South Dakota Department of Transportation
Project Synopsis
SD1998-05

Title: Pavement Management Segment Consolidation
Project Researcher: Richard Deighton, Deighton & Assoc.
Project Manager: Blair Lunde
Research Period: 10/13/1997 - 7/31/1998
Status: Completed
Cost: $65,000.00

Problem Statement: SDDOT uses Deighton Associates Limited software, dTIMS, to analyze life-cycle costs for various rehabilitation strategies on each segment of road in its network. To use dTIMS, SDDOT divides its road network into "homogeneous" segments. Homogeneous means that the source data describing the attributes of a segment are the same throughout the segment's entire length. Unfortunately, dTIMS makes the "optimal" strategy selection for each segment independent of the segment's location, length, or adjacent segment status.

For instance, dTIMS might recommend a particular repair strategy for one segment, a different strategy for the next and a third strategy for the next. But each of these three segments may not be of sufficient length to be a stand alone project or it might be more cost effective to do one project at one time instead of spreading projects over more years. To combine these segments requires Planning and Programming staff to manually combine segments so that viable construction projects can be proposed.

Research is needed to define rules for consolidating segments and to automate those methods in the dTIMS software.

Findings:

Research Objectives:
1  To develop a set of user definable, prioritized parameters that will determine how dTIMS will generate construction projects from the analysis segments and its corresponding list of recommended strategies.
2  To develop procedures that use the above parameters to automatically generate a set of viable construction projects.
3  To provide functions in dTIMS that will allow a user to - enter the parameters of objective one - perform the analysis of objective two - interactively review and adjust the construction projects that result from the previous functions on a strip map - a print or output function so that optimal strategies and viable construction projects can be output.

Research Tasks:
1  Write a computer function similar to the dROAD strip map function for dTIMS. This function will provide a graphical representation of the optimum segments and allow consolidation into viable projects.
2  Investigate and recommend a set of parameters to be used by dTIMS to control the automatic generation of construction projects. The following steps will be used to develop the recommendations: - include in as minimum requirements a) minimum and maximum length parameters by treatment type, not global, b) when examining viable construction projects a recalculate and an undo button must be included, c) besides fully defined parameters, open-ended parameters must be possible, and d) a lock out parameter must be included to exclude the possibility of combining existing asphalt and concrete pavements into one project - develop a questionnaire that will allow various experienced dTIMS users to describe the criteria used to choose construction projects - review of the questionnaire by SDDOT before sending to experienced dTIMS users - distribute the questionnaire to SDDOT and other experienced dTIMS' users - collect and analyze results from the questionnaire - summarize the results and provide to SDDOT - conduct a conference call between SDDOT and pertinent Deighton Associates Limited staff - develop a list of criteria, in report form, to be used in the automated procedure - use the report as the basis for Tasks Four and Seven
3  Create a window in dTIMS that will allow the user to enter the required parameters and to initiate the automatic generation of construction projects.
4  Write a software function that uses the parameters and dTIMS' list of strategies to automatically generate a 'first-cut' set of construction projects.
5  Conduct a conference call with SDDOT to review progress of the overall project.
6  Use the strip map function as the basis of a function that allows the user to interactively create and edit construction projects and their strategies.
7  Develop a print and output function so that optimum and viable construction projects' budget information can be output to a printer or a file.
8  Update the on-line Help system and the hard copy users manual and provide copies to SDDOT (one copy per license).
9  Develop a test plan and test the software according to the test plan to verify that the software performs its intended function.
10  Classify faults to the software and correct all "bugs."
11  Write a report presenting the results of this study and provide to SDDOT for review and comments.

Documents Available:
SD1998_05_final_report.pdf