Search

Search Results

• 1. [Article] Advanced GIS: Smart Transportation

  As sensors have become cheaper and more common, they have found an increasingly important role in transportation. However, curriculum to prepare students who will be working with these technologies as ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Advanced GIS: Smart Transportation Author: Bone, Christopher, Kato, Ken, Bartruff, Jacob, Schlossberg, Marc Year: 2016 As sensors have become cheaper and more common, they have found an increasingly important role in transportation. However, curriculum to prepare students who will be working with these technologies as developers and planners has not developed at the same rate. The goal of this project was to develop a college course focused around sensors and smart transportation to be offered to undergrad and graduate students at the University of Oregon. The class focused on the practical application and the theoretical consequences of these developments. The class was offered in the spring term of 2015 to a group of undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of backgrounds. An overview of the class is offered here, and course documents are included as appendices so that other educators could use them as a starting point for developing such classes. Title: Advanced GIS: Smart Transportation Author: Bone, Christopher, Kato, Ken, Bartruff, Jacob, Schlossberg, Marc Year: 2016 As sensors have become cheaper and more common, they have found an increasingly important role in transportation. However, curriculum to prepare students who will be working with these technologies as developers and planners has not developed at the same rate. The goal of this project was to develop a college course focused around sensors and smart transportation to be offered to undergrad and graduate students at the University of Oregon. The class focused on the practical application and the theoretical consequences of these developments. The class was offered in the spring term of 2015 to a group of undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of backgrounds. An overview of the class is offered here, and course documents are included as appendices so that other educators could use them as a starting point for developing such classes. Close

• 2. [Article] Multimodal Transportation Planning Curriculum for Urban Planning Programs

  Integrated multimodal transportation and land use planning is critical to advancing mode choice, public health and safety, and livability objectives. Communities across the U.S. are seeking to redefine ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Multimodal Transportation Planning Curriculum for Urban Planning Programs Author: Williams, Kristine M., Claridge, Tia, Carroll, Alexandria Year: 2016 Integrated multimodal transportation and land use planning is critical to advancing mode choice, public health and safety, and livability objectives. Communities across the U.S. are seeking to redefine their planning process accordingly. In response, university graduate urban planning and engineering programs are beginning to address multimodal planning and sustainable transportation, but most do not yet offer a robust curriculum on these topics. To help address this need, the University of South Florida (USF), Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) developed a curriculum for a course on multimodal transportation planning and its role in advancing livability and related objectives. The course curriculum developed under this project was designed for integration into university urban planning programs, but is also relevant to graduate-level engineering and architecture/community design programs. The project is conceived in two phases, with phase one involving curriculum development for the introductory course and phase two aimed at developing a course that provides specific applications in multimodal planning that are reinforced through applied learning activities. This report contains the phase one curriculum for the introductory course. Title: Multimodal Transportation Planning Curriculum for Urban Planning Programs Author: Williams, Kristine M., Claridge, Tia, Carroll, Alexandria Year: 2016 Integrated multimodal transportation and land use planning is critical to advancing mode choice, public health and safety, and livability objectives. Communities across the U.S. are seeking to redefine their planning process accordingly. In response, university graduate urban planning and engineering programs are beginning to address multimodal planning and sustainable transportation, but most do not yet offer a robust curriculum on these topics. To help address this need, the University of South Florida (USF), Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) developed a curriculum for a course on multimodal transportation planning and its role in advancing livability and related objectives. The course curriculum developed under this project was designed for integration into university urban planning programs, but is also relevant to graduate-level engineering and architecture/community design programs. The project is conceived in two phases, with phase one involving curriculum development for the introductory course and phase two aimed at developing a course that provides specific applications in multimodal planning that are reinforced through applied learning activities. This report contains the phase one curriculum for the introductory course. Close

• 3. [Article] Graduate-Level Civil Engineering Transportation Course Development – Oregon Tech

  Three civil engineering professors at the Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) undertook a project during the 2014-15 academic year to develop a series of transportation-related graduate courses ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Graduate-Level Civil Engineering Transportation Course Development – Oregon Tech Author: Lindgren, Roger, Thaemert, David, Riley, Charles Year: 2016 Three civil engineering professors at the Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) undertook a project during the 2014-15 academic year to develop a series of transportation-related graduate courses and to modernize Oregon Tech’s Traffic Engineering Laboratory. Courses were developed in the areas of transportation water resources, transportation structures and traffic engineering. At the completion of this project, Oregon Tech is now capable of increasing the number of students educated in three key civil engineering sub-disciplines that are directly related to transportation. This project, therefore, contributes to all three U.S. Department of Transportation University Transportation Center (UTC) purpose statements: Advance transportation expertise and technology in the many disciplines that comprise transportation through research, education and workforce development, and technology transfer; Provide a critical transportation knowledge base outside the USDOT; and Address vital workforce needs and educate the next generation of transportation leaders. A total of eight graduate-level courses were developed or significantly revised; one course in transportation water resources, three courses in transportation structures, and four courses in traffic engineering. Oregon Tech’s Traffic Engineering was modernized with the purchase of 16 dual-screen computer workstations and traffic planning and engineering software licenses. Title: Graduate-Level Civil Engineering Transportation Course Development – Oregon Tech Author: Lindgren, Roger, Thaemert, David, Riley, Charles Year: 2016 Three civil engineering professors at the Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) undertook a project during the 2014-15 academic year to develop a series of transportation-related graduate courses and to modernize Oregon Tech’s Traffic Engineering Laboratory. Courses were developed in the areas of transportation water resources, transportation structures and traffic engineering. At the completion of this project, Oregon Tech is now capable of increasing the number of students educated in three key civil engineering sub-disciplines that are directly related to transportation. This project, therefore, contributes to all three U.S. Department of Transportation University Transportation Center (UTC) purpose statements: Advance transportation expertise and technology in the many disciplines that comprise transportation through research, education and workforce development, and technology transfer; Provide a critical transportation knowledge base outside the USDOT; and Address vital workforce needs and educate the next generation of transportation leaders. A total of eight graduate-level courses were developed or significantly revised; one course in transportation water resources, three courses in transportation structures, and four courses in traffic engineering. Oregon Tech’s Traffic Engineering was modernized with the purchase of 16 dual-screen computer workstations and traffic planning and engineering software licenses. Close

• 4. [Article] Issues in Trip Generation Methods for Transportation Impact Estimation of Land Use Development: A Review and Discussion of the State-of-the-Art Approaches

  As agencies develop more robust planning objectives for creating sustainable and livable communities, the research community has continued developing supportive tools and methods to provide more accurate ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Issues in Trip Generation Methods for Transportation Impact Estimation of Land Use Development: A Review and Discussion of the State-of-the-Art Approaches Author: Currans, Kristina Marie Year: 2017 As agencies develop more robust planning objectives for creating sustainable and livable communities, the research community has continued developing supportive tools and methods to provide more accurate and robust means for estimating transportation impacts for site-level development review. This paper is a review of the state-of-the-art trip generation methods for land use transportation impact estimation. First, it provides an overview of the more recent available and peer-reviewed estimation methods. Second, the authors offer a discussion of the successes of state-of-the-art approaches using common themes of research to identify corresponding consistency with theories of travel behavior and urban economics. These themes include: (a) the ability to estimate overall amounts of activity; (b) built environment and multimodal estimation; (c) socio-and economic demographics; (d) mixed and/or multiuse methods; and (e) land use (dis)aggregation. The main objective of this paper is to, throughout the discussion and conclusions, identify the largest and potentially problematic gaps in the state-of-the-art methods available for practice in order to allow researchers, agencies, and practitioners to both be aware of these limitations and forge forward new innovations to solve these on-going problems Title: Issues in Trip Generation Methods for Transportation Impact Estimation of Land Use Development: A Review and Discussion of the State-of-the-Art Approaches Author: Currans, Kristina Marie Year: 2017 As agencies develop more robust planning objectives for creating sustainable and livable communities, the research community has continued developing supportive tools and methods to provide more accurate and robust means for estimating transportation impacts for site-level development review. This paper is a review of the state-of-the-art trip generation methods for land use transportation impact estimation. First, it provides an overview of the more recent available and peer-reviewed estimation methods. Second, the authors offer a discussion of the successes of state-of-the-art approaches using common themes of research to identify corresponding consistency with theories of travel behavior and urban economics. These themes include: (a) the ability to estimate overall amounts of activity; (b) built environment and multimodal estimation; (c) socio-and economic demographics; (d) mixed and/or multiuse methods; and (e) land use (dis)aggregation. The main objective of this paper is to, throughout the discussion and conclusions, identify the largest and potentially problematic gaps in the state-of-the-art methods available for practice in order to allow researchers, agencies, and practitioners to both be aware of these limitations and forge forward new innovations to solve these on-going problems Close

• 5. [Article] Highway Safety Investigation Manual for the Oregon Department of Transportation

  Across the state, region, and nation highway safety investigators have developed a wide variety of tools and techniques for highway safety investigation procedures. Analysis techniques can range from systematic ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Highway Safety Investigation Manual for the Oregon Department of Transportation Author: Dixon, Karen, Monsere, Christopher Year: 2011 Across the state, region, and nation highway safety investigators have developed a wide variety of tools and techniques for highway safety investigation procedures. Analysis techniques can range from systematic evaluation approaches such as the Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT’s) Safety Priority Index System (SPIS) down to specific localized safety assessment strategies. It is important to develop consistent methods for safety evaluations across Oregon to ensure that safety investigations are conducted in a similar manner. It is also important to develop a screening process for proper highway safety investigations and document the procedures used for this assessment. The objective of this manual is to provide a resource to assist ODOT traffic investigators with highway safety project screening and evaluations. Though the content of this manual is targeted for use within ODOT, the procedures outlined could be easily adapted by local jurisdictions for similar highway safety assessments. This manual, therefore, includes checklists and analysis procedures suitable for a variety of field and office safety investigations and assessments. This manual also includes information about the ODOT highway safety programs and tools, linkage to current standards and resources where design and operations methods are stipulated, a comprehensive procedure for safety investigation at both intersection and highway segments, and countermeasure definition and guidance. Title: Highway Safety Investigation Manual for the Oregon Department of Transportation Author: Dixon, Karen, Monsere, Christopher Year: 2011 Across the state, region, and nation highway safety investigators have developed a wide variety of tools and techniques for highway safety investigation procedures. Analysis techniques can range from systematic evaluation approaches such as the Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT’s) Safety Priority Index System (SPIS) down to specific localized safety assessment strategies. It is important to develop consistent methods for safety evaluations across Oregon to ensure that safety investigations are conducted in a similar manner. It is also important to develop a screening process for proper highway safety investigations and document the procedures used for this assessment. The objective of this manual is to provide a resource to assist ODOT traffic investigators with highway safety project screening and evaluations. Though the content of this manual is targeted for use within ODOT, the procedures outlined could be easily adapted by local jurisdictions for similar highway safety assessments. This manual, therefore, includes checklists and analysis procedures suitable for a variety of field and office safety investigations and assessments. This manual also includes information about the ODOT highway safety programs and tools, linkage to current standards and resources where design and operations methods are stipulated, a comprehensive procedure for safety investigation at both intersection and highway segments, and countermeasure definition and guidance. Close

• 6. [Article] Improving Walkability Through Control Strategies at Signalized Intersections

  As cities and communities nationwide seek to develop Complete Streets that foster livability and accommodate all modes, signal timing control strategies that include pedestrians in the operational decision ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Improving Walkability Through Control Strategies at Signalized Intersections Author: Kothuri, Sirisha Murthy, Kading, Andrew, Smaglik, Edward J., Sobie, Christopher Year: 2017 As cities and communities nationwide seek to develop Complete Streets that foster livability and accommodate all modes, signal timing control strategies that include pedestrians in the operational decision process are gaining importance. This research tested several efficiency-focused pedestrian treatments – coordination, actuated-coordination, free operation, short cycle lengths – and safety-focused treatment including leading pedestrian intervals and Barnes Dance. Using a software-in-the-loop simulation, the operational impacts of these treatments on all users (vehicles, heavy vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians) at an intersection were evaluated. Results showed that among the efficiency-based treatments, free operation was most beneficial for reducing minor-street pedestrian delays. Both safety treatments increased major-street vehicle delays. A new pedestrian priority algorithm is proposed and developed, which is designed to prioritize pedestrian service under certain traffic conditions. The algorithm is designed to analyze field data and change the user-defined operational strategy to match the conditions in the field. The developed algorithm was deployed at three separate locations, two of which used a Raspberry Pi device and one used the onboard logic processor of the ASC/3 controller. Before-and-after data analysis showed that the algorithm was successful in reducing pedestrian delay. While this research provides field-implementable solutions for reducing pedestrian delays, there is no one "right solution". Ultimately, choice of a control strategy may rest on operational objectives and geometric characteristics of an intersection. The findings from this research may benefit cities that are looking to create safe, sustainable streets capable of accommodating multiple modes. Title: Improving Walkability Through Control Strategies at Signalized Intersections Author: Kothuri, Sirisha Murthy, Kading, Andrew, Smaglik, Edward J., Sobie, Christopher Year: 2017 As cities and communities nationwide seek to develop Complete Streets that foster livability and accommodate all modes, signal timing control strategies that include pedestrians in the operational decision process are gaining importance. This research tested several efficiency-focused pedestrian treatments – coordination, actuated-coordination, free operation, short cycle lengths – and safety-focused treatment including leading pedestrian intervals and Barnes Dance. Using a software-in-the-loop simulation, the operational impacts of these treatments on all users (vehicles, heavy vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians) at an intersection were evaluated. Results showed that among the efficiency-based treatments, free operation was most beneficial for reducing minor-street pedestrian delays. Both safety treatments increased major-street vehicle delays. A new pedestrian priority algorithm is proposed and developed, which is designed to prioritize pedestrian service under certain traffic conditions. The algorithm is designed to analyze field data and change the user-defined operational strategy to match the conditions in the field. The developed algorithm was deployed at three separate locations, two of which used a Raspberry Pi device and one used the onboard logic processor of the ASC/3 controller. Before-and-after data analysis showed that the algorithm was successful in reducing pedestrian delay. While this research provides field-implementable solutions for reducing pedestrian delays, there is no one "right solution". Ultimately, choice of a control strategy may rest on operational objectives and geometric characteristics of an intersection. The findings from this research may benefit cities that are looking to create safe, sustainable streets capable of accommodating multiple modes. Close

• 7. [Article] 2012 Portland Metropolitan Region Transportation System Performance Report

  Our transportation system is a key ingredient in the economy, quality of life and urban fabric of the Portland metropolitan area. It has been stated in the past that it is not possible to manage our transportation ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: 2012 Portland Metropolitan Region Transportation System Performance Report Author: Bertini, Robert L., George, Dean, Downey, Matthew Year: 2013 Our transportation system is a key ingredient in the economy, quality of life and urban fabric of the Portland metropolitan area. It has been stated in the past that it is not possible to manage our transportation system tomorrow unless we understand how it is performing today. In this spirit, Portland State University has been working with regional and statewide partners to develop new capabilities to measure, monitor and track the performance of the transportation system in real time and using archived data sources. We believe that it is possible to leverage these disparate data sources toward providing better transportation system performance information for planners, engineers, citizens, researchers and decision-makers. Using this information, we can collaboratively develop policies and programs that can help make our transportation system more efficient, equitable and effective. With this in mind, we are pleased to present the 2012 Portland Metropolitan Region Transportation System Performance Report. We have attempted to make this report comprehensive and multimodal in spirit. We truly view this as a starting point, a work in progress, and we intend to continue to improve the content and format of this report in years to come. Of the new charts that were added for this years’ report, several relate to environmental health or sustainability (air quality, drive-alone commuters, etc.). We are also in the process of developing other “green” performance measures such as motor vehicle emissions, fuel consumption, and person-miles traveled. These new performance measures will appear in future versions of this report. Title: 2012 Portland Metropolitan Region Transportation System Performance Report Author: Bertini, Robert L., George, Dean, Downey, Matthew Year: 2013 Our transportation system is a key ingredient in the economy, quality of life and urban fabric of the Portland metropolitan area. It has been stated in the past that it is not possible to manage our transportation system tomorrow unless we understand how it is performing today. In this spirit, Portland State University has been working with regional and statewide partners to develop new capabilities to measure, monitor and track the performance of the transportation system in real time and using archived data sources. We believe that it is possible to leverage these disparate data sources toward providing better transportation system performance information for planners, engineers, citizens, researchers and decision-makers. Using this information, we can collaboratively develop policies and programs that can help make our transportation system more efficient, equitable and effective. With this in mind, we are pleased to present the 2012 Portland Metropolitan Region Transportation System Performance Report. We have attempted to make this report comprehensive and multimodal in spirit. We truly view this as a starting point, a work in progress, and we intend to continue to improve the content and format of this report in years to come. Of the new charts that were added for this years’ report, several relate to environmental health or sustainability (air quality, drive-alone commuters, etc.). We are also in the process of developing other “green” performance measures such as motor vehicle emissions, fuel consumption, and person-miles traveled. These new performance measures will appear in future versions of this report. Close

• 8. [Article] Behavior-Based Freight Modeling at Metro

  Chris Johnson and Bud Reiff will present on a behavior-based freight model being used at Oregon Metro. This model will replace Metro’s current truck model with a hybrid freight model that both represents ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Behavior-Based Freight Modeling at Metro Author: Johnson, Chris, Reiff, Bud Year: 2017 Chris Johnson and Bud Reiff will present on a behavior-based freight model being used at Oregon Metro. This model will replace Metro’s current truck model with a hybrid freight model that both represents multi-modal freight flows through elements of national and regional supply chains and simulates the movement of individual trucks and shipments on local networks. Model estimation and calibration will also require collection of behavioral data from shippers and receivers representing a wide range of industries, common and contract freight carriers, business that operate non-freight commercial vehicles, warehouse managers, and logistics agents. Key project objectives: Develop tools to enable a more comprehensive analysis of infrastructure needs and policy choices pertaining to the movements of goods. Develop more detailed network assignments by truck type, which support regional environmental analysis, as well as local traffic operations and engineering analysis. Develop freight forecasts that are responsive to changes in economic forecasts, changing growth rates among industrial sectors, and changing rates of economic exchange and commodity flows between sectors. Replace trip-based truck model with more realistic tour-based model. Title: Behavior-Based Freight Modeling at Metro Author: Johnson, Chris, Reiff, Bud Year: 2017 Chris Johnson and Bud Reiff will present on a behavior-based freight model being used at Oregon Metro. This model will replace Metro’s current truck model with a hybrid freight model that both represents multi-modal freight flows through elements of national and regional supply chains and simulates the movement of individual trucks and shipments on local networks. Model estimation and calibration will also require collection of behavioral data from shippers and receivers representing a wide range of industries, common and contract freight carriers, business that operate non-freight commercial vehicles, warehouse managers, and logistics agents. Key project objectives: Develop tools to enable a more comprehensive analysis of infrastructure needs and policy choices pertaining to the movements of goods. Develop more detailed network assignments by truck type, which support regional environmental analysis, as well as local traffic operations and engineering analysis. Develop freight forecasts that are responsive to changes in economic forecasts, changing growth rates among industrial sectors, and changing rates of economic exchange and commodity flows between sectors. Replace trip-based truck model with more realistic tour-based model. Close

• 9. [Article] Case Study Evaluation of Dynamic Traffic Assignment Tools

  A case study was undertaken in order to evaluate the potential use of dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) tools by Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and its partner agencies. The objectives of this ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Case Study Evaluation of Dynamic Traffic Assignment Tools Author: Gliebe, John, Bergman, Åsa Year: 2011 A case study was undertaken in order to evaluate the potential use of dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) tools by Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and its partner agencies. The objectives of this study were to provide insight into the nature of DTA models, to inform the program selection process, and to develop realistic expectations for potential DTA work plans. The overarching goal of this report is to describe the process followed and experiences of the study team in developing and testing DTA network models. Two available DTA programs were selected for in-depth analysis from a preliminary screening of available programs: DynusT, an open-source program, and Dynameq, a commercially licensed product of INRO Inc. DynusT is a mesoscopic simulation DTA, with link-level resolution. In contrast, Dynameq is a mesoscopic simulation DTA with microscopic elements, such as lane-level resolution and lane-changing behavior. Title: Case Study Evaluation of Dynamic Traffic Assignment Tools Author: Gliebe, John, Bergman, Åsa Year: 2011 A case study was undertaken in order to evaluate the potential use of dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) tools by Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and its partner agencies. The objectives of this study were to provide insight into the nature of DTA models, to inform the program selection process, and to develop realistic expectations for potential DTA work plans. The overarching goal of this report is to describe the process followed and experiences of the study team in developing and testing DTA network models. Two available DTA programs were selected for in-depth analysis from a preliminary screening of available programs: DynusT, an open-source program, and Dynameq, a commercially licensed product of INRO Inc. DynusT is a mesoscopic simulation DTA, with link-level resolution. In contrast, Dynameq is a mesoscopic simulation DTA with microscopic elements, such as lane-level resolution and lane-changing behavior. Close

• 10. [Article] Webinar: Development of a Pedestrian Demand Estimation Tool

  Why model pedestrians? A new predictive tool for estimating pedestrian demand has potential applications for improving walkability. By forecasting the number, location and characteristics of walking trips, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Webinar: Development of a Pedestrian Demand Estimation Tool Author: Clifton, Kelly Year: 2016 Why model pedestrians? A new predictive tool for estimating pedestrian demand has potential applications for improving walkability. By forecasting the number, location and characteristics of walking trips, this tool allows for policy-sensitive mode shifts away from automobile travel. There is growing support to improve the quality of the walking environment and make investments to promote pedestrian travel. Despite this interest and need, current forecasting tools, particularly regional travel demand models, often fall short. To address this gap, Oregon Metro and NITC researcher Kelly Clifton worked together to develop this pedestrian demand estimation tool which can allow planners to allocate infrastructure based on pedestrian demand in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. The tool is also designed to be replicable, so that other metropolitan areas can adapt the model to begin estimating pedestrian demand in their cities. This webinar will provide an overview of how the tool functions as well as a framework for applying this method in other cities. Title: Webinar: Development of a Pedestrian Demand Estimation Tool Author: Clifton, Kelly Year: 2016 Why model pedestrians? A new predictive tool for estimating pedestrian demand has potential applications for improving walkability. By forecasting the number, location and characteristics of walking trips, this tool allows for policy-sensitive mode shifts away from automobile travel. There is growing support to improve the quality of the walking environment and make investments to promote pedestrian travel. Despite this interest and need, current forecasting tools, particularly regional travel demand models, often fall short. To address this gap, Oregon Metro and NITC researcher Kelly Clifton worked together to develop this pedestrian demand estimation tool which can allow planners to allocate infrastructure based on pedestrian demand in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. The tool is also designed to be replicable, so that other metropolitan areas can adapt the model to begin estimating pedestrian demand in their cities. This webinar will provide an overview of how the tool functions as well as a framework for applying this method in other cities. Close