There are several different types of projects that are being researched as a
part of UWITS. Underlined Projects have a detailed description of the research.
Click on the topic to see more.
ATMS/ATIS/APTS (ATMIS)
Tools for Dynamic ATMIS We have developed some dynamic traffic
assignment models and algorithms, in which the DINOSAUR model, is used as a
tool for dynamic ATMIS analysis. DINOSAUR introduces a framework and
statistical methods for estimating dynamic O-D by means of its advanced
technological nature.
Integrated Traffic Prediction and Control Another research
involved is to integrate traffic prediction and control by introducing a
combined model for route guidance, signal control and ramp metering for
freeway corridors.
Incident Detection and Management For incident detection and
management, freeway/arterial incident detection algorithms have been
initiated
and optimal diversion under major incidents have been investigated. Besides,
CMS has been evaluated in incident management.
Evaluation of ATMS Scenarios Various ATMS components have been
analyzed by using INTEGRATION, a traffic simulation model.
Traffic Lights Synchronization Improvements The purpose of
improving traffic lights synchronization is to reduce fuel consumption, delay,
and stops through optimizing signal timing for a network of traffic signals.
Developing Methods to Evaluate ATIS Benefits The purpose is to
evaluate the impacts of alternate ATIS versions by integrating existing
simulation and behavioral models.
Smart Street Signal Design Smart Street Signal Design is
believed to have the capability to improve the conventional linear progress
movement signal system by using the non-linear signal design and the planned
parallel-street dispersion scheme. The design is suitable for both AHS and
non-AHS interface, and for the conventional freeway system that suffers
inadequate dispersion at exit ramps.
Intelligent
Park and Ride Systems The intelligent park and ride systems are
proposed to reduce the possible congestion on AHS highways due to that local
streets may not be able to afford the large amount of incoming traffic exiting
from the AHS system. Spillback onto the AHS mainline and may negate AHS
capacity increases. The park and ride systems should also have the capability
in reducing the pollution and noise levels in the CBD area because motorists
will first travel on AHS highway and then make use of the public transit in
the intermodal system to proceed to CBD. As a result, the large amount of
traffic that could have flowed into the CBD from the AHS system can be
avoided.
Intelligent
Parking Garages The intelligent parking garage concept is proposed
to increase the operation efficiency and time-saving of the garage by keeping
track of the number of vehicles in garages in relation to the number of
parking spaces, providing travelers parking information, and introducing smart
fare. The introduction of smart camera monitoring in the garage is believed to
improve security.
Automated Highway System
The group has dedicated tremendous
effort to the development of AHS and substantial amount of innovative ideas that
are proposed have been published in well-known transportation journals and
presented in various transportation meetings. We have done some concept
evaluation for Task C2 and C3 (1995-1997) and tool development for Task B5
(1995-1996) of NAHSC.
Capacity Analysis The capacity analysis for AHS involved the
development of a comprehensive framework and tools, which include the AHS
traffic flow models, the merging control models, and AHS flow control and
routing strategies, so that the optimal control and routing strategies can be
studied under various scenarios of AHS.
Emissions Analysis The study of emissions for AHS is destined to
identify a set of AHS flow control and operations strategies which would
generate the amount of vehicle emissions per kilometer of AHS segment
equivalent to or smaller than that for conventional freeway. This comparison
would be made with comparable traffic demand level for both AHS and
conventional freeway. Several vehicle emission models will be compared and the
best one will be identified for AHS emission analysis.
Probabilistic Risk and Safety Assessment Another interested
topic for research is probabilistic risk and safety assessment, which is to
develop probabilities of various kinds of accidents and the impacts that would
result if those accidents occurred. Various design options and how risks could
be reduced by various implementations would be considered.
Traffic Management/Control for AHS Networks This research seeks
to propose a dynamic traffic management and control system for AHS networks. A
primary objective of the study is to maximize AHS capacity. This study focuses
on the system flow management and control, and seeks to develop a robust
system flow optimizer for various AHS operating scenarios. The AHS traffic
flow problem will be studied as well.
AHS
Interface with Manual Driven Arterials AHS system is believed to
hold more than three-fold the capacity that the conventional highway can
handle, but whether the local street design of CBD or dense residential area
can accommodate this large amount of inflow traffic from the AHS exit ramp
remains a puzzle and raises our interest to search for possible solutions. The
group has proposed several alternatives that could relieve the interface
exchange problem, which include the Interchange Design, the Non Intermodal
Interface, and the Intermodal Interface. Smart signals are proposed as an
interchange design, which could allow disembarking platoons to exit the AHS
and move, without stopping, over one-way streets into the local road network.
Effective ramp metering could ensure that vehicles are not allowed to exit at
already congested interchanges. In the non-intermodal interface design, the
trip-maker will travel on both AHS and non-AHS highway to the destination. We
have to consider whether there are sufficient parking spaces and throughput
capacity in the local street network to absorb the exiting traffic from the
AHS system. More one-way streets and fewer intersections and signals have been
proposed, given that a circular traffic pattern should be formed for the
incoming non-stop AHS flow. Grouping vehicles into "smart" off-highway garages
near downtown areas and grouping vehicles at remote "park and ride" intermodal
facilities are two suggested methods to prevent the abundant AHS exiting
traffic from plunging into the local transportation network with limited
handling capacity.
AHS
Incident Management Our team has proposed to evaluate AHS incident
management from the microscopic and macroscopic perspectives. The microscopic
research dealt with vehicle malfunction prevention, crisis management,
motorists' reaction to accidents, etc. while the macroscopic research will
focus on the system management after incidents happen, for example, how to
maintain an uninterrupted AHS traffic flow after accident is of our major
concern.
Human
Factors in Development of AHS Drivers' performance play a critical
role in the effectiveness of AHS. Therefore we have developed interests in
investigating how drivers operate the AHS vehicle is going to affect the
automated scenarios. We will provide a list of basic requirements and
principles that an AHS driver should follow.
Commercial Vehicle Operation (CVO)
Operational Test Evaluation of MN/WI Out-of-Service Operational
Test The team has developed in-depth evaluation of effectiveness of
real-time video license plate scanners to detect out-of-service vehicles on
I-90/94 corridor in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
ITS Benefit/Cost Analysis
A Cost/Benefit Analysis on Ramp Metering
The team has provided an economic response to ramp metering system on funding,
testing, and implementation. Cost/benefit attributes of various scenarios
have been introduced and cost-effective implementation methods have been identified.
A Cost/Benefit Analysis on ITS Deployment
We have developed an innovative cost/benefit analysis method for various scopes/scales
of ITS deployment. Various cost/benefit factors of ITS components have been
analyzed. Sensitivity analysis has been carried out in order to observe the
variation in cost and benefit for different implementation scenarios. Cost-effective
deployment strategies have been identified.
Travel Time Savings Assessment
Disaggregate analysis of time saving has been carried out and nonlinear relationship
between time saving and traffic parameters (V/C ratio, etc.) has been observed.
These analyses have been applied to the Milwaukee 'Monitor' project.
Economic Impacts of ITS
The program researchers have developed market and investment analysis of various
ITS technologies, such as ATIS, AHS, and Intelligent Transit.
ATIS Benefits in Non-Recurrent Congestion
We have analyzed recurrent/non-recurrent congestion delays and the attributed
costs. Benefits generated by ATIS have been evaluated in incidents.
Benefit/Cost Analysis on AHS Corridors
A series of simulation models have been developed for cost-benefit analysis
on three typical AHS corridors.