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Ty A. Lasky - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Enhancement and Technical Support of Intelligent Roadway Information System (IRIS) in Caltrans Districts 1, 2, 5 and 10
2014Co-Authors: Travis Swanston, Kin S Yen, Bahram Ravani, Ty A. LaskyAbstract:This research presents an overview of the design and function of the Intelligent Roadway Information System (IRIS). IRIS provides Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) capabilities to the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) rural Districts 1, 2, 5, and 10. Most ATMS programs are not suited to rural areas and IRIS presents a low-cost alternative that provides significant operational capabilities to rural districts. IRIS was developed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Caltrans has submitted functional enhancements to be integrated into the official code. Full deployment to each rural district has been successful with a reduction in the number of traffic management software applications and servers in those districts.
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Research Planning for Caltrans Emergency Maintenance Response
2011Co-Authors: Kin S Yen, Bahram Ravani, Ty A. LaskyAbstract:As part of the state's emergency management system, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is responsible for managing its rapid response forces and maintaining the safety of its personnel, equipment and the public and will need to use all available technology to carry out those responsibilities. This report outlines requirements for a research prototype system for an emergency maintenance response communications system in California. Winter maintenance is used as a scenario for developing the prototype system. Technologies to be employed include data over cellular networks, GPS in smartphones, data over other existing Caltrans channels, wi-fi, deployable rural research technologies, and commodity open-source software and collaboration methodologies.
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Benefits and Costs from the Caltrans IRIS Open Traffic Management System Demonstration Study
2010Co-Authors: Michael T. Darter, Ty A. Lasky, Bahram RavaniAbstract:Providing a well-managed transportation infrastructure is an essential function of a public transportation agency. Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) applications such as Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) improve safety and fuel efficiency, and reduce congestion. However, the software life-cycle costs of these systems often place them beyond the reach of small and medium-sized agencies. This paper discusses the results of the first implementation of the Intelligent Roadway Information System (IRIS) open ATMS outside of Minnesota. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) IRIS demonstration study implemented IRIS within a midsized urban/rural Caltrans district and two rural districts that otherwise could not afford an ATMS. Results show dramatic cost savings compared with an existing proprietary ATMS system, increased capabilities and reliability, and a number of secondary benefits derived from this multi-agency collaborative approach.
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identifying excessive vehicle idling and opportunities for off road fuel tax credits for stationary operations in the Caltrans fleet phase 1
2009Co-Authors: Kin S Yen, Bahram Ravani, Travis Swanston, Vic Reveles, Ty A. LaskyAbstract:The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) investigated vehicle idling within its fleet. The project aimed to identify: baseline idling statistics for a selected set of test vehicles; excessive idling situations; stationary idling during work activities; and approximate fuel use under the various usage categories. A commercial automated vehicle location (AVL) system was used in each vehicle for GPS-based location, data sensing, and communications. A diverse fleet of 30 Caltrans vehicles was equipped with instruments to support extensive field data collection over at least a year. Based on the quantitative data and analysis, the report provides recommendations for improvement in equipment and procedures such as the installation of idle shutdown systems to reduce idle time and fuel consumption.
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Accelerated Project Delivery: Case Studies and Field Use of 3D Terrestrial Laser Scanning in Caltrans Projects: Phase II – Additional Training and Materials
2009Co-Authors: Kin S Yen, Kevin Akin, Bahram Ravani, Ty A. LaskyAbstract:This report documents the AHMCT research project “Accelerated Project Delivery: Case Studies and Field Use of 3D Terrestrial Laser Scanning in Caltrans Projects: Phase II – Additional Training and Materials.” This work continued AHMCT’s Phase I efforts [8]. The report body provides motivation and background information for fixed 3D terrestrial laser scanning, along with the details for Caltrans District training and deployment. The report appendices provide in-depth material suitable for use in future Caltrans training, deployment, and ongoing use of 3D laser scanning, including: planning and scanning field work, point cloud registration, point cloud post-processing, scanner setup and troubleshooting, and an equipment packing list.
Skabardonis Alex - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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California’s Freeway Service Patrol Program:Management Information System Annual Report Fiscal Year 2018-19
eScholarship University of California, 2020Co-Authors: Mauch Michael, Skabardonis AlexAbstract:The Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) is an incident management program implemented by Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol and local partner agencies to quickly detect and assist disabled vehicles and reduce non-recurring congestion along the freeway during peak commute hours. The first FSP program was piloted in Los Angeles, and was later expanded to other regions by state legislation in 1991. As of June 2018, there were fourteen participating FSP Programs operating in California, deploying 328 tow trucks and covering over 1,823 (centerline) miles of congested California freeways. The purpose of this research project was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Caltrans FSP program in reducing incident durations and removal of other obstructions that directly contribute to freeway congestion for Caltrans fiscal year 2018-2019. The project provides valuable information to agencies managing the FSP program so that resources are distributed within the various statewide FSP operations in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible. The tools used and the operational performance measures provided by this research effort will significantly contribute on the ongoing agencies’ efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the FSP program
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Improving the Traffic Census and Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) Programs
eScholarship University of California, 2020Co-Authors: Mauch Michael, Skabardonis AlexAbstract:The objective of this research study was to support the Traffic Census and Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) Programs in identifying locations for motorized traffic data collection on public roads in California. The study analyzed the traffic census count locations for each District to determine at which Census count locations the automated and continuously collected Caltrans Performance Measurement System (PeMS) data could be used in lieu of manual traffic counts. Next, this research identified and evaluated count locations for motorized traffic data collection on non-State Highway System Routes to help meet Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requirements for the Caltrans Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) program. Lastly, this research reviewed and summarized the emerging traffic data collection technologies and data sources appropriate for Caltrans HPMS and/or Census reporting purposes.
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California’s Freeway Service Patrol Program: Management Information System Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017-18
eScholarship University of California, 2019Co-Authors: Mauch Michael, Skabardonis AlexAbstract:16. Abstract The Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) is an incident management program implemented by Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol and local partner agencies to quickly detect and assist disabled vehicles and reduce non-recurring congestion along the freeway during peak commute hours. The first FSP program was piloted in Los Angeles, and was later expanded to other regions by state legislation in 1991. As of June 2018, there were fourteen participating FSP Programs operating in California, deploying 318 tow trucks and covering over 1,725 (center-line) miles of congested California freeways. The purpose of this research project was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Caltrans FSP program in reducing incident durations and removal of other obstructions that directly contribute to freeway congestion for Caltrans fiscal year 2017-2018. The project provides valuable information to agencies managing the FSP program so that resources are distributed within the various statewide FSP operations in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible. The tools used and the operational performance measures provided by this research effort will significantly contribute on the ongoing agencies’ efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the FSP program
Richard Haller - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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CHARACTERISTICS OF STORM-WATER RUNOFF FROM HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION SITES IN CALIFORNIA
Transportation Research Record, 2001Co-Authors: Masoud Kayhanian, Kevin Murphy, Louis C. Regenmorter, Richard HallerAbstract:Fifteen highway construction sites were monitored by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to assess the water quality of storm-water runoff from the sites. Caltrans conducted a study to generate sufficient water quality data to further develop management strategies and evaluate existing best management practices. A wide range of construction sites was selected for monitoring throughout the state. Both flow-paced composite and single-grab samples were collected and analyzed at these sites for a total of 72 station-storm events during the 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 wet seasons. Results obtained during the 2-year characterization study indicate the following: (a) Caltrans construction-site runoff constituent concentrations detected during this study are less than typical Caltrans and non-Caltrans highway runoff constituent concentrations, with the exception of total chromium, total nickel, total phosphorus, total suspended solids (TSS), and turbidity. (b) The concentrations of TSS and turbidit...
Mauch Michael - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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California’s Freeway Service Patrol Program:Management Information System Annual Report Fiscal Year 2018-19
eScholarship University of California, 2020Co-Authors: Mauch Michael, Skabardonis AlexAbstract:The Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) is an incident management program implemented by Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol and local partner agencies to quickly detect and assist disabled vehicles and reduce non-recurring congestion along the freeway during peak commute hours. The first FSP program was piloted in Los Angeles, and was later expanded to other regions by state legislation in 1991. As of June 2018, there were fourteen participating FSP Programs operating in California, deploying 328 tow trucks and covering over 1,823 (centerline) miles of congested California freeways. The purpose of this research project was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Caltrans FSP program in reducing incident durations and removal of other obstructions that directly contribute to freeway congestion for Caltrans fiscal year 2018-2019. The project provides valuable information to agencies managing the FSP program so that resources are distributed within the various statewide FSP operations in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible. The tools used and the operational performance measures provided by this research effort will significantly contribute on the ongoing agencies’ efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the FSP program
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Improving the Traffic Census and Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) Programs
eScholarship University of California, 2020Co-Authors: Mauch Michael, Skabardonis AlexAbstract:The objective of this research study was to support the Traffic Census and Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) Programs in identifying locations for motorized traffic data collection on public roads in California. The study analyzed the traffic census count locations for each District to determine at which Census count locations the automated and continuously collected Caltrans Performance Measurement System (PeMS) data could be used in lieu of manual traffic counts. Next, this research identified and evaluated count locations for motorized traffic data collection on non-State Highway System Routes to help meet Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requirements for the Caltrans Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) program. Lastly, this research reviewed and summarized the emerging traffic data collection technologies and data sources appropriate for Caltrans HPMS and/or Census reporting purposes.
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California’s Freeway Service Patrol Program: Management Information System Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017-18
eScholarship University of California, 2019Co-Authors: Mauch Michael, Skabardonis AlexAbstract:16. Abstract The Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) is an incident management program implemented by Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol and local partner agencies to quickly detect and assist disabled vehicles and reduce non-recurring congestion along the freeway during peak commute hours. The first FSP program was piloted in Los Angeles, and was later expanded to other regions by state legislation in 1991. As of June 2018, there were fourteen participating FSP Programs operating in California, deploying 318 tow trucks and covering over 1,725 (center-line) miles of congested California freeways. The purpose of this research project was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Caltrans FSP program in reducing incident durations and removal of other obstructions that directly contribute to freeway congestion for Caltrans fiscal year 2017-2018. The project provides valuable information to agencies managing the FSP program so that resources are distributed within the various statewide FSP operations in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible. The tools used and the operational performance measures provided by this research effort will significantly contribute on the ongoing agencies’ efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the FSP program
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Meeting SB1 Transportation Systems Performance Goals
eScholarship University of California, 2018Co-Authors: Mauch Michael, Mckeever Benjamin, Skabardonis AlexanderAbstract:This research project directly addresses the Caltrans policy question of “How to meet the SB 1 ten-year (2027) mandated preliminary performance outcomes for additional state highway investments?” More specifically, the study focuses on performance outcome number 4: “Not less than 90 percent of the transportation management system units in good condition”. As part of this project, the research team evaluated the Caltrans performance-based methodology to achieve the 90% performance goal in addition to completing a review of relevant reports from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), state departments of transportation, and Caltrans. The research team also conducted multiple meetings, phone calls and emails with Caltrans management. The research team found that the Caltrans Transportation Asset Management Plan, which governs its SB 1 implementation, follows FHWA guidance and published best asset management practices. Further, Caltrans has a solid asset management plan in place to meet the SB 1 target. The research team also provides several recommendations including but not limited to: 1) Caltrans should continue working on defining deterioration rates or models for transportation management systems (TMS), 2) state of being in “good condition” for TMS must be more clearly defined, 3) Caltrans should continue monitoring innovations in asset management, and 4) Caltrans should consider conducting more pilots of performance-based ITS maintenance
Steven A Velinsky - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Improved Deicing Methods for Snow and Ice Removal: Evaluation of the Epoke Sander/Spreader for Caltrans Operations
2015Co-Authors: Daniel B Chebot, Wilderich A. White, Steven A VelinskyAbstract:The California Department of Transportation's (Caltrans) fleet of sand and salt spreading machines utilizes dated technology to handle a task that is both material intensive and important from a traveler safety standpoint. This study involved an engineering assessment of the Epoke Sirius Combi 4900 spreader (Epoke), which is being considered as a replacement for the existing fleet of salt and sand spreading equipment. The Epoke spreader and a conventional Caltrans fleet V-Box spreader were tested side-by-side to assess the improvements from one generation of equipment to another. The results of this research were positive, and Caltrans is moving to update the fleet with more modern equipment such as the Epoke Sirius Combi 4900 spreader. Incorporating the Epoke into Caltrans' snowfighting efforts will add capabilities such as combined liquid and solid pre-wet spreading, improved metering and material placement, electronic data acquisition for usage rates, vehicle location, and more, and will, overall, modernize the Caltrans' winter maintenance fleet. Beneficiaries are motorists, with improved safety and mobility, the environment, with a reduction of applied salt and abrasives, and taxpayers, through reduced snowfighting costs associated with improved efficiency and material usage reduction.
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improved deicing methods for snow and ice removal evaluation of the epoke sander spreader for Caltrans operations
2015Co-Authors: Daniel B Chebot, Wilderich A. White, Steven A VelinskyAbstract:The California Department of Transportation's (Caltrans) fleet of sand and salt spreading machines utilizes dated technology to handle a task that is both material intensive and important from a traveler safety standpoint. This study involved an engineering assessment of the Epoke Sirius Combi 4900 spreader (Epoke), which is being considered as a replacement for the existing fleet of salt and sand spreading equipment. The Epoke spreader and a conventional Caltrans fleet V-Box spreader were tested side-by-side to assess the improvements from one generation of equipment to another. The results of this research were positive, and Caltrans is moving to update the fleet with more modern equipment such as the Epoke Sirius Combi 4900 spreader. Incorporating the Epoke into Caltrans' snowfighting efforts will add capabilities such as combined liquid and solid pre-wet spreading, improved metering and material placement, electronic data acquisition for usage rates, vehicle location, and more, and will, overall, modernize the Caltrans' winter maintenance fleet. Beneficiaries are motorists, with improved safety and mobility, the environment, with a reduction of applied salt and abrasives, and taxpayers, through reduced snowfighting costs associated with improved efficiency and material usage reduction.
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Deployment Support and Caltrans’ Implementation of the Sealzall Machine
2014Co-Authors: Duane A Bennett, Steven A VelinskyAbstract:The Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology (AHMCT) Research Center, in partnership with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) have successfully completed a multi-year research effort to develop the Sealzall prototype high production crack sealing machine. The goal of the project was to provide Caltrans maintenance with original equipment, which could dramatically increase highway sealing production rates as well as radically improving worker safety on the highway. The Sealzall prototype has succcessfully completed a one year field trial operated by Caltrans' District 11 maintenance crews sealing longitudinal pavement cracks on various highways, across a wide range of environments district wide. The Sealzall sealant kettle heat-up and sealing systems are fully automated and can be monitored and controlled from inside the truck's cab. The longitudinal sealing operation requires only a single operator who controls the entire sealing operation while driving the truck at a continous 2-5 mph in a moving lane closure. Caltrans workers are not on foot or exposed to direct highway traffic while on the highway. Using the Sealzall, Caltrans has consistently sealed 5-8 linear miles of edge joints a day, and the Sealzall machine can be utilized to yield up to $4.0 million dollars in cost savings annually as described in the Sealzall cost benefit analysis contained in this report. The Sealzall machine can also be used to seal in-lane and random pavement cracks with a traditional manual sealing operation in a stationary lane closure. The current status of the Sealzall machine is described in detail in this report along with various potential strategies which could be utilized to further development of this equipment and continue deployment with Caltrans Maintenance crews.
