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

An innovative technology is demonstrated where streaming digital video images and several hundred channels of multi-mode sensing are integrated, viewed, controlled and managed over the Internet in real-time. Phenomena that are sensed include the weather, traffic and structural parameters. Designed and developed for demonstrating the paradigm of health-monitoring (HM) on the Commodore Barry Bridge, the system has been useful for a first-time, sufficiently long-term observation and quantitative measurement of how weather, live-loads and long-term environmental-climate related intrinsic movements and stresses govern different aspects of the bridge’s serviceability, safety and operational performance. In addition, many intrinsic promises of the real-time imaging-sensing-communication-computing and control system for enhancing operations, security and structural preservation in an integrated manner are recognized as discussed in this paper.

Drexel University

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

The goals of this project are to quantify the security costs and benefits of an operational concept that applies technology and improved enforcement procedures to the transportation of hazardous materials and to demonstrate an approach that ensures the safety and security of hazardous materials shipments from origin to destination. The technology focus is on the deployment and integration of current off the shelf (COTS) products (rather than designing new products/systems from scratch) that can be used/integrated into a systematic application to improve the security and safety of hazardous materials shipments throughout the United States. The focus is to “package” suites of technologies into applications that specifically address threats and vulnerabilities identified in the task 1 risk/threat assessment.

Battelle

Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA)

Qualcomm

American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI)

Commericial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)

Total Security Services International (TSSI)

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

An automated warning system has been installed on Interstate Highway 75 in south Georgia at a site that is known for fog problems. The warning system, which was jointly developed by Georgia Tech and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), continuously monitors visibility and is designed to automatically provide warnings to motorists whenever fog occurs. Visibility is monitored with 19 fog sensors, while speed and headway are monitored with five sets of traffic loops for each direction of traffic. The sensor data will automatically post warnings and speed advisories on two upstream Changeable Message Signs (CMSs), and will automatically notify the GDOT Transportation Management Center (TMC) whenever a hazardous situation occurs. Telephone access for remote monitoring by other transportation officials is also provided. Beta testing has been conducted and has shown the system to perform as designed. A comprehensive evaluation of the system and its effects on driver behavior has not been performed.

Georgia Institute of Technology

Scientific Atlanta

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

This paper examines the effect of various factors on red light and stop sign violations based on a literature review. This research, in part, supports the experimental design for a field operational test of two intersection violation countermeasures: a vehicle-intersection cooperative signal violation warning system (CSVWS) and a stop sign violation warning system (SSVWS). The former system implements the “traffic signal violation warning” concept, providing advisory/warning messages to the driver of a moving vehicle who is about to run a red light. The latter system implements the “stop sign violation warning” concept, providing advisory/warning messages to the driver of a moving vehicle if it detects a potential violation of a stop sign ahead.

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

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