MEASURING IMPACTS OF INCIDENTS, WORK ZONES AND
WEATHER EVENTS ON FREEWAYS TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS
To better understand the impacts of non-recurring events (incidents, workzones, and weather events) and the operations strategies, and hence better manage the
strategies themselves, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) initiated this research project to analyze select incidents, workzones and weather events in
detail. The analysis made full use of the opportunities presented by the emerging crowd-sourced traffic speed data. Several performance measures were selected or
proposed and then calculated and visualized. Learning the specific impacts from these events in order to understand and communicate the “operations story” clearly
was very important and was done by quantifying a diverse set of measures and developing a number of appropriate visualizations. This study focused on non-recurring
events that were not adversely impacted by too many confounding factors. Further criteria included agency interest for detailed study, recentness, geographical diversity
among locations across the State, and discernible impacts on one or more interstates. These factors helped to ensure more detailed information was available from field
staff and the results and lessons learned could be used for other such studies. This was a collaborative project with the Safety, Operations and Traffic Engineering group
of VTRC (Virginia Transportation Research Council).
VDMS
SHRP2 C11
The purpose of the VDMS system is to demonstrate a new, enhanced way
of information delivery for the travelling public that makes use of the DSRC
(Dedicated Short Range Communication) technology from CV (connected
vehicles) environments. The software targets three improvements compared to
information dissemination via physical DMS (Dynamic Messages Sign) signs:
The tools developed within the SHRP2 C11 project were designed to provide
agencies with the ability to examine the specific changes in transportation
conditions attributable to a proposed project and the economic impacts
of those changes. In general, the example applications of the tools are
based on large construction projects that result in increases in physical
capacity. A unique feature of Virginia’s application is the focus on operations
improvements.
Four Virginia sites have been identified where significant investments in
ITS technology were made to increase safety or mobility through improved
incident response and management or through improved information that
allows system users to make informed decisions about time and route of travel.
In addition, based on the understanding developed during this work, the
tools and their applicability for evaluation of other projects of this type were
assessed and recommendations for future tool improvement were offered.
•
•
•
Posting more detailed and customized traveler information messages,
breaking the limitations in the number of information units imposed by the
physical constraints of the DMS assets
Creating virtual new DMSs at relevant locations as opposed to only using
the geographic zones corresponding to fixed, existing DMS assets.
Using audio as a means of message delivery to motorists, as opposed to
relying on the visual task of reading messages from the road signs.
Motorists using the VDMS system will be presented with the messages posted
on physical DMS signs and also with additional information that is not displayed
on the physical DMS signs that could be of a varied nature, such as relating to
work zones, incidents, routing advisories, etc.
VISIT US AT www.cts.virginia.edu
27