Cross-cutting Issues

This paper presented a quantitative analysis framework for estimating the operational impact, in terms of delay, of adverse weather events on travel in the United States. The speed estimation methodology for travel in adverse weather was based on the Highway Capacity Manual methodology. Using the GIS and database tools, one can estimate travel delay and other relevant statistics at various resolutions including weather forecast zone, county, FHWA urbanized area, metropolitan area, state, and national levels. The estimation procedure employed NCDC's Storm Data and FHWA's HPMS and NHPN databases, which are all publicly accessible. The estimation procedure, as proposed, which can be implemented repeatedly to assess the change from one year to the next, was used to estimate adverse weather impacts for the year of 1999.

University of Tennesee

Oak Ridge National Lab

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, May 19-22, 2003 Minneapolis, Minnesota

This paper provides a background on the history of public wireless packet data networks, specifically Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD). Who has been using the network and how? Specifically, how has it been utilized in to serve the transportation industry? It also outlines the evolution currently underway in these networks. Why are billions of dollars being spent to build the next generation wireless networks? What standards are being utilized? What are the differences between service providers? How fast are the networks? When can we expect to see higher bandwidth? What applications are suitable to run on these networks? What technical issues need to be resolved? What will be the costs to utilize these networks?

AirLink Communications, Inc.

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, May 19-22, 2003 Minneapolis, Minnesota

Many technological advances have enabled new methods of collecting transportation data that can be used to plan and maintain effective roadway policies. Automated license plate reading technologies are beginning to gain acceptance because of the wide range of applications to which they can be applied. Typically, automatic license plate reading (ALPR) systems are used for enforcement type applications and data collection applications including parking lot management, origin-destination studies, traffic flow studies, high occupancy vehicle analysis, and weigh in motion systems. An ALPR system consists of three main components; a device for detecting vehicle presence, a digital video camera and an image processor. The image processor identifies the license plate according to embedded pattern recognition algorithms. The accuracy of the pattern recognition algorithms used in the image processor is an important concern when evaluating ALPR systems. The required accuracy depends on the application. For example, an enforcement application may require a high degree of accuracy while a traffic flow study may only require that an image obtained at an entry point be matched to an image obtained at an exit point. Other issues for consideration when evaluating ALPR systems are mobility and simplicity of use, range of vehicle types that can be read, necessary lighting conditions, range of states of origin that can be read, range of vehicular volumes and speeds that do not overload the image processor, and human impact/public relations.

Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Arkansas

United States Navy

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, June 4-7, 2001 Miami Beach, Florida

The Chicago Traffic Management Center (Chicago TMC) Preliminary Design Study initiated by the City of Chicago Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) Bureau of Traffic (BOT)moves the City of Chicago (City) closer to coordinating vital traffic services and information in a more efficient manner. The improvement on existing services will provide the residents and visitors of the City more accurate travel information and improved mobility along City streets during special events and incidents by coordinating City transportation service personnel.

The goal of the study was to develop preliminary design documents at approximately the 30% level. These design documents would include both architectural and system specifications. This paper highlights the milestones of the Chicago TMC study and presents key information concerning the direction and design of the Chicago TMC.

Chicago DOT

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, May 19-22, 2003 Minneapolis, Minnesota

Many operating agencies, throughout the world, have implemented computerized, traffic adaptive, signal control systems in the last several decades. Many latest traffic signal control and management methods, currently being used, are somewhat inadequate to handle the dynamic traffic demand growths in most rural tourist attractions in the ever-changing rural environment. On the other hand, tremendous advancement has been made in the traffic control system hardware, system optimization/simulation software, local signal controller, traffic data collection, and system performance evaluation technologies to support the implementation of these advanced traffic management strategies. This paper reviews recent computerized traffic signal control system technologies, growing users’ operational needs, and implementation considerations for the increasingly critical rural traffic management.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Presented at the 11th ITS Annual Conference and Exposition, June 4-7, 2001 Miami Beach, Florida