Other

21-1 Quality Review and Assessment of Pavement Condition Survey Vehicle Data Across New England

Project Objectives

Recent changes to the way states collect and report their network condition data to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has created a need for higher-quality calibration of state-owned or consultant-utilized data-collection equipment. Through Data Quality Management Plans (DQMPs) that have been developed by each state (mandated through 23 CFR 490) and approved by FHWA state Division Offices, there is a recurring need for quality measurements and subsequent high-level analysis of survey equipment. The survey equipment (such as profilometers, Laser Crack Measurement Systems, Pavement Friction Testers, Distance Measuring devices, and the like) must be calibrated and checked to ensure the quality of the data being produced meets minimum criteria. In addition, standard protocols for data collection, validation, verification, and other quality management processes must be administered, and strictly followed.

For the states in the New England that own and operate their own survey vehicles, it is critical to ensure that their data collection equipment and operations fulfill the requirements of their DQMP while not creating excessive work for agency officials. For the states outsourcing data-collection surveys, it is critical to ensure any quality management protocols used by the consultant align with both long-term agency needs and FHWA-approved state DQMPs.

Specific goals of this project:

Review northeast state Data Quality Management Plans for pavement condition data.
Summarize verification sites used in the northeast with potential for inter-agency sharing.
Develop recommendations for regional efficiencies in collection and analysis of QC/QA data for each of the participating transportation agencies.
Develop or adapt forms and macros as “Best Practices” recommendations to assist states with data reporting requirements for compliance with FHWA approved DQMPs.

Technical Committee Members

TC Chair, John Henault: Conencticut Department of Transportation
Anne Carter, Maine Department of Transportation
Jonathan Smith, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Eric Thibodeau, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
Deidre Nash, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
Paul Petsching, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
Reid Kiniry, Vermont Agency of Transportation

AC Liaison: Andrew Mroczkowski, Conencticut Department of Transportation

Project Coordinator, Maina Tran, CTC & Associates

20-4 New England Connected and Automated Vehicle Legal, Regulatory and Policy Assessment

Project Objectives

The objectives of this project are to:

Conduct a scan of similar efforts by national organizations such as AAMVA, AASHTO, TRB and industry groups to avoid duplication and to ensure other multi-state legal and regulatory issues are considered.
Delve deeper into the details of related areas (see list below) to identify specific laws and regulations that may currently impede testing and deployment or would support successful testing and deployment if they were consistent across the region.
Identify specific recommendations (such as definitions, statutory language recommendations, registration protocols, or liability standards) for consideration by the states for the highest priority legal and regulatory areas.

Technical Committee Members

TC Chair, Daniel Sullivan: Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Pete Calcaterra, Connecticut Department of Transportation
Kara Aguilar, Maine Department of Transportation
Kody McCarthy, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
Susan Klasen, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
Christos Xenophontos, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
Joe Segale, Vermont Agency of Transportation

AC Co-Liaison: Nicholas Zavolas, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
AC Co-Liaison: Emily Parkany, Vermont Agency of Transportation

Project Coordinator, Kirsten Seeber, CTC & Associates

20-3 Investigating Thermal Imaging Technologies and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to Improve Bridge Inspections

Project Objectives

The overall research objective is to focus on developing UAV-based inspection and analysis protocols using infrared (IR) thermal imaging to determine the existence and extent of concrete delamination, with emphasis on the underside of bridge decks. This objective will be realized by answering the specific questions:

Can IR technology be used effectively to identify concrete delaminations, especially on the underside of bridge decks where the concrete surface thermal differences may be only subtle due to very little exposure to direct sunlight. What type of thermal resolution is required? Sensor images will need to be “ground-truthed” with actual measured delaminations from tried and true methods. Also is there sensor equipment that can be used in handheld operation and attached to drones for flight operations.
What type of drone hardware, Camera Specifications, Camera Mountings and Testing Attachments would provide the most cost-effective benefit for each type of data capture? This question will be answered through surveys and test trials of different UAVs. For optimal information gathering, it is envisioned that several technologies will be concurrently employed, and a significant outcome of the work will be an assessment of the relative value and optimum combination of technologies. (e.g. drone and infrared imaging systems).
What data storage and retrieval systems and hardware are required for managing and easily re-using the potentially enormous volume of digitized information captured? Data storage and data transfer technologies make this a relatively simple problem. However, universal data sharing formats will need to be established early on.
What software is available or will require development to efficiently process the captured data for human inspection and evaluation? Many generic systems of machine learning (including computer vision) are available and as such it is relatively easy to develop and train prototype systems. Once prototypes are tested, they can be turned into application-specific codes with an interface appropriate for field use.

Technical Committee Members

TC Chair, John “Sam” Maxim: Maine Department of Transportation
Vitalij Staroverov, Connecticut Department of Transportation
Bruce Sylvia, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Nicholas Goulas, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
Colin Franco, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
Evan Robinson, Vermont Agency of Transportation

AC Liaison: Dale Peabody, Maine Department of Transportation

Project Coordinator, Maina Tran, CTC & Associates

20-2 Current Status of Transportation Data Analytics and A Pilot Case Study Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Project Objectives

The objectives of this research include: (1) reviewing the practices of all DOTs in the New England area and developing a comprehensive inventory of data, data needs, and data analysis practices related to traffic operations; (2) providing recommendations on how to better collect, reduce, achieve, and analyze the data to support DOT decision making and how DOTs should prepare for future transportation data collection and analytics considering emerging sensing and analytical technologies such as connected vehicles, loT, Machine Learning (ML) and AI; and (3) conducting a pilot case study of using AI techniques to automatically analyze specifically-identified operations data and perform a thorough evaluation of its capability to generate useful traffic operation and safety performance measures. This will demonstrate how advanced analytical techniques may extend the capability of traditional traffic sensors and produce additional useful information without expensive infrastructure investment.

Technical Committee Members

TC Chair, Susan Klasen: New Hampshire Department of Transportation
Ed Block, Connecticut Department of Transportation
Colby Fortier-Brown, Maine Department of Transportation
Chet Osborne, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Chris Falcos, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Sean Raymond, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
Tom Bushell, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
Ian Degutis, Vermont Agency of Transportation
Mandy White, Vermont Agency of Transportation

AC Liaison: Ann Scholz, New Hampshire Department of Transportation

Project Coordinator, Maina Tran, CTC & Associates

19-2 Multi-Scale Multi- Season Land-Based Erosion Modeling and Monitoring for Infrastructure Management

Project Objectives

The objective of this research project is to develop a slope stability model that will be used to create an effective multi-scale assessment toolkit that aids in monitoring, forecasting, and prioritizing areas of erosion and slope instability.

Technical Committee Members

TC Chair, Neil Olson: New Hampshire Department of Transportation
Sara Ghatee, Connecticut Department of Transportation
Kate Maguire, Maine Department of Transportation
Pete Connors, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Colin Franco, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
Callie Ewald, Vermont Agency of Transportation

AC Liaison, Ann Scholz, New Hampshire Department of Transportation

Project Coordinator, Maina Tran, CTC & Associates

18-4 Quick Response Project: 2019 ICNet Workshop

Project Objectives

Organize and run an ICNet workshop in spring 2019.
Identify research needs and develop a problem statement that NETC can address.
Develop a plan for sustaining the annual ICNet workshop in future years.

Technical Committee Members

Charles Hebson, Maine Department of Transportation
Elise Greenberg, Connecticut Department of Transportation
Katherine McArthur, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Steven Miller, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Ann Scholz, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
Julia Gold, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
Joe Segale, Vermont Agency of Transportation

AC Liaison, Ann Scholz, New Hampshire Department of Transportation