Safety

This paper investigates challenges to the deployment of effective Emergency Response and Management Systems (ERS/EMS) in rural areas. Based on the national system architecture, researchers built a framework for investigating ERS/EMS in rural Minnesota. Key technology concerns include slow systems upgrades and coverage gaps, protracted integration of wireless communications to existing infrastructures, and competing (and expensive) standards for deployments. Underlying these constraints was the need for an integrating policy framework, including a more strategic approach to devising and funding new systems. Recommendations are made on the need to: 1) assess adequacy of rural wireless coverage, 2) execute a comprehensive socio-technical approach to ERS/EMS and ITS deployment in small communities 3) integrate emergency management systems into local and statewide planning processes, and 4) enhance understanding of ERS/EMS benefits at the local level.

University of Minnesota

Claremont Graduate University

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

In August, 2002, California became the first state to use freeway message signs as part of a statewide Amber Alert program. This use of ITS technology has prompted a review of CMS activation procedures, resulting in interim guidance documents being issued by the California Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. In general CMS signs have proven effective in this heretofore unanticipated role but there are some key operational issues that must be addressed in the use of this technology. Alternatives or additions to freeway sign use include the use of the 5-1-1 system and/or Highway Advisory Radios. This use of ITS technology is an opportunity for transportation and law enforcement agencies to engage in a meaningful dialogue on operational coordination even as their perspectives and interests may differ.

National Engineering Technology Corporation

California DOT

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

Traffic congestion in many national parks in the United States causes lengthy traffic delays and safety problems that substantially detract from the visitors’ experience at these parks. Recognizing that construction of more roadways and parking lots is not the solution; applications of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are becoming increasingly popular at several of the National Parks. ITS applications at these parks could help alleviate congestion problems and enhance visitors’ safety while protecting park resources. In order to facilitate application of ITS technologies at National Parks across the nation, an unprecedented joint venture between the US Department of Transportation and the US Department of the Interior has recently been formed. One of the first initiatives under this joint venture is a field operational test (FOT) of ITS applications at one of the most heavily visited National Parks in the nation. Several National Parks were evaluated for selection as the site for this FOT. High volume of visitors and increasing congestion, among other criteria, led to selection of Acadia National Park in Maine as the site for the test.

Science Applications International Corporation

United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

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

The mission of a Department of Transportation is to provide its customers reliable transportation facilities that perform to their level of service expectations and to accomplish this in the most efficient and effective manner possible. This mission is particularly challenging to Snow Belt states during the perils of a winter season. For example, just-in-time goods deliveries, a key ingredient in any state’s economic vitality, places an ever-increasing importance on reliable year-round transportation. This paper presents a brief background and status of the tests being conducted on the concept vehicle. The two emerging technologies currently being tested on the concept vehicle are winter pavement surface friction measurement and pavement surface freezing point.

Center for Transportation Research and Education

Iowa Department of Transportation

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

Recent events on the nation’s highways have elevated the interest in improving safety thereon. Specific attention has been directed at improving the fatality rate from crashes involving commercial vehicles. To that end, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was created in the Department of Transportation (DOT) and given specific safety related charters. FMCSA has commenced the process of defining a strategy intended to achieve these goals. Presently, this strategy does not specify the magnitude with which individual initiatives, or sets of initiatives, will reduce in commercial vehicle-related fatalities. Most significantly, there has not been an assessment of whether the funding from Congress is adequate to achieve the safety goals with which FMCSA has been charged. This limitation in strategic planning can be overcome by adapting an evaluation tool developed in support of the DOD (Department of Defense) acquisition process. During the Joint Counter Mine (JCM) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD), a cost-based, system-of-systems (S2) optimization process was developed, which is effective at identifying solutions that are either redundant or not cost effective. This process can be applied to quantitatively manage the application of mitigation techniques to the varied crash causes without a significant disruption of efforts by vendors and users. Such an approach supports a formalized decision process using an analytical examination of alternative solutions. Decisions between alternative safety management strategies can be made based on cost effectiveness and the magnitude of improvements in the fatality metric. A model-based decision tool also provides a documented analytical basis for decisions on the estimation of the funds necessary to achieve a desired performance level. The use of an analytical tool for evaluating alternative solutions provides the information necessary to document the basis for decisions on rejected and accepted strategies.

Ultimately, use of a model to direct safety strategies would lead to improved commercial vehicle safety and reduced operating costs. Improved commercial vehicle safety will benefit all members of the community. Motor carriers will experience reduced operating costs resulting from reduced fatality rates. Government agencies will experience reduced costs from more effective enforcement. Motor carriers and government agencies will experience improved work force stability from safer working conditions. Moreover, the most important benefit is that lives will be saved. This paper describes the operation and construction of such a planning tool.

Johns Hopkins University

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