IHSDM Tutorial

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Lesson 7: Intersection Review Module (IRM)

Overview

The Intersection Review Module (IRM) performs a ‘Diagnostic Review’ to evaluate the expected
operational performance of the design to assess potential safety concerns. The objective is to
provide a comprehensive review of an intersection design, analogous to a review that might be
performed in a design organization by a senior highway safety engineer. A primary focus is to
identify combinations of geometric design elements that suggest potential concerns, even though
the elements individually may be considered within acceptable practice.

For more details, see the Intersection Review Module Engineer’s Manual.

In the work problem, you will use the Intersection Review Module to evaluate the intersection of
IHSDM Pike and Route 1, by identifying potential safety concerns and possible treatments to
address those concerns.

Work Problem

Exercise:
- 7.1: Evaluate the Intersection of IHSDM Pike and Route 1

- 7.2: Evaluate an Alternative Design for the Intersection of Existing IHSDM Pike and
Route1 (Alternative C)

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Exercise 7.1: Evaluate the Intersection of Existing IHSDM Pike and Route1

I. Create an Intersection Diagnostic Review Evaluation

1. If necessary, start IHSDM by double clicking the shortcut icon on your desktop screen, or
on ihsdm.exe in the IHSDM software home directory.

2. If you have not already done so, create a Project named “IHSDM Pike”, and import the
highway file named “ihsdm.network.ihsdm pike.xml”, following the general process
outlined in Exercise 2.1/2.2 for creating a Project and importing a Highway

3. To view the highways and intersection under the “IHSDM Pike” Project, click on the +
sign to the left of the “IHSDM Pike” node to expand the tree. You should see highway
nodes for ‘ihsdm pike’ and ‘route1’ and an intersection node for ‘route1/ihsdm pike.’

4. To create an Evaluation for the IHSDM Pike/Route 1 intersection:

a. Select the intersection node corresponding to “route1/ihsdm pike” by clicking it
once.
b. Click the “New Evaluation” button on the Button Panel to bring up the “Set
evaluation node attributes” window in the desktop area.
c. Fill in:
- Title: IRM1

“Report All Evaluated

Concerns” instructs the IRM
to list in the Evaluation
Report all applicable
possible concerns for the
intersection being evaluated,
including those that the IRM
has determined are not
concerns

d. Click on “Next”

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II. Set the Evaluation Attributes

1. “Set diagnostic review attributes”:

a. Evaluation Attributes:
i. Check the box for “Report All Evaluation Concerns”
ii. Design Vehicle: SU-9(30) - Single Unit Truck
iii. Evaluation Year: 2015
b. Policy: AASHTO 2011 U.S. Customary

Click “Next”

2. IHSDM checked the highway data provided vs. the data that could be used for the
intersection diagnostic review evaluation. The “Intersection Leg Data Issues Summary”
screen informs the user of the intersection leg(s) that may have further data needs. In this
case, the user is alerted that ihsdm pike and route1 each has 1 missing or incomplete data
elements.

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Click Next to proceed.

3. The “data issues” for ihsdm pike screen shows data elements that are used by the
evaluation, except for certain elements that may affect the sectioning of the highway, for
example Horizontal and vertical Elements. Here, Lane Offset is preceded by an orange
question mark, indicating that this optional data element has not been provided. (Note: A
red “X” is used to indicate missing required data.)

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TIP: To make
changes to a data
element listed in the
table, click on the
data element name to
bring up a data editor
for that element.

Since ihsdm pike does not have Lane Offset, confirm that no changes are needed to the
data at this time by selecting “Next.”

4. The “data issues” for route 1 screen shows data elements that are used by the evaluation.
Here, Lane Offset is preceded by an orange question mark, indicating that this optional
data element has not been provided. (Note: A red “X” is used to indicate missing required
data.)

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Since route1 does not have Lane Offset, confirm that no changes are needed to the data at
this time by selecting “Next.”

5. “Evaluation settings summary”: Check the summary to ensure that the previous steps
were completed properly. Make sure the box is checked for “Show Report on Run
Completion.” Click “Run” to run the Evaluation.

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III. Run IRM Evaluation

1. The IRM query window should appear in the desktop area.

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If intersection sight
obstruction information
is not available in
design documents, a
field inspection may be
needed to collect such
information. The user
can enter the
information through this
query interface

The query questions are

related to roadside
obstructions in the
intersection area. A
yellow triangular area
(sight triangle) or line of
sight is shown in the
“Intersection View”
window. The detailed
dimensions of the
triangular area or line are
given in the “Query Help”
portion of the window.
The user is asked to
indicate whether the sight
triangle/line is clear of
roadside sight
obstructions by answering
“Yes” or “No”

2. Click on the “Start” button in the top left corner. You will be asked a series of questions
regarding whether sight triangles (or lines of sight) are clear of roadside obstructions.

If an obstruction exists within the sight triangle (or crosses the line of sight) shown in the
Intersection View window, then the driver’s view is obstructed and you would answer
“NO” (i.e., that the sight triangle/line is NOT clear of obstructions).

Likewise, if the sight triangle/line shown in the Intersection View window were clear of
obstructions, then you would answer “YES” (i.e., that the sight triangle/line IS clear of
obstructions).

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For detailed
information on user
queries, refer to the
IRM Engineer’s
Manual

The first query is: “S route 1/NW ihsdm pike – is the sight triangle with dimensions
shown below clear of roadside obstructions (ISD Case B2 level 2)?”

Intersection Sight Distance (ISD) Case B2 refers to right turns from the minor road (South
Route 1, in this case). The triangle vertices represent the driver’s eye (on South Route 1),
object position (on NW IHSDM Pike), and intersection of the driver’s path and the path of
the vehicle approaching from NW IHSDM Pike.

Assume that an obstruction does exist within the sight triangle, and respond “NO” by
clicking on “No”, then “Continue” (or double-clicking on “No”).

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Continue to answer all queries, making assumptions regarding obstructions as described in

the table below.

Query Assumption Response

S route 1/NW ihsdm pike – is the sight triangle Obstruction No
with dimensions shown below clear of within sight
roadside obstructions (ISD Case B2 level 2)?” triangle
S route 1/NW ihsdm pike – is the sight triangle Obstruction No
with dimensions shown below clear of within sight
roadside obstructions (ISD Case B2 level 1)?” triangle
NW ihsdm pike – Is traffic signal sight line No Yes
clear of obstruction (level 2)? obstruction
N route 1 – Is traffic signal sight line clear of No Yes
obstruction (level 2)? obstruction

3. Your session log should contain:

o S route1/NW ihsdm pike - Clear of sight obstructions, left of intersection Case B2 (level 2)
[no]
o S route1/NW ihsdm pike - Clear of sight obstructions, left of intersection Case B2 (level 1)
[no]
o NW ihsdm pike - Traffic signal visibility clear (level 2) [yes]
o N route1 - Traffic signal visibility clear (level 2) [yes]

4. Once you have answered all the questions, the originally grayed- out “Exit” button will
become active. Click on “Exit”. The Evaluation Report should open in an html browser
automatically.

IV. View/Interpret IRM Diagnostic Review Output

An archived project is provided in the IHSDM “Tutorial”

folder. Unarchive project ihsdm.project.IHSDM Pike
Project.zip to access the project and evaluations.

1. View/Interpret Evaluation Report:

a. Maximize the Evaluation Report, or, if it has been closed, click on “Show Report” on
the Evaluation Operations button panel.
b. Scroll down to the “Diagnostic Summary” section

• Q 7.1.1: What potential Intersection concerns are identified?

• Q 7.1.2: What potential Leg-related concerns are identified on leg #4 – N Route1?
• Q 7.1.3: Which concerns are Level 1? Level 2?

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Concerns Concern
Level
Potential Intersection Large Intersection Level 2
Concerns Pavement Area
Potential Leg-related Insufficient ISD to left Level 1
concerns on N Route1 (Case B2)
Uneven, discontinuous Level 2
minor-road profile
through intersection

2. Close the Evaluation Report.

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Before we start to evaluate the alternative intersection design, please take a look at the
following plan view of the existing and Alternative C designs. (Notice that the location of
Route 1/IHSDM Pike intersection is changed in Alternative C and the alignment of Route 1
is modified, so that the intersection is not skewed.)

Existing IHSDM Pike and its intersecting highways:

IHSDM Pike Alternative C and its intersecting highways:

route1/ihsdm pike intersection in the existing design:

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Intersection location: 12861.286

route1 altC/ihsdm pike altC intersection in the Alternative C design:

Intersection location: 12141.831

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Exercise 7.2: Evaluate an Alternative Design for the Intersection of IHSDM Pike and
Route1 (Alternative C)

I. Create an Intersection Diagnostic Review Evaluation

1. If you have not already done so, create a Project named “IHSDM Pike”, and import the
highway file named “ihsdm.network.ihsdm pike_altC.xml”, following the general process
outlined in Exercise 2.1/2.2 for creating a Project and importing a Highway

2. Select the intersection node corresponding to “ihsdm altC/route 1 altC” under the
“IHSDM Pike” Project node by clicking it once.

3. Click the “New Evaluation” button on the Button Panel to bring up the “Set evaluation
node attributes” window in the desktop area.

4. Fill in:
- Title: IRM1

5. Click on “Next”
“Report All Evaluated
II. Set the Evaluation Attributes Concerns” instructs the IRM
1. “Set diagnostic review attributes”: to list in the Evaluation
a. Evaluation Attributes: Report all applicable
i. Check the box for “Report All Evaluated Concerns” possible concerns for the
intersection being evaluated,
ii. Design Vehicle: SU-9(30) - Single Unit Truck including those that the IRM
iii. Evaluation Year: 2015 has determined are not
b. Policy: AASHTO 2011 U.S. Customary concerns
c. Click “Next”

2. On the “Intersection Leg Data Issues Summary” screen, click Next to proceed.

3. On the next two Data Issue screens click Next to confirm the data and proceed.

4. “Evaluation settings summary”: Check the summary to ensure that the previous steps
were completed properly. Make sure the box is checked for “Show Report on Run
Completion.”

III. Run IRM Evaluation

1. Click “Run” to run the Evaluation. The IRM query window should appear in the desktop
area.

2. Click on the “Start” button in the top left corner. You will be asked a series of questions
regarding whether sight triangles (or lines of sight) are clear of roadside obstructions.
Using the following table to guide your answer.

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Query Assumption Response

SW route1-altC/NW ihsdm pike altC – is No Yes
the sight triangle with dimensions shown obstruction
below clear of roadside sight obstructions
(ISD Case B2 level 2)?
NE route1-altC/SE ihsdm pike altC – is No Yes
the sight triangle with dimensions shown obstruction
below clear of roadside sight obstructions
(ISD Case B2 level 2)?
NW ihsdm pike altC – Is traffic signal No Yes
sight line clear of obstruction (level 2)? obstruction

3. Your session log should contain the following:

o SW route1-altC/NW ihsdm pike altC - Clear of sight obstructions, left of intersection Case
B2(level 2) [yes]
o NE route1-altC/SE ihsdm pike altC - Clear of sight obstructions, left of intersection Case
B2(level 2) [yes]
o NW ihsdm pike altC - Traffic signal visibility clear (level 2) [yes]

4. Once you have answered all the questions, the message “Intersection Diagnostic Review
Completed” appears in the Message Box. Click on “Exit”. The Evaluation Report should
open in an html browser automatically.

IV. View/Interpret Intersection Diagnostic Review Output

1. View/Interpret Evaluation Report:

a. Maximize the Evaluation Report, or, if it has been closed, click on “Show Report” on
the Evaluation Operations button panel.
b. Scroll down to the “Diagnostic Summary” section

• Q 7.2.1: How do the results differ from the existing intersection?

i. Which Intersection concerns were eliminated?
ii. Which Leg-related concerns were eliminated on NE Route1-altC? (Note: Leg 4-
N Route1 in the existing design was replaced by NE Route1-altC, i.e. Leg 1 in
AltC)

Intersection Concerns Leg-related concerns on NE

Eliminated Route1-altC eliminated
Large Intersection Insufficient ISD to left (Case B2)
Pavement Area

2. Close the Evaluation Report.

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