![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Purpose: The mission of the Geometric Design Laboratory (GDL) is to provide technical support to the Office of Safety Research and Development to develop, maintain, and enhance tools for the safety evaluation of highway geometric design alternatives. This includes supporting coordination of the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) with related tools, e.g., the Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM) and SafetyAnalyst. The GDL supports the HSM through implementation of HSM methods in IHSDM software; by providing technical support to HSM users; by performing HSM-related technology facilitation; and by conducting HSM-related training and research.
The GDL also contributes to Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Roadway Safety Data Program (RSDP) initiatives to advance State and local safety data systems and safety data analyses by supporting the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for advancing the quantification of highway safety; e.g., through the integration of GIS with highway safety analysis tools.
Laboratory Description: GDL staff focuses on the following tasks.
Laboratory Capabilities: The staff of the GDL includes professionals with expertise in transportation engineering and familiarity with software development, which allows the GDL to support IHSDM development in various ways and to assume a unique coordination role. The GDL’s transportation engineering expertise supports the laboratory’s function of reviewing and assisting the development of the engineering models included in IHSDM for evaluating the safety of roadway designs. By combining transportation engineering and software development expertise, the GDL has the unique ability to evaluate software from both the software developer and end-user perspective.
Communications and engineering skills help GDL staff to understand the needs of the audience (e.g., design engineers), thereby supporting effective technical assistance to end users.
IHSDM development is a long-term effort, involving many research contractors, software developers, and FHWA staff. In addition, FHWA seeks input from end users and user organizations to help ensure that IHSDM is responsive to user needs. The staff of the GDL helps coordinate the interaction of all those involved with IHSDM development.
Staff at the GDL participates in HSM development and technology facilitation. In addition, the IHSDM Crash Prediction Module is a faithful implementation of HSM Part C (Predictive Method). Therefore, GDL staff is well equipped to support HSM-related activities.
Laboratory Equipment: The GDL is equipped with computer hardware and software typically employed by users of IHSDM, including commercial CAD/roadway design software.
Laboratory Services: The GDL supports the HSM through implementation of HSM methods in IHSDM software; by providing technical support to HSM users; by performing HSM-related technology facilitation; and by conducting HSM-related research.
To develop and promote IHSDM, GDL staff provides or has provided the following services:
The GDL also contributes to FHWA Roadway Safety Data Program (RSDP) initiatives to advance State and local safety data systems and safety data analyses by supporting the use of GIS for advancing the quantification of highway safety; e.g., through the integration of GIS with highway safety analysis tools (including extraction of data from GIS for input to safety analyses and representation of safety analysis results in the GIS environment). Such contributions support efforts by State and local agencies to:
» | Office of Safety R&D |
» | Safety R&D Program |
» | Safety R&D Experts |
» | Safety R&D Laboratories |
» | Safety R&D Projects |
» | Safety R&D Publications |
» | Safety R&D Topics |
Chen, Shyuan-Ren (Clayton)
clayton.chen@dot.gov
202-493-3054
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101-2296
» | FHWA's Office of Safety |
» | Resource Center Safety and Design Team |