New Research, PUBLIC ROADS On-Line (Winter 1994)

NEW RESEARCH

The following new research studies reported by the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Office of Research and Development are sponsored in whole or in part with federal highway funds. For further details on a particular study, please contact Bob Bryant, editor of Public Roads, (202) 493-3468.
NCP Category A -- Highway Safety
A.3: Highway Safety Information Management
Title: Evaluation of Exposure Data Sources for Highway Safety Issues
Objective: The objectives are to: (1) identify and prioritize the current highway safety issues and their exposure data needs, (2) identify and review the existing exposure data sources, emerging exposure data sources, and innovative approaches for acquiring the exposure data, and (3) analyze a high-priority safety issue using traditional and non-traditional exposure data sources in innovative ways and/or newly identified data sources.
Contractor:University of Michigan
Expected Completion Date: December 1995
Estimated Cost: $321,605
A.5: Highway Safety Design Practices and Criteria
Title: Vehicle Dynamics Programs for Roadway and Roadside Studies
Objective: The objective is to obtain research directed at (1) developing vehicle dynamics model(s) (VDM) best suited to the FHWA on-going research program on the safety of roadside design elements, and (2) developing an appropriate computing environment, including data bases and links to other programs, required to utilize the VDM(s) in solving these problems. Two contracts were let for this purpose. In this contract, a computer symbolic multibody program, AUTOSIM, will be used to incorporate features of other vehicle dynamics programs into the vehicle dynamics codes to be developed for FHWA applications.
Contractor:University of Michigan
Expected Completion Date: August 1995
Estimated Cost: $373,319
Title: Vehicle Dynamics Programs for Roadway and Roadside Studies: STI
Objective: Same as previous study. This is one of two contracts let to meet this objective. In this contract, VDANL, a program that has been extensively validated for level surface applications, will be revised to serve FHWA applications.
Contractor: Systems Technology Inc.
Expected Completion Date: June 1995
Estimated Cost: $313,790
A.6: Human Factors for Highway Safety
Title: Synthesis of Human Factors Research on Older Drivers and Highway Safety
Objective: This is a review of all the research results completed under the older driver high-priority area and an investigation of other relevant research findings. The results will be synthesized into a format appropriate for inclusion in a handbook for use by highway designers. The research report will also specify how the findings can used and what additional research is needed.
Contractor: Scientex
Expected Completion Date: September 1995
Estimated Cost: $282,723

NCP Category B -- Traffic Operations/Intelligent Vehicle-Highway Systems
B.3: Commercial Vehicle Operations
Title: Commercial Vehicle Fleet Management and Information Systems
Objective: The objective is to identify fleet management problems and needs that can be addressed through advanced technologies and that warrant public sector involvement. The feasibility of current and potential technologies to address fleet management needs will be assessed, and requirements will be developed as appropriate. Operations to be examined include: vehicle dispatch, routing, equipment tracking, driver scheduling, maintenance management, administration of interstate shipping, movement of urban goods, intermodal operations, and public services such as road maintenance, trash pickup, and fire and ambulance services.
Contractor: Cambridge Systematics
Expected Completion Date: June 1995
Estimated Cost: $405,461
B.4: Advanced Vehicle Control Systems
Title: Automated Highway System -- Health Management
Objective: This study is one of 15 parallel analyses that will provide DOT and others in the IVHS community with a realistic range and AHS configurations and a better understanding of AHS applications, technology, design, deployment, operations, and practicality. These studies, called AHS Precursor Systems Analyses, are each of one-year duration so that the results will be available during the process of defining and evaluating alternative system concepts.
Contractor: Honeywell
Expected Completion Date: October 1994
Estimated Cost: $891,993
Title: Lateral and Longitudinal Control Analyses
Objective: This is one of the Precursor Systems Analyses, and it will define and analyze AHS requirements for lateral and longitudinal maneuverability on the AHS roadway to ensure system safety and operational efficiency.
Contractor: SRI International
Expected Completion Date: November 1994
Estimated Cost: $228,878
Title: Lateral and Longitudinal Control Analyses
Objective: This is one of the Precursor Systems Analyses.
Contractor: Martin Marietta Corporation
Expected Completion Date:October 1994
Estimated Cost: $313,404
Title: Precursor Systems Analyses of Automated Highway Systems (A-P)
Objective: This is one of the Precursor Systems Analyses.
Contractor: Delco Electronics Corporation
Expected Completion Date:October 1994
Estimated Cost: $3,009,712
Title: Precursor Systems Analyses of AHS (L)
Objective: This study covers urban and rural AHS analysis, AHS roadway deployment analysis, AHS entry/exit implementation, and preliminary cost/benefit factors analysis.
Contractor:University of California
Expected Completion Date:October 1994
Estimated Cost: $942,783
Title: Precursor Systems Analyses of AHS (F&O)
Objective: This study covers commercial and transit AHS analysis, the institutional issues that affect the deployment and operation of AHS systems, and societal issues and risks faced by the AHS program.
Contractor: BDM Federal Inc.
Expected Completion Date: October 1994
Estimated Cost: $499,658
Title: Precursor Systems Analyses of AHS (F)
Objective: This study covers urban and rural AHS comparison, automated check-in, automated check-out, lateral and longitudinal control analysis, malfunction management and analysis, commercial and transit AHS analysis, comparable systems analysis, AHS roadway deployment analysis, impact of AHS on surrounding non-AHS roadways, AHS entry/exit implementation, AHS roadway systems impact, AHS safety issues, institutional and societal aspects, and preliminary cost/benefit factors analysis.
Contractor: Calspan Corporation
Expected Completion Date: November 1994
Estimated Cost: $3,054,137
Title: Precursor Systems Analysis of Automated Construction, Maintenance, and Operational Requirements for AHS
Objective: This study covers the identification and analysis of urban and rural AHS roadway operational issues and risks for each of the representative system configurations.
Contractor: University of California
Expected Completion Date: July 1994
Estimated Cost: $144,038
Title: Automated Highway Systems (J)
Objective: This is one of the Precursor Systems Analyses.
Contractor: Raytheon
Expected Completion Date: October 1994
Estimated Cost: $1,789,994
Title: Automated Check-In
Objective: This is one of the Precursor Systems Analyses. This study will identify and analyze the requirements associated with ensuring that a vehicle and its operator are qualified and safe for entry onto the AHS roadway. Issues and risks will be identified and analyzed, and the implications for each of the representative system configurations will be discussed.
Contractor: Northrop Corporation
Expected Completion Date: August 1994
Estimated Cost: $208,368
Title: Activities D, E, & L for Automated Highway Systems
Objective: This is one of the Precursor Systems Analyses. This study covers lateral and longitudinal control analysis, malfunction management and analysis, and vehicle operational analysis.
Contractor: Rockwell International
Expected Completion Date: October 1994
Estimated Cost: $623,451
B.8: IVHS Research Centers of Excellence
Title: IVHS Research Centers of Excellence
Objective: The objective is to develop internationally recognized, university-based research centers that will aggressively develop and implement activities that advance the state of the art in Intelligent Vehicle-Highway Systems. Three universities were awarded multiyear contracts for up to $1 million per year each to establish and operate the centers.
Contractor: Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, University of Michigan
Expected Completion Date: September 1997
Estimated Cost: $15,000,000
NCP Category E -- Materials and Operations

E.2: Cement and Concrete
Title: Fast Track Paving: Concrete Temperature Control and Traffic Opening Criteria for Bonded Concrete Overlays
Objective: This study will evaluate existing information on the control of concrete temperature during curing for portland cement concrete pavement construction and also on monitoring of bond and bond strength criteria for the opening to traffic of newly constructed bonded concrete overlays. The study will also develop guidelines in these two areas.
Contractor:Transtec Inc.
Expected Completion Date: March 1996
Estimated Cost: $498,712
NCP Category H -- R&D Management and Coordination

H.6: Other
Title: Ruggedness Testing in Accordance with ASTM Standard Practice C1067-87 on the SHRP Binder Specification Tests
Objective: This is a screening program that detects the sources of variation in a test method.
Contractor: Pennsylvania Transportation Institute
Expected Completion Date: March 1994
Estimated Cost: $22,000

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