Pavement Surface Condition Research Articles

Surface Condition Expert System for Pavement Rehabilitation Planning

Pavement surface condition data play a pivotal role in the analysis and design of pavement rehabilitation strategies. In project design, this information is usually used by a limited number of pavement engineering specialists who apply experience and judgment to formulate design and investment decisions. The nature of this process resists computerization using conventional computer tools. The development of a knowledge-based expert system that is based on programming concepts from the field of artificial intelligence is described. The system is called SCEPTRE, and assists highway engineers in planning cost-effective flexible pavement rehabilitation strategies at the project level. The use of an expert-systems approach permits SCEPTRE to make its specialized body of knowledge accessible to a much broader range of potential engineering users.

Traffic Accident Study On Milwaukee Expressway

Correlations between traffic accidents and geometric design features of freeways are presented. On through lanes, visibility relationships with geometric features along the through lanes are important. Evaluation and revision of weaving section design is needed. A short S type reverse curve on through lanes is not desirable. A sharp compound curve on interchange ramp is liable to cause more fixed-object accidents than any other type of accident. Proper design of both vertical and horizontal alinements at the junction of through lanes and interchange ramps is important and needs to be reevaluated. Width, length, horizontal alignment, and vertical alignment of entrance and exit ramps are found to have some correlation mainly with sideswipe and rear-end collisions. Weather, pavement surface, and light conditions are related with accidents in varying degrees. Pavement surface condition appears to be a better measure of accident likelihood than weather conditions. In summary, by judicious design of geometric elements, it may be possible to reduce traffic accidents by a considerable proportion.