English 
Desde su lanzamiento, el software HDM-4 se ha usado en muchos países, en proyectos de diverso alcance. Durante el desarrollo de esos proyectos, muchos usuarios han entregado información sobre la utilidad y funcionalidad del software. El análisis de esos comentarios impulsó iniciativas para desarrollar y mejorar más el HDM-4. Muchos de los modelos técnicos utilizados en el software han sido ampliamente revisados a la luz de las nuevas investigaciones y datos. Esta revisión identificó mejoras en los modelos técnicos implementados dentro de HDM-4.
Los mejoramientos incluidos en la Versión 2.0 del software HDM-4 se presentan clasificados por categorías y se enumeran más adelante. Sigue a esta lista una breve descripción de los mejoramientos.
Para los actuales usuarios de HDM-4, está disponible para descarga una Guía de Iniciación en HDM-4 Versión 2.
• Mejoras en Modelos de Análisis
• Análisis de Sensibilidad
• Análisis de Escenarios de Presupuesto
• Análisis Multi-Criterio (MCA)
• Estimación de Beneficios Sociale
• Valoración de los Activos
• Datos de las Corridas en formato MS Access
• Importación/Exportación en MS Access
• Validación de las Importaciones
• Mejoras en Manejo y Organización de datos
• Actualización de Tecnologías de las Bases de Datos
• Rediseño de las características de Nuevas Secciones
• Rediseño del Tráfico
• Administración de Informes
• Deterioro en Caminos Bituminosos
• Efectos de los Trabajos en Caminos Bituminosos
• Deterioro en Caminos no pavimentados
• Efectos de los Trabajos en Caminos no pavimentados
• Efectos en los Usuarios del Camino
• Mejoras en el Uso y Configuración
• Editor de Intervenciones y Criterios de Activación de las partidas de trabajo
• Alternativas de Interfase de Usuario
• Modelos en base a arquitectura DLL
• Post-mejoramiento a los Estándares de Mantención
• Exclusión temporal de secciones del estudio
• Conjuntos de Calibración
• Mejoras en Configuración – Clases de accidentes
• Mejoras en Configuración – Tipos de velocidad de flujo
• Mejoras en Configuración – Patrones de flujo de tráfico
• Mejoramiento de los Efectos de los Estándares
Análisis de Sensibilidad
El Análisis de Sensibilidad ha sido incorporado al Análisis de Proyectos, con el fin de permitir al usuario investigar el impacto de las variaciones de los parámetros claves, en el análisis de los resultados. El usuario puede definir cualquier número de escenarios de sensibilidad, en los cuales se puede cambiar cualquiera de los 18 parámetros claves. Los 18 parámetros claves incluyen los costos unitarios, uso de vehículos, niveles y crecimiento del tráfico, y los beneficios netos. Se pueden variar uno o más parámetros claves, definiendo un factor multiplicador, y se determinan los efectos en los resultados y en el análisis. El usuario determina las variables que cambiará y ese criterio dependerá de la clase de investigación que desee realizar. Típicamente, se varían los parámetros claves para reflejar el rango potencial de su predicción.
Análisis de Escenarios de Presupuesto
La versión 2 de HDM-4, permite al usuario especificar un número ilimitado de Escenarios de Presupuesto. Cada Escenario de Presupuesto define los recursos financieros disponibles por la agencia vial durante el periodo de análisis. Para cada uno de los Escenarios de Presupuesto seleccionados, se generará un programa de trabajo optimizado, por lo tanto el usuario podrá comparar los efectos de los diferentes niveles de financiamiento sobre la red que está siendo analizada.
Análisis Multi-Criterio (MCA)
El análisis Multi-Criterio en el Análisis de Proyecto de HDM-4, entrega un medio de comparación de proyectos, usando criterios a los que no puede asignarse fácilmente un costo económico. El MCA está implementado para Análisis de Proyecto y considera 10 criterios para su evaluación.
MCA is supported for a Project Analysis and supports 10 criteria to evaluate:
. Económico (RAC, RUC; y NPV) |
. Seguridad (análisis de accidentes) |
. Funcional (comodidad y demora) |
. Ambiental (polución del aire) |
. Energía (eficiencia energética) |
. Social (beneficios sociales) |
. Político |
|
El análisis multi-criterio en el HDM-4, se realiza utilizando una implementación del Proceso Analítico Jerárquico (AHP) (Saaty 1980).
Estimación de Beneficios Sociales
A menudo es necesario incluir los beneficios sociales producto de las inversiones viales dentro del HDM-4. La estructura simplificada para incluir los beneficios sociales se ha hecho más transparente mediante su incorporación dentro de la interfase de costos exógenos y beneficios a usuarios.
Valoración de los Activos
Una red de caminos es un recurso considerable que tiene un significativo valor de activos. Por lo tanto, es importante administrar en forma efectiva estos activos y ser capaces de estimar el valor financiero y económico de los caminos en función del nivel de inversión. Este componente opcional de la versión 2.0 de HDM-4, permite al usuario estimar el valor de activos de una red en análisis, durante el periodo de tiempo del análisis.
Run-data in Microsoft Access format
The run-data produced by HDM-4 during an analysis is now output to a single file in Microsoft Access format. The main benefit of this change is that the use of the Access format makes it easier for end-users to access the run-data with widely available software products (such as Microsoft Access, and Microsoft Excel) and easier to share with others users.
For the purposes of users who wish to view the run-data but do not a HDM-4 licence, a free tool, HDM-4 Version 2.0 Report Viewer, will be available.
Import/Export in Microsoft Access format
The import/export data produced by HDM-4 is now stored in a single file in Microsoft Access format, and replaces the multiple *.dbf/*.hdbf files of HDM-4 Version 1.x. The main benefit of this change is that the use of the Access format makes it easier for end-users to access the data with widely available software products, and easier to share with others users.
Import Validation
An import wizard has been introduced that guides a user through the process of importing externally-defined data into HDM-4 version 2.0.
Previously no validation of the imported data was preformed and values that were outside the allowable range could produce numerical errors when an analysis was subsequently performed. HDM-4 version 2.0 introduces the optional validation of vehicle fleet and road network data for incorrect values as the data is being imported.
Updated Database Technology
HDM-4 uses an object-orientated database to store its local data. HDM-4 version 2.0 has been updated to use the latest version of this database to ensure the latest developments and enhancements are available, as well as continued support and backup from the suppliers is accessible.
Redesign of New Section Facilities
The definition of new sections has been moved to the work standards folder in the workspace. These new sections are now assigned to alternatives using the new alternatives user-interface. This approach allows new sections to be reused across studies and alternatives.
Traffic Redesign
The management and entry of traffic related data in HDM-4 has undergone a number of changes that effect road networks, sections, vehicle fleets and the three modes of analysis.
The traffic data for a section is now defined for each section within the road network. To enable this to take place a road network is associated with a vehicle fleet. A user can enter multiple years of traffic data which is now defined in terms of absolute vehicle AADTs value.
A traffic growth set defines how the traffic grows over time and is defined within the vehicle fleet and assigned to a section within an analysis. The use interface for traffic growth sets is similar to that used in version 1.x for the definition of normal traffic. As growths sets may be used to define the traffic growth characteristics of multiple studies, the periods are defined as relative years rather than absolute years.
These improvements allow traffic data for a section to be common in each analysis in which the section is included, and for the typical traffic growths to be reused in each analysis. When creating a new analysis a user now only selects the road network to be used, as the vehicle fleet is associated with it. The user then selects the sections to be included in the study and assigns traffic growth sets to each section, using the growth sets defined in the road network's associated vehicle fleet.
Report Management
HDM-4 version 2.0 includes improved management and organisation of the available report templates. A user can now add report categories, or sub-categories within the reports tree-view, and reports can easily be renamed or moved between categories. The reports no longer have to be stored in the same directory, allowing a user to easily separate HDM-4 default reports and 3rd party report templates.
Bituminous Road Deterioration and Work Effects
The bituminous RD & WE models in HDM-4 Version 2 have been updated in accordance with the specification provided by PIARC. The changes include improvements to the pothole progression model, updated plastic deformation coefficients, updated standard deviation of rut depth model, improved user-calibration or the RD models, and updated WE models for patching and preparatory work effects.
Unsealed Road Deterioration and Work Effects
The unsealed RD & WE models in HDM-4 Version 2 have been updated in accordance with the specification provided by PIARC. The most significant change is the introduction of three different grading types (non-mechanical, light mechanical grading, and heavy mechanical grading), and improved calibration of the unsealed roughness model using section calibration factors and workspace configuration parameters.
Road User Effects
The Road User Effects (RUE) model in HDM-4 Version 2 has been updated in accordance with the specification provided by PIARC. The changes include:
• Engine speed model has been updated,
• Parts modelling updated to use dFUELavg rather than dFUEL,
• Constant Service Life model has been changed so it no longer depends upon the percentage of private use, and
• Major update to the modelling of vehicle emissions.
Intervention Editor & Work Item Triggering Logic
The definition of the triggering logic of work items and improvements has been simplified and improved by the introduction of an improved intervention editor. The main areas of improvement are:
• The need to select scheduled or responsive intervention mode for a work item has been removed
• The predefined limit parameters associated with the triggering logic are now optionally entered in the intervention editor as part of the main trigger expression.
• The triggering of works has been extended to allow the combination of AND /OR logic operators.
• Works can now be scheduled to occur in set years rather than just periodically.
• The user is no longer constrained to select a trigger attribute from a pre-defined list. The recommended triggers for a particular work item may be ignored (in fact any trigger can be used with any work type).
Alternatives User-Interface
The user interface in Version 1.x was reported by many users to be cumbersome with many features hidden behind several levels of screens / dialogs with a multiplicity of confusing buttons. To address these concerns the user interface for the definition of analysis alternatives has been redesigned to reduce the number of dialogs and buttons involved, to improve navigation through the alternatives in a familiar style, and to give improved view to the user. The new user interface allows the user to navigate through the alternatives and its assignments using a view similar to the windows explorer directory navigation tree, and uses a context sensitive spreadsheet-type view that facilitates the assignment of maintenance and improvement standards from one dialog.
The model DLL architecture
The model architecture has undergone some revision to improve maintainability, flexibility, and to allow future customisation. Some parts of the analysis framework have been revised to take advantage of these architectural improvements. To the general users these changes will not be visible.
Post-Improvement Maintenance Standards
It is now possible to assign a maintenance standard to be applied after a road improvement standard has been applied (i.e. the maintenance standard will only be applied if the associated improvement is triggered). This facility is implemented in the new alternatives user-interface.
Temporary Exclusion of Sections from Study
When setting up a project analysis it is now possible to select a section for the study, assign the traffic growth set and define its alternatives, but then exclude it from analysis without loss of data (traffic, alternatives, etc.). This was identified by users to be a useful function if several sections have been selected in a project analysis and there is the need to focus on defining and refining the assignments of one section at a time without the overhead of analyzing all the other sections each time.
Calibration Sets
Calibration Sets have been introduced to allow users to define sets of section calibration coefficients (a calibration item ) for the range of pavement types commonly found on their road network. Sections which have the same characteristics can all use the same calibration . The process of defining a section has therefore been simplified as a user now has only has to select an appropriate calibration item for the section's known characteristics rather than supply values for all the calibration parameters.
Calibration sets are stored under the Configuration folder in the workspace view. When a new road network is created a calibration set for that network is selected, and all sections within the network must be assigned a calibration item defined in that calibration set. To facilitate the new concept of calibration items as section's attributes have been reorganized.
Improved Configuration - Accident Classes
A new HDM-4 data type has been provided to allow the user to model accident effects separately from speed flow types.
Improved Configuration - Speed Flow Types
An explanatory graph has been added to the user interface to explain the relationship between the capacity characteristic parameters. To reflect the correlation between road type, and capacity characteristics, and to improve consistency, the Number of Lanes ( NLANES ) parameter has been moved to the Speed Flow Type item from the road section.
Improved Configuration - Traffic Flow Patterns
A graph is now shown on this dialog to reflect the flow distribution data entered by the user. As the user changes this data, the graph changes accordingly. The graph is intended to improve user feedback, and to engender understanding of the effects to the flow distribution data.
Improvement Standard Effects
After-work attributes for some improvement effects can now be defined either in terms of the change in attribute value or in terms of the final value of the attribute (i.e. either in relative or absolute terms). This is intended to make improvement standards less section specific, so that they can be applied to a group of sections.
