Towards fine-grained urban traffic knowledge extraction using mobile sensing

We introduce our vision for mining fine-grained urban traf-fic knowledge from mobile sensing, especially GPS location traces. Beyond characterizing human mobility patterns and measuring tra±c congestion, we show how mobile sensing can also reveal details such as intersection performance statis-tics that are useful for optimizing the timing of a tra±c sig-nal. Realizing such applications requires co-designing pri-vacy protection algorithms and novel tra±c modeling tech-niques so that the needs for privacy preserving and tra±c modeling can be simultaneously satisfied. We explore pri-vacy algorithms based on the virtual trip lines (VTL) con-cept to regulate where and when the mobile data should be collected. The tra±c modeling techniques feature an inte-gration of tra±c principles and learning/optimization tech-niques. The proposed methods are illustrated using two case studies for extracting tra±c knowledge for urban signalized intersection

A time-dependent freight tour synthesis model

This paper introduces a model of urban freight demand that seeks to estimate tour flows from secondary data sources e.g., traffic counts, to bypass the need for expensive surveys. The model discussed in this paper, referred as Freight Tour Synthesis (FTS), enhances current techniques by incorporating the time-dependent tour-based behavior of freight vehicles, and the decision maker’s (e.g., metropolitan planning agency planner) preferences for different sources of information. The model, based on entropy maximization theory, estimates the most likely set of tour flows, given a set of trip generation estimates, a set of traffic counts per time interval, and total freight transportation cost in the network. The type of inputs used allows the assessment of changes in infrastructure, policy and land use. The ability of the model to replicate actual values is assessed using the Denver Region (CO) as a case study

Link Travel Time Estimation in Double-Queue-Based Traffic Models

Double queue concept has gained its popularity in dynamic user equilibrium (DUE) modeling because it can properly model real traffic dynamics. While directly solving such double-queue-based DUE problems is extremely challenging, an approximation scheme called first-order approximation was proposed to simplify the link travel time estimation of DUE problems in a recent study without evaluating its properties and performance. This paper focuses on directly investigating the First-In-First-Out property and the performance of the first-order approximation in link travel time estimation by designing and modeling dynamic network loading (DNL) on single-line stretch networks. After model formulation, we analyze the First-In-First-Out (FIFO) property of the first-order approximation. Then a series of numerical experiments is conducted to demonstrate the FIFO property of the first-order approximation, and to compare its performance with those using the second-order approximation, a point queue model, and the cumulative inflow and exit flow curves. The numerical results show that the first-order approximation does not guarantee FIFO and also suggest that the second-order approximation is recommended especially when the link exit flow is increasing. The study provides guidance for further study on proposing new methods to better estimate link travel times

DRONES FOR IMPROVING TRAFFIC SAFETY IN RITI COMMUNITIES IN WASHINGTON STATE

Transportation and traffic safety is a primary concern in Rural, Isolated, Tribal, or Indigenous (RITI) communities in Washington (WA) State. Parallel to this, while emerging technologies (e.g., connected/autonomous vehicles, drones) have been developed and tested in addressing traffic safety issues, they are often not widely shared in RITI communities for various reasons. Compared with other technological advances, drone technologies have been rapidly improved and can be flexibly applied to multiple fields, including engineering, agriculture and disaster managements. The goal of this study is to explore and synthesize the opportunities, challenges and scenarios that drone technologies can assist to resolve traffic safety related issues and concerns in RITI communities. Through the outreach activities with the outer Pacific Coast in WA state, it is found that the principal concern within these communities are disaster management and mitigation since they are facing the threat of coastal erosion, earthquake and tsunami. Thus, the emergency management and hazard mitigation becomes the major way to further explore drone applications in the selected communities. To achieve this, we reviewed the current state of the drone technologies, conducted surveys from National Guard and coastal communities in WA, including City of Westport, South Beach Region, Grays Harbor County, Shoalwater Bay Tribe, and Quinault Indian Nation, to better understand their current needs, challenges and issues. Ultimately, recommendations of drone applications under specific scenarios are provided based upon the integration of drone technologies with community safety needs.TABLE OF CONTENTS Disclaimer....................................................................................................................................................... i Technical Report Documentation Page ........................................................................................................ ii SI* (Modern Metric) Conversion Factors ..................................................................................................... iii List of Figures ................................................................................................................................................ v List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ vi Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 2 1.1. General Background ...................................................................................................................... 2 1.2. Problem Statement ....................................................................................................................... 3 CHAPTER 2. Literature review of drone technology and Application ....................................................... 5 2.1. State of the Art Drone Technologies............................................................................................. 5 2.2. Practice of drones in Washington State ........................................................................................ 6 CHAPTER 3. Outreach activities ................................................................................................................ 7 3.1. Community Engagement for Coastal Resilience Studio ................................................................ 8 3.1.1. Westport/South Beach Workshop – 11/2018 (27) ............................................................. 10 3.2. WA National Guard Workshop – 6/2019 .................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER 4. Online survey ...................................................................................................................... 14 CHAPTER 5. results and recommendationS ............................................................................................ 15 5.1. Outreach Activity Findings .......................................................................................................... 15 5.1.1. Transportation and Traffic Safety in Westport ................................................................... 15 5.1.2. Learning from WA National Guard Workshop .................................................................... 17 5.2. Online Survey Results.................................................................................................................. 18 5.3. Recommendation of drone applications .................................................................................... 18 CHAPTER 6. conclusion and future study ............................................................................................... 24 Reference .................................................................................................................................................... 25 Appendix A: UAV (Drones) technologies ...................................................................................................... 1 Appendix B: Workshop report for Westport Coastal Resilience................................................................... 1 Appendix C: Online Survey ............................................................................................................................ 1 Appendix D: Executive Summary of Westport Costal Resilience Report ...................................................... 1 Appendix E: Transportation Chapter of Westport Costal Resilience Report ................................................

Investigation of Drone Applications to Improve Traffic Safety in RITI Communities

Transportation and traffic safety is a primary concern among the Rural, Isolated, Tribal, or Indigenous (RITI) communities in the U.S. Although emerging technologies (e.g., connected and autonomous vehicles, drones) have been developed and tested in addressing traffic safety issues, they are often not widely shared in RITI communities for various reasons. This research aims to explore, understand, and synthesize the opportunities and challenges of applying drone technologies to alleviate or resolve traffic safety and emergency related issues within RITI communities. The project team first sent out online surveys to communities on the outer Pacific coast of Washington State and selected the City of Westport as the study area based on the feedback. A pilot study using drones for mapping and sensing in Westport was then conducted, followed by two community meetings to explore potential drone applications. With the three outreach activities, it was found that the current need in the communities was education on drones, including training for remote pilot certification (drone license) and drone operations. Findings of this research will help guide the project team to set up specific drone-related programs in the Westport area in future research

DRONE TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION IN RURAL, ISOLATED, TRIBAL AND INDIGENOUS (RITI) COMMUNITIES

Transportation and traffic safety is a primary concern within Rural, Isolated, Tribal and Indigenous (RITI) communities in Washington State. Emerging technologies such as connected and autonomous vehicles, sensors and drones have been tested and developed to improve traffic safety, but these advances have largely been limited to urban areas. This project identified opportunities and challenges of adopting drone technologies in RITI communities, and explored context-sensitive applications to traffic safety and related goals. In three phases, the team conducted community workshops, online surveys and other outreach activities with state and county agencies responsible for emergency management and crisis response in coastal Tribal and non-tribal communities; a planning studio and Comprehensive Plan Update for the City of Westport and its surrounding South Beach community straddling two rural counties and including the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe; and a pilot educational program with the School District that serves it. To be effective in rural contexts, adoption of drone technology depends on a broadening of local skill development and needs to target diverse community goals. In short, it needs to be broadly embedded in the community. Taking this sociotechnical approach, we focused on long-term workforce development and designed and implemented an after-school program (October 2021 – June 2022) for Ocosta Junior High School students. The course taught students how to assemble and pilot drones and apply them to a variety of practical needs including public works inspection, search and rescue, and environmental monitoring of coastal flooding

Shared Mobility Options for the Commute Trip: Opportunities for Employers and Employees

69A3551747110This multi-institutional research project consisted of two components that were conducted, respectively, by University of Washington (UW) team members and University of Idaho (UI) team members. The UW component explored the commuting experience of essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, using the UW as a case study. The empirical work started with a quantitative analysis of data from the UW transportation needs assessment survey to depict and model the commute mode choices of essential workers before and during the pandemic. It found that most pre-pandemic public transit riders switched to other modes, especially driving alone, whereas almost all the essential workers who had driven alone, biked, or walked before the pandemic continued to do so. The shift to driving alone was most pronounced among essential workers with high incomes, whereas public transit remained a primary mode choice of lower-income groups. A qualitative analysis, which was based on a series of focus group discussions with UW employees, was then performed to gain deeper insights into essential workers\u2019 travel constraints and corresponding decision making. It revealed that most participants switched away from transit at the beginning of the pandemic because of safety concerns related to virus infection and issues with transit frequency, schedules, and reliability. It showed that incentives such as a fully subsidized transit pass and free carpool parking would encourage a reversed mode shift from driving alone to transit or carpooling post-pandemic. Together, results of the UW study suggest the need for timely adjustments in TDM policies in response to the evolution of the pandemic, as well as to expand the mobility options for employees, especially essential workers. The UI component, which used the University of Idaho as a case study, investigated the travel behaviors of university students from rural and suburban communities and how their experience with non-automobile modes of transportation affected their mode choice. This research component was implemented through surveys, which were aimed at identifying any relationship between previous multi-modal experience and current travel behavior, and an experiment that took participants on a 90-minute tour of the community by bus, bike, and on foot and then evaluated the impact of the tour on the participants\u2019 travel behaviors. The results showed that students from rural communities who had frequently driven to high school and had had little experience with public and private transit were more likely to be driving currently and that participation in the experiment increased the students\u2019 bus and bike use and walking