Fatal flaw analysis what is

This was a relatively fast and inexpensive investment when compared to the scope of what a full project implementation would entail. Utilities are investigating ways to tap into the power of HVDC for bulk energy transmission. Related Posts November 1, Environmental. October 18, Environmental. October 14, Construction. Environmental Power.

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Historical Topographic-Map Review. Review of Regional and Local Geology. However, determining an appropriate MOE or threshold also will require some analysis of the existing conditions within the work zone area. These provide background information regarding the current performance of the roadway facility. It also provides a way of determining the performance standards the agency may want to meet or improve upon prior to construction. The FHWA recently released a primer on work zone safety and mobility performance measurement.

Ullman, G. Department of Transportation, Washington, D. It describes various work zone MOEs , and provides guidance to help agencies select and implement measures that make sense for their own work zone programs. The following provides some examples of performance measures used to determine the appropriate traffic mitigation strategies to use in work zone projects. MOEs , according to the guide, include LOS , intersection control delay, and arterial travel time based on the type of facility being analyzed.

The first is defined by lane closure duration and the other uses queue thresholds. For any individual project, the most cost-effective mitigation strategy or combination of strategies should be selected. For any individual project, the agency costs for mitigation should be less than 10 percent of the monetary value of the RUC associated with the construction.

MOT alternative strategies can be evaluated and fit several categories, including the following:. The selected MOE and related threshold s can be used to filter out MOT alternatives that do not meet certain criteria, will not minimize traffic impacts, or will make traffic conditions worse.

Fatal flaw analysis determines if an individual alternative has one or more defects that prevent it from being successfully implemented. One of the key inputs to a fatal flaw analysis is the establishment of clear goals and objectives for the work zone project.

Using these as a guide, a multidisciplinary team reviews the proposed alternatives and performs an initial screening of the identified alternatives. This screening identifies those alternatives that deviate from the stated goals in a significant manner, and determines if that deviation is substantial enough to remove the alternative from further consideration before more detailed analyses are completed.

While this review may result in the elimination of alternatives, it also can result in refinement of the proposed alternatives. However, care must be taken not to cut too deeply with the fatal flaw analysis process, as some of the more innovative strategies that may utilize unconventional approaches could be lost in this manner.

An important step that should be considered during the planning and design stages of the project development process is the identification of coordination between projects, other infrastructure improvements or maintenance activities, and agencies. Project coordination strategies are a critical part of the work zone traffic analysis process , as they can contribute to the reduction of traffic impacts and project duration.

Project coordination can begin with discussions with other transportation and public works agencies and other stakeholders that may be impacted by the work zone. While coordination makes intuitive sense, the reality of work zone projects often involves a number of different agencies, contractors, funding sources, stakeholders, etc. Figure 4 presents the steps involved in the application of a maintenance of traffic alternatives analysis MOTAA and decision framework.

They vary depending on the agency work zone policies and resources. While work zone traffic analysis can vary in complexity, there are common components applied by various agencies in their work zone alternatives analysis and decision-making procedures. These common elements are described below. The common components or steps in an MOTAA and decision framework have been categorized into the various project stages that may occur in project planning and data collection, impact analysis, decision-making criteria, impact mitigation, and monitoring and post-implementation.

Figure 4. Considerations involved in this stage could include:. Most highway projects go through some type of impact analysis to determine any negative impacts the project may have on the mobility, safety, and environmental conditions of the study area, as well as the surrounding community, corridor, or region.

At this stage of the project, the various work zone alternatives also can be analyzed for their mobility, safety, environmental, and financial impacts within and beyond the work zone area. This analysis will contribute to selecting the appropriate set of work zone alternatives or strategies that will minimize impacts while maintaining or reducing the project duration and costs. The steps involved in the impact analysis may vary depending on the selected analysis tool.

Common components may be as follows:. The decision-making criteria an agency may choose to apply in determining the recommended alternative or combination of alternatives may be greatly influenced by the goals and objectives, the data collection efforts, and the level and complexity of their impact analysis.

The typical steps involved in this stage of the project often include the following:. For further information on developing a decision-making framework, refer to Chapter 5 of this document. This stage of the project and the alternatives analysis depends on the results of the impact analysis and the decision-making criteria stage. The alternatives analysis indicates the types of impacts to expect from the recommended alternative or combination of strategies.

The impact mitigation stage identifies the potential mitigation strategies that can aid in further reducing the impacts. Further analysis may be conducted to determine which combination of mitigation strategies may prove to be most efficient and cost-effective. Types of mitigation strategies can include public information, traffic control devices, travel demand management, and traffic operations measures.

Developing a monitoring plan can serve as a way to determine the effectiveness of the work zone traffic analysis and the alternatives analysis process by determining impacts and mitigating mobility and safety issues.

Table of Contents. Constructability — This refers to efficient and effective planning, designing, and building of projects while minimizing impacts on mobility and safety. For agencies, such goals may include optimizing construction duration, minimizing construction costs, or reducing negative economic impacts on the surrounding community.