The National Road Research Alliance (NRRA) is hosting a virtual webinar, Evaluation of Levels 3-4 Intelligent Compaction Measurement Values (ICMV) for Soils Subgrade and Aggregate Subbase Compaction, on April 18 at 10 a.m. CST, presented by Ceren Aydin, Michigan State University, and Raul Velasquez, MnDOT.
Continue reading Research Pays Off: April Webinar on IC Soil Compaction MeasurementsThe National Road Research Alliance (NRRA) is hosting “Improving Field Moisture Monitoring of Recycled Bases” on February 21 at 10 a.m. CST, presented by Ceren Aydin, Michigan State University and Raul Velasquez, MnDOT.
Continue reading Research Pays Off Webinar Series: Improving Field Moisture Monitoring of Recycled BasesOne of the best ways to connect with communities about projects and events that affect them is to reach them where they already are – on social media. But whether you’re a social media newbie or a communications professional, there are always new trends, technology, and platforms to learn, and it can be overwhelming.
Continue reading 20 Tips to Up Your Social Media GameApplying a protective surface—or chip seal—to existing asphalt on relatively low-traffic roads is a pavement preservation method used by many transportation agencies. Yet despite its popularity, chip seals can cause various issues. Some agencies have found that applying a fog seal following a chip seal is a cost-effective strategy for improving asphalt performance and public satisfaction.
Continue reading Putting Research Into Practice: Fog Sealing Chip Sealed Roads Can Improve PerformanceAASHTO’s SICOP Talks Winter Ops podcast tackles a variety of topics about winter road maintenance in four recent podcasts. Listen to conversations with experts and practitioners who have real-life experience maintaining roads under snow and ice.
Continue reading Talking about Winter Road MaintenanceWhile cable median barriers have drastically reduced fatal and other serious crashes, the barrier’s distance from the road may impact its safety effectiveness. MnDOT has a new method to estimate the change in the frequency of crashes based on this distance, facilitating informed decisions about installing or moving cable median barriers.
Continue reading Effective Placement of High-Tension Cable Median BarriersThis article was originally posted on Catalyst, January 2023.
Wearable technology could improve work-zone safety, but are highway workers on board?
Despite ongoing safety efforts, highway maintenance and operations workers have dangerous jobs. According to the Federal Highway Administration, an average of 135 highway workers loses their lives each year because of traffic incursions and limited space for maneuvering. Wearable technology embedded in work gear offers the promise of preventing injuries and deaths—and is already being used successfully in other construction fields. The big question: Would highway workers accept this technology?
Continue reading Wearable technology for highway worker’s safetyThis article was originally posted on Catalyst, January 2023.
There’s been a lot of progress toward self-driving cars in recent years, but we still have a long way to go before the system runs like a well-oiled machine. Even with all the advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, automated vehicles (AVs) are still not well-equipped to handle crashes, bad weather, poor visibility, and other unexpected situations on the road.
Continue reading Paving the way for smarter and safer AVsThis article was originally posted on Catalyst, January 2023.
Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in both the US and the Twin Cities, and commuting trips are a major contributor to these emissions. To meet its emission-reduction mandates, Minnesota needs strategies to reduce auto trips—especially driver-only trips without passengers.
A recent U of M project aimed to leverage existing transportation infrastructure and systems to provide more flexible, multimodal transportation options for parking contract holders at Minneapolis’ ABC Ramps—thereby reducing the number of solo trips.
Continue reading Could an alternative to monthly parking contracts promote more sustainable mobility?Inadequately timed traffic signals at intersections are a major contributor to traffic congestion and increased travel times. Adaptive signal timing can detect and respond to real-time vehicle queues, resulting in more efficient vehicle movement through a corridor than traditional traffic signals. A revised max-pressure traffic signal controller could decrease delays and increase vehicle throughput at intersections.
Continue reading Investigating Max-Pressure Traffic Signal TimingThe Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Minnesota Local Road Research Board have funded 28 new research projects through their annual academic research solicitation. To receive updates on any of the funded projects, select “subscribe” on the project webpage.
Continue reading MnDOT and LRRB Award Funding to New Research
Crossroads 