Traffic Operations and Management

Travel Times on Changeable Message Signs: Pilot Project

Chen, Chao
2004

We describe a system to display real time travel times on Changeable Message Signs (CMS) in California. CMS's show dynamic information and allow the Traffic Management Center (TMC) to communicate to drivers information about traffic diversion, incidents, and delays. This type of service is deployed in other parts of the country and world and has been shown to be useful. For this project, we implemented a system that uses existing algorithms for travel time estimation and prediction.

Effectiveness of VMS Using Empirical Loop Detector Data

Huo, Hong
Levinson, David
2006

This study employs traffic data and incident data from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The conclusion in this study provides guidance on making policy about investing in VMS systems.Few studies utilize empirical traffic data. They either use costly surveys or conduct traffic simulation, which are expensive and may not conform well to reality. This study uses empirical traffic flow and occupancy data on both mainline and ramps, collected every 30 seconds to estimate the effectiveness of VMS. The variation of diversion rate before and after warning messages is...

Analysis of Traffic Flow With Mixed Manual and Intelligent Cruise Control Vehicles: Theory and Experiments

Bose, Arnab
Ioannou, Petros
2001

During the last decade considerable research and development efforts have been devotedto automating vehicles in an effort to improve safety and efficiency of vehicular traffic.While dedicated highways with fully automated vehicles is a future objective, theintroduction of Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) vehicles on current highways designed tooperate with manually driven vehicles is a realistic near term objective. The purpose ofthis report is to analyze the effects on traffic flow characteristics and environment whenICC vehicles with automatic vehicle following capability (in the same...

Bicycle Detection and Operational Concept at Signalized Intersections Phase 2

Shladover, Steven E.
Kim, ZuWhan
Cao, Meng
Sharafsaleh, Ashkan
Li, Irene
Johnston, Scott
1997

This study reports on a method to accomplish sensor validation and fusion in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). The method is based on probabilistic and fuzzy techniques that express a confidence in the sensor data and take into account environmental factors and the state of the system. Sensor data fusion uses the confidence assigned to each sensor reading and integrates them into one reading. Noise and failure are filtered from the data and lead to a safety improvement in ITS.

Implementation of a Tool for Measuring ITS Impacts on Freeway Safety Performance

Golob, Thomas F.
Marca, James
Recker, Will
2007

The research was undertaken to develop a tool for assessing the impacts of changes in freeway traffic flow on the level of traffic safety. Safety is measured in terms of the probability of a reportable accident, and the tool is so far restricted to urban freeway mainlines with substantial traffic levels. The tool will: (1) monitor the safety level of freeway operations (2) aid in freeway planning. The tool was calibrated by applying advanced statistical models to actual data combined from two sources: Vehicle Detector Station (VDS) data for freeways in Orange County (District 12), and data...

Integration of GPS/INS and Magnetic Markers for Advanced Vehicle Control Final Report for MOU 391

Farrell, Jay
Barth, Matthew
2002

This report describes the results of a project supported by California Partners for Advanced Transit and Highways (PATH). The main objective of the project is to develop and demonstrate a triple redundancy navigation system incorporating magnetometer, inertial, and carrier phase differential Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements. The motivating application for this project is lateral vehicle control. Therefore, the system was design to operate reliably whether or not GPS and magnetometer measurements were available. The navigation system provides vehicle position, velocity,...

Simulation of ITS on the Irvine FOT Area Using "Paramics 1.5" Scalable Microscopic Traffic Simulator: Phase I: Model Calibration and Validation

Abdulhai, Baher
Sheu, Jiuh-Biing
Recker, Will
1999

In this research, a promising ITS-ready microscopic traffic simulator, Paramics1.5, is thoroughlyevaluated both subjectively and objectively in preparation for its use for modeling ITS in SouthernCalifornia. A general and comprehensive list of requirements (evaluation template) for amicroscopic traffic flow simulator to successfully model ITS was first compiled and presented. Theevaluation template covered various aspects of modern transportation network modeling, including:[1] supply/control aspects, [2] demand/behavior aspects, [3] environmental-related aspects, and [4]simulator-...

Advanced Image Sensing Methods for Traffic Surveillance and Detection

MacCarley, Art
1999

This report describes the results of a PATH-funded study conducted by the Cal Poly Transportation Electronics Laboratory intended to assess advanced imaging technologies for potential application toroadway surveillance and detection. A major motivation for this study was the possibility of improvedvisibility under conditions of fog or dust using wavelengths longer than that of the visible spectral band. Technologies considered included ten types of infrared video cameras and one millimeter-wave still-frame imaging system. Evaluation criteria were structured to reflect the surveillance...

A Statewide Optimal Resource Allocation Tool Using Geographic Information Systems, Spatial Analysis, and Regression Methods

Goulias, Konstadinos G.
Golob, Thomas F.
Yoon, Seo Youn
2008

The overall objective of this project is to develop an optimal resource allocation tool for the entire state of California using Geographic Information Systems and widely available data sources. As this tool evolves it will be used to make investment decisions in transportation infrastructure while accounting for their spatial and social distribution of impacts. Tools of this type do not exist due to lack of suitable planning support tools, lack of efforts in assembling data and information from a variety of sources, and lack of coordination in assembling the data. Suitable planning...

Improved Analysis Methodologies and Strategies for Complete Street

Fournier, Nicholas
Huang, Amy
Skabardonis, Alexander
2021

Complete streets movement is a national effort to return to traditional streets in our cities to enhance livability, safely, accommodate all modes of travel, provide travel choices, ease traffic congestion, and promote healthier communities. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and several local agencies in the State have developed implementation plans for complete streets. In this project, we developed and tested improved strategies and analysis methodologies for complete streets, taking into consideration the emerging advances in technology on control devices and data...