Highway Data

From IHSDMDownload

One of the first steps in using IHSDM is to compile data describing the highway to be evaluated. The exact data requirements depend on which safety module(s) will be used. In general, data requirements may include highway segment geometry (horizontal alignment, vertical alignment, and cross section), roadside geometry, intersection geometry, traffic volume data, and crash data. To illustrate IHSDM data, the full distribution includes sample highway files.

Much of the highway segment geometry data required by IHSDM is available in the civil design software packages used in highway geometric design. With the objective of minimizing the effort required by the user to export data from these packages and import into IHSDM, the following mechanisms for data exchange are available:

• LandXML 1.0 data exported by civil design software packages can be imported into IHSDM.
• GEOPAK data can be extracted from GEOPAK 2001, 2000 and 98 using a GEOPAK-to-IHSDM Data Extractor in a format that can be imported into IHSDM. The data extractor is distributed with IHSDM. Newer versions of GEOPAK can export the alignment data into LandXML format that can be imported into IHSDM.
• CAiCE data can be extracted using CAiCE's IHSDM Toolbox in LandXML format, which can be imported into IHSDM. CAiCE distributes the IHSDM Toolbox with their Visual Roads civil engineering software. (Note: CAiCE's IHSDM Toolbox provides access to the IHSDM 2004 Public Release, including related documentation. Users of the 2008 Public Release should access the IHSDM software and documentation directly from this web site.)

Contents 1 Sample Highway Files 2 LandXML Data 3 GEOPAK Data 4 CAiCE Data

Sample Highway Files

The full distribution of IHSDM includes a highways folder that contains sample highway files. These files contain geometry data needed by IHSDM and may be used as a starting point for IHSDM testing and evaluation. The following sample files are provided in the IHSDM 2008 Public Release:

• ihsdm.network.example.xml - the IHSDM highway data file for IHSDM Pike, an existing 4.2 km highway segment. The file includes data for the intersection of IHSDM Pike with Route 1.
• ihsdm.network.irm_example.xml - provides data for four intersections, including four-leg intersections with no YIELD, and all-way STOP control and a five-leg intersection with YIELD control.

LandXML Data

LandXML is an industry-developed standard schema for the exchange of data created during land planning, surveying, and civil engineering design processes by different applications software. IHSDM supports the LandXML Version 1.0 data exchange format.

IHSDM can import data exported by other commercial civil design packages in LandXML format. See http://www.landxml.org for a list of civil engineering design packages and other software applications that support LandXML.

GEOPAK Data

For use with GEOPAK 2001, 2000 and 98, the GEOPAK-to-IHSDM Data Extractor extracts from GEOPAK (*.GPK and *.INP files) a subset of the geometric data required to run IHSDM and converts the data to a format that can be imported into IHSDM. The geopak_to_ihsdm_api folder contains the API software (g2ihsdm.ma) and a set of sample files. For newer versions of GEOPAK export the alignment data into LandXML format and import it into IHSDM.

The following sample files are provided:

   * example.txt - an IHSDM highway data file extracted using the GEOPAK-to-IHSDM Data Extractor from the GEOPAK jobprm.gpk and example.inp files. Some data elements that cannot be extracted from GEOPAK (e.g., average daily traffic) were added to the file manually using a text editor.
   * jobprm.gpk - a GEOPAK (*.GPK) file containing horizontal (chain) and vertical (profile) alignment data extracted by the GEOPAK-to-IHSDM Data Extractor.
   * example.inp - a GEOPAK auto shape input (*.INP) file containing the cross-slope data extracted by the GEOPAK-to-IHSDM Data Extractor.
   * example.dgn - a Microstation SE design file that illustrates the horizontal and vertical alignments. 

The jobprm.gpk and example.inp files may be used to illustrate how the GEOPAK-to-IHSDM Data Extractor extracts data from GEOPAK and creates IHSDM highway data files (e.g., example.txt).

CAiCE Data

CAiCE Visual Roads civil engineering software includes an IHSDM Toolbox that can be used to export data from CAiCE Visual Roads in LandXML format. The data that are exported from Visual Roads include superelevation tables, horizontal and vertical alignments, and cross-sections. The data file exported by the CAiCE's IHSDM Toolbox can be imported to IHSDM using the LandXML import capability. (Note: CAiCE's IHSDM Toolbox provides access to the IHSDM Public Release, including related documentation. Users of the 2008 Public Release should access the IHSDM software and documentation directly from this web site.)

Refer to http://www.caice.com/default2.htm for additional information about CAiCE's IHSDM Toolbox.