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Development of Assessment Strategies For Sign Retroreflectivity

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) now specifies minimum retroreflectivity requirements. These requirements include an obligation for agencies to develop a strategy for maintaining compliance. With budget considerations, it is important that transportation agencies be able to efficiently assess the performance of their assets and adopt management strategies to comply with such requirements. As a foundational work, this research develops specific methodology for assessing the condition and performance of sign assets that are maintained by a large transportation agency. In doing so, this research provides for the determination of key elements that should be considered when developing any sign asset management strategy. This work incorporates and builds upon previous research in order to develop an assessment strategy that can provide new insight and understanding into where sign asset management efforts should be focused. Given the conditions unique to the Utah Department of Transportation’s (UDOT) sign assets, the findings of this research present a potential paradigm shift from the previous assumptions regarding the best prospective management practices. Sign damage was determined to be the primary issue affecting the nighttime visibility of UDOT maintained signs. By controlling damage issues within UDOT's sign assets, retroreflectivity compliance may be maintained. The findings of this research provide for new options and considerations in managing both sign retroreflectivity and nighttime visibility at a large scale.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:UTAHS/oai:digitalcommons.usu.edu:etd-2222
Date01 May 2012
CreatorsEvans, Travis L.
PublisherDigitalCommons@USU
Source SetsUtah State University
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
SourceAll Graduate Theses and Dissertations
RightsCopyright for this work is held by the author. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. For more information contact Andrew Wesolek (andrew.wesolek@usu.edu).

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