Optimal maintenance work zone lengths for multilane highways | |
| Author | Rung Buayairaksa |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.TE-10-07 |
| Subject(s) | Highway engineering--Thailand Roads--Maintenance and repair |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Transportation Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. TE-10-07 |
| Abstract | The study is developed to describe the problem characteristics and mitigating strategies of highway work zones. Since the problems due to work zones are indicated to cause traffic congestions, road accident likelihood and environmental effects, the objectives of this study are; (1) doing the literature reviews on previous studies of optimal work zone length models, (2) developing a new model that can give optimal results of work zone length and project starting time of work zone (time of day in hours), (3) proposing the optimization technique of GAs for analyzing and providing strategies for construction management of road maintenance in a work zone. Equations are sequenced for traffic delay estimation at work zones based on simple deterministic - queuing models. A cumulative plot of number of vehicles approaching and arriving at the work zone will be drawn to calculate user delays . In the process of analyses for defining the optimal work zone length , the methodology is comprised of ; (1) the optimal work zone length is derived as a function of work zone maintenance cost, road user delay cost due to lane closures, accident and environme ntal cost due to delay speeds through work zone , (2) the work zone length is optimized using so - called genetic algorithm for optimal results of work zone length and the starting time of the maintenance work. This new model's validity and reliable applicat ion into practice is described by these case studies: four - lane h ighway with one lane closure, six - lane highway with one and two lane closures. In a given practice case, the new proposed model can exactly give the optimal work zone lengths and project starting time of maintenance work. Various sensitivity analyses inform that starting time greatly influences total cost of work zone operations. In addition, any further studies in field works might be conducted to verify the results of the model analyses . Co llecting an extensive data in field works will be useful for the verification of the accuracy of the new proposed model. |
| Year | 2011 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. TE-10-07 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Transportation Engineering (TE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Kunnawee Kanitpong |
| Examination Committee(s) | Thirayoot Limanond;Ponlathep Lertworawanich |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | AIT Fellowship |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2010 |