NHI Offers Course on Strut-and-Tie Modeling

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently adopted a new strut-and-tie modeling (STM) specification and is strongly encouraging bridge engineers to adopt the STM method. Unfortunately, guidance in deploying STM technology, and more specifically, guidance that follows the AASHTO LRFD [Load and Resistance Factor Design] Bridge Design Specifications, can be difficult for bridge practitioners to come by. Additionally, very few U.S. colleges include STM in their structural engineering curriculum, further widening the knowledge gap.

Communication Product Updates

Below are brief descriptions of communications products recently developed by the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Research, Development, and Technology. All of the reports are or will soon be available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). In some cases, limited copies of the communications products are available from FHWA’s Research and Technology (R&T) Product Distribution Center (PDC).

Improving Work Zones Every Day, in Every Way

FHWA has developed a comprehensive set of programs, strategies, and tools for the management of safer and more efficient temporary traffic control.

Transportation Safety in Tribal Areas

Native American and Alaska Native Tribes now have access to a plan with strategies and resources they can use to help save lives.

A New View for Bridge Inspectors

First-person vision goggles are poised to become the next evolution in drone use for inspecting superstructures.

A Journey to Better Highways: 100 Years of Public Roads

As the magazine celebrates its anniversary, let’s take a look back at its evolution.

Public Roads - Summer 2018

PUBLIC ROADS is celebrating a milestone, and this issue features a look back at the history and evolution of the magazine. See “A Journey to Better Highways: 100 Years of PUBLIC ROADS” on page 24 in this issue.

Resource Center Celebrates 20 Years

Introducing the EDC-5 Innovations

Enhancing safety on rural roads, bundling projects to reduce construction backlogs, and capturing the value of infrastructure investment to fund more projects are among the innovations in round five of Every Day Counts (EDC-5). Stakeholders suggested more than 160 innovations and collaborated with the Federal Highway Administration to evaluate and select 10 innovations that will be promoted and deployed in 2019 and 2020.

Selecting the Right Tools to Optimize Planning

Transportation planners have a challenging job. They must balance competing priorities and needs against an anticipated but not necessarily known future. Planners must answer complex questions: Will congestion decrease if we invest in a particular strategy? How might travel patterns change and where will we see the worst congestion in the future?