Case Studies
Apr 11, 2017

Identification of Influencing Factors of Graffiti Occurrence at Nevada State Highway Bridges and Soundwalls

Publication: Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 23, Issue 4

Abstract

This study identifies the factors influencing the occurrence of graffiti on highway infrastructure, specifically bridges and soundwalls in Nevada. Using data from the Las Vegas area, linear regression models were developed to link the occurrence of graffiti (in terms of graffiti size) to highway infrastructure locations and the presence of graffiti countermeasures. Bridges at high-profile freeways are found to experience more graffiti compared with bridges at low-profile freeways. Infrastructure located in commercial areas or low income residential communities is not found to influence the intensity of graffiti occurrence at bridges. Fencing is found to be an effective measure to prevent graffiti occurrence. Soundwalls next to high profile freeways are found to have more graffiti compared with those at low-profile freeways. Graffiti appears in clusters; graffiti locations at soundwalls may not be proportional to the length of the soundwalls. Soundwalls in residential areas tend to have more graffiti than those in commercial areas. The developed models can be used to predict the locations that are more likely to suffer from graffiti problems and the amount of graffiti to occur. Agencies can use the results of this study to develop appropriate countermeasures to combat graffiti problems.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Nevada Department of Transportation for providing the funds to conduct this study.

References

Eck, R. W., and Martinelli, D. R. (1998). “Assessment and mitigation measures for graffiti on highway structures.” Transp. Res. Rec., 1642, 35–42.
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Teng, H. (2009). “Evaluation of graffiti countermeasures on highways.”, Nevada Dept. of Transportation, Carson City, NV.
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Published In

Go to Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 23Issue 4December 2017

History

Received: Feb 9, 2014
Accepted: Jan 6, 2017
Published online: Apr 11, 2017
Discussion open until: Sep 11, 2017
Published in print: Dec 1, 2017

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Authors

Affiliations

Hualiang Harry Teng, Ph.D. [email protected]
Director of USDOT Univ. Transportation Center on Railroad Infrastructure and Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction, Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Pkwy, P.O. Box 454007, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4007; Adjunct Professor, Beijing Jiaotong Univ., Beijing, China (corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected]
Anil Puli
Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction, Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Pkwy., P.O. Box 454015, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4015.
Yi Grace Qi
Professor and Chair, Dept. of Transportation Studies, Texas Southern Univ., 3100 Cleburne Ave., Houston, TX 77004-9986.

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