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Minnesota Department of Transportation Metro Barrier Extraction and LiDAR Project

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Date Created
2014
Report Number
2014-22
Description
By using a relatively new technology, mobile Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and imagery, MnDOT obtained accurate roadway data in a safe and efficient manner. Using a manual extraction technique, MnDOT created a Geographic Information System (GIS) inventory of geospatial coordinate locations, asset attributes, and condition data for plate beam guardrails and concrete barriers. The LiDAR data was utilized for internal communication and visual rendering and will be used in the future to assist with roadway design. The project challenges were mostly technical in nature and highlight the importance of having a clear quality assurance/quality control process. The benefits of the project include, but are not limited to: calculating barrier replacement costs, scoping and budgeting future projects based on condition and future fed/state standard changes, allowing for better planning of maintenance activities, utilizing the imagery to extract other assets, and construction cost savings due to increased design accuracy.

Next Generation Bridge Management Tools and Inspection

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Date Created
2015
Report Number
2015-47
Description
The objectives of this research were twofold. The first objective was to identify the needs for the inspection methodology, manuals, training, and the timetable needed for all bridge owners to start collecting elementlevel bridge inspection data. The second objective was to identify how to incorporate this new inspection methodology into the rich reporting tools and performance measures that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) uses for determining the bridge projects in the annual program. Working with the MnDOT Bridge Office, the research team identified the necessary changes to the bridge inspection elements that would both ensure MnDOT conforms to the new American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide Manual for Bridge Element Inspection and provide the necessary data for the agencys bridge management process. The changes needed for MnDOTs Bridge Replacement and Improvement Management (BRIM) were also identified working with the MnDOT Bridge Office.

Development of a MnDOT Foundation Boring Mobile Application Gateway, GeoApp

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Date Created
2016
Report Number
2016-26
Description
A custom application "app" has been created for use on "smart devices" (phones and tablets on iOS and Android platforms) that will allow users to easily access MnDOT geotechnical asset information in the field. Through the app, users can access MnDOT foundation boring metadata and download PDF files of boring logs of interest. In addition to the development of a mobile-friendly tool [supplementing an existing website], this research effort is partly to determine a proof-of-concept related to development time, effort, documentation, and interdisciplinary coordination for development of similar systems. Through this tool, an interactive map, using boring GPS locations, or search queries, will allow improved access to subsurface information in the field in real time. This will provide a broader benefit to consultants, contractors, local units of government, researchers, and other groups especially when making decisions on-site and in the field (i.e., project scoping, site review, construction inspection, forensic analysis, etc.) This effort builds on efforts to create a data warehouse of geotechnical information and make it more easily sharable and useful to the engineering community.

Development of Pavement Condition Forecasting for Web-Based Asset Management for County Governments

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Creator
Date Created
2020
Report Number
2020-04
Description
This application was developed to expand a low-cost asset inventory program called Geographic Roadway Inventory Tool (GRIT) to include roadway forecasting based on the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) 93 model with inventory; pavement condition; and traffic forecasting data. Existing input data from GRIT such as pavement thickness; roadway structural information; and construction planning information will be spatially combined with current MnDOT Pathway pavement condition and traffic data to automatically forecast the future condition and age of roadways using the AASHTO 93 model. This forecasting model will allow roadway managers to use this information with comprehensive geographic information system (GIS) web maps to prioritize roadways in their construction schedules or multi-year plans.

360-Degree Point Cloud Technology for Building Management

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Date Created
2019
Report Number
TRS1903
Description
The Building Services Section (BSS) owns and operates 888 individual buildings at 269 sites throughout Minnesota. BSS is exploring ways collect, process and communicate as-built data for their sites and buildings with imaging and scanning technology. This Transportation Research Synthesis documents the state of the industry and identifies previous research and implementation regarding 360-degree point cloud and reality modeling technology for building management.

Preventive Maintenance and Inspection for Traffic Signals, Roadway Lighting and Overhead Sign Structures

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Date Created
2020
Report Number
TRS2004
Description
MnDOT is interested in the expected service lives of traffic signals, roadway lighting and overhead sign structures; preventive maintenance and inspection activities and schedules; cost–benefits associated with preventive maintenance and inspection strategies; and the criteria used to determine asset replacement. This Transportation Research Synthesis presents findings from a survey of select transportation agencies and a literature search of relevant national and state practices, research and guidance.

Assessment of the Trimble MX7 for Use in Creation of Alignment Files for the Intelligent Compaction and Paver Mounted Thermal Profile Methods

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Date Created
2019
Report Number
2019-20
Description
The objective of the work was to validate the Trimble MX7 system for use in collecting infrastructure information for creation of in-place alignment files for use with intelligent compaction and paver mounted thermal profiling technologies and also to provide the capability to collect other asset information along the roadway. One project per district; where conventional survey methods were already used to capture the in-place center alignment; was selected for verification of the Trimble MX7. Additionally; a project with photo targets was also used for more accurate verification of the system with highly accurate known points on the roadway. From these verification runs; the average position error of the Trimble MX7 trajectory in the X; Y; and Z direction was found to be 2; 2 and 3 cm; respectively. Forward intersection and reference plane extractions methods were used to extract the centerline feature. It was found that the forward intersection method provided more accurate feature extractions. On average; the difference between the MX7 and photo targets using the forward intersection extraction method was 0.26 ft (3.1 inches); while the 95 percent confidence interval was between 0.2 ft (2.9 inches) and 0.3 ft (3.2 inches). Similar position error results were also found when comparing the MX7 positions to alignment files created using conventional survey methods. It was concluded that the MX7 has the needed horizontal accuracy to capture the in-place centerline for use in creation of alignment files for the IC and PMTP methods.

Consolidated Asset Management for Minnesota Local Agencies

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Date Created
2016
Report Number
TRS1603
Description
The Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB) is interested in increasing the awareness of cities and counties as to the importance of asset management and providing guidance to them about best practices for developing asset management plans, systems and software. The purpose of this Transportation Research Synthesis was to support this effort by conducting a literature review, consulting with national practitioners and interviewing representatives at local agencies about their practices.

Asset Management Building Services Comparative Scoping Methodology

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Date Created
2016
Report Number
TRS1605
Description
To assist with developing a standardized scoping methodology to use for building facilities such as truck stations, salt sheds, warm storage, cold storage and future district headquarters, CTC & Associates conducted a literature search for documentation of scoping methodologies used by other organizations.