Zech, W C (2004) Enhancing work zone safety. PhD thesis, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA.
Abstract
A unique solution, priority time-scheduling of rehabilitation projects has been developed in order to minimize the adverse impacts imposed on a street network due to work zones. The goal of the proposed algorithm is to alleviate and minimize the effects of the following three adverse impacts: (i) Total Network Vehicle Travel Time (VTT), (ii) Cost of Comfort and Convenience (CCC), and (iii) the Accident Rate (AR). The proposed scheduling process utilizes GIS technology for storing and visualizing the necessary network data used in traffic assignment analysis, previous research on computing the adverse impacts on the network, and utility theory for combining the values of the adverse impacts, measured in different qualitative and quantitative units into one unit called utility so that the combined effects of the three quantitative variables can be used. A field study was designed and conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of active speed controls within work zones on reducing motorist's speeds. Three types of active speed controls (i) Variable Message Signs (VMSs), (ii) Rumble Strips, and (iii) Police Enforcement, were implemented within work zones and tested on New York State highways. An analysis of U.S. and New York State work zone injury data has also been conducted in order to identify the most hazardous accident types occurring within a work zone environment. The enhancement of work zone safety is essential due to the ever aging U.S. highway infrastructure in conjunction with annual increases in vehicle travel. With 2.8 trillion vehicle miles being traveled on U.S. highways in the year 2001 versus 1.8 trillion vehicle miles in 1980, the deterioration of the highway infrastructure is occurring at a faster rate than transportation agencies can maintain and repair. With continuing infrastructure deterioration, more work zones are necessary in order to maintain and improve the current infrastructure conditions and level of service. More work zones will increase the probability of safety conflicts between the construction crews within the work zones and the traveling public.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Mohan, S B |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | utility theory; injury; traffic; computing; conflicts; deterioration; rehabilitation; safety; scheduling; probability; highway |
| Index terms: | computing, repair, rehabilitation project, deterioration, field study, scheduling, injury, utility theory, New York, effectiveness, comfort, highway infrastructure, enforcement, level of service, transportation agency, street network |
| Subjects: | computing systems, operations research, material degradation and durability, civil engineering, performance management, research methods, maintenance engineering, performance measurement, urban design, Geography, health safety and environment, health conditions and diseases, occupational health and safety management, transportation engineering, economic theory |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Engineering Principles, Geographical Context, Quality Management, Business Strategy, Construction Materials, Research Practice, Time Control, Digital Applications, Urban Studies |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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