June 1, 2017
Innovation of the Month:
Data-Driven Safety Analysis
The Every Day Counts (EDC) innovation of the month for June is data-driven safety analysis (DDSA), which uses the latest generation of software tools to analyze crash and roadway data to predict the safety impact of highway projects.
Using DDSA tools to quantify expected safety impacts enables transportation agencies to make more informed decisions, better target their investments, and reduce severe crashes on roadways.
After generating widespread interest among States during EDC round three (EDC-3), DDSA is back for an encore in EDC-4 with an added focus on broadening use by local agencies. During 2017 and 2018, 22 States, Federal Lands Highway, and Puerto Rico plan to demonstrate and assess DDSA tools to target safety investments. Another 24 States and Washington, DC, plan to make DDSA a standard practice by the end of EDC-4.
Watch a video on DDSA approaches and success stories.
Contact Jerry Roche of the Federal Highway Administration Office of Safety or John McFadden of the FHWA Resource Center for information and technical assistance.
Arkansas Conference Highlights EDC Innovations
FHWA staff discussed EDC-4 pavement preservation strategies and examples of successful State programs at the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department’s Transportation Research Committee Engineering Conference. More than 250 practitioners from public agencies, private industry, and academia attended the May 16 and 17 event in Hot Springs. Other presentations highlighted e-Construction, the 30 Crossing project using design-build contracting, and the Broadway Bridge project using accelerated bridge construction.
Tennessee Accelerates Bridge Girder Fabrication
An Accelerated Innovation Deployment Demonstration grant is helping the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) promote the use of advanced laser-based metrology and 3D modeling to accelerate fabrication of steel bridge girders. The laser-based approach measures the field-spliced ends of the girders in three dimensions with great accuracy and allows the splice plates to be modeled and fabricated using this model, saving time and money over traditional approaches. TDOT partnered with the University of Tennessee to document the process and develop specifications for using the technology on future projects.
For more information, contact the FHWA Tennessee Division EDC coordinator at
(615) 781-5770.
Washington Innovation Council Reviews Incentive Projects
The Washington State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC) met in Olympia on May 24 to review the status of five STIC Incentive projects funded over the past 4 years and potential projects for 2018. Other meeting topics included the Washington STIC’s EDC-4 innovation deployment goals and how to encourage local agencies to implement EDC innovations and quantify their efforts. The council plans to schedule summer and fall meetings to discuss and select proposals for 2018 STIC Incentive funding.
Nominate Your STIC for a 2017 Excellence Award
Nominations for the 2017 STIC Excellence Award are open until July 1. FHWA's Center for Accelerating Innovation partners with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Innovation Initiative on the award, which recognizes STICs that have achieved significant results in fostering an innovative culture. The Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Vermont STICs received the inaugural STIC Excellence Awards in 2016.
