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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Estimating Dilemma Zone Hazard Function At High Speed Isolated Intersection, Anuj Sharma, Darcy Bullock, Srinivas Peeta Mar 2012

Estimating Dilemma Zone Hazard Function At High Speed Isolated Intersection, Anuj Sharma, Darcy Bullock, Srinivas Peeta

Darcy M Bullock

The traditional surrogate measures of safety (like number of vehicles in dilemma zone) fail to quantify the risk of crash. Traffic conflict has been proposed as an improved surrogate measure of safety for operations at isolated intersections to quantify the risk. This paper develops a dilemma zone hazard function estimating procedure to obtain the probability of traffic conflict occurring. This approach is an extension of the current approach of dilemma zone boundaries to determine the risk of traffic conflict for an individual vehicle in the case of a dilemma zone incursion. Field data collected from the intersection of SR37 and …


Evaluation Of Stop Bar Video Detection Accuracy At Signalized Intersections, Avery Rhodes, Darcy M. Bullock, James R. Sturdevant, Zachary Thomas Clark Mar 2012

Evaluation Of Stop Bar Video Detection Accuracy At Signalized Intersections, Avery Rhodes, Darcy M. Bullock, James R. Sturdevant, Zachary Thomas Clark

Darcy M Bullock

Many agencies nationwide have adopted video vehicle detection technology as an alternative to inductive loops. While many product evaluations have been performed, the majority of these evaluations have concentrated on freeway applications where speed and volume were the primary evaluation criteria. At an actuated intersection, the metrics of speed and volume do not necessarily represent how well a device will operate as a presence detector. Video detection was evaluated at two signalized intersections in West Lafayette, Indiana and Noblesville, Indiana. A camera on each approach was located at the vendor recommended position, at a height of 40 feet and offset …


Recasting Dilemma Zone Design As A Marginal Cost-Benefit Problem, Anuj Sharma, Darcy M. Bullock, Srinivas Peeta Mar 2012

Recasting Dilemma Zone Design As A Marginal Cost-Benefit Problem, Anuj Sharma, Darcy M. Bullock, Srinivas Peeta

Darcy M Bullock

One control objective at high-speed isolated intersections is to provide safe phase transition by minimizing the occurrence of high-speed vehicles in the dilemma zone before the phase is terminated. An upper limit for extending the green (maximum green time) is used to avoid an indefinite extension of the main-street green. Currently, the maximum green times are chosen by using engineering judgment. This approach does not explicitly consider the trade-offs between safety and delay and hence often results in both unsafe and inefficient performance at the intersection under medium to heavy traffic volumes. The dilemma problem is recast as one of …


Statewide Wireless Communications Project, Volume 3: Data Collection And Signal Processing For Improvement Of Road Profiling And Proof Of Concept Of A Vehicle-Infrastructure Based Road Surface Monitoring Application, J. V. Krogmeier, Darcy M. Bullock Mar 2012

Statewide Wireless Communications Project, Volume 3: Data Collection And Signal Processing For Improvement Of Road Profiling And Proof Of Concept Of A Vehicle-Infrastructure Based Road Surface Monitoring Application, J. V. Krogmeier, Darcy M. Bullock

Darcy M Bullock

The Statewide Wireless Communications Project was an umbrella project intended to support various INDOT activities in the area of wireless communications. As these activities were conducted independently the report for the project is organized into three volumes. Volume 1 contains the results of satellite and cellular communications field testing undertaken in support of INDOT’s SiteManager application. Volume 1 also contains the results of an evaluation of spread spectrum radios for long-range communications. Volume 2 contains the results of detection zone evaluation for loop detection of bicycles and the results of testing algorithms for travel time estimation using vehicle re-identification based …


Construction Work Zone Safety, Christopher Ryan Huebschman, Camilo Garcia, Darcy M. Bullock, Dulcy M. Abraham Mar 2012

Construction Work Zone Safety, Christopher Ryan Huebschman, Camilo Garcia, Darcy M. Bullock, Dulcy M. Abraham

Darcy M Bullock

The need of maintaining safety of motorists and workers during periods of construction activities on interstates has prompted the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to initiate a study aimed at improving the safety in work zones on rural interstates. The two main objectives of the project are 1) determine if active warning devices or improved signing have an impact in work zone safety and 2) determine if it is appropriate to consider temporary roads and bridges during construction activity on interstates in an effort to maintain two lanes open at all times. This report describes the methods used to meet …


Performance Metrics For Freeway Sensors, Christos D. Achillides, Darcy M. Bullock Mar 2012

Performance Metrics For Freeway Sensors, Christos D. Achillides, Darcy M. Bullock

Darcy M Bullock

Performance measures play a critical role in the operation of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), because they provide feedback to the operators regarding system operations and efficiency. Traffic management systems use archived data, provided by various sensors, as a basis for describing normal conditions and predicting traffic conditions that may be expected at a particular time and place in the highway system. However, data quality is one of the principal concerns of archived ITS data users for the following reasons: 1) Manual inspection techniques are unable to detect significant errors because of the large volume of ITS data; 2) Only minimal …


Event-Based Data Collection For Generating Actuated Controller Performance Measures, Edward J. Smaglik, Anuj Sharma, Darcy M. Bullock, James R. Sturdevant, Gary Duncan Mar 2012

Event-Based Data Collection For Generating Actuated Controller Performance Measures, Edward J. Smaglik, Anuj Sharma, Darcy M. Bullock, James R. Sturdevant, Gary Duncan

Darcy M Bullock

Cycle-by-cycle data have been shown to be effective in the analysis of a signalized intersection with measures of effectiveness such as volume-to-capacity ratios, arrival type, and average vehicular delay. Currently, actuated traffic controllers are unable to store vehicle counts and vehicle occupancy in cycle-by-cycle bins, requiring extra equipment and personnel to collect data in these bins. The objective of this research was to develop an integrated general purpose data collection module that time stamps detector and phase state changes within a National Electrical Manufacturers Association actuated traffic signal controller and uses those data to provide quantitative graphs to assess arterial …


Detection Of Inclement Weather Conditions At A Signalized Intersection Using A Video Image Processing Algorithm, Anuj Sharma, Darcy M. Bullock, Srinivas Peeta, James V. Krogmeier Mar 2012

Detection Of Inclement Weather Conditions At A Signalized Intersection Using A Video Image Processing Algorithm, Anuj Sharma, Darcy M. Bullock, Srinivas Peeta, James V. Krogmeier

Darcy M Bullock

Inclement weather conditions like snowfall adversely affect traffic flow characteristics, necessitating a change in parameters that define the operation of a signalized intersection. A weather-based timing plan selection is needed to maintain a desirable level of operational efficiency. Automatic implementation of weather-based timing at intersections requires accurate and timely detection of snowfall. This paper presents a snow detection algorithm that uses live video feed obtained from a video image vehicle detection system present at an intersection.


Limitations Of Simultaneous Gap-Out Logic, Anuj Sharma, Darcy M. Bullock, Srinivas Peeta Mar 2012

Limitations Of Simultaneous Gap-Out Logic, Anuj Sharma, Darcy M. Bullock, Srinivas Peeta

Darcy M Bullock

The current practice of specifying simultaneous gap-out logic places constraints on signal controller logic. These constraints cannot be achieved under high traffic flow conditions, and degraded signal efficiency and dilemma zone protection often result. This study documents the phenomenon described above with set-back detectors at an instrumented intersection in Noblesville, Indiana, and characterizes the problem of dilemma zone protection as being traffic-volume dependent, a factor that should be carefully considered before the simultaneous gap-out logic is applied. Implementation of simultaneous gap-out logic led to max out ranging from 3.5% to 40% of cycles per hour during peak traffic flow periods …


Traffic Signals In School Zones, Kevin S. Lee, Darcy M. Bullock Mar 2012

Traffic Signals In School Zones, Kevin S. Lee, Darcy M. Bullock

Darcy M Bullock

Traffic signals are used to control the right of way at intersections. Strict engineering guidelines are published in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) that engineers use to determine if a traffic signal is “warranted”. The warrants provide consistent national balance between mobility, safety, efficiency, and costs. However, signalized intersections are often viewed by the general public as safer then unsignalized intersections. This belief is often heightened when there are personal injuries and even higher when children are involved. Parents, city officials, and local interest groups often vigorously request the installation of a traffic signal. After these requests …


Development Of Closed Loop System Evaluation Equipment And Procedures, Eric J. Nelson, Montasir Abbas, Gary E. Shoup, Darcy M. Bullock Mar 2012

Development Of Closed Loop System Evaluation Equipment And Procedures, Eric J. Nelson, Montasir Abbas, Gary E. Shoup, Darcy M. Bullock

Darcy M Bullock

Modern traffic control systems are complex entities whose performance should be thoroughly quantified prior to deployment. However, many of the advanced features available with this control equipment, such as preemption and real-time control strategies, are typically proprietary in nature, and therefore not incorporated into standard simulation models. Since it is not desirable for the engineer to learn in a field environment, under live traffic conditions, this research presents a rational procedure for evaluating and validating such control strategies in a laboratory setting. This document explores three aspects of traffic signal systems, which include the advanced control settings for single controller …


Evaluation Of Indot Hyperfix Project, Kumares C. Sinha, Bob G. Mccullouch, Darcy M. Bullock, Sravanthi Konduri, Jon D. Fricker, Samuel Labi Mar 2012

Evaluation Of Indot Hyperfix Project, Kumares C. Sinha, Bob G. Mccullouch, Darcy M. Bullock, Sravanthi Konduri, Jon D. Fricker, Samuel Labi

Darcy M Bullock

In 2003 the Indiana Department of Transportation executed an ambitious interstate reconstruction project in Indianapolis, named Hyperfix. This project completely closed the I-65/70 section during reconstruction, on which approximately 250,000 vehicles travel daily. Due to the scope and risk involved, an extensive amount of planning, coordination, and cooperation occurred. The main section was rebuilt during the total closure phase, which lasted 55 days. The total closure approach had never been performed before by INDOT on such a high volume artery in a downtown metropolitan area. This present study analyzed the project and its impact on the Indianapolis area. The report …


Reconciled Platoon Accommodations At Traffic Signals, Jay Wasson, Montasir Abbas, Darcy M. Bullock, Avery Rhodes, Chong Kang Zhu Mar 2012

Reconciled Platoon Accommodations At Traffic Signals, Jay Wasson, Montasir Abbas, Darcy M. Bullock, Avery Rhodes, Chong Kang Zhu

Darcy M Bullock

The use of microprocessor-based traffic signal controllers introduced in the 1960s has allowed for the development of many new strategies to make traffic signal systems more responsive to traffic conditions. Many efforts have focused on the development of real-time, adaptive control strategies. While some of these strategies have been shown to improve intersection performance, there are several factors that have limited their deployment. Some of these include substantial capital cost, complicated calibration procedures, and the reluctance of practicing engineers to deploy strategies radically different from those currently in use. Therefore, lower cost strategies that are compatible with existing infrastructure continue …


Statewide Wireless Communications Project, Volume 1: Communication Field Tests For Satellite, Cellular, And Spread Spectrum Radio, J. V. Krogmeier, Darcy M. Bullock Mar 2012

Statewide Wireless Communications Project, Volume 1: Communication Field Tests For Satellite, Cellular, And Spread Spectrum Radio, J. V. Krogmeier, Darcy M. Bullock

Darcy M Bullock

The Statewide Wireless Communications Project was an umbrella project intended to support various INDOT activities in the area of wireless communications. As these activities were conducted independently the report for the project is organized into three volumes. Volume 1 contains the results of satellite and cellular communications field testing undertaken in support of INDOT’s SiteManager application. Volume 1 also contains the results of an evaluation of spread spectrum radios for long-range communications. Volume 2 contains the results of detection zone evaluation for loop detection of bicycles and the results of testing algorithms for travel time estimation using vehicle re-identification based …


Sign Retroreflectivity Study, Austin Lyons Bischoff, Darcy M. Bullock Mar 2012

Sign Retroreflectivity Study, Austin Lyons Bischoff, Darcy M. Bullock

Darcy M Bullock

Signing is a big yearly cost to state DOT’s in sign maintenance and replacement costs. In 2001 the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) replaced 14,930 signs at a cost of $1,067,931 and did maintenance work on 34,084 signs at a cost of $2,136,076. Recently, guidelines have been proposed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for minimum retroreflectivity of traffic signs for state, county, and city roads in the United States. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the majority of the signs currently used by INDOT will meet the new minimum requirements proposed by the FHWA. In addition, …


Virtual Weigh Station, John Gregory Green, Andrew P. Nichols, Ed Allen, Luke Nuber, Jose E. Thomaz, Darcy M. Bullock, Guy Boruff, Jay Wasson, Mark Newland Mar 2012

Virtual Weigh Station, John Gregory Green, Andrew P. Nichols, Ed Allen, Luke Nuber, Jose E. Thomaz, Darcy M. Bullock, Guy Boruff, Jay Wasson, Mark Newland

Darcy M Bullock

Overweight trucks shorten highway life and indirectly increase the costs of maintaining roads. Improved methods for enforcement of commercial vehicle weight laws may increase the number of overweight vehicles caught, thereby prolonging highway life. Improved enforcement may also reduce the number of illegally operating vehicles. This report describes the concept of using existing INDOT Weigh-In-Motion equipment, a laptop computer, and wireless communication equipment, to develop a virtual weigh station screening tool. The Virtual Weigh Station screening tool developed in this project allows officers to read the weights of vehicles crossing WIM scales, in real time, in their patrol cars. Giving …


Evaluation Of Selected Video Detection Systems At Signalized Intersections, Jeromy L. Grenard, Darcy M. Bullock, Andrzej P. Tarko Mar 2012

Evaluation Of Selected Video Detection Systems At Signalized Intersections, Jeromy L. Grenard, Darcy M. Bullock, Andrzej P. Tarko

Darcy M Bullock

Video detection technologies have been emerging in recent years as a viable alternative to inductive loop detectors to actuate intersection signal controllers. There is a need for quantitative evaluation procedures for documenting the performance of video detection technologies. This quantitative data is needed to qualify systems for procurement and provide benchmarks for training traffic signal technicians that deploy and maintain these systems. This research makes use of two new evaluation procedures for video detection, with several measures of performance. The first of these evaluation procedures involves the comparison of the occupancy times of inductive loop detectors and video detectors to …


Design Guidelines For Deploying Closed Loop Systems, Andrew P. Nichols, Darcy M. Bullock Mar 2012

Design Guidelines For Deploying Closed Loop Systems, Andrew P. Nichols, Darcy M. Bullock

Darcy M Bullock

Closed loop systems are becoming the preferred method of operating coordinated traffic signal systems. Some of the benefits of a closed loop system include remote controller access, synchronization of controller time clocks, and orderly transition between coordination plans. With ensured time clock synchronization, the coordination of traffic signals becomes more reliable, which leads to optimal vehicle progression through the system. However, due to the complexity and relative infrequent implementation in more rural districts of closed loop systems, it is very difficult to obtain a successful deployment. This manual provides a step-by-step procedure for designing the parameters, implementing, testing, and field …


Stochastic Algorithm For Improved Operations At Isolated High Speed Intersections, Anuj Sharma, Darcy M. Bullock, Srinivas Peeta Mar 2012

Stochastic Algorithm For Improved Operations At Isolated High Speed Intersections, Anuj Sharma, Darcy M. Bullock, Srinivas Peeta

Darcy M Bullock

The current practice of specifying simultaneous gap out logic at isolated high speed signalized intersections places constraints on the signal controller logic that cannot be satisfied under high congestion level. Further, it often results in degraded signal efficiency and dilemma zone protection. A stochastic approach is proposed in this paper with the objective of increasing safety and efficiency at these intersections.


Input-Output And Hybrid Techniques For Real-Time Prediction Of Delay And Maximum Queue Length At Signalized Intersections, Anuj Sharma, Darcy M. Bullock, James A. Bonneson Mar 2012

Input-Output And Hybrid Techniques For Real-Time Prediction Of Delay And Maximum Queue Length At Signalized Intersections, Anuj Sharma, Darcy M. Bullock, James A. Bonneson

Darcy M Bullock

Vehicle delay and queue length are quantitative measures of intersection performance. The technological advancement in the field of vehicle sensors and traffic controllers has reached a point where it has enabled efficient measurement of these performance measures. Two techniques are presented for real-time measurement of vehicle delay and queue length at a signalized Intersection, and these automated delay and queue estimates are compared with manually ground-truthed measurement. These techniques were evaluated at an instrumented intersection in Noblesville, Indiana. The root-mean-square error by both techniques was below 0.7 veh-s for-estimation of average delay and less than 0.15 vehicle for estimation of …


Pilot Study On Real-Time Calculation Of Arrival Type For Assessment Of Arterial Performance, Edward J. Smaglik, Darcy M. Bullock, Anuj Sharma Mar 2012

Pilot Study On Real-Time Calculation Of Arrival Type For Assessment Of Arterial Performance, Edward J. Smaglik, Darcy M. Bullock, Anuj Sharma

Darcy M Bullock

The Highway Capacity Manual uses the arrival type (AT) as a mechanism to account for the quality of traffic signal coordination in the calculation of delay at a signalized intersection. Although there is much discussion in the literature regarding the accuracy and precision of this approach, the AT parameter provides a simple mechanism for grading the performance of traffic signal coordination. This paper describes data collection limitations of current traffic signal controllers and proposes a procedure where the AT parameter can be calculated by traffic signal controllers in real time. Given that the nation received a score of 61 out …


Quality Control Procedures For Weigh-In-Motion Data, Andrew P. Nichols, Darcy M. Bullock Mar 2012

Quality Control Procedures For Weigh-In-Motion Data, Andrew P. Nichols, Darcy M. Bullock

Darcy M Bullock

For the past two decades, weigh-in-motion (WIM) sensors have been used in the United States to collect vehicle weight data for designing pavements and monitoring their performance. The use of these sensors is now being expanded for enforcement purposes to provide virtual weigh stations for screening vehicles in traffic streams for overweight violations. A study found that static weigh stations in Indiana were effective for identifying safety violations, but ineffective for identifying overweight vehicles. It was also determined that the alternative approach to identifying overweight vehicles using virtual weigh stations requires a high level of WIM data accuracy and reliability …


Performance Requirements And Evaluation Procedures For Advance Wide Area Detectors, Anuj Sharma, Matthew Harding, Brad Giles, Darcy M. Bullock, James R. Sturdevant, Srinivas Peeta Mar 2012

Performance Requirements And Evaluation Procedures For Advance Wide Area Detectors, Anuj Sharma, Matthew Harding, Brad Giles, Darcy M. Bullock, James R. Sturdevant, Srinivas Peeta

Darcy M Bullock

Dilemma zone protection ideally requires the exact position and speed of all the vehicles approaching the intersection. However, point detectors, typically used to protect vehicle incursion into the dilemma zone, only provide binary information about the presence or absence of a vehicle at a fixed point in space. The information regarding position and speed of the vehicle in subsequent time steps is extrapolated. The extrapolation error increases with the increase in projection time. Wide area detector (WAD) overcomes this drawback by tracking each vehicle at all times until they move out of range. Such a detector has the potential to …


Vendor Comparison Of Video Detection Systems, Avery Rhodes, Edward J. Smaglik, Darcy M. Bullock Mar 2012

Vendor Comparison Of Video Detection Systems, Avery Rhodes, Edward J. Smaglik, Darcy M. Bullock

Darcy M Bullock

Video detection has become increasingly popular for presence detection at signalized intersections because of its versatility. However, several reports have documented performance problems in specific systems. This paper quantifies the performance of three different commercially available video detection systems. The systems were tested in May and September 2005 for presence detection accuracy. Prior to the May 2005 test, a representative from each vendor configured the video detection zones to match the loop detection zone as closely as possible. The outputs from the loop detection for the through-right and left-turn lane groups were compared with the corresponding output from each of …


A Real-Time Offset Transitioning Algorithm For Coordinating Traffic Signals, Darcy M. Bullock, Montasir Abbas Mar 2012

A Real-Time Offset Transitioning Algorithm For Coordinating Traffic Signals, Darcy M. Bullock, Montasir Abbas

Darcy M Bullock

This report introduces an adaptive real-time offset transitioning algorithm that can be viewed as an integrated optimization approach designed to work with traditional coordinated-actuated systems. The Purdue Real-Time Offset Transitioning Algorithm for Coordinating Traffic Signals (PRO-TRACTS) adds to the controllers the ability to adaptively change their offsets in response to changes in traffic pattern, providing an intermediate solution between traditional coordinated-actuated control systems and adaptive control systems. To facilitate implementation, a new National Transportation Communication for ITS Protocol (NTCIP) object for capturing detector actuation at the controller’s level is defined in this report. The unique cycle-based tabulation of volume and …