Work Zone Research from A to Z
With the increased emphasis on improving mobility and safety in work
zones nationwide, numerous transportation agencies and others are conducting
a range of work zone-related research activities. Now an easy-to-use
compendium developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) puts
this collected information at your fingertips. The compendium, which
is in Microsoft Access database format, contains information on work
zone research, development, and technology transfer projects.
Through interviews conducted with FHWA staff, literature reviews, Web
site searches, and attendance at research presentations, FHWA identified
332 recent and ongoing research projects (1997 to present). Each project
was documented and classified based on its applicability to different
phases of work zone activity (e.g., design, operations) and related
subject areas (e.g., worker safety, traffic management). The database
provides users with the capability to conduct keyword searches and generate
reports that include such details as:
- Basic project identifying information (including title, description,
performing agency, completion date, and point of contact)
- Format of available project information
- Relevant phases of work zone activity
- Related subject categories.
Analysis of information in the compendium shows that the largest portion
of the documented projects were related to work zone operations. Traffic
management was the most often cited related subject in the work zone
studies area.
As the number of work zone studies increases, so does the likelihood
of repeat studies. With the release of the compendium, FHWA hopes to
cut down on the number of redundant research efforts, thereby helping
transportation agencies and related researchers more effectively spend
their limited research budgets. "This is one tool that transportation
agencies can use to help maximize their overall efforts related to work
zones, and ultimately improve safety and mobility for travelers and
workers during construction and reconstruction efforts," says Jim
Sorenson of FHWA.
The compendium will be posted this month on FHWA's Work Zone Web site
at www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/.
To obtain a copy of the Compendium on CD-ROM, contact Marianna Rizzo
of FHWA at 202-366-9631 (email: marianna.rizzo@fhwa.dot.gov).
Other related tools available include FHWA's Work Zone Best Practices
Guidebook (http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/practices/practices.htm)
and QuickZone, a user-friendly tool to estimate and analyze delays in
work zones for both the planning and construction or operations phases
of projects. To obtain a copy of QuickZone, contact the McTrans Center
at the University of Florida, 352-392-0378 (fax: 352-392-6629; email:
mctrans@ce.ufl.edu; Web: mctrans.ce.ufl.edu).
For more information on QuickZone, see article in December 2001 Focus.
For more information on the compendium, contact Tracy Scriba at FHWA,
202-366-0855 (email: tracy.scriba@fhwa.dot.gov)
or Jim Sorenson at FHWA, 202-366-1333 (email: james.sorenson
@fhwa.dot.gov).
Back to top
..................................................
Articles in this issue:
Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems: A Winning
Idea
Boosting Roadway Safety with Rumble Strips
Preserving the Future of Pennsylvania Bridges
Work Zone Research from A to Z
Design Guide Offers New Look at Mitigating Highway
Rockfall Hazards
..................................................
