Spring 2004 Technology Exchange
Minnesota handbook to aid Afghan road
reconstruction
The U.S. Army will use techniques from an erosion control handbook
developed in Minnesota to help rebuild roads in Afghanistan this
spring.
New technologies featured at annual pavement
conference
Joe Mahoney, civil engineering professor at the University
of Washington, presented several multimedia pavement
tools at the Eighth Annual Minnesota Pavement Conference, February 19 in St. Paul.
Associations present annual awards
The Minnesota County Engineers Association presented David A.
Olsonawski the 2003 County Engineer of the Year award at its 59th
Annual Conference this January.
Safety
Red-light cameras and you?
As more states begin adopting automated red-light-running programs,
debate is growing over this new form of traffic enforcement.
Rumble strips down centerlines of two-lane
roads reduce head-on and sideswipe crashes
A new study from the Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety finds that installing rumble strips along the
centerlines of undivided, rural two-lane roads can reduce head-on
and opposing-direction sideswipes.
LRRB Update
OPERA goes a little bit country
The Local Operational Research Assistance (OPERA)
Program assists in developing innovations relating to methods, materials,
and equipment used in the construction and maintenance operations
of local government transportation organizations.
Do rumble strips really affect the way
we stop?
The results of University study indicate that the presence of rumble
strips had no effect on when the drivers started slowing down or
the point at which they stopped.
Increasing safety at rural intersections
Using driving simulations, two University of Minnesota researchers have
been able to observe driver responses to different crash-reduction
measures.
Pavement Conference
Scanning tour: superior materials, advanced
test methods, and specifications
A scanning tour sponsored by the FHWA and AASHTO visited the several European countries in June 2003 to look at superior materials as well as
the continent's approval processes.
Transverse thermal cracking: our #1 pavement
distress
Three researchers presented findings on transverse cracking at
this year's Minnesota Pavement Conference, held in February at the University of Minnesota.
Pavement preservation
Several experts discussed their approaces to pavement preservation in light of an increasing demand for roads and decreasing
transportation budgets.
Improving concrete pavements
In a session on portland cement concrete pavement, Jim
Grove of Iowa State University
focused on two major issues: sharing of research results and better
test methods.
Workshops & Training
DakTrak: Dakota County automates vehicle
location
Like many organizations responsible for winter roadway
maintenance and safety, Dakota County is seeking to improve
its operational awareness and performance through the use of
a real-time automatic vehicle location system.
Coming LTAP Attractions
A partial listing of workshops and other transportation events.
Maintenance Research Corner
Highlights from recent Mn/DOT research bulletins.
A network of information at your fingertips
A brand new online database
of transportation-related resources, will provide Minnesota's transportation
community with access to a treasure trove of research and information.
Minnesota LTAP launches e-newsletter
Hot Topics is a new periodic newsletter that will share recent publications
and resources from a variety of organizations, plus other announcements
of interest to LTAP readers.
Be on the lookout for wildlife
When you're in the field starting springtime projects, remember that
wild animals are also engaging in their springtime rituals.
Information Services
LTAP Training & Events Calendar
For an up-to-date list of events in Minnesota, please see the LTAP training and events calendar