Projects

Development of a Risk-Based Scorecard to Assess Scour Vulnerability of Georgia’s Bridges

Completed
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
Download final report by clicking here.

Technology Scan of Future Traveler Information Systems and Applications to Georgia
Completed
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta

This research examines the existing traveler information sources in Georgia and identifies improvements in sensing technology, interagency communication, and developer, business and customer outreach to improve inexpensive access to information and information exchange.  This investigation is being done from the perspective of the new applications for travel information exchange that are now available through wireless communications technologies, and those likely to be available in the near future.  We anticipate two major outcomes from this project.  First, the research will provide an understanding of possible future directions in traveler information systems; and second, the research will identify traveler information strategies that GDOT might consider as part of its ITS program in the state.

Freeway Travel Time Estimation and Forecasting
Completed
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
Download final report by clicking here.

 

Real-time traffic information provided by GDOT has proven invaluable for commuters in the
Georgia freeway network. The increasing number of Variable Message Signs, addition of
services such as My-NaviGAtor, NaviGAtor-to-go etc. and the advancement of the 511 traffic
information system will require the Traffic Management Center to provide more detailed and
accurate traffic information to an increasing number of users. In this context, the ability to
forecast traffic conditions (both in space and time) would augment the services provided by
NaviGAtor by allowing users to plan ahead for their trip. Forecasts built into the estimation
model will make the travel-time estimates more accurate by reducing the use of stale data.
Additionally, spatial forecast can help GDOT provide reliable information in areas with
temporary outages in coverage; e.g. outages due to detector or cameras malfunction.
 
The vast majority of real-time travel-time estimation algorithms proposed in the literature are
based on data mining techniques. Unfortunately, this approach is unable to produce reliable
forecasts because it does not take into account traffic dynamics (e.g., via a simulation model).
In Germany, a simulation-based forecast system is in place at most metropolitan areas, with
very favorable user impacts. Although successful, the German example is based on a type of
simulation model (a Cellular Automata model) that has critical drawbacks: difficulty of
calibration, inability to incorporate different user classes (e.g., cars and trucks), and inadequate
capability of replicating detailed traffic dynamics on freeways. The model proposed in this
study overcomes these drawbacks by incorporating the latest advances in traffic flow theory and
simulation.
 
This study demonstrated the use of a simulation based framework to make short-term traveltime
predictions in real-time. The results show that sufficiently accurate 5-minute and 10-
minute predictions can be made using this framework. The lessons learned from the study
stresses that it is critical to adequately calibrate the simulation model and for this purpose it is
essential to accurately calibrate the vehicle detection sensors. Currently, the simulation is
manually initiated each time a new OD matrix becomes available. For a seamless
implementation, the initiation process needs to be automated. In future studies the researcher
would like to automate the simulation to run continuously by getting sufficient predictions from
a run, pausing the simulation until the next OD update is available, and updating the OD flows
and initial queues. When incidents occur, the corresponding lane blockage can be incorporated
in the simulation before predictions are made.

Comparison of “Green Road Rating” Systems
Completed
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
Download final report by clicking here.

 

As sustainability increasingly becomes a concern to society, it is in state transportation agencies’ best interests to embrace and adopt initiatives that will both educate their employees and the communities they serve on how transportation systems and system operations can be viewed within such a context. One of the strategies some state departments of transportation (SDOTs) have adopted for providing a more sustainable approach to highway design is a “green streets and highways rating system.” Adopting a strategy such as the one proposed in this thesis for the Georgia Department of Transportation will enable an agency to compare projects based on sustainability goals and outcomes. Such a rating system can provide several benefits to a state department of transportation. As a public relations tool, publishing the sustainability rating results of completed projects can promote an “environmentally friendly” image of the agency. In some cases, this could be used to garner increased support for an agency’s program. Comparing the ratings of proposed projects during the early programming process may also help in the selection of more sustainably effective and efficient projects. Additionally, a project in the project planning phase could use the green rating criteria to identify those areas where changes in design could result in more environmentally sensitive designs. A green streets and highways rating tool is an important means of fostering an environmental ethic in a transportation agency, one that could become more important in years to come.

Comprehensive Transportation Asset Management: Risk-Based Inventory Expansion and Data Needs
Completed
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
Download final report by clicking here.

 

Several agencies are applying asset management principles as a business tool and paradigm to help them  define goals and prioritize agency resources in decision making. Previously, transportation asset management  (TAM) has focused more on “big ticket” assets such as roadways and bridges, and less on lower-cost assets  such as traffic signs and guardrails. This purpose of this study is to assessthe state of the practice in  managing ancillary transportation assets, and develop a benefit-cost-risk framework and supporting tool that  can be used to evaluate and prioritize assets for systematic management. The project focuses on ten main  ancillary assets: culverts, earth retaining structures, guardrails, mitigation features, pavement markings,  sidewalks (and curbs), street lighting, traffic signals, traffic signs and utilities and manholes, and one  information asset: data. A literature review and targeted survey were conducted to determine the state of the  practice in ancillary TAM and collect data for the development of the evaluation framework. The results of  the literature review indicate that a growing number of agencies are making notable efforts to systematically  manage the assets under consideration. Based on the literature, methods and practices vary from agency to  agency; however, very little was found on data collection costs. A survey conducted targeting 41 state and municipal agencies with reported activity in the literature (with 44% response rate), showed varied agency practices, with more agencies beginning to manage roadway safety assets. It was difficult to obtain specific estimates of data collection costs and cost savings from the TAM systems implementation. The study findings indicate that making a business case for formal asset management programs is more meaningful when approached as an ongoing activity rather than a snapshot action because asset management programs are evolving and at different levels of maturity. At present, the data available for several programs is not adequate enough to conduct a comprehensive benefit-cost analysis of such programs. Thus, the study recommends collecting the necessary data to periodically evaluate the benefits and costs of asset management programs to ensure that they are becoming more cost effective as they are evolved to higher levels of maturity. A benefit-cost framework is provided and data collection needs are outlined to enable such an analysis to be conducted adequately. With regard to prioritizing assets for inclusion in a formal asset management program, the study recommends that the prioritization must be tied to the strategic goals of the  agency, and the objective of the prioritization should be risk reduction relative to agency strategic goals. A  risk framework is provided and data needs are outlined for conducting such an analysis adequately. Another caution that results from the study is that ancillary assets cannot properly be considered in isolation and prioritized one against another but must also be considered as complementary units, with synergistic effects, that are part of the overall system.

Freight Performance Measures: Trucking in Georgia
Completed
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta

Well developed performance measures benefit planners by providing the information they need to make decisions. The performance of the State’s trucking sector is multi-faceted, and must respect both private and public sector needs. Decisions that affect truck mobility, access, and on-time reliability can be controversial and need to be supported by quantitative, understandable, and comparable measures of performance. Trucking information resides in a number of different databases, and is collected by GDOT and others in a variety of ways. These sources need to be identified and a plan developed for using them in performance measurement.

The objective of this research is to help GDOT better plan for truck movements within the State. The project will:

  • Develop a set of performance metrics that GDOT can use to evaluate and track trucking industry performance and its impacts on the State’s economy over time
  • Identify and assess how well existing GDOT and other data sources support the proposed performance metrics
  • Identify methods and the level of effort required for collecting data to support improved performance measurement in the future.

Measures of travel time reliability will receive special attention, as will the operation of the State’s high volume, long haul trucking corridors and their linkages to within-state seaports and rail intermodal facilities.

Assessing the Economic Impact of High Speed Rail: Focus on Manufacturing
Completed
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
Download final report by clicking here.

Professor Vivek Ghosal, School of Economics, is studying the potential economic development impacts of a high speed rail industry in the United States. The study is exploring scenarios of high speed rail operations to form a foundation for the study, examining relevant and available rail transportation manufacturing information and drawing inferences to potential new opportunities for manufacturing of transportation equipment and infrastructure to meet emerging needs, and conducting an economic analysis of rail transportation equipment manufacturing.

Managing Consultants Engaged in Engineering Design Projects
09/01/2008
05/01/2009
Completed
Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Georgia

A team of researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology's School of Public Policy, the University of Georgia's Department of Public Administration, and the Georgia Tech Research Institute have been conducting GTI sponsored research to assess the recent changes in Georgia Department of Transportation's (GDOT) outsourcing of preconstruction engineering and technical services. Over the past decade the GDOT has initiated a series of organizational changes in an effort to absorb a rapid increase in the number consultants providing engineering and construction design services. The goal of this research is to help GDOT understand and manage the greater use of consultant contracts. Preliminary findings suggest that the recent organizational changes at GDOT have improved the recording of information to assess better past and ongoing contracts. The researchers are also recommending strategies for identifying bottlenecks in the execution of contracts among prime and sub consultants.

The recent organizational and process changes at GDOT include the creation of the Office of Consultant Design, adaptation of the cost proposal process, improvements to the operational flow of contracts through GDOT systems, changes in the preferred contract structures, and the addition of designated procurement officers and contract negotiators. All of these changes were done to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of GDOT contract management and this research is a formal process of assessing these impacts on information quality.
 
An overall increase in outsourcing and the use of consultants by public agencies makes this research important to many audiences outside of the GDOT community. Effective management and understanding of contracting is essential to the goals and efforts of public agencies at all levels of government.
 
In all, researchers are optimistic about their findings, and are further encouraged by the positive feedback they have received from GDOT. By taking a three pronged approach to their research assessment, the team is able to identify the ways in which GDOT has already improved information quality and suggest innovative techniques for continuing this assessment in the future.

Impact of the Location of New Schools on Transportation Infrastructure and Finance
03/01/2008
05/15/2009
Completed
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
Download final report by clicking here.

The major objective of the proposed research is to identify the relationship between new school location and urban development patterns. This objective includes understanding the rationale for school location decisions, examining historical data on such decisions and resulting residential and commercial development, investigating school location and local congestion levels, and developing recommendations for school siting decisions that consider transportation implications more fully.

Climate Change Considerations in Transportation Planning
09/01/2008
05/01/2009
Completed
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
Download final report by clicking here.

Transportation emissions are a significant contributor to climate change. Transportation plans and related documentation of metropolitan planning organizations and international cities were reviewed to ascertain whether climate change considerations are being incorporated into the transportation planning process. The review revealed that climate change considerations have not yet been included in a majority of cases in the transportation planning process, especially with regard to adapting transportation systems to the potential effects of climate change. Where such consideration did occur, the focus was on greenhouse gas emission mitigation where data collection techniques and analysis tools are better developed and already in place within many planning organizations. A conceptual framework for transportation planning is presented and used to illustrate how some agencies have considered climate change in each step of the planning process. Recommendations are provided on how greenhouse gas emission mitigation and climate adaptation strategies can be incorporated into the transportation planning process.