RCOC’s Real-Time Traffic RCOC’s Real-Time Traffic Web Site EnhancementsWeb Site Enhancements

Ahmad Jawad

Road Commission of Oakland CountyQingyan (Ken) Yang, Preeti Agarwal, Jeff Manring

Iteris Inc

San Antonio, Texas

April 26-29, 2004

FFaster aster AAnd nd SSafer afer TTravel -ravel -TThrough hrough RRouting & outing & AAdvanced dvanced CControlsontrols

IntroductionIntroduction

Road Commission for Oakland County’s FAST-TRAC ITS project

Enhancement of RCOC real-time traffic web

Lessons learnt and future efforts

FAST-TRAC ComponentsFAST-TRAC Components

TIMS

SCATSRWI

S

MITSC (MDOT)

CATV

SMART(AVL EQUIPPED)

VTIMS USERS WORLD-WIDE WEB USERS

AUTOSCOPE

CCTV SYSTEM

FAST-TRAC Fact SheetFAST-TRAC Fact Sheet First local unit of government to initiate an ITS

project of this magnitude in US. First suburban adaptive traffic control system in

US. First test of video detection for adaptive traffic

control in the world. Largest adaptive signal system in North America. Largest video vehicle detection system in the

world.

RCOC Real-Time Traffic WebRCOC Real-Time Traffic Web

First Internet-based real-time arterial traffic congestion map

On-line more than four yearsProvides comprehensive traffic information

to general publicGradual enhancement by taking advantage

of new Internet technologies, such as XML

Traffic Data PresentationTraffic Data Presentation From MITSC – Freeway Data

– Freeway speeds– Roadwork events– Incident events– Changeable Message Sign (CMS) messages– Video snapshots

From RCOC – Arterial Data– Signal congestion data– Road Weather Information System (RWIS) data,

Roadwork events– Video snapshots

RCOC Real-time Traffic WebRCOC Real-time Traffic Web

Data Presentation on RCOC Data Presentation on RCOC Real-time Traffic Web Real-time Traffic Web

RCOC Real-time Traffic WebRCOC Real-time Traffic Web

First two years the usual feed back was – complex to use – extremely slow via low speed phone line– overwhelming information for general public– more of an experts web site then an average

commuter.

RCOC Real-time Traffic WebRCOC Real-time Traffic Web

Enhancements of Web PageEnhancements of Web Page

1. Improvement of Web Page Access Speed- Response time improvement

- Enhancing the content of real-time traffic information

2. Developed XML based data storage and distribution mechanism

3. Better presentation of arterial congestion information - Instant announcement message

- Colored roadway segment

4. Support a data feed (FTP) to outside agencies.

Improvement of Web Page AccessImprovement of Web Page Access

Improve the user interface – More user friendly accessing

Improve web page response time– Efficient web map generation

Enhance the content of real-time traffic information– Freeway & arterial traffic information

integration

XML Based Data FormatXML Based Data FormateXtensible Markup Language

– Designed for data exchange– License free, well supported by W3C– Platform independent

Support XML based data format– TIMS internal data definition– TMDD based data definition

XML Example for RoadworkXML Example for Roadwork<roadwork id = '903'>

<location>Grand River Road</location><locator>1</locator><cross_street1>Beck Road east to CSX Rail Road</cross_street1><cross_street2></cross_street2><direction>5</direction><affected_lanes>-4</affected_lanes><start_date>4/15/2003</start_date><end_date>11/30/2003</end_date><effective_days>0</effective_days><active>1</active><description>City of Novi is widening this road to five lanes. Open

to local traffic but closed at CSX bridge.</description><agency>RCOC</agency><phone_num>(248) 858-7250</phone_num>

</roadwork>

Presentation of Arterial Presentation of Arterial Congestion Information Congestion Information

Before– Congestion color at SCATS critical intersection– Detailed congestion approach for SCATS

critical intersection

After– Congestion segment color for SCATS

subsystem (intersection group) by taking advantage of GIS software

Arterial Congestion – BeforeArterial Congestion – Before

Arterial Congestion – AfterArterial Congestion – After

Instant Announcement Message Instant Announcement Message

Traffic Data DistributionTraffic Data Distribution

Traffic information distribution– FTP XML data files periodically– Capability of sending all kinds of traffic

information– Current feed users

Tele Atlas General Motor Research Center

Traffic Web Yearly Access CountTraffic Web Yearly Access Count

Web Access - Yearly Increases

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

-2000

3000

8000

13000

18000

23000

28000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Year

Nu

mb

er o

f H

its

Web Monthly CountsWeb Monthly Counts(January 2003 vs January 2004)(January 2003 vs January 2004)

Web Page Access - January 03 vs 04

-100

100

300

500

700

900

1100

1300

1500

1700

Days

Nu

mb

er

of

hit

s

Jan, 2004

Jan, 2003

Lessons LearntLessons Learnt Balance of perspective between technology and

needs– Cutting edge technology– Simplicity pays off

Flexibility in integrating / distribution traffic data– Real time data requires constant updates, data intensive– Flexibility in data configuration

Open architecture and gradual migration– Start small and grow with enhancements

Future EffortsFuture Efforts Future Efforts

– Persistence is the key Constantly on the watch for improvements Enhancements escalate public interests

– Enhancing the data sharing capability more video snapshots /live video on-line Integrate with developing web-based data collection system

(Virtual TIMS) Real time data sharing with OEMs

– Providing the further research opportunities Data archives for future studies

Please Come Visit Us On The Please Come Visit Us On The Web At:Web At:

www.rcocweb.org

QUESTIONS???QUESTIONS???