TRB Webinar: Sign and Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity- Measurement Basics, Safety Benefits, Advancements: A State Department of Transportation (DOT) Perspective

TRB conducted a webinar on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM ET that examined retroreflectivity in sign and pavement marking from the perspective of a state Department of Transportation (DOT). This webinar discussed the basic measurement of sign and pavement marking retroreflectivity using equipment available to state DOT employees. This webinar presented a summary of sign retroreflectivity assessment methods used to meet the new Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) requirements. This webinar also presented advancements in Road Markings to Support Autonomous Vehicle Technologies.

This webinar was organized by the TRB Standing Committee on Sign and Pavement Markings.

A certificate for 1.5 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) was provided to attendees who registered and attended the webinar as an individual. Contact Reggie Gillum at RGillum@nas.edu for instructions on receiving a copy of the recorded webinar.

Here are the slides from the presentations.

Webinar Presenters

• Jim Swisher, Virginia DOT
• Rick Douds, Georgia DOT
• Paul Carlson, Texas A&M Transportation Institute

Moderator: Jim Swisher, Virginia DOT


Webinar Outline

1. Basic measurement of sign and pavement marking retroreflectivity
2. Summary of sign retroreflectivity assessment methods
3. Advancements in Road Markings to Support Autonomous Vehicle Technologies

The first 60 minutes of the webinar will be for presentations and the final 30 minutes will be reserved for audience questions. The Registered Continuing Education Program (RCEP) categorizes this webinar activity as relating to health, safety, and welfare including core technical.


Learning Objectives
At the end of this webinar, participants were able to:

• Understand the basic theory behind the measurement of sign and pavement marking retroreflectivity, including the standard geometries
• List the challenges in making the measurements under a variety of conditions
• Understand how the measurements are related to the visibility and safety for the driver
• List the advantages and disadvantages in the assessment methods for ensuring the minimum retroreflectivity of sign material
• Apply the current advancements in research to the use of pavement markings for autonomous vehicles navigation
• Understand the work and research being conducted with the potential use of advanced pavement markings

Registration Information
There is no fee for employees of TRB Sponsors or TRB Sustaining Affiliates who register using their work email address. In addition to employees of TRB sponsor organizations, the following are eligible to receive complimentary webinar registration:

• TRB and National Academies employees;
• Chairs of TRB standing committees, sections, or groups;
• Members of the media;
• Employees of tribal governments; and
• Members of Congress or their staff.

Other sites must pay $89 per site. View our pricing page for details.

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.


Professional Development Hour Information
A certificate for 1.5 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) was provided to Professional Engineers (PEs) who registered and attended the webinar as an individual. For groups, only the person that registers and attends the session will receive a PDH certificate.

Individuals registered as Florida PEs are no longer required to email TRB with your license number to report your attendance. Instead, please use your certificate that TRB provides through RCEP.net as verification of your attendance to the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.

Please check with your licensing board to ensure that TRB webinar PDHs are approved by your board.

This webinar was developed in March 2015. TRB has met the standards and requirements of the Registered Continuing Education Program (RCEP). Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to RCEP by TRB. Certificates of Completion will be issued to individuals who register for and attend the entire webinar session. Complaints about registered providers may be sent to RCEP, 1015 15th Street, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. Website: www.RCEP.net.

Registration questions? Contact Reggie Gillum at RGillum@nas.edu.