Frequently Asked Questions
From IHSDMDownload
This document is a list of frequently asked question related to the IHSDM software. The document is applicable to the IHSDM 2008 Public Release software.
General
I'm new to IHSDM, how do I get started?
IHSDM is a suite of software analysis tools for evaluating safety and operational effects of geometric design on highways. The IHSDM 2008 release (six evaluation modules applicable to two-lane rural highways) and the 2009 Crash Prediction Module Beta Release (Crash Prediction Module only; applicable to two-lane rural highways, multilane rural highways and urban/suburban arterials) are now available. For a general overview of IHSDM, the best starting point is the main IHSDM web site, http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/ihsdm/ihsdm.htm.
What is the relationship between the IHSDM 2009 CPM Beta Release and the upcoming Highway Safety Manual?
The Highway Safety Manual (HSM) is being developed by the Transportation Research Board and AASHTO. Current plans are for AASHTO to publish the 1st Edition HSM in 2010. The latest draft of the HSM (3.1; April 2009) contains four parts (A, B, C and D). Part C documents Crash Prediction Methodologies for three types of highways: rural two-lane highways, multilane rural highways and urban/suburban arterials. The IHSDM 2009 CPM Beta Release is intended to be - to the extent possible - a faithful software implementation of the crash prediction methods documented in Part C of the HSM (Draft 3.1). For more information on the Highway Safety Manual, visit the HSM public website at www.highwaysafetymanual.org.
I have the IHSDM 2008 Public Release. Can I install the 2009 CPM Beta version over my old installation?
No. Install the 2009 CPM Beta Release alone, i.e., do not install the 2009 CPM Beta Release over any previous release of the IHSDM, including the IHSDM 2008 Public Release.
I've downloaded IHSDM, now what?
IHSDM is packaged as a Windows installer archive. Start the installation process by launching the distribution package application, e.g., the downloaded file named ihsdm_5_0_2_full.exe. After the installation process is completed, a series of dialogs will ask a series of questions related to the installation.
I've installed IHSDM 2008 or the 2009 CPM Beta Release. As a new user how should I start?
After successfully installing the IHSDM we suggest that you start by reviewing the IHSDM Tutorial (under "Help" in the main menu).
I've installed the IHSDM 2009 CPM Beta Release. As a previous user of the IHSDM how should I start?
Start IHSDM, open the Help Browser (from the main menu "Help/ Help Browser") and read through the "Release Notes for 2009 CPM Beta Release" (for version 5.3.0; June 30, 2009) and the "Release Notes for 2009 CPM Beta Release (November 2009 update)" (for version 5.3.1; November 13, 2009 update). Though you should not install the 2009 CPM Beta Release over the 2008 Release, you can archive your 2008 Release projects individually (via Project Operations > Archive Project), then un-archive them in the 2009 CPM Beta Release (via User Operations > Un-archive Project). For these projects, you will not be able to access archived Evaluation Reports via the 2009 CPM Beta Release, but you will have access to Highway and Intersection data, and can run new CPM Evaluations using that data.
I have the 2006 release of the IHSDM. Can I install this 2008 version over my old installation?
Yes. You can choose to install the 2008 version over the 2006 release of IHSDM. However, if you have customized Policy files generated in your 2006 release, a conversion is needed to make them available for your 2008 version. This conversion can be done in the AdminTool, which is the same tool used to create a customized Policy file.
If you choose to install the 2008 version separately from your "old" version of IHSDM, Archive your old projects in the 2006 version and then Unarchive them into the 2008 version to transfer your projects to the new version.
I have the 2004 release of the IHSDM. Should I install the 2008 version over my old installation?
No. If you have data in the 2004 version and wish to use it, we suggest that you keep the 2004 release and install the 2006 version first in a different place (e.g., c:\Program Files\ihsdm2006). Use the "File/Convert Legacy Data" feature of the 2006 version to convert projects you created with the 2004 release to run in the new release. If the conversion is successful you may not need to use the previous version any more. However, only the highways and intersections of the legacy data are converted. Neither the Analysis Reports nor any graph that you saved using the 2004 release will be converted to the 2006 version.
Then, the 2008 release can be installed over the 2006 version. All data that have been already converted to the 2006 version are automatically available in the 2008 version.
I've installed IHSDM 2008. As a previous user of the IHSDM how should I start?
Start IHSDM, open the Help Browser (from the main menu "Help/ Help Browser") and read through the "Release Notes for 2008 Version." If you have installed the 2008 version over the 2006 or 2007 versions, you should have all of your projects ready to be used on the interface.
When is the next version of IHSDM anticipated?
The next Public Release of IHSDM is scheduled to coincide with the release of the 1st Edition Highway Safety Manual (HSM). Current plans are for AASHTO to publish the 1st Edition HSM in 2010. For more information on the Highway Safety Manual, visit the HSM public website at www.highwaysafetymanual.org.
How do I get technical support for IHSDM?
The technical support email address is: IHSDM.Support@fhwa.dot.gov.
The technical support phone number is: (202) 493-3407.
Is formal training available for IHSDM?
Yes, see this.
Is IHSDM available for the (insert your favorite) operating system?
Currently, IHSDM is available for the recent various flavors of the Microsoft Windows operating system. The supported versions of Windows Intel IA32 include:
- Windows XP Professional
- Windows XP Home
- Windows Server 2003
- Windows 2000 Professional
- Windows 2000 Server
- Windows Vista
Supported versions of Windows x64 include
- Windows XP Professional
- Windows Server 2003
- Windows Vista
Most IHSDM development an testing is done in a IA32 Windows XP Professional environment.
IHSDM is implemented in the Java programming language, and in theory, is portable to operating systems supporting a Java 6 virtual machine (for example). Some testing of IHSDM has been done on Linux using the Sun Linux Java Runtime Environment, however we are not packaging a distribution of IHSDM for Linux or any other operating system because of a lack of demand. For more information, see this.
Are the latest AASHTO policies available for IHSDM?
Yes. The IHSDM Policy Review Module references the 1990, 1994, 2001 and 2004 editions of AASHTO's A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets.
Is there a way to add my organization's design policies to IHSDM?
Yes. The IHSDM Administration Tool (admintool.exe) includes the capability to edit values in currently available AASHTO policy tables to reflect other organizations' design policies. A limitation is that it is not possible to alter the column structure of the policy tables.
Is there a way to interface my highway design software to IHSDM?
IHSDM can import LandXML format data (Schema 1.0). Many civil engineering design software packages also support LandXML and can export data into this format. A list of such software packages is available on the LandXML web site (www.landxml.org). In addition, the GEOPAK-to-IHSDM Data Extraction tool (an MDL application) is distributed with IHSDM; the tool works with GEOPAK 98, 2000, and 2001.
IHSDM Data Structure
Where can I find information on how projects, highways, intersections and evaluations are related?
For detailed information on how projects, highways, intersections and evaluations are related, refer to the "IHSDM Interface and Data Organization" section of the IHSDM documentation (Help > Help Browser).
Graphical User Interface
Is there an alternative to using edit dialogs for list boxes?
The user can customize how list boxes function by setting the options found on the Review/Edit GUI Preferences accessed through the Edit/Preferences Controls menu item.
Is there a way to use the Firefox/Mozilla/Netscape/Internet Explorer HTML browser?
The user can select any installed HTML browser by using the HTML browser file chooser on the Ancillary Programs tab of the Review/Edit GUI Preferences dialog accessed through the Edit/Preferences main menu item.
