Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) are widely relied on for agency operations and need to be accurate and reliable to the end of their lifecycle given maintenance and funding limitations. ENTERPRISE members are interested in understanding how RWIS solutions (specifically to support ITS and operations) available from different vendors differ in terms of accuracy, reliability, and costs. This effort seeks to understand the accuracy, reliability, and cost tradeoffs of deployed RWIS solutions by documenting available RWIS solutions, reviewing available documentation of RWIS asset management, and surveying state DOT practitioners, with an emphasis on RWIS supporting ITS solutions.
Completed
Truck Parking Detection Technologies
More demand for truck parking than available capacity is a challenge facing state transportation agencies. When this occurs, trucks may choose to park on roadway shoulders. Many states have deployed systems to automatically monitor/detect truck parking availability and communicate this information to truckers as they are approaching truck parking facilities. This is typically accomplished through in/out systems that monitor/detect vehicles as they enter and leave truck parking lots or by space-by-space systems that monitor/detect individual truck parking spaces. ENTERPRISE members have had some experience with truck parking detection and expressed interest in better understanding these technologies, components, and dissemination mechanisms. Other key interests were innovative truck parking detection concepts and methods, safety concerns and roadway maintenance issues with trucks parking illegally or on the shoulders at rest areas, maintenance efforts for truck parking detection systems, and other industries that utilize vehicle detection technology. Documenting examples of these truck parking interests was accomplished through outreach with ENTERPRISE member states and a literature review.
Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
A number of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) products and approaches have used “machine learning” for decades. Building on this foundation, recent artificial intelligence (AI) products and increased availability of AI have increased use cases for AI in transportation.
This project was conducted to introduce ENTERPRISE members to AI and facilitate understanding about how AI is being (and may be) applied to transportation, as well as the potential uses, benefits, and challenges of AI. Specifically, this project:
- Documents example use cases of AI in transportation operations.
- Provides a definition and high-level context of AI compared to other solutions;
- Documents and synthesizes available national materials;
- Summarizes state-level AI policies to document themes and additional considerations;
- Identifies considerations for transportation agency practitioners interested in using AI in operations; and
- Documents example use cases of AI in transportation operations.
Uncontrolled Pedestrian Crossing ITS Countermeasures
A significant increase in traffic-related pedestrian fatalities has occurred in the United States since 2010. Of particular concern are uncontrolled pedestrian crossings at mid-blocks and other uncontrolled approaches, as the majority of pedestrian fatalities occur at non-intersection locations. The objective of this research was to review existing guidance for selecting intelligent transportation system (ITS) countermeasures at uncontrolled pedestrian crossings and uncontrolled approaches, and to identify associate gaps and needs. The project completed a review of existing guidance for selecting ITS pedestrian safety treatments, conducted an interactive meeting with state department of transportation (DOT) traffic safety professionals, and identified potential gaps and needs. The guidance reviewed commonly includes ITS treatments such as blinker signs, flashing beacons, rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), and pedestrian hybrid beacons (PHBs). However, the interactive meeting with state DOT traffic safety professionals revealed limited deployment of ITS pedestrian treatments, inconsistency in application of these ITS treatments, and hesitancy with the use of some ITS technologies because drivers and pedestrians may not be familiar with these treatments. Overall, there appears to be a lack of on-road ITS pedestrian treatments for uncontrolled approaches. There may be an opportunity to further develop infrastructure-based pedestrian detection approaches such as cameras, radar, and LiDAR, especially at locations with known safety issues.
State of the Art Roadway Sensors – Phase 2
Many vendors offer roadway sensors either embedded in pavements, non-intrusively within the road, or attached to infrastructure. These sensors gather data and/or communicate with vehicles to aid roadway operations. This effort seeks to understand existing and innovative types of commercially available intrusive and non-intrusive roadway sensors with an analysis of the potential applications, relevance, and drawbacks of each type. This effort considers sensors to be innovative if they are not widely used, either by being new to the transportation sector or not widely used by transportation agencies. Sensors of interest are examined in greater detail, such as identifying the ability of pavement to hold up structurally, operations and maintenance considerations, and placement of the sensors.
This Phase 2 ENTERPRISE Pooled Fund Study project builds on prior work conducted by selecting and advancing a managed set of sensor options from the Phase 1 effort. Specifically, this effort identifies possible test bed approaches that one or more agencies may test in a future test bed environment, with recommendations for common attributes of deployment (e.g., placement, security, communications) such that the individual deployments all contribute to a universal virtual test bed. Additionally, this effort develops a high-level systems engineering approach that defines the needs addressed, operational concepts, and preliminary requirements, with a goal of having a scientific-based description of the use of the roadway sensors identified in Phase 1 that can be presented internally by member agencies within their organization.
Novel Uses of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in ITS
The use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) by state departments of transportation (State DOTs) is steadily increasing. The ENTERPRISE Pooled Fund Study completed this project to explore ways to optimize UAS integration with ITS and operations within transportation agencies. The literature search identified more than 30 UAS use cases for ITS and transportation operations that are being used in practice, researched, tested, planned, or considered by State DOTs. A survey of State DOTs revealed that the highest number of responding agencies are using UAS for post-emergency documentation, observing conditions where cameras are not present, traffic data collection for congestion monitoring, on-site incident scene monitoring, and collecting data for before/after studies. Though the stage of implementation varies for each purpose, the use of UAS for ITS and operations appears to be trending beyond research and testing toward being implemented. Details about four successful ITS and transportation operations use cases were gathered. Benefits associated with use of UAS included obtaining views that would not otherwise be possible, improving safety for employees and contractors as they operate drones away from hazardous conditions, and communicating conditions (e.g., emergencies or hazardous situations) to decision makers and the public. Limitations exist with operating UAS when flying drones in unfavorable weather conditions (e.g., cold, sleet, rain) as well as battery life for longer flights and distances.