All posts by Lea Burdette

Publishing and Technology Coordinator | MnDOT Office of Research & Innovation
Policy and Planning, Research

Rural Needs, Statewide Answers Webinar: Living in the Middle of Everywhere

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Wednesday, August 28, 2024
noon–1:00 p.m. CDT

REGISTER

About the Event

The notion that rural residents live “in the middle of nowhere” perpetuates a negative narrative that is not based on the reality of community life. Modern life is complex, as we live, work, shop, and play in a wide region. At the same time, most of our planning is done at a city or county level.

In this webinar, rural sociologist Ben Winchester will discuss this dynamic and its implications for tourism, marketing, transportation planning, resident recruitment, and housing. He will also review an asset-based community development exercise that can help us better understand this web of regional activity as it varies by age and interest.

The webinar is being held as part of CTS’s Rural Needs, Statewide Answers: Improving Transportation for All Communities thematic focus in 2024. 

Speaker

Benjamin Winchester is a rural sociologist with the Department of Community Development at University of Minnesota Extension. Ben has been working both in and for small towns across the Midwest for over 25 years. He conducts applied research on economic, social, and demographic topics surrounding the theme of “rewriting the rural narrative.” He recently received the international Rural Renewal Research Prize in 2021 for this work. Ben lives in St. Cloud, Minnesota, with his wife and two children. 

Registration

This webinar is free to attend, but registration is required. Once you have registered, you will receive an email confirmation with a Zoom link. The link should not be shared with others; it is unique to you.

Please let us know how we can ensure that this webinar is inclusive to you. What accommodations or access needs can we help facilitate? Contact Samantha Hahn-Douville at snhahn@umn.edu when you register to help us provide you with the best access.

If you’re unable to join us for the live broadcast, a recording will be available on the CTS website after the event.

Questions?

Please contact Samantha Hahn-Douville at snhahn@umn.edu. 

Maintenance Operations, Research

New Clear Roads Research: Tools to Maximize Snowplowing Efforts

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Reprinted from Clear Roads News, July 3, 2024.

By better understanding the time it takes a snowplow to complete one round of snow clearing and treatment of its assigned route, agencies can better adjust routes and cost-effectively allocate resources for the specific needs of a given service area.

This Clear Roads project developed a methodology for calculating plow cycle times considering road type, road width, weather conditions, traffic volume, and other factors. By using the framework for a map-based visualization tool developed as part of this project, agencies can use their own data to make real-time operational decisions.

Download the final report and two-page brief: Calculating Plow Cycle Times from AVL Data, June 2024.

Research, Traffic and Safety

Augmented reality could make work zones safer—if the tech works for the workers

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From catching Pokémon in the park to viewing a new IKEA chair in your living room, augmented reality (AR) often seems fun and low stakes. But what if wearable AR technology—such as safety glasses—could deliver warnings to roadway workers when they’re in danger? It’s an exciting possibility that hinges on one key question: Would this type of system meet the needs of workers?

Continue reading Augmented reality could make work zones safer—if the tech works for the workers →
Maintenance Operations, Research

New Clear Roads Research: Identifying Environmentally Sensitive Roadways

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Chlorides are effective deicers but using them can have environmental consequences.  

A variety of factors, such as soil type, drainage, nearby waterways, and land use, can influence a roadside’s sensitivity to chlorides. By adjusting application rates or employing other strategies, agencies can lessen the harmful effects in locations where it’s needed most.   

To help agencies identify which highway segments are most sensitive, this Clear Roads project developed a geospatial tool that offers an analysis of environmental impacts that can be balanced against other safety and performance objectives.

Download the GIS tool, final report and two-page brief: Using GIS to Highlight Highway Segments Sensitive to Deicing Materials, June 2024.

Reprinted from Clear Roads Latest News, June 26, 2024

Materials and Construction, Research

PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Can be Reduced in Highway Construction and Maintenance Projects

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Taken from TRB Weekly – June 25, 2024

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of more than 6,000 contaminants of emerging concern that can harm both ecosystems and human health. These anthropogenic compounds contain carbon–fluorine bonds that make them stable and persistent in the environment, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals.”

Continue reading PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Can be Reduced in Highway Construction and Maintenance Projects →
Materials and Construction, Research

Development of Mix Designs and Matrix of Materials for MnROAD Low Carbon Concrete Test Site

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To address climate change mitigation goals, highway agencies are seeking alternative concrete paving mixtures that have a reduced embodied carbon content (ECC).

The research team first focused on developing a matrix of reduced ECC concrete mixtures to be tested at MnROAD. The 16 concrete mixtures selected for inclusion in the test matrix met minimum engineering requirements to ensure constructability and performance and were approved by MnDOT.

Between July 27 and August 9, 2023, 16 test cells were constructed at the MnROAD I-94 facility to evaluate reduced ECC concrete paving mixtures. The purpose of constructing these cells was to assess the in-service performance, environmental impact, and constructability of various alternative supplementary cementitious materials (ASCMs) that may reduce the embodied carbon content of concrete, while providing an opportunity to assess test results and in-service performance in coming years.

A preliminary environmental assessment showed that most mixtures were expected to have either a similar or lower ECC compared to the control mixture representative of typical MnDOT paving-grade concrete. Quality assurance testing conducted on field-cast specimens revealed generally acceptable results; most of the materials had similar performance compared to the control mixture, but the cells will continue to be monitored.

Environment, Freight and Railroads, Policy and Planning, Research

Will Hydrogen Be a Carbon-Neutral Fuel Alternative for Freight?

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Reprinted from CTS News, March 19, 2024
—Sophie Koch, contributing writer

Hydrogen is getting a lot of attention in recent years as a potential fuel source in the transportation sector. However, it is important to consider the pros, cons, and limitations of this molecule when deciding how to use it.

Continue reading Will Hydrogen Be a Carbon-Neutral Fuel Alternative for Freight? →
Environment, Policy and Planning, Research

Managing Stormwater in a Changing Climate Will Require Updates to Minnesota’s Infrastructure

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Reprinted from CTS News, March 21, 2024
—Sophie Koch, contributing writer

Changing precipitation patterns caused by the onset of climate change mean that Minnesota’s stormwater management systems—the ponds, pipes, and other structures meant to control runoff in the event of a heavy rainstorm—are going to need an upgrade. 

Continue reading Managing Stormwater in a Changing Climate Will Require Updates to Minnesota’s Infrastructure →