Quarterly Report Mar 2004 Final Report Research Brief
Quarterly Report Sept 2004 CMFMS Effectiveness Study
Project Number: 04-02
Research Project: System Management and Monitoring -Providing a Continuous, Real-Time Evaluation of the Columbus Metropolitan Freeway Management System
P.I. Name & Address:
Assistant Professor Benjamin A. Coifman
Department of Civil Engineering
The Ohio State University 470 Hitchcock
Hall
Columbus, OH 43210
(614)292-4282
coifman.1@osu.edu
Project Objective: This proposed study will provide quantitative and qualitative results such as: travel times, speed data, traffic volume, vehicle queue length, and duration for recurring and non-recurring incidents. The study will also develop a performance monitoring methodology both to assess the performance of instrumented freeways and the reliability of the surveillance system.
Project Abstract: The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), in conjunction with the city of Columbus and the Federal Highway Administration is currently installing and implementing an intelligent Columbus Metropolitan Freeway Management System (CMFMS)in the greater Columbus, Ohio area. The objective of the CMFMS project is to increase traffic throughput, decrease the number of [j1]accidents, decrease the time required to clear incidents that disrupt and cause breakdown of flow, and provide travelers information. Researchers from the Traffic Monitoring Laboratory at the Ohio State University have a pending proposal with ODOT to evaluate the performance of the CMFMS. Data for this evaluation are being collected using the CMFMS loop detectors, dedicated probe vehicle runs and Central Ohio Transit Agency (COTA) automatic vehicle location (AVL)system on transit vehicles in the corridor. The work covered in this proposal to MRUTC will extend the evaluation for ODOT by providing a continuous, real time system to present various performance measures of the CMFMS. Such an extension should help optimize transportation investment by reducing peak demands on the system while educating the wide range of users.
Task Descriptions: The first task of the proposed MRUTC work will be developing the necessary data fusion tools to merge these diverse data sources in real time, exploit the specific strengths of a given source, and address any discrepancies between conflicting data sources. The second task will be the production and provision of meaningful information for travelers. In the third task we will produce tools to automatically extract data useful to practitioners, employing the same philosophy behind the Freeway Performance Measurement System (PeMS). Finally, in the fourth task, we will develop a tool to provide the archived loop detector data to researchers.
Milestones, Dates: Project Start Date: October 1, 2003. Project End Date: September 30, 2004
Budget: $288,467
Student Involvement: Graduate student assistant (equivalent of 75% of time for one year.)
Relationship to Other Research Projects: Supplement to ODOT’s intelligent Columbus Metropolitan Freeway Management System (CMFMS) Project.
Technology Transfer Activities: A working group of key stakeholders will be established and the information generated through the project will be available through the Internet.
Potential Benefits of the Project: This research will help optimize operations through better management of the system by involving the public, providing a comprehensive overview for practitioners, and help further research.
TRB Keywords: ITS, Freeway Management System, AVL System
Primary Subject: ITS Applications for Freeways
Modal Orientation: Highway