Synthesis of Sign Deterioration Rates across the United States
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 135, Issue 3
Abstract
In response to minimum retroreflectivity standards, transportation departments are implementing sign asset management strategies, which rely upon knowledge of how retroreflectivity decreases as signs weather and age. To provide this knowledge, the writers field measured over 1,000 in-service signs in scattered North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) divisions, collecting age and retroreflectivity data for white, yellow, red, and green signs and for ASTM sheeting Types I and III. Data from this study and data from five similar U.S. efforts were analyzed using regression to identify the best available deterioration rate estimates, finding that retroreflectivity minimums are usually reached eight to after installation. Initial results indicated that the best-fitting relationships between retroreflectivity and age were generally linear and that these models were significant despite having low values. Because age did not explain some of the variance, the writers reevaluated their data including NCDOT divisions as a factor, finding that sign deterioration differed significantly by division, indicating that handling practices, manufacturing differences, and environmental exposure may be key deterioration model factors that merit future study.
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Acknowledgments
This work was sponsored by the NCDOT. The views expressed in this paper are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCDOT or any other organization. The writers alone are responsible for any errors. This paper does not represent a standard, guideline, or specification of the NCDOT, FHwA, or any other organization. The writers wish to thank Muhtar Osman and the NCSU statistical consulting program for assistance.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 135 • Issue 3 • March 2009
Pages: 94 - 103
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Apr 26, 2006
Accepted: Oct 20, 2008
Published online: Mar 1, 2009
Published in print: Mar 2009
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