Posting travel times on dms webinar 042711
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Transcript of Posting travel times on dms webinar 042711
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data… best practices & lessons learned
Welcome!Wednesday, April 27, 2011 11:00a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data… best practices & lessons learned
Disclaimer: Today’s webinar is being delivered at the request of several State Transportation agencies. FHWA does not endorse any of the 3rd Party Data Service providers/vendors discussed in the following presentations.
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
The Idaho Transportation Department’s interest in posting travel time
FHWA facilitated a teleconference for ITD with other state DOTs to learn of their approaches
Mutual assessment by the State Transportation agencies involved and FHWA that this topic was of national interest and so deserved a webinar to share lessons learned & best practices.
What prompted this webinar?
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
2009 MUTCD Reference Changeable Message Signs
Section 2L.02 Applications of Changeable Message Signs
G. Travel Time
We have three poll questions we would like you to respond to:
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data… best practices & lessons learned
Moderator & Speaker Bios are available in the “Download Bios & Today’s Presentation Pod”
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 11:00a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Special Guest Speakers● Jennifer PortanovaState ITS Operations EngineerNorth Carolina Department of Transportation ---● Jeff GalasTraffic Systems Center ManagerIllinois Department of Transportation---● Richard DyeCHART Systems Administrator Maryland State Highway Administration---
ModeratorBob KoeberleinMobility Services EngineerIdaho Transportation Department
We have three speakers today:
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data… best practices & lessons learned
April 27, 2011
Jennifer Portanova, PENorth Carolina Department of Transportation
State ITS Operations Engineer
POLICY
• No formal policy • Guidelines
o Time of day TT will be postedo How often TT will be updatedo Priority level of message o Message Format
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
LOCATION
• Posting TT in urban & rural areas statewide
• Pre-determined locationso Reoccurring
congestiono Decision Point
between two routes
o Needs tweaking• Regional input on
locations
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
POSTING• Automated and Manual
Posting• Weekdays Peak Hours
o 6 am to 9 am o 4 pm to 7 pm
• Or if speeds drop below speed limit (automated)
• Updated every:o 10 minutes (manual)o 1 minute (automated)
• Low Message Priority
HIGH
LOWPosting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
POSTING FORMAT
• Short Segments (96 mph) • Range Vs. No Range
VS
Current format
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
EQUIPMENT
• Permanent signs (DMS)• Discussed stationary • Challenges with older
deviceso Number of characterso Communicationo Automation Software
Not using portable devices
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
DATA SOURCE: Manual
• Vehicle probe speed data
• Webpage with TT • Capped at Speed
Limit• Round up• Message updated
by operator
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
DATA SOURCE: Automated
• Microwave speed sensors
• Current software limits data source
• Working on software for any source
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
DATA RELIABILITY
• 3rd Party Microwave Sensoro Sensitivityo Maintenance
• 3rd Party Vehicle Probe Data o Missing
segmentso Mountainso Source of datao Continues to
improve
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
WORK ZONES & VARIABLE SPEED LIMITS
• Permanent devices• Have some TT in WZ• Not strategically posting
for a WZ, yet…• Working on WZ application• Variable speed limits
o Only in WZo Not in effect during peak
hours
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
MAINTAINING ASSETS
• Devices and data already existed
• Funded operator positions to post
• Webpage to make Manual TT easier
• Future Investmentso Upgrade DMS for
automated TTo Strategic
Developmento SMARTlink RFP
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
LESSONS LEARNED
Automated ideal – monitoring still required
Regional perspective important
Avoid ranges on small segments
Expect to make changesHave a Champion
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data… best practices & lessons learned
Jeff Galas, Traffic Systems Center MangerIllinois Department of Transportation
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Travel Times in the Chicago Area
Illinois Department of TransportationDistrict 1Traffic Systems Center
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Network of over 2400 detectors – 168 centerline miles monitored
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Combination of Detection Methods:
• Induction Loops
• RTMS microwave detectors
• Microloops (magnetometers)
• Bluetooth capture
Spaced approximately every 0.5 mile
Interfaced to the ATMS as Volume and Occupancy (presence)
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
42 Expressway Dynamic Message Signs14 Arterial DMS
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Combination of DMS Technologies
• Flip Disk – Fiber optic enhanced
25 to 30 year old
• LED Full matrix Walk-in NTCIP compliant
More recent installations
• LED Full matrix / Full Color
Replacing the oldest of the oldMUTCD Graphics capability
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Near Real Time Congestion and Travel Times
• Available to the public for over 30 years
• Distributed through local television and radio outlets
• Broadcast on Highway Advisory Radio
• Displayed on the LMIGA website
• Displayed on Dynamic Message Signs
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Congestion messages displayed on DMS …. Daytime only
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Challenged to start displaying Travel Times
• Use existing Travel Time algorithms
• Determine and develop new Travel Time zones
• Interface to sign controller
• Monitor operation for accuracy
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Travel Time Calculation:
Each station is sending presence information in real time
20 second sample is stored
Speed is calculated using Volume and Occupancy:
Speed = 3600 (Volume) (average vehicle length) 52.8 (polling interval) (Occupancy)
Average vehicle length varies by lane (17 feet to 22 feet)
Data is normalized prior to calculation
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Travel Time Calculation:
Speed is used to calculate relative time:
Travel Time = Length of segment Speed
Each segment is adjusted for actual spacing between detectors
Segment times are concatenated for longer zones
Zone travel times averaged over 5 minute periodbefore being published or displayed
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
ATMS Vehicle Detection Station – Estimated Speed
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
....DMS Travel Times
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Guidelines for DMS Messages
Hierarchy of messages displayed:
1,2 Priority message (Crash, pavement failure, incident)
3 ATMS incident
4 Scheduled message (lane closures, planned events)
5 2 phase Congestion / Travel Times
6 AMBER alert
7 Travel Times
8,9 Stored message (PSA ,seat belt, DUI, etc)
10 Previous ATMS travel times
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Messages refer to landmarks and destinations
DMS Travel Time zones do not exceed 10 miles
O’Hare Airport
Junction
Circle
159th street
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Desire (demand) for travel times
• Public has become accustomed to travel times
• Media focus on travel time info
• When outages occur, calls come in
• Requests for system expansion
• Difficulties in construction zones
• When the loops are removed• RTMS units• Bluetooth
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Construction Alternatives
“Bridge” Detection zones – short distances
Probe Vehicles
Travel times manually entered as received
RTMS units
conflict with construction stagingre-calibration based on lane configuration
Bluetooth
Fairly accurate alternative
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
DMS Travel Times during Construction
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Investment in infrastructure
Initial installation
Approximately $250,000 per sign
Truss, Sign, power, communication
ATMS modification and software
Maintenance
Under contract - $26,000 per month for system
Additional cost for battery back-up sign - $1,000 / year
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Using the I-95 Corridor Coalition Vehicle Probe data to put Automated Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs in Maryland
Richard R. DyeCHART Systems Administrator
- As recently as December 2007, Travel Times on DMS was scheduled for FY 2012 due to lack of infrastructure to provide good data and the need to devote a major build entirely to this effort.
- In the mean Time CHART was preparing the background logic in smaller builds (System Alerts R3B1, Scheduler and Event-based Notification R3B2)
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
- That same month, the I-95 Corridor Coalition awarded a Travel Time contract and software development for automated messages on CHART signs was pushed forward to meet the challenge
- Work was also begun on Engineering Guidelines for Implementing Travel Times On DMS in Maryland
More Info, download Procedural Guidelines For Implementing Travel Time on DMS In CHART (PDF) at http://traffic.md.gov/readingroom/RR_ChartSWProgDocumenation.asp
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
- …but… developing software to implement a 3rd party interface that had been neither developed nor tested was risky (to say the least)
- This is the 1st time EVER that messages will be put on a CHART field device without the direct approval or even overt knowledge of an operator. How do we manage our risk?
- … and the FHWA “map” was not going away
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Assumptions!- If the 3rd party data is good, we can
move automated travel times on DMS up to a non-dedicated build if:- Routes in CHART will be built using
links that we choose- This will allow us to avoid obvious trouble
spots for probe-based systems (e.g. welcome station on I-95 where long runs parallel to the highway may confuse the data)
- Travel Time will run during hours of day that we choose- This will allow us to avoid obvious trouble
spots for probe-based systems (e.g. low volume of probes between 2am and 4am)
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Assumptions!- Travel times will be displayed
in ranges, not exact times- The currently approved
quality scores will be used to determine if a message is displayed
- A smoothing algorithm will be added to the travel time data received from The 3rd party vendor- This should mitigate the
severity of seriously outlying data points
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Assumptions!
- If a maximum travel time threshold is received, the message will not be displayed and an alert will be set to the controlling Ops Center as well as notification to selected pager/email groups in the system
- Travel times below a minimum will display travel time as if the speed limit were traveled
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
– CHART Release 3, Build 3 was deployed in December 2009 and was composed of:
• Traveler Information Messages, including Travel Times and Toll Rates obtained via an external connection to the two different 3rd party vendors system and Vector system.
• Device Location fields to CHART devices, including DMS, TSS (Detectors), HAR, SHAZAM, and Cameras allowing the system to show devices close to traffic events to aid in event response.
• External Event Import including External Event Alert
• External DMS and TSS import from RITIS.
• Capability to manage geographical area definitions
• Direct TCP/IP communication for DMS and TSS
Timeline
More Info, download CHART R3B3 Detailed Design.pdf at http://traffic.md.gov/readingroom/RR_ChartSWProgDocumenation.asp
How Did It Turn Out?
– Privileged operators can create travel routes
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
How Did It Turn Out?• For maximum flexibility, DMS Message Templates are
used to define the format and layout of messages used to show travel times and/or toll rates on DMSs. Message templates target DMSs of a specific size (rows /columns) to allow layout features such as column data and to ensure messages created with the template match the layout specified by the template designer.
• Templates may contain both text and data fields. Data fields will be replaced with actual data from one or more Travel Routes when a template is used for a DMS
message.
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
– Any Operator can see• The name and length of the route • The current travel time for the route • The current travel time trend• The current average speed on the
route • The current toll rate for the route • The devices using the travel route• The roadway route(s) that are
included in the travel route.• The roadway direction(s) that are
included in the travel route.• The Counties that are included in the
travel route
How Did It Turn Out?
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
• Travel Time started on I-95 between the beltways in January 2010
• Travel Times run 5am to 9pm weekdays
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
• Travel Time expanded to both beltways in March 2010
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
• Travel Time expanded westward and to the eastern shore in Late 2010
August 2010 – Senior Management Weighs in
- All signs displaying travel time need to also display the distance to the destination(s). - The distance as displayed on single destination signs to read XX MINUTES on line 3 if there is room. XX MIN otherwise. - For multiple destination signs, the sign should display XX MI between the destination and the travel time. - In a few cases, the destination description is too long for XX MI to fit on the same line. In these cases the message should be revised to report travel time to a single destination.
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
What Can the Operators See?
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
What Makes up a Route?
Links that we receive from the 3rd party vendor and build into a Route
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
And general settings (max displayable time, min travel time, who to alert when things go wrong – remember the assumptions?)
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
…and a Dynamic Message Sign!
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
What Does the Public See?
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
What if Travel Time is Exceeded?
What Does the Operator See?
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
What if Data Quality is too Low?
What Does the Operator See?
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
What if there is a Conflict?What Does the Operator See?
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
What Does the Public See?
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Good To be determined
CHART is ecstatic how well the software has come out
We have expanded in phases from the original 6 to 57 active travel routes since January 2010
10 – 20 – 30 Seems to work but we have seen some 20’s in the middle of a bunch of 30’s that look like they were historic. This concerns us on short routes and we are looking into it.
We will be looking to implement the 1 – 100 scale once we learn more about it.
The connection between The 3rd party vendor and State through internet seems pretty reliable
There have only been a hand full of unplanned outages
Not a huge amount of public comment, but what there is seems much more positive than negative
When there are documented “concerns” from public that messages are unreasonably slowing traffic, we review before and after data and have removed TT on DMS on a case by case basis.
Experience So Far
Posting Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs & 3rd Party Data Webinar
Thank You!
http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/1201/ Bob Rupert, FHWA, 202-366-2194, [email protected]
FHWA Real-Time System Management Information ProgramSAFETEA-LU, Subtitle B, §1201 Provisions of the Rule – 23 CFR Part 511
http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/FHWA Operations
Ray Murphy, ITS SpecialistOffice of Technical [email protected], 708-215-1301
Any Questions for our Speakers?