2016 Issue

both late night and early morning drivers. This also provides a sufficient window for inclement weather scenarios. IPM devices can consistently provide clear illumination to oncoming traffic from over 800 yards away. According to the Federal Highway Administration average road reflectors are only visible for 133 yds. IPMs can be nearly any color and single or dual directional for one-way or two-way traffic alerting. The LED direction angle is also sufficient to alert drivers far ahead, but confined enough to limit distracting opposing traffic or vehicles on adjacent roadways. The device housing provides high impact protection that meets regular highway traffic requirements, allows for easy replacement or maintenance of individual units, and provides operability when placed in the pavement for ideal snow plow protection. Additional steel casings are used to further limit snow plow damage. CURRENT STATE OF THE TECHNOLOGY A preliminary study was conducted at the University of Utah under Dr. Richard Porter’s guidance in 2013 and 2014 to assess the basic quality and claims of various brands of IPM devices. This review was aimed at determining themajor concerns limiting the realistic use and reliability of these devices on Utah Roads. From this initial study the durability and high visibility of the highway- grade devices were proven to be significant for use in traffic safety and roadway applica- tions. Previously published research proved the technology wasn’t up to speed. Now, more than six years later, the technology and drive for these types of innovative so- lutions has begun to reach maturity. Major concerns and Limita- tions to IPMuse in the U.S. andmore specifi- cally to Utah have be- come surmountable with technological advances and device availability. IPM devices have been improved upon and implemented by International trans- portation agencies in every climate and in numerous different configurations for the past decade. With dozens of high profile applications, agen- cies such as Astucia Traffic Safety Systems consistently report up to 75% reduction in night time accidents and much greater visibility and lifespan then standard retro- reflectors. Astucia’s devices are thoroughly tested by Clearview Traffic Ltd of Oxford- shireUnitedKingdomwithwell documented case studies and high profile applications in numerous countries in every climate. Use of these devices is exploding in Europe with applications ranging from single crosswalks with a dozen devices to major national motorways requiring up to 1000 individual devices in locations from the UK to Sweden and even toNewZealand. However, IPMuse in the U.S. has been very limited with only a dozen significant traffic projects existing nationwide, until recently. With American manufacturers and researchers catching on, several legitimate options have become available as evidenced by various large projects undertaken by previously cautious states. Over 100 devices have been installed in Washington State by WSDOT along the Snoqualmie Pass on I-90 to monitor IPMs on a notorious winter pass with hard-to-see lane lines. At the same time a similar test was initiated on I-70 in Colorado by CDOT and Lightspeed Road Solar Ltd with several hundred devices, almost to the Utah border. WHY UTAH? The future of Utah appears on the verge of unprecedented growth and development, and transportation innovation is essential to that future. Utah has proven its support for innovative transportation solutions in its use of revolutionary new techniques such as accelerated bridge construction, EPS Geofoams in bridge embankments, public funding of large scale highway projects such as I-15 Core project, unheard of region- al cooperation and planning, solutions to climate extremes and road maintenance, and its rapid expan- sion of public transit options along the Wasatch Front. With these encouraging factors, and more, Utah is in a great position to prove new technol- ogy and open the door for the expansion of innovative roadway safety technologies that bring improved benefits to our great state and open doors to other American communities. Spencer is a Civil Engineer with Avenue Consultants in Taylorsille, Utah. As a gradu- ate from the University of Utah, with a focus on Illumi- nated Pavement Marking Systems and their potential traffic safety benefits, he has earned several research awards and scholarships for his work. For further information feel free to contact me at staylor@avenueconsultants.com or visit https://infiniterelativity.wordpress.com/ transportationresearch/ Lightspeed Road Solar - snow plowable solar LED road markers Spencer is Utah,with hehasea  aCivilEngin  a focuson I rned several  eerwithAve lluminatedP researchawa Spen nueConsulta avementMar rdsand scho cerV.Taylor nts inTaylors king systems larships forh ville.Asagr  and theirpo iswork.  aduate from  tential traffic theUniversit  safetybene yof  fits,  Lightspee Lightspee d Road Solar  d Road Solar  ‐ snow plowa ‐ snow plowa ble solar LED ble solar LED  road marke  road marke rs  r  AstuciaTrafficSafetySystems ‐SolarLite FSeriesFlushRoadStuds  Astucia Traffic Safety Systems - SolarLite F Series Flush Road Studs 47