Sustainability

Traffic simulation models should reflect a wide variety of operating and environmental conditions in order to be useful in estimation and prediction of real world traffic behavior.  One area that traffic simulations have to accurately model is the effect that weather has on driver behavior and traffic flow characteristics. Recently, the Northwestern University and the University of Virginia have addressed this deficiency by investigating observed impacts of weather on both the supply and demand of traffic networks. This paper has two research purposes: to present the methodology for incorporating weather impacts into the DYNASMART-P traffic estimation and prediction tool and to assess the relative accuracy and fidelity of the developed weather module. The results indicate that the weather adjustment factor module developed by the Northwestern University is capable of reducing overestimation of vehicle speeds from 2 mph to 1 mph for light rain conditions and reducing the absolute error in estimating speeds during heavy rain by 33% when compared against simulations performed using normal parameters.  Additionally, of the three scenarios tested for two different weather conditions, the weather adjustment factor method consistently produced the smallest root mean squared error between simulated and observed speeds.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Virginia

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

With the maturing of the automotive navigation market and its wide assortment of online and in-vehicle navigation systems, ranging from mapping and directions web applications, to fac-tory-installed units, to personal navigation devices (PNDs) and applications on smart phones, consumers have become very familiar with route guidance and its advantages in saving time and avoiding aggravation in finding destinations. Many users experience an increased ap-preciation in finding more efficient routes even in familiar areas where they previously thought they were using the most direct route.

ERTICO

NAVTEQ

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

Within the commercial trucking industry, it is a well-known fact that driver bias can cause large variations in the fuel economy of a vehicle.  Even when holding the vehicle and the route constant, driver behavior can account for up to 35% variation in fuel economy. This paper investigates a method of powertrain control to improve fuel economy in commercial vehicles by reducing the effects of this driver bias. The method utilizes both historical and predictive information of the route to be driven and the current traffic conditions. Such information could be obtained from on-board sensors, digital maps, vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems, and/or vehicle-to-infrastructure communication systems. In this paper a generic framework for a powertrain control system is first introduced. Simulation results are then presented to illustrate the magnitude of the fuel savings and emissions reduction potential. A sensitivity analysis is also provided, showing how driver and environmental conditions will impact fuel economy benefits. As a conclusion, several practical challenges of the proposed technology are identified, and a new public-private partnership strategy is recommended for future development.

Eaton Corporation

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

Cities worldwide are plagued by traffic congestion and its numerous negative effects: Traffic delays, inability to accurately forecast travel time, wasted fuel, increases air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions. Blocked traffic may also interfere with emergency vehicles responding to urgent incidents, thus indirectly impacting the health of society. As a result, major cities worldwide have a triple goal of reducing congestion levels, increasing the reliability of travel time information and, a reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions.

Opened in 2007 the Tramway line “Maréchaux Sud” in Paris was designed as an environment friendly, sustainable replacement for a bus line “PC1”, doubling the passenger capacity.

Providing tramway priority at intersections in order to maximize its efficiency while minimizing the impact on other road users (namely cars and buses) was paramount to guarantee the success of the project. This paper describes how these objectives lead to the choice of video-base detectors to identify conditions leading to gridlock situations. It shows the configuration and the operation of the system.

Finally, the paper describes some of the results obtained and details the benefits of the system.

Business Development, Citilog

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

The evolution of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) has resulted in improved traffic management techniques, public transportation improvements, advanced information technologies, driver aids, and vehicle safety enhancements. However, an often overlooked aspect of ITS operations is the environmental impacts of managing a modern transportation system. Thus, this paper will take a closer look at ITS-related environmental impacts and how ITS can play a greater role in future environmental improvements. With this in mind, this paper will explore the environmental uses of data harvested via existing ITS deployments, and future deployments of Connected Vehicle technologies. This paper will summarize the research behind the SwRI demonstrations of environmental technologies at the ITS World Congress.

Keywords: ITS, Environment, Greenhouse, Ozone, Air, Quality, Connected Vehicle

Southwest Research Institute

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