Development for Transportation Asset Management Inventory & Management Tools


Download Final Report

CAIT project no.: CAIT-UTC-002

Fiscal Year: 2011/2012

Status: Final

Rutgers-CAIT Author(s): Kevin Heaslip, Utah State University, Patrick Szary, Ph.D.

External Author(s): Abdul Wakil

Sponsor(s): Utah Department of Transportation, FHWA - RITA

Summary:

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is concerned with maintaining a minimum level of retroreflectivity on traffic signs under both federal and state jurisdictions. New retroreflectivity standards have been enacted by the FHWA that mandate all transportation agencies “must establish and implement a sign management or management method to maintain minimum levels of sign retroreflectivity”. Requirements for regulatory and warning signs have been extended pending a new rule from FHWA. Non-compliance with these new retroreflectivity requirements will leave transportation agencies vulnerable to lawsuits. Many agencies are now realizing the challenges of establishing and maintaining a sign management program. This project will develop mobile applications for the inventory of UDOT’s signs that will integrate with the Operations Management System (OMS).  In addition, Utah State University will develop management algorithms that will provide UDOT with guidance on enhanced replacement techniques for sign assets in the field.  These algorithms will allow UDOT to implement a sign management routine that is data driven instead of a blanket replacement strategy.  The approach will lead to an active management of their assets on the roadway which will turn their static database into one that is dynamic.