Statewide Traffic Flow Data: Probe Vehicle Study for Iowa DOT Erik Minge, PE SRF Consulting Group, Inc. May 25, 2011
Types of Mobile Probe Data Cellular Telephone-Based Methods! Angle of arrival (E911)! Cellular network traffic analysis! Tower association! Device-Based Tracking Methods! Cellular phone application-based tracking! GPS-based fleet systems! Wireless device detection (Bluetooth reader)! Hybrid Methods!
Iowa DOT Data Needs Need Area! Planning applications! Examples! Statewide travel demand modeling! Origin/destination studies! Traveler information! Statewide 511 and flow map! Travel time posted on DMS! Traffic management applications! Incident detection! Federal requirements! Research! Section 1201 (Real-Time System Management Information Program)! Performance measures! Various!
A Different Animal BLACK BOX Travel time! o DMS display! o 511 system! o Web map! o Incident detection! o Calibrate travel demand model! Average speed! Origin/Destination! Research!
Data Collection Methods Location Based! Pro! Reliable! Accurate! Real-time! Granular! Con! Limited geographic area! Comm infrastructure needs! Capital costs! O&M costs! Area Based (Mobile Probe)! Pro! Large geographic area! No infrastructure deployment! Con! Time lag! Less robust in low volumes! No volume data! Ongoing cost!
Agencies Surveyed
Survey Questions Describe roadway system and coverage area! How are you using data?! Planning! Dynamic message signs! 511 system! Severe weather impact analysis! How have you dealt with the non-technical issues?! Have you conducted an evaluation?! Data accurate enough for intended applications?! Greatest benefits?! Lessons learned?!
Survey Findings Data field indicates data source! Historical data substituted in low volume conditions! Time lag in data! Lag is longer when speeds are low! Lag occurs when need for data is greatest (i.e. incident)! Data will sometimes revert to historical conditions! Roadway segments based on Traffic Message Channel (TMC)! Improved performance seen over time, probably due to greater penetration!
Survey Findings (cont.) Massachusetts 511 system received data at no cost in return for advertising! Data costs are higher if:! Real time data (as opposed to historical)! Non-standard (non-tmc) roadway segments! Clearly state data requirements! Length of time data is made available! Allowed uses for data!
INRIX Data Evaluation 30-day trial evaluation, August-September 2010! 17 roadway segments chosen in Iowa! Existing sensors (loops, NIT) used as baseline for comparison! Data was queried from INRIX s database and stored for analysis!
Test Methodology Evaluate Performance! High and low volume roadways! Peak and off peak periods! Work zone caused congestion! Incident caused congestion! Document source of data (real time vs. historical)! Urban vs. rural roadways! Number of lanes! Freeway vs. expressway vs. arterial! Time of day!
Metadata Analysis 100%! Data Source by Road Segment! 80%! 60%! 40%! Real-Time Data! Mixed Data! Historical Data! 20%! 0%! 2R-A! 2R-B! 2R-C! 2R-D! 2R-E! 4RE-A! 4RE-B! 4RF-A! 4RF-B! 4RF-C! 4RF-D! 8UF-A! 8UF-B! 4UF-A! 4UF-B! 4UA-A! 4UA-B! # of lanes/rural vs. urban/hwy vs. expy, fwy, or arterial/segment #!
Metadata Analysis 100%! Data Source by Time (2-Lane Rural Highway)! 80%! 60%! 40%! 20%! Real-Time Data! Mixed Data! Historical Data! 0%! Late Night Period (10PM - 5AM)! AM Peak Period (6:30AM - 8:30AM)! PM Peak Period (4PM - 6PM)! Remaining Periods! Data Source by Time (4-Lane Rural Expressway)! 100%! 80%! 60%! 40%! 20%! Real-Time Data! Mixed Data! Historical Data! 0%! Late Night Period (10PM - 5AM)! AM Peak Period (6:30AM - 8:30AM)! PM Peak Period (4PM - 6PM)! Remaining Periods!
Work Zone Condition 80! I-380 SB Mile Markers 0-4! Vehicle Speed! (mph)! 60! 40! 20! 0! 9:00 AM! 9:30 AM! 10:00 AM! 10:30 AM! 11:00 AM! 11:30 AM! 12:00 PM! 12:30 PM! 1:00 PM! 1:30 PM! 2:00 PM! 2:30 PM! 3:00 PM! 3:30 PM! 4:00 PM! 4:30 PM! 5:00 PM! August 5, 2010! August 9, 2010! August 10, 2010! August 12, 2010!
Traffic Incident July 8, 2010 I 35 SB at 1st St! Vehicle speed (mph)! 80! 60! 40! 20! 0! 2:00 PM! 2:30 PM! 3:00 PM! 3:30 PM! 4:00 PM! 4:30 PM! 5:00 PM! 5:30 PM! 6:00 PM! 6:30 PM! 7:00 PM! 7:30 PM! 8:00 PM! 8:30 PM! 9:00 PM! 9:30 PM! 10:00 PM! July 8, 2010! Vehicle Speed (mph)! 80! 60! 40! 20! 0! I 35 SB from IA 87 to 1st St! 2:00 PM! 2:30 PM! 3:00 PM! 3:30 PM! 4:00 PM! 4:30 PM! 5:00 PM! 5:30 PM! 6:00 PM! 6:30 PM! 7:00 PM! 7:30 PM! 8:00 PM! 8:30 PM! 9:00 PM! 9:30 PM! 10:00 PM! July 8, 2010! I 35 SB at IA 87! Vehicle Speed (mph)! 80! 60! 40! 20! 0! 2:00 PM! 2:30 PM! 3:00 PM! 3:30 PM! 4:00 PM! 4:30 PM! 5:00 PM! 5:30 PM! 6:00 PM! 6:30 PM! 7:00 PM! 7:30 PM! 8:00 PM! 8:30 PM! 9:00 PM! 9:30 PM! 10:00 PM! July 8, 2010!
Traffic Incident (cont.) Vehicle Speed (mph)! I 35 SB from IA 210 to IA 87! 80! 60! 40! 20! 0! 2:00 PM! 2:30 PM! 3:00 PM! 3:30 PM! 4:00 PM! 4:30 PM! 5:00 PM! 5:30 PM! 6:00 PM! 6:30 PM! 7:00 PM! 7:30 PM! 8:00 PM! 8:30 PM! 9:00 PM! 9:30 PM! 10:00 PM! Vehicle Speed (mph)! 80! 60! 40! 20! 0! July 8, 2010! I 35 SB at IA 210! 2:00 PM! 2:30 PM! 3:00 PM! 3:30 PM! 4:00 PM! 4:30 PM! 5:00 PM! 5:30 PM! 6:00 PM! 6:30 PM! 7:00 PM! 7:30 PM! 8:00 PM! 8:30 PM! 9:00 PM! 9:30 PM! 10:00 PM! July 8, 2010! Vehicle Speed (mph)! I 35 SB from US 30 to IA 210! 80! 60! 40! 20! 0! 2:00 PM! 2:30 PM! 3:00 PM! 3:30 PM! 4:00 PM! 4:30 PM! 5:00 PM! 5:30 PM! 6:00 PM! 6:30 PM! 7:00 PM! 7:30 PM! 8:00 PM! 8:30 PM! 9:00 PM! 9:30 PM! 10:00 PM! July 8, 2010!
Comparison with Existing Sensor Data 100! I-80 at IA 1 (Iowa City)! 8/31/10-9/7/10! Vehicle Speed! (mph)! 80! 60! 40! 20! 0! INRIX Data! DOT Sensor Data! US 59 NB (0.6 miles north of IA 141)! 9/16/2010! 80! Vehicle Speed! (mph)! 60! 40! 20! 0! 12:00 AM! 1:10 AM! 2:20 AM! 3:30 AM! 4:40 AM! 5:50 AM! 7:00 AM! 8:10 AM! 9:20 AM! 10:30 AM! 11:40 AM! 12:50 PM! 2:00 PM! 3:10 PM! 4:20 PM! 5:30 PM! 6:40 PM! 7:50 PM! 9:00 PM! 10:10 PM! 11:20 PM! INRIX Data! DOT RWIS Data!
INRIX Evaluation Summary Amount of real time data correlates with volume! Speeds reduced by work zones and major traffic incidents! Speed correlates with roadway detector stations!
Potential Non-Technical Issues with Probe Approaches Administrative issues! Changes in data quality! Changes in data source! Changes in data frequency! Changes in method of aggregation/synthesis! Business model / contract changes! Bankruptcy! Political issues! Loss of control over data management! Difficulties with anonymity! Difficulties in data security! Public reaction! Potential for abuse!
Privacy Concerns It s Tracking Your Every Move and You May Not Even Know! By NOAM COHEN! Published: March 26, 2011! Malte Spitz was surprised by how much detail Deutsche Telekom had about his whereabouts.!
Recommendations & Conclusions Engage DOT stakeholders to explore use and value of mobile probe data! Review metadata analysis to see if they meet DOT s needs for various uses! Consider potential non-technical issues! Monitor marketplace!
Questions/Comments?! Erik Minge, PE! eminge@srfconsulting.com!