guidelines to project writing

8/12/2019 Guidelines to Project Writing

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GUIDELINES TO RESEARCH PROJECT WRITING

Cover Page:

Cover page will consist of:

Title (in capitals, bold and center-justified) Researchers name, previous degree(s) and matriculation number Statement of the purpose of project and where it was carried out Date (i.e. month and year) of project execution. Date should be month and year the work was

completed and submitted to the Department after approval by the Supervisor.

See sample of Cover Page on next sheet.


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A SIMPLIFIED NETWORK-LEVEL PAVEMENT INFORMATION

AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (PIMS) FOR FEDERAL ROADS IN

NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIA

BY

OMOYENI, ADEWALE MICHAEL

B.Sc. Hons. (Ife), M.Sc. (Lagos)

Matric No: 019042016

A PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED TO DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF

MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.Sc.) IN CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

(STRUCTURES OPTION)

UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS

JUNE 2011


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CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that this Research Work was carried out by

Mr. AGENIYI, Samuel Oloruntoba

Matriculation Number 01904010

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,

University of Lagos

___________________________ ______________________ ____________AUTHORS NAME SIGNATURE DATE

___________________________ ______________________ ____________SUPERVISORS NAME SIGNATURE DATE


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DEDICATION

Use this page to dedicate the project to God and/or loved ones.


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Use this page to show appreciation for the contributions (spiritual, moral, financial, etc.) fromdifferent people who contributed in one way or the other towards the success of the work.

Do not forget to appreciate your Supervisor and Laboratory Technicians (material testing), etc.


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ABSTRACT

Abstract should be a summary of: Introduction to the existing challenges necessitating the execution of the research work, Summary of previous / similar works done on the topical area

Summary of aim (work to carry out) and objectives (basic procedures to achieve the aim) Summary of results and conclusion.

Abstract should not be more than a PAGE. Keywords (i.e. important terminologies) used in the work should be listed at the bottom.

Keywords should be bold.

SAMPLE

All over the world, the importance of prediction of pavement performance to aid long term scheduling

of maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) activities and budgetary allocation, has been widely

recognized. Pavement deterioration modelling, based on historical record of performance variation

with time, requires regular measurement of the condition rating of pavement sections over a period of

time. Based on the generated model curves using historical data, future condition rating could then be

predicted. Since such information and record are absent in the country (Nigeria), this method cannot be

used and the alternative is to use probabilistic modelling.

Some attempts have been made to develop deterioration model using the Markov probability matrix

method with a constant transition probability matrix (TPM). However, with this approach, the two

important effects of pavement age and traffic volume were not reflected. As an improvement over

these limitations, this study attempted the development of a more realistic and dynamic pavement

deterioration prediction by modelling a series of TPM that incorporate the effects of age and traffic

volume on pavement deterioration. Road user costs model was also developed to determine road

intervention maintenance costs, and evaluate benefits of reduced vehicle operating cost upon

improvement at network level. Detailed analyses of road deterioration and incurred road user costs

were performed for a case-study road over a period of twenty (20) year.

A simplified but computerized pavement information and management system (PIMS) was developed,

within MatlabTM and Visual BasicTM environments. The PIMS is capable of storing, analyzing,

modifying, reporting and displaying pavement and traffic information for individual and entire

network of federal highways in Nigeria.Results can also be displayed in charts and themes.


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Visual condition surveys were carried out for twelve selected road sections in the North Central part of

Nigeria. Condition evaluations were performed for the surveyed roads using manual and automated

PCI-based method. The results showed that the developed PIMS is quite suitable for use on Federal

roads in a developing country such as Nigeria.

Keywords: Pavement & Rehabilitation, PIMS, Road User Cost, Pavement Condition Index,


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Title Page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgements iv

Abstract v

Table of Contents vi

List of Tables xi

List of Figures xiii

List of Plates xvi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION1.1 Preamble 11.2 Overview 11.3 Condition of the Federal Highways 4CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Overview 14

2.2 Beginning of Pavement Management Systems 14CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.1 User Costs Modelling 72

3.1.1 Vehicle Speeds 73

3.1.2 Fuel Consumption 74

3.1.3 Tyre Consumption (Tear and Wear) 75

3.1.3.1 Consumption Levels

3.1.3.2 Abrasion Levels

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

REFERENCES 125


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LIST OF APPENDICES (if any)

Appendix A: Typical Sample of Excel Worksheet Result for Visual Condition 71

Appendix B: Soil Classification Test Results 79

Appendix C: West African Compaction Test Results 86

Appendix D: Statistical Calculations of the Predicted Results 98


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LIST OF TABLES

Page

Table 1.1 Distribution of the National Road Network as at 1996 2

Table 1.2 Appropriations for Road Maintenance (19992002) 5

Table 2.1 Comparison of Manual and Automated Distress Data Collection Results 20Table 2.2 Pavement Condition Ratings and Pavement Condition Index Ranges 24


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LIST OF FIGURES

Page

Figure 1.1 Pavement Deterioration and Recycling Rehabilitation versus Time 6

Figure 1.2 Pavement Deterioration versus Time 7

Figure 2.1 Asphalt Surfaced Roads Survey Using Frames 19Figure 2.2 Typical Regression Curves 25

Figure 3.1 General Components of a Typical PIMS (Compiled) 38


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LIST OF PLATES

Page

Plate 1: Data Collection Vehicle for 35mm Analogue Continuous Film

Technology 18

Plate 2: Data Collection Vehicle for Digital Camera Technology 18


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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 GENERAL BACKGROUND

1.2 OVERVIEW

1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENTState the needs / problems, as highlighted in the Background.

Sample Problem Statement

Currently, there is no comprehensive management system for inspecting, recording, analyzing,

prioritizing and programming highway maintenance works in Nigeria. The ability to integrate data

from a variety of sources and provide summarized, strategic information in an easily understandable

format for decision makers is also lacking.

There is need to digitize all available information including cost of maintenance and continuous

condition survey data for all the federal highway sections. Available data are scanty and still in paper

form.

1.4 AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study / research work is to (... execute the title of the project)

To achieve the above-mentioned aim, the following specific objectives shall be pursued:

1. Evolve and validate a computerized condition rating system / M&R procedure within theproposed PIMS, applicable to all highway sections.

2. to develop performance prediction models capable of estimating present and predictedperformance of any selected highway section alongside user and intervention costs models, for

network-level.

1.5 SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH WORK (Extents of works to be covered)

1.6 LIMITATIONS OF THE RESEARCH WORK (Areas of work that shall not be attempted

due to constraints of time, financial capability, unavailability of necessary data, etc.)


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1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY (RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS) Benefits likely to be

derived from the research work.

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Some of the technical terminologies employed in this work are briefly defined as follows:

Pavement: The term pavement is used in this report to mean the whole road structure with all of its

layers and not just the surfacing layer.

Flexible Pavement:A pavement type in which bituminous mixtures are used as surfacing materials.

1.9 PROJECT LAYOUT

Following this introduction in chapter 1, the second chapter focuses on a review of the key...The third chapter is devoted to the development of pavement...

Chapter Four is dedicated to the analyses and discussion of results.The summary of findings,

conclusion, recommendations and contributions to knowledge are presented in chapter five.


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CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

Literature review should give a brief background review of works done in the topical area. Literature review should concentrate on highlighting relevant works / researches that have been

carried out in the past on this topical area and similar ones.

The review should mention the author(s), work done and result obtained (negative or positive). From the comprehensive review, it is then possible to bring out areas of deficiencies which this

current study/research work is trying to correct.


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CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

Methodology should be the detailed expansion of the listed objectives.

It should give step-by-step account of the procedures followed to execute the work, including:

- Sampling (Materials used for the work and Methods of obtaining them)- Development, distribution and utilization of Questionnaires (if used).- Laboratory tests procedures (if done), etc.


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CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Results of work done should be presented in Tabular form. A brief analysis of the results should be presented. Results and analyses should also be present in forms of CHARTS, CURVES, DRAWINGS &

EQUATIONS.


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CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

A (brief) summary of work done could be presented. The conclusions arrived at should then be listed. These should be based on the analyses of

Chapter Four.

Recommendations (on best practices) should then be offered. These should just be a fewsentences.

Further research works could be recommended.


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REFERENCES

AASHTO (1990), Guidelines for Pavement Management Systems,American Association of State

Highway Transportation Officials, Washington D.C.https://bookstore.transportation.org/Item_details.aspx?id=352(accessed at 18/03/12)

AASHTO (1997), Standing Committee on Highways, American Association of State HighwayTransportation Officials, Washington D.C.highways.transportation.org/.../NCHRPProject20-7Res4SCOH_PanelRecommendations9-29-

07.pdf (accessed at 12/07/12)

AASHTO (1998), Highway Subcommittee on Maintenance Definitions, American Association of

State Highway Transportation Officials, Washington D.C.

www.fhwa.dot.gov Engineering Pavements Preservation(accessed at 09/05/12)

AASHTO (2001), Pavement Management Guide, American Association of State Highway and

Transportation Officials, Washington, D.C.

https://bookstore.transportation.org/Item_details.aspx?id=352(accessed at 11/05/11)

Atume, F. T., (1992) Stochastic Modelling of Road Maintenance Strategies An Unpublished M.Sc.

Thesis from the Department of Civil Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

Benjamin, J.R. and Cornell, C. A. (1970), Probability, Statistics and Decision for Civil Engineers

McGraw-Hill Book Company.

www.amazon.com/Probability-Statistics-Decision-Civil-Engineers/.../0070045585 (accessed

at 10/01/11)

Buhari, M. (2000), The role of infrastructural development and rehabilitation in sustainableeconomic growth in Nigeria A paper presented at the All Peoples Party (APP) economicsummit, held at the LadiKwali conference centre, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja.

Carey, W. N., and Irick, P. E., (1960) The Pavement Serviceability Performance Concept,HRB,

Bulletin 250, National Research Council, Washington, D.C. pp. 40-58.

CBN (2003), Highway Maintenance in Nigeria: Lessons from Other Countries, Central Bank of

Nigeria, Research Department Occasional Paper No. 27.
https://bookstore.transportation.org/Item_details.aspx?id=352https://bookstore.transportation.org/Item_details.aspx?id=352http://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/engineering/index.cfm&rct=j&ei=gfKDS93EL8qz4QaemLHsAQ&sa=X&oi=breadcrumbs&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=1&ved=0CAcQ6QUoAA&q=highway+subcommittee+on+maintenance+definitions&usg=AFQjCNEP8FdIkuaYNkhVNc06hYy4zoiS9whttp://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/engineering/index.cfm&rct=j&ei=gfKDS93EL8qz4QaemLHsAQ&sa=X&oi=breadcrumbs&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=1&ved=0CAcQ6QUoAA&q=highway+subcommittee+on+maintenance+definitions&usg=AFQjCNEP8FdIkuaYNkhVNc06hYy4zoiS9whttp://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/index.cfm&rct=j&ei=gfKDS93EL8qz4QaemLHsAQ&sa=X&oi=breadcrumbs&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=2&ved=0CAgQ6QUoAQ&q=highway+subcommittee+on+maintenance+definitions&usg=AFQjCNEop4pMEi6kkPgCWld9X5zr15mP8Ahttp://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/index.cfm&rct=j&ei=gfKDS93EL8qz4QaemLHsAQ&sa=X&oi=breadcrumbs&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=2&ved=0CAgQ6QUoAQ&q=highway+subcommittee+on+maintenance+definitions&usg=AFQjCNEop4pMEi6kkPgCWld9X5zr15mP8Ahttp://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/pres.cfm&rct=j&ei=gfKDS93EL8qz4QaemLHsAQ&sa=X&oi=breadcrumbs&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=3&ved=0CAkQ6QUoAg&q=highway+subcommittee+on+maintenance+definitions&usg=AFQjCNHmqUzVvdJD2jJ6Ku45NL1F_PMcKAhttp://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/pres.cfm&rct=j&ei=gfKDS93EL8qz4QaemLHsAQ&sa=X&oi=breadcrumbs&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=3&ved=0CAkQ6QUoAg&q=highway+subcommittee+on+maintenance+definitions&usg=AFQjCNHmqUzVvdJD2jJ6Ku45NL1F_PMcKAhttp://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/pres.cfm&rct=j&ei=gfKDS93EL8qz4QaemLHsAQ&sa=X&oi=breadcrumbs&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=3&ved=0CAkQ6QUoAg&q=highway+subcommittee+on+maintenance+definitions&usg=AFQjCNHmqUzVvdJD2jJ6Ku45NL1F_PMcKAhttps://bookstore.transportation.org/Item_details.aspx?id=352https://bookstore.transportation.org/Item_details.aspx?id=352http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Statistics-Decision-Civil-Engineers/.../0070045585http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Statistics-Decision-Civil-Engineers/.../0070045585http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Statistics-Decision-Civil-Engineers/.../0070045585http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Statistics-Decision-Civil-Engineers/.../0070045585http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Statistics-Decision-Civil-Engineers/.../0070045585http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Statistics-Decision-Civil-Engineers/.../0070045585http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Statistics-Decision-Civil-Engineers/.../0070045585http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Statistics-Decision-Civil-Engineers/.../0070045585http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Statistics-Decision-Civil-Engineers/.../0070045585http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Statistics-Decision-Civil-Engineers/.../0070045585http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Statistics-Decision-Civil-Engineers/.../0070045585http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Statistics-Decision-Civil-Engineers/.../0070045585http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Statistics-Decision-Civil-Engineers/.../0070045585https://bookstore.transportation.org/Item_details.aspx?id=352http://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/pres.cfm&rct=j&ei=gfKDS93EL8qz4QaemLHsAQ&sa=X&oi=breadcrumbs&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=3&ved=0CAkQ6QUoAg&q=highway+subcommittee+on+maintenance+definitions&usg=AFQjCNHmqUzVvdJD2jJ6Ku45NL1F_PMcKAhttp://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/index.cfm&rct=j&ei=gfKDS93EL8qz4QaemLHsAQ&sa=X&oi=breadcrumbs&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=2&ved=0CAgQ6QUoAQ&q=highway+subcommittee+on+maintenance+definitions&usg=AFQjCNEop4pMEi6kkPgCWld9X5zr15mP8Ahttp://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/engineering/index.cfm&rct=j&ei=gfKDS93EL8qz4QaemLHsAQ&sa=X&oi=breadcrumbs&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=1&ved=0CAcQ6QUoAA&q=highway+subcommittee+on+maintenance+definitions&usg=AFQjCNEP8FdIkuaYNkhVNc06hYy4zoiS9whttps://bookstore.transportation.org/Item_details.aspx?id=352


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APPENDIX A:(font size be big, e.g. 18.)

CAPTURING THE ROAD NETWORK CENTRELINE AND CHALLENGES

ENCOUNTERED


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BASIC RULES REPORT WRITING

- Font style: Times New Roman- Font size: 12- Paragraph spacing: 11/2-

Formatting Style: Full Justification- Table labelling: At the top and all capital letters- Figure & Plate labelling: At the bottom- Citation format: [Author, Year]- Equations: Use Equation Editor- Use of Screen Capture (when necessary)- Use of Charts, Graphs, Drawings etc generated from other sources (e.g. Excel, AutoCAD, etc.)- Proper use of Bullets, Numbering.- Headers, Footers and fanciful presentations are NOTpermitted.- Allowed to present pictures of sites, samples, yourself carrying out lab tests,REFERENCES format:

- Alphabetical- Authors name, Yearof Publication (in bracket); Title (Bold or italicized and in apostrophe); Page

Numbers (if Journal), Publishers, etc.

REFERENCE CITATION

- At this point, rehabilitation can be used to effect a wholesale correction of a large number ofrelatively severe defects, which provides a step increase in pavement quality [APWA, 2003].


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TABLE Labelling

TABLE 1.1: DISTRIBUTION OF THE NATIONAL ROAD NETWORK AS AT 2000

Type of Road Federal(km)

State(km)

Local Govt.(km)

Total(km)

Paved Trunk Roads 26,500 10,400 - 36,900Unpaved Trunk Roads 5,600 20,100 - 25,700Urban Roads - - 21,900 21,900

Main Rural Roads - - 72,800 72,800

Village Access Roads - - 35,900 35,900

Total (km) 32,100 30,500 130,600 193,200

Percent 17% 16% 67% 100%Source: Basic Asphalt Recycling Manual [ARRA, 2001]

If Table is from an external source and not generated by you, you must provide the Source.

FIGURE Labelling

Figure 1.1: Pavement Deterioration and Recycling Rehabilitation versus Time

Source: Basic Asphalt Recycling Manual [ARRA, 2001]

If Figure/Plate is from an external source and not generated by you, you must provide the Source.

guidelines to project writing

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