Wasiq Ameen

Graduation Semester and Year

2020

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

Department

Civil Engineering

First Advisor

Mohsen Shahandashti

Second Advisor

Ali Abolmaali

Abstract

Despite precautions taken by the operators of maintenance vehicles, insufficient visibility of winter operations vehicles cause many collisions in the United States. Numerous methods have been developed to enhance the visibility of winter operations vehicles. Although the visibility of winter operations vehicles has enhanced through these methods, the consistency in the implementation of the methods for enhancing their visibility is critical to avoid collisions. The inconsistencies in the implementation of the methods confuse the public who are traveling in winter conditions when visibility is low. The confusion leads to a delay in perception time and response time of the drivers and eventually, leads to rear-end collisions with the winter operations vehicles. Although anecdotal evidence shows the inconsistency as a barrier to the successful implementation of visibility methods, the extent of the inconsistencies is not known. For safer winter operations, it is critical to investigate the differences, similarities, and challenges associated with the existing methods for enhancing the visibility of winter operations. The objective of this research is to investigate the differences, similarities, and challenges associated with these methods. A survey questionnaire was designed to accomplish this objective. The questionnaire was distributed among all the 50 states of the U.S. The survey questionnaire was also distributed among 25 Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) districts to sample the extent of such inconsistencies within a state. In this study, the current state of knowledge and practice are captured and integrated to present the striking dissimilarities within the methods for visibility of winter operations in various states in the U.S. Even within one state (i.e., Texas), considerable differences were identified. The study also shows that some states are utilizing successful methods of visibility, like elevated warning lights and heated lenses, which are not being used by other states. On the other hand, maintenance officials consistently face challenges regarding the cleaning of their vehicles after each winter operation, which delays the time between operations and uses additional manpower. The findings of this study would help transportation agencies implement consistent methods for enhancing the visibility of winter operations vehicles.

Keywords

Winter maintenance operations, Consistent practice, Methods of enhancing visibility, Winter weather

Disciplines

Civil and Environmental Engineering | Civil Engineering | Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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