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Posted: Sep 10 MPC research to calibrate the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) for local roadways in South Dakota will make the manual more useful for the South Dakota Department of Transportation as that agency works to improve highway safety. The calibrated manual will help SDDOT screen roadways to find problem areas for further safety review, compare safety design alternatives, evaluate site-specific safety issues and program and plan future safety projects.Posted: Sep 8 Several NDSU transportation and logistics graduate programs recently were designated as STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs, signaling to potential students and employers that graduates will be skilled in the latest technology and data science in their field.Posted: Aug 31 MPC researchers conducted a systematic study on the long-term cost effectiveness of various short-span concrete structures. The research will help state and local governments choose the most cost-effective options when replacing concrete structures on their road networks. Posted: Aug 7 University of Utah Transportation Engineering Ph.D. Student Zhiyan Yi recently received two honors from the Intermountain Section of the Institute of Traffic Engineers.Posted: Aug 5 MPC researcher Mahmet Ozbek recently received the Associated Schools of Construction Outstanding Educator Award. Ozbek is the interim department head for the Colorado State University Construction Management Program and was recently promoted to professor at CSU.Posted: Aug 4 Colorado State University Ph.D. student Abdelrahman Abdallah won second place in the Great Minds in Research award for his research topic at the Graduate Student Showcase in November.Posted: Jul 22 MPC researchers at Utah State University are finding ways to improve the flexibility of bridge decks made with GFRP. They tested decks containing steel reinforcement, GFRP reinforcement, and discrete GFRP-reinforcement combined with alkali-resistant fiberglass composite macrofibers.Posted: Jul 14 This study is being proposed to investigate the effects of commonly-used deicing agents on durability and performance of asphalt mixes exposed to those chemicals and freeze-thaw cycles. The outcomes of this study will help the transportation agencies and highway authorities to gain a clearer understanding of any possible negative effects of using deicers on pavement performance.Posted: Jul 9 This project proposes a modeling framework for the planning and evaluation of an infrastructure-enabled autonomous driving system.Posted: Jul 1 MPC research at the University of Utah shows that reinforced concrete bridge wall piers constructed using older codes can be retrofitted with carbon reinforced polymer rods or vertical CFRP anchors to increase stiffness, load carrying capacity, and hysteretic energy (as occurs in earthquakes) dissipation. The method can also be used to repair damaged bridge wall piers.Posted: Jun 25 This study analyzes the residual seismic capacity of grouted coupler pier connections that have been subjected to varying levels of vehicular impact. Both the damage level under impact and the resulting reduction in seismic capacity are evaluated to determine the reliability of such connections under a sequential multi-hazard loading scenario.Posted: Jun 24 Project results in the form of transportation planning and safety analysis tools—enhanced with the use of pedestrian signal data—are expected to help improve pedestrian safety by advising agencies about risk factors and potential countermeasures as well as advance pedestrian planning efforts to create more livable communities.Posted: Jun 19 The purpose of this proposed project is to evaluate the current public perception of the collection and potential uses of connected vehicle data by transportation agencies (federal, state, and local).Posted: Jun 5 In a recent webinar, MPC researcher Dr. Chris P. Pantelides shares the research findings of MPC-405 & MPC-491.Posted: May 28 Online mapping systems offer route guidance for travelers, but may also increase congestion as increasing volumes of traffic are routed to vital network corridors. Researchers at the University of Colorado Denver developed an enhanced approach with the objective of optimizing global road network utilization by selecting from a set of generally fair user route alternatives.Posted: May 22 This project proposes the integration of both visible and thermal images captured by visible & thermal dual camera and the use of deep learning to enable robust, accurate and automated detection of potholes to help prioritize highway maintenance.Posted: May 21 In the first testing of full-scale bridge girders constructed with calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement, MPC researchers at Utah State University determined that the performance of CSA cement could be predicted by current load and resistance factor design specifications. The research results indicate that bridge designers can use this type of cement for a more sustainable and possibly economical structure.Posted: May 20 The overall goal of this project is to develop guidelines for using a nonlinear UH framework that recently became available in the widely used modeling software HEC-HMS. Theoretical approaches will be developed to estimate two functions that are required to implement the UH method.Posted: May 14 In a recent webinar, MPC researcher Dr. Patrick Sherry, shares the research findings of MPC-409.Posted: May 12 The objectives of this project are to, first, study ways of grouping bridges (or other assets) to allow for multi-fidelity modeling of a group; second, apply multi-fidelity modeling techniques using existing data sources; and third, evaluate the efficacy of multi-fidelity modeling in the context of transportation asset management considering the accuracy of predictions and lifecycle cost implications.Posted: May 6 Chris Padilla has been named director of UGPTI's Transportation Learning Network (TLN). He had been serving as associate director. He replaces Tim Horner who recently retired. TLN is a partnership with the Departments of Transportation, Mountain Plains Consortium, and the ND Local Technical Assistance Program. Padilla will provide leadership to the network in setting program direction, cultivating partnerships and assuring the network's training offerings meet the needs of transportation agencies and professionals.Posted: Apr 30 In a recent webinar, MPC researcher Dr. Patrick Sherry, shares the research findings of MPC-532.Posted: Apr 28 This project aims to appropriately define various natural hazards and incidents, which may cause transportation disruption in urban and rural settings; as well as, develop a general method to model the caused disruptions on transportation system, particularly roads and bridges, due to full or partial blockage.Posted: Apr 24 The Mountain-Plains Consortium has approved more than 20 research projects at its seven collaborating universities so far in 2020.Posted: Apr 23 Marv Halling, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Utah State University and longtime MPC collaborator and principle investigator has been named MPC director for USU. He currently serves as head of the department's Structures Division. As director, he will coordinate USU's participation in the eight-university consortium and will serve as liaison to MPC's lead university, North Dakota State University. Halling replaces Paul Barr who was recently named vice provost at USU. Barr served as MPC director at USU for more than eight years.Posted: Apr 23 In this study, we propose to develop two analytical tools based on deep learning models for enhanced bridge management. Our proposed tools will address the problems of bridge subtyping, and bridge deterioration forecasting.Posted: Apr 21 Dr. Patrick Sherry, Professor at the University of Denver, will lead an upcoming webinar presentation based upon Mountain Plains Consortium Research Project 409 – Identification of Fatigue Countermeasures for the Short Line Railroad Industry. Posted: Apr 17 This research will examine the use of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology to measure urban streetscapes. LiDAR is a highly precise remote sensing technology that uses light pulses to measure distances to objects.Posted: Apr 13 The proposed research aims to investigate the ramifications of multi-hazard loadings on the performance of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP)-strengthened and -reinforced concrete members. Posted: Apr 9 Do you know someone who's contribution to the transportation industry has put North Dakota and the region on the fast track? Do you know someone who has been a leader, a builder, a facilitator, a planner, or a visionary working on behalf of transportation? Please introduce them to us. That individual may deserve one of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute's annual awards.Posted: Apr 8 The goal of this research work is to study the use of currently available low-cost sensors such as GPS, gyroscopes, accelerometer, noise recorders, and cellphones to automate inspection of roadway pavement conditions. The outcome of this research work is expected to reduce inspection cost and enable the capability of generating more frequent maps of roadway pavement conditions.Posted: Mar 26 This research will document the early performance of selected asphalt pavements in the state of Utah and correlate their performance to the Flexibility Index (FI) values obtained in the lab.Posted: Mar 25 The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has implemented a Variable Speed Limit (VSL) zone on a section of I-80 using regulatory hybrid Changeable Message Signs (CMSs). By collecting historical crash locations in the VSL zones, our research team will further discuss how the new CMS can help to prevent crashes in various geometric design scenarios.Posted: Mar 18 Researchers at North Dakota State University's Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute developed a new modeling approach to more accurately predict the likelihood of accidents at highway-rail grade crossings, locations where a highway and railroad cross at the same elevation. The approach performs well with far fewer false positive estimates compared to decision tree model and can help agencies allocate safety resources to where they can do the most good.Posted: Mar 17 The objective of this project is to investigate alternative methods for constructing bridge columns in high seismic regions using longitudinal Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars and GFRP spirals; in addition, self-centering in terms of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) post-tensioning of bridge columns and damage-resistant end joints as rocking devices will be utilized.Posted: Mar 13 In a recent webinar, MPC researcher Dr. Ziqi Song focused on the application of airborne data collection methods in updating highway inventory.Posted: Mar 12 The University of Utah and the Utah Department of Transportation hosted a seminar, "Control of Connected Autonomous Vehicles in Mixed Traffic: Modeling, Data Analysis and Field Experiments," at the UDOT Traffic Operation Center on January 28. The seminar was designed to facilitate collaboration between the connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technology researchers at the University of Utah and UDOT, and also explore the possibility of demonstrating CAVs in the state of Utah. Posted: Mar 12 The objective of this project is to estimate the effect of the combined AV-MaaS technology, as a first mile-last mile mode, on future transit ridership and, as a consequence, on VMT.Posted: Mar 11 In this project, both small and large-scale laboratory one-dimensional loading and wetting-induced settlement tests will be performed on ten selected embankment materials. Results from these tests will be analyzed, and those materials which have significant potential for loading or wetting-induced settlement will be identified.Posted: Mar 4 Staff and students from MPC universities attended and presented at the annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) in Washington, D.C., Jan 12-16. Topics included, pavement management, railroad, crossing safety, evaluation of sign retroreflectivity, bridge rehabilitation, bicycling and traffic safety, autonomous vehicles and others.Posted: Feb 26 NDSU researchers used innovative modeling techniques to examine the public policy implications of proposed technologies for reducing truck fuel consumption and cutting operating costs.Posted: Feb 20 Reminder that applications for scholarships are due by March 1. Each year, UGPTI awards scholarships to encourage students to pursue careers in transportation and to recognize outstanding achievement.Posted: Feb 19 The proposed project will build on previous research to demonstrate the accuracy of a measure of fatigue and alertness in the transportation industry and hopefully lead to a reduction in accidents and injuries.Posted: Jan 30 North Dakota State University transportation and logistics Ph.D. students Ihsan Khan and Yun Zhou have been named 2020 Traffic Safety Scholars. The award includes a $1,000 scholarship to attend the 38th annual Lifesavers National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities, March 14-17, in Tampa, Florida. Posted: Jan 28 Farnoush Banaei-Kashani and Robert Fitzgerald
The objective of this research is to optimize global road network utilization (as measured by mobility, global emissions etc.) by selecting from a set of generally fair user route alternatives in a batch setting.Posted: Jan 28 Each year, UGPTI awards scholarships to encourage students to pursue careers in transportation and to recognize outstanding achievement. Applications are due March 1.Posted: Jan 22 Pedro Romero, Shuangli Bao, and Daniel Sudbury
Fourteen Thin Lift Treatments (TLTs) in Utah's Department of Transportation (UDOT) Region 2 were evaluated over a five-year period in order to assess their performance. Posted: Jan 16 Marwan Hafez, Promothes Saha, Waleed Aleadelat, and Khaled Ksaibati
This study investigates a few issues with the pavement management of Wyoming's county roads by developing exclusive PSI pavement prediction models to be more representative for these county roads.Posted: Jan 15 Congratulations to Vanessa McEntee who was named MPC Student of the Year. She was recognized at the Council of University Transportation Centers annual banquet at the opening of this week’s Transportation Research Board meetings in Washington, D.C. Posted: Jan 10 Pedro Romero
An evaluation of the ability of the BBR (Bending Beam Rheometer) as a test to determine changes in the low temperature properties of asphalt mixture parameters was conducted, along with the possible implications of adopting this test for low temperature pavement performance.Posted: Jan 2 Juan C. Medina, M. Scott Shea, and Nuzhat Azra
This study evaluated the approach-level safety performance of left-turn phases at signalized intersections, including permissive, protected-permissive (PPLT), protected indications, and flashing yellow arrow (FYA). Posted: Dec 23, 2019 David M. Sanbonmatsu and David L. Strayer
Studies of self-regulation suggest that monitoring is essential for task performance and the attainment of goals. Research was conducted to investigate factors affecting the monitoring of driving and driving safety. Posted: Dec 18, 2019 Yail Jimmy Kim
This report presents a research program studying the grooved bonding schemes of composite sheets (carbon fiber reinforced polymer, CFRP) for rehabilitating concrete members.Posted: Dec 13, 2019 Nicole Peterson and Rhonda Young
The objective of this report is to utilize current design guides to develop a resource focused on rural communities to aid in making design decisions about transportation facilities that address livability and provide for non-motorized modes.Posted: Dec 5, 2019 In a recent webinar, MPC researcher Milhan Moomen focused on the need to update the GSRS, a system that recommends safe descent speeds for trucks on steep downgrades.Posted: Nov 27, 2019 MPC researcher Dr. Mostafa Tazarv discusses research on how alternative precast concrete and other type bridge systems may prove to provide potential options for local governments when making a bridge type selection based on performance and cost.Posted: Nov 19, 2019 Vanessa McEntee is an engineer with Reaveley Engineers in Salt Lake City, UT, where she designs and retrofits commercial buildings, airports and hospitals. She is also continuing work on her master's degree in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Utah, expecting to graduate in May 2020.Posted: Nov 18, 2019 MPC researcher Dr. Amanda Bordelon discusses research with experimental tests to determine the hardened properties of fiber-reinforced concrete.Posted: Nov 8, 2019 Debbie S. Shinstine, Khaled Ksaibati, and Dennis Trusty
Tribal communities recognize the need to improve roadway safety. A five-step methodology has been developed by the Wyoming Technology Transfer Center (WYT2/LTAP) to improve roadway safety on Indian reservations.Posted: Oct 30, 2019 Debbie S. Shinstine, Khaled Ksaibati, and Dennis Trusty
Tribal communities recognize the need to improve roadway safety. A five-step methodology has been developed by the Wyoming Technology Transfer Center (WYT2/LTAP) to improve roadway safety on Indian reservations.Posted: Oct 29, 2019 Dr. Amanda Bordelon, Assistant Professor at Utah Valley University, will lead an upcoming webinar on fiber-reinforced concrete and how it has been used for concrete pavement overlays.Posted: Oct 18, 2019 Debbie S. Shinstine, Khaled Ksaibati, and Dennis Trusty
Tribal communities recognize the need to improve roadway safety. A five-step methodology has been developed by the Wyoming Technology Transfer Center (WYT2/LTAP) to improve roadway safety on Indian reservations.Posted: Oct 14, 2019 Mohammed Okok and Khaled Ksaibati
This study is part of a multiple year study conducted at the University of Wyoming to assess the effectiveness of dust suppressant treatments on gravel roads. The multiple year study was conducted to assist the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration optimize the use of the congestion mitigation and air quality (CMAQ) funds.Posted: Oct 11, 2019 Lucas Bohn, Mostafa Tazarv, and Nadim Wehbe
Precast prestressed double-tee girders are common on county bridges in South Dakota because of the ease of construction, short construction time, and low cost. The present study was conducted to develop, construct, and evaluate rehabilitation methods for this type of bridge.Posted: Oct 3, 2019 Milan Zlatkovic, Khaled Ksaibati, and Muhammad Tahmidul Haq
The presence of heavy vehicles reduces the capacity of freeway segments, with the reduction being more significant along specific grades. This study focuses on the benefits of climbing lanes on operations and safety of freeway truck traffic.Posted: Oct 1, 2019 Sandeep Thapa and Rhonda Young
The objectives of this study was to address the relationship and the impacts of adverse weather conditions on speed selection behavior. In addition, how the change in speed behavior during winter storm will affect microscopic behavior; headways and spacing.
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