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• 1. [Article] Evaluation of Advanced Traffic Control Systems

  Researchers from Portland State University develop performance measures and algorithms for evaluation of state-of-the-art traffic signal control technologies..

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Evaluation of Advanced Traffic Control Systems Author: Figliozzi, Miguel Year: 2014 Researchers from Portland State University develop performance measures and algorithms for evaluation of state-of-the-art traffic signal control technologies.. Title: Evaluation of Advanced Traffic Control Systems Author: Figliozzi, Miguel Year: 2014 Researchers from Portland State University develop performance measures and algorithms for evaluation of state-of-the-art traffic signal control technologies.. Close

• 2. [Article] Oregon Freight Data Mart

  Increasing freight volumes are adding pressure to the Oregon transportation system. Monitoring the performance of the transportation system and freight movements is essential to guarantee the economic ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Oregon Freight Data Mart Author: Figliozzi, Miguel, Bertini, Robert Year: 2010 Increasing freight volumes are adding pressure to the Oregon transportation system. Monitoring the performance of the transportation system and freight movements is essential to guarantee the economic development of the region, the efficient allocation of resources, and the quality of life of all Oregonians. Freight data is expensive to collect and maintain. Confidentiality issues, the size of the datasets, and the complexity of freight movements are barriers that preclude the easy access and analysis of freight data. Data accessibility and integration is essential to ensure successful freight planning and consistency across regional partner agencies and planning organizations. In relation to Internet-based mapping technology in freight data collection and planning, the main objectives of this project are: (a) address implementation issues associated with data integration, (b) present a system architecture to leverage existing publically-available interfaces and web applications to accelerate product development and reduce costs, (c) describe an existing web-based mapping prototype and its capabilities, (d) state lessons learned and present suggestions to streamline the integration and visualization of freight data, and (e) discuss load-time and display quality issues associated with the visualization of transportation data on internet-based mapping applications. The strategies and methodologies described in this report are equally applicable to the display of areas such as states or counties as well as linear data such linear data such as highways, waterways, and railways. Despite data integration challenges, Internet-based mapping provides a cost effective and appealing tool to store, access, and communicate freight data as well as enhance our understanding of freight issues. Institutional barriers, not technology, are the most demanding hurdles to widely implementing a freight data web-based mapping application in the near future. Title: Oregon Freight Data Mart Author: Figliozzi, Miguel, Bertini, Robert Year: 2010 Increasing freight volumes are adding pressure to the Oregon transportation system. Monitoring the performance of the transportation system and freight movements is essential to guarantee the economic development of the region, the efficient allocation of resources, and the quality of life of all Oregonians. Freight data is expensive to collect and maintain. Confidentiality issues, the size of the datasets, and the complexity of freight movements are barriers that preclude the easy access and analysis of freight data. Data accessibility and integration is essential to ensure successful freight planning and consistency across regional partner agencies and planning organizations. In relation to Internet-based mapping technology in freight data collection and planning, the main objectives of this project are: (a) address implementation issues associated with data integration, (b) present a system architecture to leverage existing publically-available interfaces and web applications to accelerate product development and reduce costs, (c) describe an existing web-based mapping prototype and its capabilities, (d) state lessons learned and present suggestions to streamline the integration and visualization of freight data, and (e) discuss load-time and display quality issues associated with the visualization of transportation data on internet-based mapping applications. The strategies and methodologies described in this report are equally applicable to the display of areas such as states or counties as well as linear data such linear data such as highways, waterways, and railways. Despite data integration challenges, Internet-based mapping provides a cost effective and appealing tool to store, access, and communicate freight data as well as enhance our understanding of freight issues. Institutional barriers, not technology, are the most demanding hurdles to widely implementing a freight data web-based mapping application in the near future. Close

• 3. [Article] Utilizing Egocentric Video and Sensors to Conduct Naturalistic Bicycling Studies

  Existing data collection methods are mostly designed for videos captured by stationary cameras and are not designed to follow cyclists along a route or to integrate other sensor data. The goals of this ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Utilizing Egocentric Video and Sensors to Conduct Naturalistic Bicycling Studies Author: Liu, Feng, Figliozzi, Miguel Year: 2016 Existing data collection methods are mostly designed for videos captured by stationary cameras and are not designed to follow cyclists along a route or to integrate other sensor data. The goals of this research are: a) to develop a platform to collect naturalistic video bicycling data, b) to develop a methodology to integrate video data with other sensors that measure cyclists’ position and comfort levels, and c) to apply the platform and data collection methodology to a real-world route. This research effort has successfully integrated video and sensor data to describe cyclists’ comfort levels along a route. It was found that stress levels while riding during peak hours averaged 1.75 times higher than while riding at offpeak hours on the same routes and facilities. Separated bicycle infrastructure, such as multiuse paths, during peak and off-peak hours showed the lowest stress levels. Signalized intersections were hotspots for cyclists’ stress. All these results are statistically significant. The results indicate that integrating video and sensor data allows for a more detailed understanding of cyclists’ perceptions along a route. Rather than having an average measure for the whole route or path, it is possible to precisely identify the places and/or situations that trigger a change in experience or stress. By measuring how different facility types and riding conditions affect the distribution of stress levels among users, transportation engineers and planners may in the future incorporate video and detailed sensor data to evaluate the real-world performance of different types of facilities Title: Utilizing Egocentric Video and Sensors to Conduct Naturalistic Bicycling Studies Author: Liu, Feng, Figliozzi, Miguel Year: 2016 Existing data collection methods are mostly designed for videos captured by stationary cameras and are not designed to follow cyclists along a route or to integrate other sensor data. The goals of this research are: a) to develop a platform to collect naturalistic video bicycling data, b) to develop a methodology to integrate video data with other sensors that measure cyclists’ position and comfort levels, and c) to apply the platform and data collection methodology to a real-world route. This research effort has successfully integrated video and sensor data to describe cyclists’ comfort levels along a route. It was found that stress levels while riding during peak hours averaged 1.75 times higher than while riding at offpeak hours on the same routes and facilities. Separated bicycle infrastructure, such as multiuse paths, during peak and off-peak hours showed the lowest stress levels. Signalized intersections were hotspots for cyclists’ stress. All these results are statistically significant. The results indicate that integrating video and sensor data allows for a more detailed understanding of cyclists’ perceptions along a route. Rather than having an average measure for the whole route or path, it is possible to precisely identify the places and/or situations that trigger a change in experience or stress. By measuring how different facility types and riding conditions affect the distribution of stress levels among users, transportation engineers and planners may in the future incorporate video and detailed sensor data to evaluate the real-world performance of different types of facilities Close

• 4. [Article] A Model for Better Crosswalk Safety

  NITC researchers from Portland State University developed models to find what factors affected vehicles’ compliance with pedestrian safety laws. The results suggest that treatments discouraging accelerating ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Model for Better Crosswalk Safety Author: Figliozzi, Miguel Year: 2017 NITC researchers from Portland State University developed models to find what factors affected vehicles’ compliance with pedestrian safety laws. The results suggest that treatments discouraging accelerating toward a crosswalk could help increase pedestrian safety. Title: A Model for Better Crosswalk Safety Author: Figliozzi, Miguel Year: 2017 NITC researchers from Portland State University developed models to find what factors affected vehicles’ compliance with pedestrian safety laws. The results suggest that treatments discouraging accelerating toward a crosswalk could help increase pedestrian safety. Close

• 5. [Article] Understanding Delivery Routes in Urban Areas

  Supply chains and urban areas cannot thrive without the efficient movement of goods. A recent study indicates that commercial vehicles carrying goods or providing services account for, on average, almost ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Understanding Delivery Routes in Urban Areas Author: Figliozzi, Miguel Year: 2009 Supply chains and urban areas cannot thrive without the efficient movement of goods. A recent study indicates that commercial vehicles carrying goods or providing services account for, on average, almost 10 percent of the total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in medium to large urban areas. A predominant share of these trips takes place within a multi-stop tour. In order to develop a well-organized system for moving freight through urban areas, it is crucial to understand and quantify how routes and distribution decisions affect commercial vehicle flows and VMTs. In the past, transportation planning models have focused on passenger movements but not on freight routes or on estimating commercial vehicle activities or VMT. This research provides new methods to quantify the effect of delivery size and time windows in urban areas. This project aimed to determine how best to obtain practical and intuitive approximations on the length of commercial vehicle tours and miles traveled in urban areas. Additionally, the project tested various means of estimating the impact of time windows and delivery sizes on commercial VMTs. Title: Understanding Delivery Routes in Urban Areas Author: Figliozzi, Miguel Year: 2009 Supply chains and urban areas cannot thrive without the efficient movement of goods. A recent study indicates that commercial vehicles carrying goods or providing services account for, on average, almost 10 percent of the total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in medium to large urban areas. A predominant share of these trips takes place within a multi-stop tour. In order to develop a well-organized system for moving freight through urban areas, it is crucial to understand and quantify how routes and distribution decisions affect commercial vehicle flows and VMTs. In the past, transportation planning models have focused on passenger movements but not on freight routes or on estimating commercial vehicle activities or VMT. This research provides new methods to quantify the effect of delivery size and time windows in urban areas. This project aimed to determine how best to obtain practical and intuitive approximations on the length of commercial vehicle tours and miles traveled in urban areas. Additionally, the project tested various means of estimating the impact of time windows and delivery sizes on commercial VMTs. Close

• 6. [Article] Crowdsourcing Cycling Safety and Route Data with the “ORcycle” Smartphone App

  ORcycle is a new smartphone application (for both Android and iOS) developed by Transportation, Technology, and People (TTP) lab researchers at Portland State University as part of an Oregon Department ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Crowdsourcing Cycling Safety and Route Data with the “ORcycle” Smartphone App Author: Figliozzi, Miguel Year: 2015 ORcycle is a new smartphone application (for both Android and iOS) developed by Transportation, Technology, and People (TTP) lab researchers at Portland State University as part of an Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) research project. ORcycle collects user, route, infrastructure, crash, and safety data. ORcycle was successfully launched in early November 2014 and presents many improvements over existing or similar apps. Initial data findings and insights will be presented. Lessons learned as well as opportunities and challenges associated with smartphone data collection methods will be discussed. More information about the app can be found here: http://www.pdx.edu/transportation-lab/orcycle. Title: Crowdsourcing Cycling Safety and Route Data with the “ORcycle” Smartphone App Author: Figliozzi, Miguel Year: 2015 ORcycle is a new smartphone application (for both Android and iOS) developed by Transportation, Technology, and People (TTP) lab researchers at Portland State University as part of an Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) research project. ORcycle collects user, route, infrastructure, crash, and safety data. ORcycle was successfully launched in early November 2014 and presents many improvements over existing or similar apps. Initial data findings and insights will be presented. Lessons learned as well as opportunities and challenges associated with smartphone data collection methods will be discussed. More information about the app can be found here: http://www.pdx.edu/transportation-lab/orcycle. Close

• 7. [Article] Exploiting New Data Sources to Quantify Arterial Congestion and Performance Measures at a Regional Scale

  Transit travel time, operating speed and reliability all influence service attractiveness, operating cost and system efficiency. These metrics have a long-term impact on system effectiveness through a ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Exploiting New Data Sources to Quantify Arterial Congestion and Performance Measures at a Regional Scale Author: Figliozzi, Miguel, Bertini, Robert L., Glick, Travis B, Stoll, Nicholas B, Feng, Wei, Sidhu, Bobjot S., Pande, Anurag Year: 2017 Transit travel time, operating speed and reliability all influence service attractiveness, operating cost and system efficiency. These metrics have a long-term impact on system effectiveness through a change in ridership. As part of its bus dispatch system (BDS), the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) has been archiving automatic vehicle location (AVL) and automatic passenger count (APC) data for all bus trips at the stop level since 1997. In 2014, a new and higher-resolution bus AVL data collection system was fully implemented. This new AVL system provides stop-level data as well as five-second resolution (5-SR) bus position data between stops. Rather than relying on interpolation tools to estimate bus trajectories (including stops and delays) between stops, the higher-resolution data shows more precise bus positions along each trip. Bus travel speeds and intersection signal/queuing delays may be determined using this newer information of several variables on transit travel time. This research project explored potential applications of the new data for assessing transit performance, and for estimating transportation system performance measures for urban streets and arterials. Results suggest that the 5-SR data provides high-resolution time and position information which can be used to determine bus travel speeds between stops, identify speed breakdowns, and estimate intersection signal/queuing delays. Additionally, high-resolution achieved bus data can be used to visualize sources of congestion and delay on urban arterials. A new inter-stop trip time model was developed using the five-second resolution data. This newly developed model resulted in statistically significant and improved results over previous models. The models for overall travel time indicated that dwell time and average speed between stops were the major factors influencing transit travel time. Hence, it was concluded that estimation of average speed between stops is a critical component of the transit trip time models. Using this 5-SR data in the trip time model led to more precise and statistically valid trip time models. The research provides conclusions that can be used by transit agencies to improve operations through improvements such as transit signal priority. More importantly, for transit agencies looking for ways to archive data the research provides recommendations on formatting the data that can be most useful for future analysis. Title: Exploiting New Data Sources to Quantify Arterial Congestion and Performance Measures at a Regional Scale Author: Figliozzi, Miguel, Bertini, Robert L., Glick, Travis B, Stoll, Nicholas B, Feng, Wei, Sidhu, Bobjot S., Pande, Anurag Year: 2017 Transit travel time, operating speed and reliability all influence service attractiveness, operating cost and system efficiency. These metrics have a long-term impact on system effectiveness through a change in ridership. As part of its bus dispatch system (BDS), the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) has been archiving automatic vehicle location (AVL) and automatic passenger count (APC) data for all bus trips at the stop level since 1997. In 2014, a new and higher-resolution bus AVL data collection system was fully implemented. This new AVL system provides stop-level data as well as five-second resolution (5-SR) bus position data between stops. Rather than relying on interpolation tools to estimate bus trajectories (including stops and delays) between stops, the higher-resolution data shows more precise bus positions along each trip. Bus travel speeds and intersection signal/queuing delays may be determined using this newer information of several variables on transit travel time. This research project explored potential applications of the new data for assessing transit performance, and for estimating transportation system performance measures for urban streets and arterials. Results suggest that the 5-SR data provides high-resolution time and position information which can be used to determine bus travel speeds between stops, identify speed breakdowns, and estimate intersection signal/queuing delays. Additionally, high-resolution achieved bus data can be used to visualize sources of congestion and delay on urban arterials. A new inter-stop trip time model was developed using the five-second resolution data. This newly developed model resulted in statistically significant and improved results over previous models. The models for overall travel time indicated that dwell time and average speed between stops were the major factors influencing transit travel time. Hence, it was concluded that estimation of average speed between stops is a critical component of the transit trip time models. Using this 5-SR data in the trip time model led to more precise and statistically valid trip time models. The research provides conclusions that can be used by transit agencies to improve operations through improvements such as transit signal priority. More importantly, for transit agencies looking for ways to archive data the research provides recommendations on formatting the data that can be most useful for future analysis. Close

• 8. [Article] Green and Economic Fleet Replacement Modeling: Part I

  The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of how equipment replacement decisions are supported with data collection and quantitative models at state DOTs, and to determine if models ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Green and Economic Fleet Replacement Modeling: Part I Author: Kim, David S., Figliozzi, Miguel, Porter, J. David Year: 2011 The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of how equipment replacement decisions are supported with data collection and quantitative models at state DOTs, and to determine if models found in the research literature offer any better decision support when applied to realistic fleet usage and cost data. This study also addressed the current state of equipment replacement at state DOTs with respect to using measurable “green” criteria in replacement decisions, and the development of new quantitative replacement models utilizing such criteria. The responses from 25 state DOTs indicates that there is little consistency in the criteria used by state DOTs to support replacement decisions and the way that these criteria are used. There are also no measurable “green” criteria utilized. However, most state DOTs maintain an information system where cost and usage data is recorded, stored, and utilized as part of the replacement process. To investigate if a particular modeling approach offers better performance than the variety of approaches used in practice, a simulation study was conducted. Simulation models were used to evaluate the effectiveness of replacement models for prioritizing equipment replacement. The models evaluated come from the research literature and were compared to a simple replacement model that is similar to those used by state DOTs. Results indicate that the simple models used in practice provide similar results to the best model from the research literature. Title: Green and Economic Fleet Replacement Modeling: Part I Author: Kim, David S., Figliozzi, Miguel, Porter, J. David Year: 2011 The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of how equipment replacement decisions are supported with data collection and quantitative models at state DOTs, and to determine if models found in the research literature offer any better decision support when applied to realistic fleet usage and cost data. This study also addressed the current state of equipment replacement at state DOTs with respect to using measurable “green” criteria in replacement decisions, and the development of new quantitative replacement models utilizing such criteria. The responses from 25 state DOTs indicates that there is little consistency in the criteria used by state DOTs to support replacement decisions and the way that these criteria are used. There are also no measurable “green” criteria utilized. However, most state DOTs maintain an information system where cost and usage data is recorded, stored, and utilized as part of the replacement process. To investigate if a particular modeling approach offers better performance than the variety of approaches used in practice, a simulation study was conducted. Simulation models were used to evaluate the effectiveness of replacement models for prioritizing equipment replacement. The models evaluated come from the research literature and were compared to a simple replacement model that is similar to those used by state DOTs. Results indicate that the simple models used in practice provide similar results to the best model from the research literature. Close

• 9. [Article] Identficaton and Characterization of Pollutant Hot Spots Integratng Probe Vehicle, Traffic and Land Use Data

  Identification and Characterization of PM2.5 and VOC Hot Spots on Arterial Corridor by Integrating Probe Vehicle, Traffic, and Land Use Data: The purpose of this study is to explore the use of integrated ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Identficaton and Characterization of Pollutant Hot Spots Integratng Probe Vehicle, Traffic and Land Use Data Author: Bell, Katherine Eleanor, Figliozzi, Miguel Year: 2014 Identification and Characterization of PM2.5 and VOC Hot Spots on Arterial Corridor by Integrating Probe Vehicle, Traffic, and Land Use Data: The purpose of this study is to explore the use of integrated probe vehicle, traffic and land use data to identify and characterize fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and volatile organic compound (VOC) hot spot locations on urban arterial corridors. An emission hot spot is defined as a fixed location along a corridor in which the mean pollutant concentrations are consistently above the 85th percentile of pollutant concentrations when considering all other locations along the corridor during the same time period. In order to collect data for this study, an electric vehicle was equipped with instruments designed to measure PM2.5 and VOC concentrations. Second-by-second measurements were performed for each pollutant from both the right and left sides of the vehicle. Detailed meteorological, traffic and land use data is also available for this research. The results of a statistical analysis are used to better understand which data sources are most valuable in estimating PM2.5 and VOC hot spot locations consistent with empirical data, as well as which variables have the greatest impact on emissions and pollutant levels at a microscale level. This research highlights the importance of considering both consistency and peak emission levels when identifying hot spot locations. An objective of this research is to develop a method to identify urban arterial hot spot locations that provides a balance of efficiency (in terms of capital expenses, time, resources, expertise requirements, etc.) and accuracy. Title: Identficaton and Characterization of Pollutant Hot Spots Integratng Probe Vehicle, Traffic and Land Use Data Author: Bell, Katherine Eleanor, Figliozzi, Miguel Year: 2014 Identification and Characterization of PM2.5 and VOC Hot Spots on Arterial Corridor by Integrating Probe Vehicle, Traffic, and Land Use Data: The purpose of this study is to explore the use of integrated probe vehicle, traffic and land use data to identify and characterize fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and volatile organic compound (VOC) hot spot locations on urban arterial corridors. An emission hot spot is defined as a fixed location along a corridor in which the mean pollutant concentrations are consistently above the 85th percentile of pollutant concentrations when considering all other locations along the corridor during the same time period. In order to collect data for this study, an electric vehicle was equipped with instruments designed to measure PM2.5 and VOC concentrations. Second-by-second measurements were performed for each pollutant from both the right and left sides of the vehicle. Detailed meteorological, traffic and land use data is also available for this research. The results of a statistical analysis are used to better understand which data sources are most valuable in estimating PM2.5 and VOC hot spot locations consistent with empirical data, as well as which variables have the greatest impact on emissions and pollutant levels at a microscale level. This research highlights the importance of considering both consistency and peak emission levels when identifying hot spot locations. An objective of this research is to develop a method to identify urban arterial hot spot locations that provides a balance of efficiency (in terms of capital expenses, time, resources, expertise requirements, etc.) and accuracy. Close