Overhead guide sign retroreflectivity and illumination.
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Overhead guide sign retroreflectivity and illumination.

Filetype[PDF-1.89 MB]


English
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Details:

  • Creators:
  • Corporate Creators:
    Kansas State University. Transportation Center
  • Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Publication/ Report Number:
    K-TRAN: KSU-11-6
  • Resource Type:
    Tech Report
  • Geographical Coverage:
    Kansas
  • Corporate Publisher:
    Kansas. Dept. of Transportation
  • Abstract:
    Roadway guide sign visibility during darkness is fundamental to driver safety, especially elderly drivers. Guide

    sign visibility can be improved by external sign illumination or the use of retroreflective sheeting on signs. Because

    energy conservation is essential in the midst of a worldwide energy crisis, various Departments of Transportation have

    investigated usage of energy-efficient lighting technology with overhead guide signs.

    This report presents results of a survey related to overhead sign lighting usability by states, a laboratory

    experiment to compare the light distribution of five light sources used to illuminate overhead guide sign by several

    states, a cost analysis for the tested light sources, a field experiment to compare the visibility of three retroreflective

    sheeting used by states, a cost analysis for the tested retroreflective guide signs, and an analysis by determining the

    most cost-effective method of increasing overhead guide sign visibility to drivers during nighttime.

    A laboratory experiment was conducted to compare the light distribution of three conventional light sources:

    Metal Halide, Mercury Vapor, and High Pressure Sodium, and two new generation light sources: Induction lighting,

    and Light Emitting Diode. Combining two decision criteria, the light distribution and the cost, resulted in finding the

    Induction lighting to be the recommended light source for those states that want to continue illuminating their

    overhead guide signs. A field experiment was conducted to compare three types of sign sheeting, Engineering Grade

    (type I), Diamond Grade (type XI), and High Intensity (type IV), in order to determine the sign sheeting material that

    best improves sign visibility. Combining the decision criteria to compare these three retroreflective sheeting, the

    visibility and the cost, High Intensity (type IV) is the recommended sign to be used by DOTs, followed by Diamond

    Grade (type XI).

    In comparing the best options used to increase sign’s visibility, sign illumination and sign retroreflectivity, it is

    found that using retroreflective sheeting is more cost effective than sign illuminating.

  • Format:
    PDF
  • Funding:
    C1889
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