Winter 1995
Vol. 59· No. 2

Congestion Control and Demand Management

by Sheldon G. Strickland and Wayne Berman

Road traffic congestion is a significant -- and growing -- problem in many parts of the world. Moreover, as congestion continues to increase, the conventional approach of "building more roads" doesn't always work for a variety of political, financial, and environmental reasons.

The Nuclear Asphalt Content Gauge

by Kevin N. Black

About 93 percent of the 3.4 million kilometers of paved roads in the United States are asphalt, and accurate monitoring of the asphalt cement content of these roads is important to ensure that the mix design-tolerance is met.

Interactive Highway Safety Design Model: Accident Predictive Module

by Harry Lum and Jerry A. Reagan

There have been a substantial numbers of efforts in the past to relate accidents with geometric features. These studies assumed there was a definable relationship between geometric design elements and traffic accidents. An excellent summary of the results of many of the accident studies has recently been published in a six-volume report.

The National AHS Consortium: A New Way of Doing Business

by Lyle Saxton

The selection of the National Automated Highway System Consortium (NAHSC) to develop, in partnership with the Department of Transportation (DOT), the prototype for an Automated Highway System (AHS) was a momentous occasion for two reasons.

TransFuture '94 and Transportation Into the Next Century

by Tommy Beatty

Thousands attended a special U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) three-day technology fair held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 7, 8, and 9, 1994. Showcasing the most exciting and innovative transportation technology, TransFuture '94 included more than 100 exhibits presented by each DOT agency and its industry partners.

Tunnel Fire: Testing to Evaluate Ventilation Systems

by Jesús Rohena

The very image of a fire in a tunnel -- people and vehicles helplessly trapped below ground while flames consume limited oxygen -- is a horrifying one. But it is the smoke and heat, not the fire itself, that are truly deadly. Fortunately, smoke and heat can be controlled by proper ventilation. In the past, designers have had to rely on theoretical analysis in designing highway tunnel ventilation systems.

Robotics in Highway Construction and Maintenance

by Dah-Cheng Woo

When the Office of Advanced Research was established in April 1992 at the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, robotics -- robot and automation technology -- was made one of the six key areas of research.

The Safety Challenge -- The National Capital Beltway

by Ilona Orban

The Capital Beltway Safety Team recently announced 13 actions to improve safety on the 101-kilometer highway that rings the nation's capital. The team conducted a press conference and publicly released the Capital Beltway Safety Update report Sept. 29, 1994, at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, Va.

Human Factors in Advanced Traffic Management Systems

by Nazemeh Sobhi

Today's traffic centers control traffic signals in a relatively low-tech environment. However, this situation is fast changing. The traffic management centers (TMCs) of the near future -- under the Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) component of the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) program -- will be sophisticated facilities with advanced tools and communication systems, manipulating and managing massive amounts of information.