The transportation group at Montana State University conducts innovative research in various areas of transportation engineering to address the many challenges facing the transportation system today.  On this page, information on some of the recent research projects is provided.

Selected Research Projects 

Title: NCHRP 17-65 Improved Analysis of Two-Lane Highway Capacity and Operational Performance

  • Sponsor: Federal Highway Administration
  • Project Status: Ongoing
  • Project Description:
    The objective of this research is to (1) identify appropriate performance measures for operational and capacity analyses of two-lane highways and develop models to produce these performance measures in an HCM context, and (2) develop or modify a simulation-based analysis method for two-lane highways and offer guidance for when to apply a simulation versus HCM method. The resulting methods will lead to a two-lane highway facilities procedure suitable for incorporation into a future edition of the HCM.
  • For questions, you may contact  Dr. Ahmed Al-Kaisy.

Title: Evaluation of Variable Speed Limit/Variable Advisory Speed Systems on Urban and Rural corridors

  • Sponsor: Oregon Department of Transportation
  • Project Status: Ongoing 
  • Project Description:
    The nation’s urban areas often experience congestion due to increasing population and expanding urbanization. Weather also presents considerable challenges to highway mobility, both in terms of safety and operations. To address these safety and mobility challenges, Active Traffic Management (ATM) has found increased use in recent years both outside and within the United States.  This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two new active traffic management (ATM) systems featuring VSL and VAS components being installed along OR 217 (urban freeway) and US26/OR 35 (rural corridor). This evaluation will aid in optimizing the operation of these systems as well as laying the groundwork for future implementations of ATM and VSL systems in Oregon.
  • For questions, you may contactDr. Ahmed Al-Kaisy.

Title: Assessment of Montana Road Weather Information System (RWIS)

  • Sponsor: Montana Department of Transportation
  • Project Status: Ongoing
  • Project Description:
    Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) currently has 72 Road Weather Information System (RWIS) stations throughout the state that have been used as a major source of weather data for transportation applications. All these RWIS stations are fixed and other entities (such as the National Weather Service) currently rely on these stations for information. The number and location of these environmental sensor stations were largely determined over time by the pressing needs of the maintenance and snow removal operations, without much consideration to other applications that are in need of accurate and timely road weather data. Therefore, a comprehensive review and assessment of the state road weather data collection program is needed to ensure: 1) the efficient use of weather data in various transportation applications and 2) the optimum use of MDT resources.
  • For questions, you may contact  Dr. Ahmed Al-Kaisy.

Title: Risk Factors Associated with High Potential for Serious Crashes

  • Sponsor: Oregon Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration
  • Project Status: Ongoing 
  • Project Description:
    Crashes are random events and low traffic volumes therefore don’t always make crash hot-spot identification possible. This project has used extensive data collection and analysis for a large sample of Oregon’s low volume roads to develop a risk index that expresses the crash risk for different road geometries and roadside features as well as crash history and traffic exposure. This crash risk index can then be a proactive means of identifying potentially risky locations where safety treatments might be best targeted. The economic analysis completed as part of this effort can be used in conjunction with the risk index when determining which safety treatments may result in the highest return on investment for agency safety improvement funds.
  • For questions, you may contact  Dr. Ahmed Al-Kaisy.

Title: Montana Rest Area Usage: Data Acquisition and Usage Estimation

  • Sponsor: Montana Department of Transportation
  • Project Status: Completed
  • Project Description:
    This work seeks to obtain Montana-specific data related to rest area usage, including water flow, effluent flow, patron traffic, vehicle traffic volume and classification, and vehicle dwell times for commercial and passenger vehicles.  Such estimation provides MDT with up-to-date figures that will assist in the process of planning, designing, and rehabilitating rest area facilities.
  • For questions, you may contact  Dr. Ahmed Al-Kaisy.

Title: Innovative Safety Solutions with Pavement Markings and Delineation

  • Sponsor: American Traffic Safety Services Association 
  • Project Status: Ongoing 
  • Project Description:
    Pavement markings and delineation communicate important information to drivers, i.e., where to position their vehicles, warn about upcoming conditions, and indicate where passing is allowed.  Therefore, clear and well-designed pavement markings and delineators are essential for safe driving, particularly at night.  The objective of this project is to develop case studies of pavement markings and delineation to be included in a publication that will serve as an easy-to-read resource and a reference tool for local public officials and others who have the responsibility of making roadways safer.
  • For questions, you may contact Dr. Ahmed Al-Kaisy.

Title: Evaluation of a Variable Speed Limit System for Wet and Extreme Weather Conditions

  • Sponsor: Oregon Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration
  • Project Status: Completed 
  • Project Description:
    Weather presents considerable challenges to the highway system, both in terms of safety and operations.  From a safety standpoint, weather (i.e. precipitation in the form of rain, snow or ice) reduces pavement friction, thus increasing the potential for crashes when vehicles are traveling too fast for the conditions.  Under these circumstances, the posted speed limit at a location may no longer be safe and appropriate.  Consequently, new approaches are necessary to influence motorists’ behavior in regards to speed selection when inclement weather presents the potential for reduced pavement friction at a given location.  Among these approaches is the use of Variable Speed Limit (VSL) systems.  This project involved the development of a weather-responsive VSL system at a major urban interchange in Portland, Oregon.   Specifically, the research developed a Concept of Operations and Requirements for the prospective VSL system and performed sensor testing using Vaisala DSC 111 to determine its accuracy and applicability for inclusion in the prospective VSL.
  • For questions, you may contact  Dr. Ahmed Al-Kaisy.

Title: Montana Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) and Automatic Traffic Recorder (ATR) Strategy

  • Sponsor: Montana Department of Transportation
  • Project Status: Ongoing
  • Project Description:
    A critical element in achieving the Montana Department of Transportation’s fundamental goal of providing safe, efficient and sustainable transportation services is the collection of accurate data on how the state’s highways are being used.  Such data are necessary to support numerous MDT activities from planning, to infrastructure design, to enforcement of vehicle regulations.  Due to limited resources, it is essential that such data are efficiently collected and then put to the best possible uses.  The foundations of the data collection program are the permanent weigh-in-motion (WIM) and automatic traffic recorder (ATR) systems deployed across the highway network.  The proposed research aims at assessing the MDT’s WIM program along with its ATR data collection program and devising a planning strategy to optimize MDT’s investments in its WIM/ATR program.
  • For questions, you may contact  Dr. Jerry Stephens.

Title: Validation of Rehabilitation Strategies to Extend the Service Life of Concrete Bridge Decks

  • Sponsor: Caltrans
  • Project Status: Ongoing
  • Project Description:
    The objective of this research is to investigate the long-term effectiveness of Caltrans' preservation and rehabilitation strategies for concrete bridge decks. Two rehabilitation strategies Caltrans currently employs are high molecular weight methacrylate (HMWM)-based crack sealing and polyester overlay. This research will explore through accelerated testing methods the appropriate treatment time and frequency to apply these strategies.
  • For questions, you may contact  Dr. Jerry Stephens.

Title: A Systemic Pedestrian Safety Planning Tool for Small Urban/Rural Areas

  • Sponsor: Small Urban and Rural Livability Center (SURLC)
  • Project Status: Ongoing
  • Project Description:
    The objective of this project is to 1) Develop a systemic safety planning tool for screening the road networks for high-risk locations of pedestrian crashes, and 2.) Suggest countermeasures, ranked in the order of cost-effectiveness, for implementation to improve pedestrian safety in small urban/rural areas.
  • For questions, you may contact  Dr. Yiyi Wang.

Title: Intersection Pedestrian Safety Analysis: A Systemic Selection Approach

  • Sponsor: Small Urban and Rural Livability Center (SURLC)
  • Project Status: Ongoing
  • Project Description:
    The objective of this research is (1) To identify the risk factors contributing to pedestrian crash; (2) To identify the dangerous location and rank them using sensitivity analysis; and (3) To suggest the cost effective countermeasures.
  • For questions, you may contact Dr. Yiyi Wang.

Title: Identifying Disparities in Definitions of Heavy Trucks

  • Sponsor: Montana Department of Transportation
  • Project Status: Ongoing
  • Project Description:
    The objective of this project is to identify ambiguity and discrepancies existent in the federal and state-level rules regarding heavy trucks.
  • For questions, you may contact  Dr. Yiyi Wang.

Title: An exploration of Risk Maps

  • Sponsor:Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
  • Project Status: Ongoing
  • Project Description:
    The objective of this research is to determine if recorded driving events can be used to predict geospatial risk to support safety planning and driver coaching.
  • For questions, you may contact Dr. Yiyi Wang.