking place. This part is single lane with traffic in both directions sharing one lane alternately.
Fixed construction site: There are two types of fixed sites:
1.The construction site present for greater than 4 days (i.e. for patch work) – the setup remains on the road 24 hours a day.
2. The second includes a human flagger often with a pilot car. The construction ismoved off of the road at the end of the day not on weekends. The construction work may sometimes occur at night.
Gantt chart: A workload distribution graph based on projected time versus tasks.
I.D.O.T.: Iowa Department of Transportation – The client for the Road Construction Safety Project.
Moving construction site: A work zone present for a day or less (i.e. for painting) – it is a shorter zone, but it can move many miles total in aday. It is removed at the end of the day, if the repair work does not occur atnight.
Queue Length:The distance between the stopping point before entering the controlled area and the last stationary car in the queue.
RS-4 Work zone: This is a construction zone on two lane highways that follows a certain list of guidelines laid down by the Iowa Department of Transportation. These guidelines include:
-One of the lanes is closed for traffic.
-Channeling devices are used to direct the lane changing.
-A pilot car may or may not be used.
-Flaggers may or may not be used.
Traffic Taper: A group of cones or other objects used in a tapering layout to route traffic from one lane to another.
Work Zone: Areas where workers are improving or maintaining the roads. A work zone, or system, is defined as being from the first sign identifying the zone (i.e. a "Road Work Ahead" sign) to a sign indicating the end of the work zone (an "End Road Work" sign). The zones may be fixed or moving, depending on the work being done.
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Road Construction Safety Project
1Introductory Materials
This section contains introductory material for the Feasibility Report for the enhanced RS-4 work zone.
1.1Executive Summary
Each year, highway fatalities are reaching increasingly higher levels. Approximately 1000 deaths occurred nationwide during 2001 in road construction work zone accidents. Increasing awareness of the dangers of speeding in work zones, as well as warning of construction sites ahead, are just two of the many aspects being considered in the course of this project.
This Feasibility Report using the Design Report format is intended to document the development of the project, and the conclusions made through research, analysis, and design. With the scope defined as the RS-4 work zone, the document shall address the general approach to solving the problems at hand, and what was considered in doing so. After a brief background of the current RS-4 work zone, which includes current setup, current problems, and current costs, the steps are outlined that will be necessary to eradicate any problems that currently persist.
The different alternatives and sections of the system are defined and discussed in the Design Alternatives section of the document. The different parts of the system, as defined are:
- Section1: Before entering the system
- Section 2: Entering Advanced Warning Area – Entering the Work Zone
- Section 3:Advanced Warning Area – Stopping queue
- Section 4: Entering Traffic Space – Entering controlled area
- Section 5:Traffic Space – Speed control
- Section 6:Exiting in the Termination Area – All clear
Each one of these sections is defined and assessed independently, and as part of the overall system.
With the parts defined, the different alternatives to the current system components are produced, and analyzed. From a weighted matrix approach, each design alternative is systematically assessed, and given a score, the top scorers being those alternatives presented in this document. These scores are based on a number of criteria, some of which include: effect on cognitive reasoning, reliability, maintainability, cost, etc..
Based on the research done, recommendations on feasibility are made, and the total system requirements and costs are determined. Another aim of this project is to educate the general public about the RS-4 work zone. At the conclusion of this report, educational objectives are defined, and determined. This education would focus on work zones in general, and more specifically on the RS-4 work zone.
Any diagrams, graphs, and pictures necessary are included in Appendixes A, B, and C.
1.2Abstract
Each year, highway fatalities are reaching increasingly higher levels. Approximately 1000 deaths occurred nationwide during 2001 in road construction work zone accidents. Too often, distracted drivers missed warnings signs and failed to reduce their speed. Others simply chose not to heed warnings to decrease their speed, or miscalculated their vehicle’s stopping distance. Increasing awareness of the dangers of speeding in work zones, as well as warning of construction sites ahead, are just two of the many aspects being considered in the course of this project. Additionally, this report establishes methods to adequately warn drivers on Iowa’s two-lane highways of construction ahead. The main objective of this project is to save human lives.
1.3Acknowledgement
The Road Construction Safety Team would like to extend a thank you of appreciation to the following people for their contribution of time and resources:
Mark Bortle, Willy A. Sorenson, Daniel E. Sprengeler, and the Iowa Department of Transportation
John Lamont, Ralph Patterson III, and the Iowa State University Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Veronica J. Dark and the Iowa State University Department of Psychology
Duane E. Smith, Vern Schaefer, Max Porter and the Iowa State University Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
1.4Problem Statement: Identifying the Client’s Needs
The problem statement contains two main points: the general problem statement and the general solution approach.
1.4.1General Problem Statement
The Iowa Department of Transportation follows federal guidelines for signs and safety precautions for each situation involving a road construction zone. Some safety and driver awareness methods are elaborate and expensive while others are simple and more cost effective. Despite their effectiveness these methods still allow for a greater degree of accidents and fatalitiesthan are desired; because of this need for an increase in road safety for workers and drivers the I.D.O.T is looking for improvements to be made in the road construction zone. One of the primary needsof the I.D.O.T is to stimulate the cognitive reasoning and decision making abilities of the people that approach and drive through a work zone situation. Signs are the most commonly used methodfor warning drivers of an approaching zone, but they often go unseen or unnoticed because they become common place. Drivers also have the tendency to ignore warning signs, because they do not see any work being done and thus believe danger does not currently exist. For example, the only difference in most construction signs is the wording of the signs. These signs are usually the same color, shape, and size. Basically, the severity of the danger may not always be adequately and properly conveyed through standard techniques.Another pressing need of the I.D.O.T is better control of the flow of traffic entering, within, and leaving the work zones. Different automated and manned technologies will be considered while developing solutions to this problem. The focus of this project will be the RS-4 work zone. See Figure 3 of Appendix A.
1.4.2Current Setup
The focus of this project relates to problems in the RS-4 work zone and the alternatives that will be discussed that relate to the RS-4 work zone. This RS-4 work zone is an I.D.O.T standard road plan set up for construction on two lane highways. A layout of the site is located in Appendix A (Figure 3).
1.4.3Current Problems
Annually in work zones there are nearly 1000 fatal and over 37,000 serious injury crashes. When considering possible causes of work zone accidents, it was important to consider both cognitive and environmental contributions. It is very difficult to pin point what attributes of the RS-4 work zone are the most detrimental, but it is possible to highlight many characteristics that may contribute to the problem.
Currently driver awareness is a big problem. This includes alertness, and attention to RS-4 work zone conditions. Things such as turning on headlights, tailgating, and quick lane changes also contribute to collisions. One main problem encountered was the control of traffic flow within the RS-4 work zone. Drivers often times are impatient, and speed through the work zone. The control of traffic along with driver attention will be two major problems that will be addressed in this project.
1.4.4Current Costs
The current RS-4 set up has a number of costs that are included in the average bid. The following costs were chosen, because they reflect the areas that will be dealt with in this report.
Flaggers : Average cost of $221.93/day
Pilot car : Average cost of $331.71/day
Signs: Average cost of $75/week
1.4.5General Solution Approach
The solution to the problem required research of the current methods of traffic control in 2-lane road construction zones. The current RS-4 work zone was researched and analyzed to determine possible solutions to the safety problems. The most effective methods and the reasons for their effectiveness were then determined. Possible combinations of existing techniques as well as some new ideas will now be designed for implementation. Technology will be incorporated with designs for attracting the attention of a driver in order to convey a message and allow for response time. As part of the problem solution, a weighted matrix was incorporated to systematically determine feasibility, practicality, and potential benefits. The psychology of the driver was a key element and in particular what happened when a driver encountered a work zone. The main idea was to use these concepts in the design and suggestion of financially feasible alternatives to existing techniques.
To meet the client’s needs the problem is broken down into 7 sub-sections which split the construction system into related pieces.
These include:
(1) Before Entering the System
(2) Entering Advanced Warning Area - Entering Work Zone
(3) Advanced Warning Area - Stopping Queue
(4) Entering Traffic Space - Entering Controlled Area
(5) Traffic Space - Speed Control
(6) Exiting in the Termination Area - All Clear
(7) Education/Promotion of the Designed Road Standard Plan
Design alternatives will be evaluated for each of the problem’s needs. Then the alternatives will be evaluated for application in each sub-section. The final design will be determined by evaluating the effectiveness of each alternative versus their costs.
1.5Operating Environment
The RS-4 work zone, under the scope for this project is located in an outdoor environment. This means that any device or concept will be required to operate in any natural condition including but not limited to: rain, snow, heat, and cold. The RS-4 work zones will also be exposed to dust and heavy equipment in use. Any device will have to withstand mistreatment and neglect from the contractors and other personnel. Additional problems are the glare caused by the sun during the day and the range at night when visibility is reduced to the range of headlights. Since the solutions considered may have multiple implications, they may be used in multiple conditions and environments. Since pedestrians and work zone workers are likely to be within the work zone, they are also considered part of the operating environment.
1.6Intended User(s) and Intended Use(s)
The following Users and Uses have been identified for the project.
1.6.1 Intended Users
Initially these designs will be developed for the Iowa Department of Transportation and its contractors for testing on current work zones. If successful, users will include other states, their contractors, and agencies which have a similar problem. The system may also create an output that may be used by construction personnel, D.O.T personnel, driver/vehicle, and/or become a part ofan external database. Depending on the degree of system integration, the system may be incorporated into other systems currently used by the D.O.T.
1.6.2 Intended Uses
The initial use of the research is to prevent future accidents in road construction zones. The idea driving this project is the use of fresh minds to think of new ways to improve safety. The research performed in this project can also be used in the future for follow up as technology improves and other possibilities present themselves. Additionally, the findings may be used to educate drivers (in driver training, license renewal, brochures, etc.) of warnings and dangers associated with construction zones. The system may be used both locally in the RS-4 work zone, and as a precautionary measure before entering the work zone.
1.7Assumptions and Limitations
The following assumptions and limitations have been set for the project.
1.Initial Assumptions
As this project developed, the following assumptions were made:
a.The concepts will be tested in Iowa RS-4 work zones
b.Any devices used by the I.D.O.T. can be made available upon request for study
c.The effectiveness of the solution/product will be measurable (to some extent) in some definitive manner.
d.The cost of the product and its results are not necessarily related
e.Improvements on results are possible
f.Different types of construction requires different types of solutions
g.A comprehensive solution spans all recognized problems
2.Initial Limitations
Work will be done under the following limitations
a.Any design implemented must meet federal guidelines before use
b.The initial scope is limited to the RS-4 work zone
c.Cost-effectiveness is a significant factor
d.Solutions must work under both daytime and nighttime conditions
1.8Expected End Product and Other Deliverables
The following will be the results of the project.
1.Working devices for use in the a road construction zone
- Concepts and suggestions for modifying current techniques of traffic control
- Concepts and suggestions for public education of general construction zone dangers, and in particular the RS-4 work zone. .
- Complete project documentation
2Approach and Product Design Results
The following design sections lay out all of the alternatives that have been considered to date in the project. With the exception of Section 2.1, the alternatives for each section include what were pre-selected to be the top choices for the different parts within the road construction system. Each of the alternatives listed were evaluated based on a weighted matrix, more information on this can be found in Section 2.9. At the end of each section is the alternative that was found to be the best, based on the criteria used. Section 2.1 differs in that it is a collection of all the alternatives that aid the problem before drivers even enter the highway system (A matrix for evaluating these alternatives is still being formulated). See Appendix B for a complete decision grid listing all the original alternatives.