Determine Hydroplaning Potential Using Existing Pavement Asset Data

To accurately assess hydroplaning potential at the network-level, the following pieces of information are essential: transverse profile and rutting, macro- and micro-texture, pavement width, radius of curvature, superelevation, cross slope, and grade. To date, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) possesses all these pieces of information except for cross slope, which is one of the most important variables. Therefore, the research teams will gather those data elements and compile a comprehensive project database. The research teams will also identify critical data gaps and develop both a system and methodology for determining cross slope. The research teams will: (1) Develop a set of two alternative models to calculate hydroplaning potential: (i) a model to predict water film thickness (WFT), and (ii) a model to predict hydroplaning speed (HS); (2) Determine hydroplaning potential at the network level across all 25 TxDOT Districts for all PMIS sections; (3) Establish correlations between hydroplaning potential and wet-weather crashes; (4) Generate heatmaps that illustrate hydroplaning potential and wet-weather crash occurrences highlighting areas where hydroplaning potential and wet-weather crashes intersect; (5) Establish correlations between highway geometry and the occurrence of crashes under both wet and dry conditions; and (6) Develop recommendations to be incorporated into TxDOT's Wet Weather Accident Reduction Program.

• Record URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/Presto/project=0-7211

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $496747
• Contract Numbers:

  0-7211

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Texas Department of Transportation

  125 E. 11th Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78701-2483
• Project Managers:

  Dassi, Martin

• Performing Organizations:

  Center for Transportation Research

  3925 W. Braker Lane
  Austin, TX  United States  78759

  Texas State University, San Marcos

  JCK Building, Suite 489
  San Marcos, TX  United States 
• Principal Investigators:

  Prozzi, Jorge A

• Start Date: 20240901
• Expected Completion Date: 20260831
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Correlation analysis; Crash rates; Geometric design; Hydroplaning; Mathematical models; Pavements; Wet weather
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01928240
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Texas Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 0-7211
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 23 2024 12:14PM