2013 Session: 495

• Dynamic Contracting: Asset Management Tool Controlling Infrastructure Maintenance Activities
  Abstract: Infrastructure road network is a complex system in a fast changing complicated environment and therefore subject to change. The changes refer to demands, requirements, regulations and financial possibilities as well as advanced technologies. Therefore outsourcing maintenance activities are rather difficult. In result, increasing complexity and changes severely affects the asset management strategies of transportation agencies and reduces their ability to control the maintenance activities. In this case, current traditional contracting based on fixed price lack the capability of dealing with changes to provide improved level of services. The main question is how to do outsourcing of the maintenance activities in this context. Implementation of effective and efficient delivery of services could be mentioned as the goal of agencies for their assets. This paper summarizes and explains the key challenges and preliminary findings with respect to performance parameters of changing circumstances within process of controlling the maintenance activities of managing the outsourcing in the Dutch road network system. A framework is introduced to describe the dynamic behavior of the network that enables to support goal controlled dynamic interaction of network assets and changing circumstances.
  Authors: Demirel, Hatice Cigdem; De Ridder, Hennes; Hertogh, Marcel
  Authors: Demirel, Hatice Cigdem; De Ridder, Hennes; Hertogh, Marcel
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-0362
• From Strategic Optimization to Tactical Plans: Coordinating Treatments of Road Infrastructure
  Abstract: Infrastructure management is well established around the world. However, its main use is for strategic planning, typically to figure it out levels of funding required to achieve and sustain target levels of service to end users. Translating strategic planning into tactical and operational planning has not been so widely explored. Often there is a disconnection between long term analysis and annual programs of works. This paper explores the mechanisms for translating results from integer programming optimization into tactical programs of works. Space and time criteria along with treatment compatibility, are used to re-allocate treatments to minimize disruptions to users by clustering together neighbor projects to happen at the same time. A corridor of 1km wide along route 1 in New Brunswick was used to illustrate the method. The strategic analysis consisted of 20 years of treatment allocation for pavements, chip-sealed roads and bridges. It was found that treatments for a tactical plan of 15 years were re-allocated into groups at years 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10. Clusters at years 2 and 3 were separated by a distance superior to the maximum space opening criteria specified and therefore were not clustered into one group. Coordinated program of works resulted in suboptimal plans affecting more largely chip-sealed roads (33% away from optimal) and then pavements (17% away), bridges remained less affected with values for total bridge condition much closer (9% away) to optimal uncoordinated values of such objective.
  Authors: Faghih-Imani, Ahmadreza; Amador-Jimenez, Luis
  Authors: Faghih-Imani, Ahmadreza; Amador-Jimenez, Luis
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-0632
• Addressing Homeless Encampments on Department of Transportation Land: Case of Oregon’s Baldock Rest Area
  Abstract: Homelessness is a widespread societal problem—the National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates that 636,071 persons were homeless in January 2011, of whom 243,701 were “unsheltered,” meaning that they lived on the streets or in other places not intended for human habitation (http://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/4362). Given the scale of the problem, it is not surprising that employees of state and local departments of transportation regularly interact with homeless individuals and households living on DOT rights-of-way and rest areas. Little research exists in the transportation literature on the scale and operational implications of homelessness for these agencies; no literature has addressed what might be considered “best practices” for addressing the problem. This paper presents a case study of the relocation of homeless households from the Baldock Rest Area near Wilsonville in metropolitan Portland, Oregon in 2010-11. Drawing from key informant interviews, archival materials, and two national surveys of DOT/rest area managers, the paper analyzes the approach used in the Baldock relocation, identifies the key actors and processes used to address the problem, and evaluates the outcomes for the public agencies and the homeless individuals themselves. We find that interagency collaboration and the utilization of both push (sanctions) and pulls (incentives) were critical to this successful relocation. Given the emphasis on environmental justice embodied in the Obama Administration’s renewal of Executive Order 12898 of 1997, we suggest that DOT maintenance managers, supervisors and engineers be proactive in adopting procedures and practices that effectively and humanely address homelessness on DOT property.
  Authors: Bassett, Ellen M.; Tremoulet, Andree
  Authors: Bassett, Ellen M.; Tremoulet, Andree
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-0782
• Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program Development for Pavement Assets Under Performance-Based Contracts
  Abstract: Over the last decade, there has been a movement in North America towards Performance Based Contract (PBC) model for maintaining and managing road networks. In traditional method-based contracts, the owner agency specifies techniques, materials, methods, quantities, along with the time period for the contract. In contrast, in PBC, the client agency specifies certain clearly defined minimum performance measures to be met or exceeded during the contract period. PBC is a type of contract in which payments are explicitly linked to the contractor successfully meeting or exceeding certain clearly defined minimum performance indicators. Therefore, the PBC model maintenance and rehabilitation selection differs significantly from that of traditional asset management contract and more complex due to the pavement deterioration process and probability of failure to achieve the specified Level of Service (LOS) for various performance measures along the contract period. This paper presents a novel framework for the selection of maintenance and rehabilitation activities using pavement performance prediction model and linear optimization. A case study using data from the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) second generation Pavement Management System (PMS2) is presented to illustrate the framework.
  Authors: Alyami, Zaid; Tighe, Susan Louise
  Authors: Alyami, Zaid; Tighe, Susan Louise
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-1725
• Particle Swarm Optimization-Based Model for Resource Allocation in Transportation Facility Maintenance
  Abstract: The road network preservation has become a prior work for Transportation Departments of China and a more accountable usage of limited budget and the funding levels available seems to be more and more important. Usually, in the field of transportation facility maintenance, the resource allocation of funds can not be accurate and scientific. A decision making method for transportation facility maintenance is proposed within the constraint of limited amount of conservation funds, thereby seeking the maximal social and economic benefits. This problem can be considered as a resource allocation optimization problem. The Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method has been proven to be successful for decision-making. The study aims at developing an efficient solution for solving a fund-constrained highway pavement maintenance problem, and thus to introduce the application of the PSO algorithm into the field of resource allocation optimization. And at last in the numerical test, the model achieved good results.
  Authors: Hu, Hao; Xu, Long; Zhang, Jie
  Authors: Hu, Hao; Xu, Long; Zhang, Jie
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-4270
• Estimating Maintenance Costs for State Highway Infrastructure
  Abstract: As the highway system in Nevada expands, resources need to be provided to maintain the system. In order to request maintenance funding from the State of Nevada, maintenance costs for labor, materials, equipment, and stockpile need to be estimated. Literature review indicates that most studies on pavement management have been on reconstruction and rehabilitation, but not on maintenance; this includes routine, corrective and preventive maintenance. This study developed linear regression models to estimate the total maintenance cost and component costs for labor, materials, equipment, and stockpile. The data used in the model development were extracted from the pavement and maintenance management systems of the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT). The life cycle maintenance strategies adopted by NDOT for five maintenance prioritization categories were used as the basis for developing the regression models of this study. These regression models are specified for each stage of life-cycle maintenance strategies. The models indicate that age, traffic flow, elevation, type of maintenance, maintenance schedule, life cycle stage, and the districts where maintenances were performed all are important factors that influence the magnitude of the costs. Because these models have embedded the road conditions into the life-cycle stage and type of maintenance performed, they can be easily integrated into existing pavement management systems for implementation.
  Authors: Teng, Hualiang; Yatheepan, Yathi V.; Sun, Quanxin; Liu, Rengkui
  Authors: Teng, Hualiang; Yatheepan, Yathi V.; Sun, Quanxin; Liu, Rengkui
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-4624
• Comparative Analysis of Current Performance-Based Maintenance Methods to Improve Virginia Highways
  Abstract: This research was completed in two phases; phase one involved a mini-scan study of the highway maintenance industry to identify the current state-of-practice in performance-based maintenance contracting (PBMC). Phase one identified agencies similar to VDOT who are using performance-based maintenance for highways. Phase two involved building and analyzing highway agency timelines to develop recommendations for VDOT’s next step in highway maintenance. The first part of phase two began with a VDOT evolution timeline inclusive of major Virginia procurement law milestones enabling VDOT’s performance-based maintenance program (PPTA 1996). Timelines were then constructed for four other major highway agencies identified during the mini-scan study. Evolution timelines were constructed for: Florida DOT, Main Roads of Western Australia, England’s Highways Agency and New Zealand Transport Agency. The four timelines were subsequently compared to VDOT uncovering similarities in maintenance contracting evolution. Connection links were based on similar procurement legislation and highway contracting milestones (i.e. 1st D-B or PBMC). Connections between VDOT’s history and each of the four agency timelines were rated on strength; mild, strong or very strong. The linkages served as the basis for projecting future recommendations for VDOT’s maintenance program. Five final VDOT recommendations are proposed based on timeline links and procurement laws in Virginia: Use performance-based contracting on secondary roads, use area-wide contracts to cover addition facilities, shift VDOT TAMS focus from lowest-cost to best-value similar to England’s MAC, devise a strategic network of highways to prioritize maintenance, use KPI’s in maintenance contracts to align Maintenance Division objectives with overall VDOT.
  Authors: Arcella, Joseph Louis; de la Garza, Jesus M.
  Authors: Arcella, Joseph Louis; de la Garza, Jesus M.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-4922
• Efficiency Measurement of Interstate Highway Pavement Maintenance Using Data Envelopment Analysis
  Abstract: Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method is used in this study to explore the development of an objective measurement of Interstate highway pavement maintenance efficiency of state DOTs by taking into account the effects of uncontrollable factors and scale efficiency. Regression models are established to guide the selection of input and output variables for the analysis. On the basis of different data availability of variables, the final output is considered to be the change in Present Serviceability Rating between two consecutive years, and the selected input variables include Interstate maintenance (3R) expenditures, weighted Interstate average daily traffic per lane, heavy-vehicle proportion, annual freeze-thaw cycles and annual average precipitation. DEA efficiency scores are presented for each decision making unit, i.e., each DOT. Reasons for the inefficiencies of some states are explained through studying respective input and output data. Further, the Malmquist Productivity Index model is proposed to calculate both the technical efficiency change (catch-up effect) and the technological change (frontier-shift) to account for individual agency level efficiency change and industry-wide productivity change respectively over the studied time periods. Scale efficiency is also calculated which is expected to decide on possible organizational restructuring. It is anticipated that this research will provide a simple but relatively more objective and comprehensive way of evaluating highway pavement maintenance efficiency.
  Authors: Zhang, Zhibo; Arman, Mohammad; Labi, Samuel
  Authors: Zhang, Zhibo; Arman, Mohammad; Labi, Samuel
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-5168
• Factors Potentially Influencing Productivity in Performance-Based Maintenance Contracts: International Study of Roads from Sweden
  Abstract: Measuring productivity of the maintenance contractors is extremely difficult and not practical under existing scenarios. It would be more advantageous to determine what factors potentially influence productivity of the maintenance contractors, especially with Performance-Based Maintenance Contracts (PBMC). Sweden commissioned this study to determine practices in progressive countries involved in PBMC and how productivity can be influenced. The objective was to determine what factors potentially influence the productivity of the maintenance contractors and what actions can clients (agencies) consider. Additionally, it was intended to find potential solutions and investigate better practices that affect or influence productivity.The study approach consisted of a literature review and semi-structured interviews in six different countries consisting of Sweden, Finland, The Netherlands, England, Ontario, Canada, and the Virginia Departments of Transportation, in the USA. Each country responded to questionnaires concerning productivity factors.The results show that no clients included in the study measure the contractor’s productivity in PBMC. Competition for maintenance services is the primary factor to influence productivity and by using a performance based approach in a hybrid-type PBMC. Other factors identified include a more balanced risk approach, longer term agreements, bundling services, optimized service area, and using as much performance requirements as possible. The study showed that productivity of the maintenance contractor’s is complex and difficult to assess, but can be influenced indirectly by various factors. Also, there are options that practitioners can possibly adapt to help improve the productivity and efficiency by seeking solutions elsewhere.
  Authors: Pakkala, Pekka
  Authors: Pakkala, Pekka
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-0844
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Long-Term Maintenance of Culverts
  Abstract: According to the American Society for Civil Engineers more than 1.6 trillion dollars are needed to update the nation's mostly aging infrastructure through various bonds and public funds. However, there was a significant dissatisfaction with the manner the last stimulus funds were spent. This is partially due to unavailability of rational methods to allocate precious resources. There are significant advances in health monitoring and rating of transportation infrastructure including culverts. However, rational connection of the transportation infrastructure to maintenance expenditure is lacking, especially the long-term maintenance expenditure. Any maintenance expenditure should be justified such that net increase in the asset value should be less than the cost of rehabilitation, where the net worth of an asset should be based on performance rather than on book value. Also the justification for rehabilitation or replacement of transportation infrastructure including culverts should occur only if user cost of failure is comparable to the rehabilitation or replacement cost. In order to perform such analysis, the user cost of failure should be incorporated into the above analysis and this analysis should be performed based on the available and accepted rehabilitation technologies. In this manuscript such analysis is performed to develop a methodology for optimum long-term allocation of funds to maintain culverts. This procedure may be used for other transportation infrastructure.
  Authors: Meegoda, Jay N.
  Authors: Meegoda, Jay N.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-2818
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Evaluation of Texas Condition Assessment Program and Recommendations for Improvement
  Abstract: The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) uses the Texas Condition Assessment Program (TxCAP) to measure and compare the overall road maintenance conditions among its 25 districts. TxCAP combines data from its three subsystems: the Pavement Management Information System (PMIS), which scores the condition of pavement; the Texas Maintenance Assessment Program (TxMAP), which evaluates roadside conditions; and the Texas Traffic Assessment Program (TxTAP), which assesses the condition of signs, work zones, railroad crossings, and other traffic elements. The scores for each of the subsystems are based on data of different sample sizes, accuracy, and levels of variations. Therefore, whether the use of the current TxCAP system is an effective and consistent means to measure the TxDOT roadway inventory conditions needs to be evaluated. Statistical analyses were carried out to evaluate the system from two aspects: 1) to determine whether the mechanism employed in TxCAP is effective in measuring the maintenance performance of 25 districts statistically, and 2) to determine whether the difference between the TxCAP scores for any two districts is statistically significant in terms of the insufficient sampling of the subsystems. A case study was carried out using sample data collected for the whole state from the year 2008 to 2010. The case study results show that the differences in scores between two districts are statistically significant for some of the districts and insignificant for some other districts. It is therefore recommended that TxDOT either compare the 25 districts by groups/tiers or increase the sample size of the data being collected if it wants to compare the districts as individual ones.
  Authors: Wu, Hui; Zhang, Zhanmin; Qazi, Abdus Shakur
  Authors: Wu, Hui; Zhang, Zhanmin; Qazi, Abdus Shakur
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-2850
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Public Opinions of Roadway Assets Using a New Method: The Roadway Review
  Abstract: In October 2011, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) conducted a “Roadway Review” with a randomly recruited sample of North Carolina residents and community leaders. Over 300 people from 61 different communities participated in the surveys which were held in six locations: Asheville, Charlotte, Burlington, Jonesville, Rocky Mount, and Wilmington. The purpose of the roadway review was two-fold: (1) to determine expectations for the condition of North Carolina highways and (2) to identify features that North Carolinians believe are most important on different types of highways. Surveys were completed during both daytime and nighttime hours and covered many roadway maintenance aspects such as pavement, landscaping/mowing practices, signage, retroreflectivity, and shoulders. Regression equations are also provided to predict the overall satisfaction of condition, safety, and appearance by each individual roadway type.
  Authors: Cunningham, Christopher M.; Chang, Jeffrey Chiaming; Findley, Daniel J.; Vaughan, Chris; Martin, James B.; Hekele, Aaron; Tatham, Chris
  Authors: Cunningham, Christopher M.; Chang, Jeffrey Chiaming; Findley, Daniel J.; Vaughan, Chris; Martin, James B.; Hekele, Aaron; Tatham, Chris
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-4644
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program Development for Pavement Assets Under Performance-Based Contracts
  Authors: Alyami, Zaid
  Authors: Alyami, Zaid
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-1725
• Long-Term Maintenance of Culverts
  Authors: Meegoda, Jay
  Authors: Meegoda, Jay
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-2818
• Evaluation of Texas Condition Assessment Program and Recommendations for Improvement
  Authors: Wu, Hui
  Authors: Wu, Hui
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-2850
• Efficiency Measurement of Interstate Highway Pavement Maintenance Using Data Envelopment Analysis
  Authors: Zhang, Zhibo
  Authors: Zhang, Zhibo
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-5168
• Dynamic Contracting: Asset Management Tool Controlling Infrastructure Maintenance Activities
  Authors: Demirel, Hatice
  Authors: Demirel, Hatice
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-0362
• From Strategic Optimization to Tactical Plans: Coordinating Treatments of Road Infrastructure
  Authors: Amador-Jimenez, Luis
  Authors: Amador-Jimenez, Luis
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-0632
• Addressing Homeless Encampments on Department of Transportation Land: Case of Oregon's Baldock Rest Area
  Authors: Bassett, Ellen
  Authors: Bassett, Ellen
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 495
  Paper Number: 13-0782