Cross-cutting Issues

The concept of the car following theory, the manner in which two cars follow one another without passing, has been closely studied in the last decades. As applied to traffic engineering and safety research, many models were developed to best mimic the interaction between adjacent vehicles in a traffic stream. The car following theory also forms the process of the microscopic traffic simulation models which attempt to replicate driver behavior in a traffic stream. Though most existing applications are limited to historical traffic data, wide utilization of new data collection tools, such as Global Position System and Automatic Vehicle Identification technologies are expected to lead to rapid improvements in existing car following models. The large amount of real-time traffic data provides a possibility to better calibrate and validate car following models to better represent the traffic conditions. This study summarizes the commonly used car following models, and discusses the applications and limitations of each. Using current limitations, this study also discusses the future potential improvements of car following models with new technologies, such as the real-time traffic information provided by the intelligent transportation technologies.

Authors: Yiming He, Mashrur Chowdhury, Ph.D., Taufiquar Khan, Ph.D., Yan Zhou Ph.D.

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

Abu Dhabi Department of Transport (DoT) recently completed and ITS Strategy and Action
Plan that provides a roadmap for transportation management and technology projects, including development of a multi-modal transportation management center (TMC). The plan has received full Government support to move ahead with initial ITS and TMC development, emphasizing deployment of active traffic management, travel time information, and pre-trip traveler information systems along with a signature TMC that will incorporate freeway and public transport operations, and will be connected to existing local traffic control centers handling urban traffic control activities.

Authors: Glenn N. Havinoviski, PE, Salah Mohammed Al-Marzouqi, Ra'id Breiwish, Ph.D.

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

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology has been in development for several
decades; however, there are notable barriers to its widespread deployment. To advance ITS
beyond its current scope, research efforts in the 21st century will need to pursue an agenda that integrates social, political/legal, energy/environmental, and economic/technology realization factors in the technical design process. The Integrated Active Transportation System (IATS) project seeks to achieve this agenda towards creating a seamless transportation system by incorporating a broad interdisciplinary approach to the development of a long-term vision for transportation in the United States (U.S.). As part of this effort, researchers examined previous ITS projects; interviewed experts in the field; formed and consulted with a project steering committee; and conducted two expert scenario workshops to develop plausible futures and to understand their possible effects on the transportation system. Barriers and opportunities for implementing advanced seamless transportation systems were identified for the 20- and 40-year timeframes. The most significant barriers identified were funding, technology adoption and obsolescence, and social acceptance. Opportunities include natural disasters; climate change; and adaptable, integrated technology/infrastructure deployment within the transportation system. Equipped with this understanding, researchers are now developing a research roadmap for U.S. transportation systems that address both technical and non-technical factors to the realization of IATS in the future.

Authors: Susan Shaheen, Ph.D., Madonna Camel, Kunik Lee, Ph.D.

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

The transportation system of the United States has had significant impacts on the nation’s development, both geographically and economically. Yet inefficiencies and inherent dangers of that system cost billions and perhaps trillions of dollars every year, as well as thousands of lost lives. Automated Electric Transportation (AET) is a solution which addresses and has the potential to resolve many of those issues, particularly in relation to human factors in driving, for future transportation. However, in developing this new transportation system, new challenges arise that must be addressed. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide a brief overview of the concept of AET and emphasize its potential impacts on transportation safety and mobility. It also addresses specific challenges that this new transportation system will face as it moves through its development. The discussion of these challenges, including deployment/transition strategy, environmental hurdles, incident response, and future expansion provides a springboard for further research and development in Automated Electric Transportation.

Authors: Derek Freckleton, James Fishelson, Kevin Heaslip, P.E. Ph.D.

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

We study the problem of congestion in metropolitan areas and propose an adaptive Intelligent Transport System for Metropolitan Areas (ITSMA) – a traffic congestion management system that manages high occupancy vehicular traffic, commercial truck traffic and helps in coordination of commuter and ride share traffic. Most of these components are already available in parts – in form of stochastic algorithms for managing truck traffic, systems for ride share coordination using 5.9 GHz Vehicular Area Networks and numerous systems for HoV and toll management. The proposed ITSMA system consists of a prediction engine that takes multiple real time indicators to build a traffic congestion model. The decision engine component of ITSMA system takes the traffic congestion model, and using a database of previous actions and their impacts, proposes and implements actions in real-time. The outputs of the ITSMA system can be used to suggest routes, control high occupancy restrictions, traffic light durations, toll rates and access of commercial traffic. It can also aid in coordinating ride shares and public transportation units. Such a combined system can best leverage the investment at a metropolitan level and provide the best traffic congestion management solution.

Author: Amrinder Arora, DSc

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