Cross-cutting Issues

Previous studies indicated that some drivers have a poor perception of safe speed and distance when approaching a queue. This type of poor judgment is the major cause of rear-end vehicle collision, which is a primary type of multi-vehicle collision on freeways. A significant reduction of collisions is possible, if informative and timely warnings are provided to drivers to help adjust the speed before being very close to the queue. Current practices of queue warning only inform drivers about queue occurrence and the distance of the queue-end position from the message sign. Because it is difficult for some drivers to estimate the safe approaching speed, additional advisory information about the required speed is desirable. This paper presents the current state of the art and the practice to integrate the queue warning and variable speed limit systems to enhance traffic operation efficiency and improve system safety performance.

Authors: Tanveer Hayat, Gouhui Zhang, C. Michael Walton

Presented at the 18th World Congress on ITS, October 2011, Orlando, Florida

The Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Professional Capacity Building (PCB) Program is currently working to identify ITS core competencies in order to understand what determines proficiency in ITS. Core competencies represent the minimum set of core knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) required to function effectively in a specific field. This paper examines several projects, both completed and on-going, that have examined the core competencies for Management and Operations (M&O). But how do the core competencies for M&O relate to the core competencies for ITS? After review of multiple definitions of M&O and ITS, ITS is the technology, while Management and Operations is the application of the technology.  In other words, ITS is the principle tool used to support the needs of M&O. Therefore, should be considered a subset of M&O. PCB. The key to the roadmap was solidifying the core competencies for M&O professionals.

it seems thatITSIn July 2011, a roadmap was developed for operations.  Assuming agreement that competencies for M&O are endorsed, then the ITS PCB program can extract the ITS core competencies from the overall M&O ones. Once that activity is completed, the ITS PCB program plans to develop an outline of the baseline curriculum that is necessary to obtain various levels of ITS proficiency. The curriculum will specify courses to be taken within certain tracks to become recognized as being particularly proficient or expert in a specific ITS technology or other area.  ITS should be considered a subset of M&O.

U.S. DOT

University of Maryland

Presented at the 18th World Congress on ITS, October 2011, Orlando, Florida

This paper presents an evaluation of the speed harmonization control of Active Traffic
Management (ATM), one of the strategies of Managed Use Lanes (MUL) study team
proposed for the Long Island Expressway (I-495) for the New York State Department of
Transportation (NYSDOT). The evaluation is conducted by the comparisons of before
and after-implementation of the speed harmonization strategy under recurrent traffic
congestion on a section of the Long Island Expressway (I-495), the Measures of
Effectiveness (MOEs) for operations and safety, extracted from the micro-simulation
software VISSIM and the Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM). The operations
MOEs include throughput, vehicle miles traveled (VMT), vehicle hours traveled (VHT),
vehicle hours of delay (VHD) and average travel speed. Speed variance, number of lane
change and collision severity are selected as safety MOEs. Initial results are encouraging.
This approach should be easily applied to the evaluation of other MUL strategies such as
ramp metering, queue warning, junction control, HOV lane and HOT lane etc.

Author: Zifeng Jiang

Presented at the 18th World Congress on ITS, October 2011, Orlando, Florida

Funding cutbacks and reduced budgets are the new normal for government organizations and private industry, necessitating creative approaches to educating the public about ITS products and services. In order to make the most of available marketing dollars, it is imperative to develop strategic partnerships with the news media, government agencies, large employers, commercial vehicle operators, commuter services organizations and others to leverage their resources to tell your story.

Global-5 Communications

Presented at the 18th World Congress on ITS, October 2011, Orlando, Florida

Speed limits are generally created for ideal road conditions. When road conditions deteriorate, speed limits tend to become unreasonable, and enforcement of safe driving becomes difficult. Variable speed limit (VSL) systems are used to adjust speeds in accordance with the changing conditions in an attempt to reduce the variation of speeds among all vehicles. This research highlights the findings from the variable speed limit system in place along the Elk Mountain Corridor of I-80 in Southeastern Wyoming during the first full winter season of VSL implementation.

Authors: Emily C. Layton, Dr. Rhonda K. Young

Presented at the 18th World Congress on ITS, October 2011, Orlando, Florida