Project. Dynamic Roadway Travel Time Estimation

Principal investigator. Hesham Rakha, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 540-231-1505, Rakha@vtti.vt.edu

Project objective. This project aims at developing an integrated multi-modal (car, buses and pedestrians) Advanced Traveler Information System by building on a major research instrumentation project. This system will be integrated with other surveillance instrumentation that are being deployed by the Virginia Department of Transportation, Blacksburg Transit, and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. The proposed research is two tasks within this project: developing license plate recognition algorithms, and developing improved trip travel time algorithms.

Project abstract. Drivers typically select their time of departure, mode of travel, and travel route based on their familiarity with the roadway network and typical traffic conditions. However, studies have shown that drivers familiar with a trip do not necessarily choose the shortest route. Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATISs) have and continue to be developed in an attempt to provide the traveling public with non-localized real-time traffic information in order to assist them in making better travel and routing decisions. These systems can provide the traveling public with pre-trip information via the World-wide Web and/or en-route information via cell phones, radio, Variable Message Signs, and/or in-vehicle navigation and route guidance systems.

Developing these complex ATISs requires (a) the deployment of traffic surveillance and communication systems, (b) the utilization of advanced data mining techniques to integrate a myriad of heterogeneous and autonomous databases across different jurisdictions, (c) the development of algorithms to extract and estimate real-time roadway travel times and Origin-Destination (O-D) tables, (d) the development of algorithms that are able to predict traffic conditions over a short time horizon using historical and real-time data, and (e) the development of alternative visualization tools for displaying traffic information to the traveling public.

The proposed 1-year research effort aims at developing algorithms for estimating real-time travel times using Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) and infra-red license plate recognition technologies. It is anticipated that the project will be extended along the entire I-81 corridor in the state of Virginia as VDOT installs infra-red license plate recognition cameras to measure real-time travel times.

Tasks.
Task 1. Develop robust license plate recognition algorithms
Task 2. Develop reactive real-time trip travel time algorithms.

Milestones.
Task 1. Completion by March 2006.
Task 2. Completion by June 2006.

Student involvement. One GRA

Budget.  FY 06
Faculty $65,000
GRA       35,000
             100,000

Relation to other research. This research effort extends the research that is currently being done as part of the ITS Implementation Center project "Addressing VDOT Surveillance Needs." Specifically, the models that are developed as part of this project will be utilized by VDOT to estimate dynamic roadway travel times.

Technology Transfer. Technology transfer will be conducted via conference presentations and journal publications and the potential application of the developed procedures for the estimation of roadway travel times by the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Potential Benefits. Improve the ability to produce accurate travel time forecasts.

TRB Keywords. Travel time estimation, surveillance technology, Intelligent Transportation Systems, and Advanced Traveler Information Systems.