Integration of the Motor Carrier Safety Status Measurement System into the Roadside Inspection Selection System

2000 ◽  
Vol 1734 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-63
Author(s):  
Brenda M. Lantz
Keyword(s):  
Measurement System ◽  
Safety Data ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
Similar Data ◽  
Selection System ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Commercial Vehicles ◽  
Information Systems Management ◽  
Motor Carrier ◽  
Selection Of

The roadside Inspection Selection System (ISS) was developed in response to a 1995 congressional mandate that called for the use of prior carrier safety data to guide the selection of commercial vehicles and drivers for roadside inspections. The program was developed in part by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. As ISS has developed, FMCSA’s Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) program has also been evolving. One objective of PRISM is to identify relatively unsafe carriers by assigning Safety Status Measurement System (SafeStat) scores and also encouraging those drivers to improve their safety performance or risk losing registration privileges. SafeStat was designed to prioritize carriers for monitoring and compliance reviews, but ISS was designed to prioritize carriers for roadside inspection. Both algorithms, however, use similar data to define a relatively unsafe carrier. It would be advantageous therefore to have a single uniform rating system for all FMCSA programs. This research briefly describes the PRISM and SafeStar algorithms; discusses the integration of the SafeStat algorithm into ISS; and presents conclusions on the initial testing of the resulting system, ISS-2. An analysis of over 213,000 roadside inspections reveals that ISS-2 is as effective as the original ISS in meeting the goals for which it was designed. It successfully identifies and prioritizes for roadside inspection the vehicles and drivers of carriers with poor prior safety performance, as well as those with few or no previous inspections. In addition, safety inspectors who have tested the system say they are pleased with the new algorithm and its added features.

Evaluation of Roadside Inspection Selection System for Commercial Vehicles

1997 ◽  
Vol 1595 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda M. Lantz ◽  
Michael W. Blevins ◽  
Thomas J. Hillegass
Keyword(s):  
Safety Data ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
The United States ◽  
Selection System ◽  
Commercial Vehicles ◽  
Scarce Resources ◽  
Motor Carrier ◽  
Motor Carriers ◽  
Evaluation Survey ◽  
Selection Of

The development and testing of the roadside Inspection Selection System (ISS) have been in progress for more than 2 years. The ISS was developed as part of the Aspen roadside inspection software system in response to a 1995 congressional mandate calling for use of prior carrier safety data to guide in selection of commercial vehicles and drivers to undergo roadside inspections. The Aspen system includes software that helps conduct roadside inspections with portable microcomputers. Ten states were involved in the initial testing of the ISS, but a majority of states throughout the United States are now using the system. An analysis of almost 40,000 inspections conducted in 1996 revealed that the vehicle out-of-service (OOS) rate was 33.7 percent for those vehicles the ISS recommended for inspection versus 20.0 percent for those it did not. The driver OOS rate was 13.5 percent for those drivers recommended for inspection versus 9.9 percent for those not recommended. The ISS will thus help in targeting relatively unsafe carriers (as well as those for which there are insufficient data) and reduce the inspection burden on carriers proved to be safe. This means that more efficient use will be made of scarce resources by focusing on less safe vehicles and drivers. In addition, use of the ISS offers substantial benefits to society in safety and to safe motor carriers in cost savings. Presentations of the system and results of an evaluation survey completed by inspectors show the ISS to be well accepted by both inspectors and the motor carrier community.

Development of Intrastate Inspection Selection System for Wisconsin

2001 ◽  
Vol 1779 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-161
Author(s):  
Robert L. Smith ◽  
Marcus H. Januario ◽  
Emil Juni
Keyword(s):  
Logit Model ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
Estimation Technique ◽  
Selection System ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Roadside Safety ◽  
Motor Carrier ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Logistics Regression ◽  
Starting Point

Roadside safety inspections have been an important component of federally supported programs to improve motor carrier safety. The inspection selection system (ISS) and its successor, ISS-2, were designed to help roadside inspectors target the vehicles of Interstate carriers with the worst past safety performance. ISS was used as a starting point for developing an intrastate ISS for Wisconsin. Logistics regression was used to identify the relevant independent variables. The logit model estimates the probability that a vehicle will be found to have an out-of-service (OOS) safety violation. An alternative to the logit model, a simple direct-estimation technique that uses the total OOS rate for a motor carrier, was found to produce the highest success rates in predicting inspections that result in an OOS violation. The model can be implemented as a field inspection tool and as a means to generate a list of intrastate carriers ranked by their historical OOS violation record.

scholarly journals Development of Thermal Performance Metrics for Direct Gas-Fired Circulating Heaters

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 588
Author(s):  
Benjamin C. Smith ◽  
Brett C. Ramirez ◽  
Steven J. Hoff
Keyword(s):  
Mass Flow ◽  
Measurement System ◽  
Thermal Efficiency ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Standardized Test ◽  
Flow System ◽  
Standard Test ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Measurement Systems ◽  
Selection Of

Many climate-controlled agricultural buildings use direct gas-fired circulating heaters (DGFCH) for supplement heat. There is no standardized test to calculate thermal efficiency for these heaters. This study aimed to develop a measurement system and analytical analysis for thermal efficiency, quantify the measurement uncertainty, and assess economics of DGFCH efficiency. The measurement system developed was similar to the ASHRAE 103 standard test stand with adaptations to connect the apparatus to the DGFCH. Two different propane measurement systems were used: input ratings < 30 kW used a mass flow system and input ratings > 30 kW used a volumetric gas meter. Three DGFCHs (21.9, 29.3, 73.3 kW) were tested to evaluate the system. Thermal efficiencies ranged from 92.4% to 100.9%. The resulting uncertainty (coverage factor of 2; ~95% Confidence Interval) ranged from 13.1% to 30.7% for input ratings of 56.3 to 11.4 kW. Key sources of uncertainty were propane and mass flow of air measurement. The economic impact of 1% difference in thermal efficiency ranged from USD $61.3 to $72.0 per heating season. Refinement of the testing system and procedures are needed to reduce the uncertainty. The application of this system will aid building designers in selection of DGFCHs for various applications.

Pavement Distress and Selection of Rehabilitation Alternatives: Michigan Practice

1998 ◽  
Vol 1629 (1) ◽  
pp. 214-225
Author(s):  
Donald C. Wotring ◽  
Gilbert Y. Baladi ◽  
Neeraj Buch ◽  
Steve Bower
Keyword(s):  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Preventative Maintenance ◽  
Pavement Distress ◽  
Maintenance And Rehabilitation ◽  
Composite Pavements ◽  
Selection Of

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) practice regarding the preservation, rehabilitation, and preventative maintenance actions for rigid, flexible, and composite pavements is presented and discussed. For each pavement type, the causes of distress and the corresponding MDOT fix alternatives are also presented. Examples of the MDOT practice regarding the selection of maintenance and rehabilitation alternatives for rigid, flexible, and composite pavements are also presented.

Automatic selection of focal lengths in a Depth From Defocus measurement system based on liquid lenses

2017 ◽  
Vol 96 ◽  
pp. 68-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Pasinetti ◽  
Ileana Bodini ◽  
Matteo Lancini ◽  
Franco Docchio ◽  
Giovanna Sansoni
Keyword(s):  
Measurement System ◽  
Liquid Lenses ◽  
Automatic Selection ◽  
Depth From Defocus ◽  
Selection Of

Methodology for Estimating Vehicle Miles Traveled for Commercial Motor Vehicles at the State Level

2003 ◽  
Vol 1830 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-76
Author(s):  
Candace Brown ◽  
Nancy Kennedy ◽  
Don Wright ◽  
Walt Zak
Keyword(s):  
Program Effectiveness ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
State Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Commercial Vehicles ◽  
Motor Carrier ◽  
Exposure Data ◽  
Commercial Motor Vehicle ◽  
Commercial Motor Vehicles

Described is one specific effort to better estimate commercial motor vehicle-related exposure at the state level in order to better determine commercial motor vehicle-related crash rates for state and federal programs. Limitations in the crash and exposure data affect the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and a state’s ability to plan and assess operations and conduct ongoing analyses of program effectiveness. One important limitation has been the lack of reliable estimates of commercial motor vehicle exposure data at the state level. Exposure data, for the purpose of this report, are defined as the number of truck and bus vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Described is the methodology that was developed to calculate adjusted state VMT for commercial vehicles; results are presented for 1999 and 2000. The results support estimation of crash involvement rates for each state and provide exposure data for other analytical studies. The methodology to calculate adjusted state VMT for commercial motor vehicles has resulted in improved information resources in support of all crash analyses. The adjusted state VMT for commercial vehicles supports measurement of program effectiveness and development of countermeasures to promote motor carrier safety. The adjusted state VMT for commercial motor vehicles methodology and the commercial vehicle fatal-crash involvement rate reports enable state and federal agencies to better focus their safety programs and enforcement resources.

Initial Approach to Performance (Balanced) Mix Design: The Virginia Experience

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacey D. Diefenderfer ◽  
Benjamin F. Bowers
Keyword(s):  
Performance Testing ◽  
Performance Criteria ◽  
Mix Design ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Innovative Methods ◽  
Asphalt Mix ◽  
Performance Additives ◽  
Virginia Department ◽  
Selection Of

Performance mix design (PMD) of asphalt mixtures, often referred to as balanced mix design, is a design methodology that incorporates performance testing into the mix design process. The Virginia Department of Transportation (DOT), like many owner agencies, is interested in ways to specify asphalt mix designs better in an effort to make its roadway network more sustainable, longer lasting, and more economical. By adding performance criteria through a PMD framework, that goal can be achieved. Further, a PMD framework should allow for the development of new, innovative methods to increase pavement recyclability, new performance additives, and other means to enhance pavement performance. This paper provides details and documentation of the approach being taken by the Virginia DOT in their efforts to develop a PMD specification. Aspects of development presented include PMD method options, selection of performance tests, and determination of acceptance criteria. A discussion about validating specifications with in-service performance data and addressing quality control and quality assurance is also provided. Although additional work is needed for full development and implementation, the methodology being applied has been found to provide useful outcomes for the Virginia DOT even in the initial stages of development.

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