The road improvement prioritizing system currently utilized by the Virginia Department of Transportation is similar to the method utilized by many states: it is a sufficiency rating system that evaluates proposed projects on the basis of points assigned for a number of variables. Although this type of system is commonly used, it has several limitations, including its lack of sensitivity to individual variables, the difficulty in assigning and interpreting a point total based on multiple heterogeneous variables, and the rigidity of the system after the point structure is established. In this report, an alternative method is introduced that consists of sorting projects in sequential ranking steps based on ranges of individual variables. The proposed method is simpler, more flexible, and requires less data manipulation than the present rating system. Individual variables have greater impact on the prioritizing process, and the resulting prioritizing ratings correlate well with results obtained from the previous rating method.

Masters Theses in the Pure and Applied Sciences was first conceived, published, and disseminated by the Center for Information and Numerical Data Analysis and Synthesis (CINDAS) * at Purdue University in 1 957, starting its coverage of theses with the academic year 1955. Beginning with Volume 13, the printing and dissemination phases of the activity were transferred to University Microfilms/Xerox of Ann Arbor, Michigan, with the thought that such an arrangement would be more beneficial to the academic and general scientific and technical community. After five years of this joint undertaking we had concluded that it was in the interest of all con cerned if the printing and distribution of the volumes were handled by an interna tional publishing house to assure improved service and broader dissemination. Hence, starting with Volume 18, Masters Theses in the Pure and Applied Sciences has been disseminated on a worldwide basis by Plenum Publishing Cor poration of New York, and in the same year the coverage was broadened to include Canadian universities. All back issues can also be ordered from Plenum. We have reported in Volume 28 (thesis year 1 983) a total of 10,661 theses titles from 26 Canadian and 197 United States universities. We are sure that this broader base for these titles reported will greatly enhance the value of this important annual reference work. While Volume 28 reports theses submitted in-1983, on occasion, certain univer sities do report theses submitted in previous years but not reported at the time.