Statistical Analysis of Highway Needs Condition Data: Manual vs Automated

Project Details
STATUS

Completed

START DATE

03/01/03

END DATE

09/30/03

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, CTRE
SPONSORS

Iowa Highway Research Board

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Omar Smadi

Director, CTRE

About the research

This project examines similarities and differences between the automated condition data collected on and off county paved roads and the manual condition data collected by Iowa DOT staff in 2000 and 2001. Also, the researchers will provide staff support to the advisory committee in exploring other options to the highway need process.

The results show that the automated condition data can be used in a converted highway needs process with no major differences between the two methods. Even though the foundation rating difference was significant, the foundation rating weighting factor in HWYNEEDS is minimal and should not have a major impact.

In terms of RUTF formula based distribution, the results clearly show the superiority of the condition-based analysis compared to the non-condition based. That correlation can be further enhanced by adding more distress variables to the analysis.

 

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