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• 1. [Article] Risk-Based Monitoring: A Model and Application to FDA’s Imported Food Monitoring Program

  Regulatory agencies intervene in risky situations by outlawing practices that impose risks on society or by proscribing practices that reduce risk. Because public resources for enforcing regulation are ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Risk-Based Monitoring: A Model and Application to FDA’s Imported Food Monitoring Program Author: Martin, Sheila A., Beaulieu, Nancy Dean, Williams, Richard Year: 1999 Regulatory agencies intervene in risky situations by outlawing practices that impose risks on society or by proscribing practices that reduce risk. Because public resources for enforcing regulation are limited, public policy has recently emphasized maximizing the benefit from enforcement by considering the risk reduction achievable from each intervention. This emphasis requires a shift of resources to monitoring situations in which regulatory violations are most likely, their welfare effects are most serious, and their detection is probable and relatively inexpensive. This article is a risk-based monitoring model applied to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) import monitoring program. Although some components of the model are specific to FDA's data and regulatory needs, this model's basic structure is applicable to many situations in which a decisionmaker seeks to identify the most cost-effective choices for reducing risk. Title: Risk-Based Monitoring: A Model and Application to FDA’s Imported Food Monitoring Program Author: Martin, Sheila A., Beaulieu, Nancy Dean, Williams, Richard Year: 1999 Regulatory agencies intervene in risky situations by outlawing practices that impose risks on society or by proscribing practices that reduce risk. Because public resources for enforcing regulation are limited, public policy has recently emphasized maximizing the benefit from enforcement by considering the risk reduction achievable from each intervention. This emphasis requires a shift of resources to monitoring situations in which regulatory violations are most likely, their welfare effects are most serious, and their detection is probable and relatively inexpensive. This article is a risk-based monitoring model applied to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) import monitoring program. Although some components of the model are specific to FDA's data and regulatory needs, this model's basic structure is applicable to many situations in which a decisionmaker seeks to identify the most cost-effective choices for reducing risk. Close

• 2. [Article] Spatial patterns of air toxins in the region

  This Atlas draws on the Portland Air Toxics Assessment (PATA) study to explore the regional variation of air quality. The PATA study presents an extraordinary opportunity to think about how the creation ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Spatial patterns of air toxins in the region Author: George, Linda Acha, Shandas, Vivek Year: 2009 This Atlas draws on the Portland Air Toxics Assessment (PATA) study to explore the regional variation of air quality. The PATA study presents an extraordinary opportunity to think about how the creation of new information can help us better plan our cities, but it also challenges us to think about the impacts of the choices we make. Title: Spatial patterns of air toxins in the region Author: George, Linda Acha, Shandas, Vivek Year: 2009 This Atlas draws on the Portland Air Toxics Assessment (PATA) study to explore the regional variation of air quality. The PATA study presents an extraordinary opportunity to think about how the creation of new information can help us better plan our cities, but it also challenges us to think about the impacts of the choices we make. Close

• 3. [Article] The Oregon DOT Slow-Speed Weigh-In--Motion (SWIM) Project: Final Report

  Weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems have provided an effective means of data collection for pavement research and facility design, traffic monitoring, and weight enforcement for over 40 years. In weight enforcement, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Oregon DOT Slow-Speed Weigh-In--Motion (SWIM) Project: Final Report Author: Strathman, James G. Year: 1998 Weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems have provided an effective means of data collection for pavement research and facility design, traffic monitoring, and weight enforcement for over 40 years. In weight enforcement, WIM systems have been increasingly used to screen potentially overweight vehicles. Vehicles that exceed weight limits as measured on a WIM scale are then weighed on a static scale, which is subject to accuracy standards specified by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (1998). The use of WIM for screening purposes reduces queuing at weigh stations, resulting in considerable savings for both truckers and enforcement agencies. To date, however, WIM systems have not been certified for direct applications to weight enforcement. Title: The Oregon DOT Slow-Speed Weigh-In--Motion (SWIM) Project: Final Report Author: Strathman, James G. Year: 1998 Weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems have provided an effective means of data collection for pavement research and facility design, traffic monitoring, and weight enforcement for over 40 years. In weight enforcement, WIM systems have been increasingly used to screen potentially overweight vehicles. Vehicles that exceed weight limits as measured on a WIM scale are then weighed on a static scale, which is subject to accuracy standards specified by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (1998). The use of WIM for screening purposes reduces queuing at weigh stations, resulting in considerable savings for both truckers and enforcement agencies. To date, however, WIM systems have not been certified for direct applications to weight enforcement. Close

• 4. [Article] Relationships Between Environmental Governance and Water Quality in a Growing Metropolitan Area of the Pacific Northwest, USA

  We investigate relationships between environmental governance and water quality in two adjacent growing metropolitan areas in the western US. While the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington metro ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Relationships Between Environmental Governance and Water Quality in a Growing Metropolitan Area of the Pacific Northwest, USA Author: Chang, Heejun, Thiers, Paul R., Netusil, Noelwah R., Yeakley, J. Alan, Rollwagen-Bollens, Gretchen, Bollens, Steve, Singh, Sonia Year: 2014 We investigate relationships between environmental governance and water quality in two adjacent growing metropolitan areas in the western US. While the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington metro areas share many common biophysical characteristics, they have different land development histories and water governance structures, providing a unique opportunity for examining how differences in governance might affect environmental quality. We conceptualize possible linkages in which water quality influences governance directly, using monitoring efforts as a metric, and indirectly by using the change in the sale price of single-family residential properties. Governance may then influence water quality directly through riparian restoration resulting from monitoring results and indirectly through land use policy.We investigate evidence to substantiate these linkages. Our results showed that changes in monitoring regimes and land development patterns differed in response to differences in growth management policy and environmental governance systems. Our results also showed similarities in environmental quality responses to varying governance systems. For example, we found that sales prices responded positively to improved water quality (e.g., increases in DO and reductions in bacteria counts) in both cities. Furthermore, riparian restoration efforts improved over time for both cities, indicating the positive effect of governance on this land-based resource that may result in improved water quality. However, as of yet, there were no substantial differences across study areas in water temperature over time, despite an expansion of these urban areas of more than 20%over 24 years. The mechanisms by which water quality was maintained was similar in the sense that both cities benefited from riparian restoration, but different in the sense that Portland benefited indirectly from land use policy. A combination of long-term legacy effects of land development, and a relatively short history of riparian restoration in both the Portland and Vancouver regions, may have masked any subtle differences between study areas. An alternative explanation is that both cities exhibited combinations of positive indirect and direct water quality governance that resulted in maintenance of water quality in the face of increased urban growth. These findings suggest that a much longer-term water quality monitoring effort is needed to identify the effectiveness of alternative land development and water governance policies Title: Relationships Between Environmental Governance and Water Quality in a Growing Metropolitan Area of the Pacific Northwest, USA Author: Chang, Heejun, Thiers, Paul R., Netusil, Noelwah R., Yeakley, J. Alan, Rollwagen-Bollens, Gretchen, Bollens, Steve, Singh, Sonia Year: 2014 We investigate relationships between environmental governance and water quality in two adjacent growing metropolitan areas in the western US. While the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington metro areas share many common biophysical characteristics, they have different land development histories and water governance structures, providing a unique opportunity for examining how differences in governance might affect environmental quality. We conceptualize possible linkages in which water quality influences governance directly, using monitoring efforts as a metric, and indirectly by using the change in the sale price of single-family residential properties. Governance may then influence water quality directly through riparian restoration resulting from monitoring results and indirectly through land use policy.We investigate evidence to substantiate these linkages. Our results showed that changes in monitoring regimes and land development patterns differed in response to differences in growth management policy and environmental governance systems. Our results also showed similarities in environmental quality responses to varying governance systems. For example, we found that sales prices responded positively to improved water quality (e.g., increases in DO and reductions in bacteria counts) in both cities. Furthermore, riparian restoration efforts improved over time for both cities, indicating the positive effect of governance on this land-based resource that may result in improved water quality. However, as of yet, there were no substantial differences across study areas in water temperature over time, despite an expansion of these urban areas of more than 20%over 24 years. The mechanisms by which water quality was maintained was similar in the sense that both cities benefited from riparian restoration, but different in the sense that Portland benefited indirectly from land use policy. A combination of long-term legacy effects of land development, and a relatively short history of riparian restoration in both the Portland and Vancouver regions, may have masked any subtle differences between study areas. An alternative explanation is that both cities exhibited combinations of positive indirect and direct water quality governance that resulted in maintenance of water quality in the face of increased urban growth. These findings suggest that a much longer-term water quality monitoring effort is needed to identify the effectiveness of alternative land development and water governance policies Close

• 5. [Article] Indicators of the Metroscape: Columbia Log Jam

  Article discusses the transportation of lumber, wood, and paper products on the I-5 Freeway and over the Columbia River Bridge.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Indicators of the Metroscape: Columbia Log Jam Author: Vanneman, Brian Year: 2006 Article discusses the transportation of lumber, wood, and paper products on the I-5 Freeway and over the Columbia River Bridge. Title: Indicators of the Metroscape: Columbia Log Jam Author: Vanneman, Brian Year: 2006 Article discusses the transportation of lumber, wood, and paper products on the I-5 Freeway and over the Columbia River Bridge. Close

• 6. [Article] Multimodal Data at Signalized Intersections: Strategies for Archiving Existing and New Data Streams to Support Operations and Planning & Fusion and Integration of Arterial Performance Data

  There is a growing interest in arterial system management due to the increasing amount of travel on arterials and a growing emphasis on multimodal transportation. The benefits of archiving arterial-related ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Multimodal Data at Signalized Intersections: Strategies for Archiving Existing and New Data Streams to Support Operations and Planning & Fusion and Integration of Arterial Performance Data Author: Tufte, Kristin A., Monsere, Christopher M., Kothuri, Sirisha Murthy, Olson, Carl Scott Year: 2013 There is a growing interest in arterial system management due to the increasing amount of travel on arterials and a growing emphasis on multimodal transportation. The benefits of archiving arterial-related data are numerous. This research report describes our efforts to assemble and develop a multimodal archive for the Portland-Vancouver region. There is coverage of data sources from all modes in the metropolitan region; however, the preliminary nature of the archiving process means that some of the data are incomplete and samples. The arterial data sources available in the Portland-Vancouver region and that are covered in this report include data for various local agencies (City of Portland, Clark County, WA, TriMet and C-TRAN) covering vehicle, transit, pedestrian, and bicycle modes. We provide detailed descriptions of each data source and a spatial and temporal classification. The report describes the conceptual framework for an archive and the data collection and archival process, including the process for extracting the data from the agency systems and transferring these data to our multimodal database. Data can be made more useful though the use of improved visualization techniques. Thus as part of the project, a number of novel, online visualizations were created and implemented. These graphs and displays are summarized in this report and example visualizations are shown. As with any automated sensor system, data quality and completeness is an important issue and the challenge of automating data quality is large. Preliminary efforts to validate and monitor data quality and automate data quality processing are explored. Finally, the report presents efforts to combine transit and travel time data and signal timing and vehicle count data to generate some sample congestion measures. Title: Multimodal Data at Signalized Intersections: Strategies for Archiving Existing and New Data Streams to Support Operations and Planning & Fusion and Integration of Arterial Performance Data Author: Tufte, Kristin A., Monsere, Christopher M., Kothuri, Sirisha Murthy, Olson, Carl Scott Year: 2013 There is a growing interest in arterial system management due to the increasing amount of travel on arterials and a growing emphasis on multimodal transportation. The benefits of archiving arterial-related data are numerous. This research report describes our efforts to assemble and develop a multimodal archive for the Portland-Vancouver region. There is coverage of data sources from all modes in the metropolitan region; however, the preliminary nature of the archiving process means that some of the data are incomplete and samples. The arterial data sources available in the Portland-Vancouver region and that are covered in this report include data for various local agencies (City of Portland, Clark County, WA, TriMet and C-TRAN) covering vehicle, transit, pedestrian, and bicycle modes. We provide detailed descriptions of each data source and a spatial and temporal classification. The report describes the conceptual framework for an archive and the data collection and archival process, including the process for extracting the data from the agency systems and transferring these data to our multimodal database. Data can be made more useful though the use of improved visualization techniques. Thus as part of the project, a number of novel, online visualizations were created and implemented. These graphs and displays are summarized in this report and example visualizations are shown. As with any automated sensor system, data quality and completeness is an important issue and the challenge of automating data quality is large. Preliminary efforts to validate and monitor data quality and automate data quality processing are explored. Finally, the report presents efforts to combine transit and travel time data and signal timing and vehicle count data to generate some sample congestion measures. Close

• 7. [Article] Invasive Species Management Plan for Oswego Lake

  This Invasive Species Management Plan defines an overarching strategy for the Lake Oswego Corporation (LOC) to mitigate threats from invasive species to Oswego Lake. Invasive species pose a direct risk ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Invasive Species Management Plan for Oswego Lake Author: Warren, Daniel Year: 2009 This Invasive Species Management Plan defines an overarching strategy for the Lake Oswego Corporation (LOC) to mitigate threats from invasive species to Oswego Lake. Invasive species pose a direct risk to recreational and aesthetic uses of the lake, critical LOC infrastructure, and ecological communities within the lake. The Plan is particularly concerned with two bivalve mollusks in the genus Dreissena: the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) and the quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis). These mussels grow in dense colonies that damage watercraft and underwater structures as well as displace native species. A recent scientific report found that an intense infestation of mussels in Oswego Lake is unlikely due to the water chemistry, but a low to moderate level of infestation is possible. Any level of infestation could be very serious and warrants proactive preventative measures and response plans should an invasion occur. In addition to the harmful mussels, this Plan identifies preventative and response measures for other species such as hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) that have the potential to harm Oswego Lake. Strategies outlined in this Plan are as follows: • Identification and prioritization of likely potential invasive species • Identification of vectors of establishment •Prevention strategies • Development of monitoring plans • Rapid response action plans and control measures if an invasion is detected Prevention is the top management priority for all invasive species as the cost and difficulty of controlling or eradicating an invasion increase significantly as an invasion spreads. This includes active measures to exclude species as well as the ongoing education and involvement of community members. Effective monitoring and rapid response action plans are the next priority to detect and eradicate an exotic species before it establishes and spreads. The integration of these strategies will help the LOC prevent significant deleterious effects from invasive species in Oswego Lake so that the basic operations of the LOC are facilitated and recreational and aesthetic opportunities are preserved. Title: Invasive Species Management Plan for Oswego Lake Author: Warren, Daniel Year: 2009 This Invasive Species Management Plan defines an overarching strategy for the Lake Oswego Corporation (LOC) to mitigate threats from invasive species to Oswego Lake. Invasive species pose a direct risk to recreational and aesthetic uses of the lake, critical LOC infrastructure, and ecological communities within the lake. The Plan is particularly concerned with two bivalve mollusks in the genus Dreissena: the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) and the quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis). These mussels grow in dense colonies that damage watercraft and underwater structures as well as displace native species. A recent scientific report found that an intense infestation of mussels in Oswego Lake is unlikely due to the water chemistry, but a low to moderate level of infestation is possible. Any level of infestation could be very serious and warrants proactive preventative measures and response plans should an invasion occur. In addition to the harmful mussels, this Plan identifies preventative and response measures for other species such as hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) that have the potential to harm Oswego Lake. Strategies outlined in this Plan are as follows: • Identification and prioritization of likely potential invasive species • Identification of vectors of establishment •Prevention strategies • Development of monitoring plans • Rapid response action plans and control measures if an invasion is detected Prevention is the top management priority for all invasive species as the cost and difficulty of controlling or eradicating an invasion increase significantly as an invasion spreads. This includes active measures to exclude species as well as the ongoing education and involvement of community members. Effective monitoring and rapid response action plans are the next priority to detect and eradicate an exotic species before it establishes and spreads. The integration of these strategies will help the LOC prevent significant deleterious effects from invasive species in Oswego Lake so that the basic operations of the LOC are facilitated and recreational and aesthetic opportunities are preserved. Close

• 8. [Article] Smart Cities: Improving the Roadside Environment with Distributed Sensor Systems

  The City of Portland is exploring how distributed "Internet of Things" (IoT) sensor systems can be used to improve the available data that is usable by city engineers, planners, and the public to help ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Smart Cities: Improving the Roadside Environment with Distributed Sensor Systems Author: Kendrick, Christine M. Year: 2016 The City of Portland is exploring how distributed "Internet of Things" (IoT) sensor systems can be used to improve the available data that is usable by city engineers, planners, and the public to help inform transportation operations, enable assessments of public health and equity, advance Portland’s Climate Action Plan goals, and create opportunities for economic development and civic engagement. The City is currently looking at how low-cost air quality sensors can be used to improve and increase real-time understanding of transportation-related pollutants. However, the state of low-cost air quality sensor technology is not usable off the shelf due to sensitivity limitations and interference issues. This talk will share the results of a pilot evaluation study conducted by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) along with background on other roadside air quality monitoring implemented as part of a joint research project between PBOT and Portland State University. Results and methods from this joint research project will help support the future development of distributed air quality monitoring. Lastly, the talk will present a roadmap and discussion of how the City of Portland will move forward in creating an environmental distributed sensor system along a roadway corridor supported by several grants. The City of Portland will be developing standards for air quality data from low-cost devices and specialized guidelines to enable Portland and other cities to use low-cost air quality sensors. Through work with the Green Electronics Council, the City will also attempt to minimize the environmental impact of the manufacture and disposal of IoT sensors. Title: Smart Cities: Improving the Roadside Environment with Distributed Sensor Systems Author: Kendrick, Christine M. Year: 2016 The City of Portland is exploring how distributed "Internet of Things" (IoT) sensor systems can be used to improve the available data that is usable by city engineers, planners, and the public to help inform transportation operations, enable assessments of public health and equity, advance Portland’s Climate Action Plan goals, and create opportunities for economic development and civic engagement. The City is currently looking at how low-cost air quality sensors can be used to improve and increase real-time understanding of transportation-related pollutants. However, the state of low-cost air quality sensor technology is not usable off the shelf due to sensitivity limitations and interference issues. This talk will share the results of a pilot evaluation study conducted by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) along with background on other roadside air quality monitoring implemented as part of a joint research project between PBOT and Portland State University. Results and methods from this joint research project will help support the future development of distributed air quality monitoring. Lastly, the talk will present a roadmap and discussion of how the City of Portland will move forward in creating an environmental distributed sensor system along a roadway corridor supported by several grants. The City of Portland will be developing standards for air quality data from low-cost devices and specialized guidelines to enable Portland and other cities to use low-cost air quality sensors. Through work with the Green Electronics Council, the City will also attempt to minimize the environmental impact of the manufacture and disposal of IoT sensors. Close

• 9. [Article] Oregon DOT Slow-Speed Weigh-in-Motion (SWIM) Project: Analysis of Initial Weight Data

  This report presents the results of a preliminary analysis of axle weights from the Oregon DOT Slow-Speed Weigh in Motion (SWIM) scale at the Wyeth weigh station.* This report includes an analysis of methodology ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Oregon DOT Slow-Speed Weigh-in-Motion (SWIM) Project: Analysis of Initial Weight Data Author: Swope, Tim, Strathman, James G. Year: 1997 This report presents the results of a preliminary analysis of axle weights from the Oregon DOT Slow-Speed Weigh in Motion (SWIM) scale at the Wyeth weigh station.* This report includes an analysis of methodology and variables used in the study; estimates of accuracy and precision of the WIM readings; and a regression analysis of the WIM and static scale weighings. Axles weights were collected from the traffic stream. Title: Oregon DOT Slow-Speed Weigh-in-Motion (SWIM) Project: Analysis of Initial Weight Data Author: Swope, Tim, Strathman, James G. Year: 1997 This report presents the results of a preliminary analysis of axle weights from the Oregon DOT Slow-Speed Weigh in Motion (SWIM) scale at the Wyeth weigh station.* This report includes an analysis of methodology and variables used in the study; estimates of accuracy and precision of the WIM readings; and a regression analysis of the WIM and static scale weighings. Axles weights were collected from the traffic stream. Close

• 10. [Article] Piloting Portland's MultiModal Arterial Performance System

  Shaun will present on the recently completed pilot demonstration of multimodal arterial performance measures for the Portland metro region, as part of the larger regional concept of operations. Treatments ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Piloting Portland's MultiModal Arterial Performance System Author: Quayle, Shaun Year: 2013 Shaun will present on the recently completed pilot demonstration of multimodal arterial performance measures for the Portland metro region, as part of the larger regional concept of operations. Treatments include a permanent bike count station on the Springwater Trail, permanent truck classification stations, Bluetooth travel time stations, as well as leveraging existing transit and signal controller data to paint a picture of the collective modal transportation system. Title: Piloting Portland's MultiModal Arterial Performance System Author: Quayle, Shaun Year: 2013 Shaun will present on the recently completed pilot demonstration of multimodal arterial performance measures for the Portland metro region, as part of the larger regional concept of operations. Treatments include a permanent bike count station on the Springwater Trail, permanent truck classification stations, Bluetooth travel time stations, as well as leveraging existing transit and signal controller data to paint a picture of the collective modal transportation system. Close

• 11. [Article] Measuring What We Value: Using Performance Measures to Achieve Goals

  Performance measures are commonly used in transportation planning, but how effectively are public agencies using them, and to what ends? Metro, ODOT and many cities use performance measures to evaluate ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Measuring What We Value: Using Performance Measures to Achieve Goals Author: Rall, Chris Year: 2016 Performance measures are commonly used in transportation planning, but how effectively are public agencies using them, and to what ends? Metro, ODOT and many cities use performance measures to evaluate investment choices and monitor progress. Drawing from Transportation for America’s report Measuring What We Value, and some of the most cutting edge examples of performance-based planning around the nation, Chris' presentation will step back to consider what makes a performance-based planning approach effective at achieving an agency’s goals. Title: Measuring What We Value: Using Performance Measures to Achieve Goals Author: Rall, Chris Year: 2016 Performance measures are commonly used in transportation planning, but how effectively are public agencies using them, and to what ends? Metro, ODOT and many cities use performance measures to evaluate investment choices and monitor progress. Drawing from Transportation for America’s report Measuring What We Value, and some of the most cutting edge examples of performance-based planning around the nation, Chris' presentation will step back to consider what makes a performance-based planning approach effective at achieving an agency’s goals. Close

• 12. [Article] Improving Travel Information Products via Robust Estimation Techniques

  Traffic-monitoring systems, such as those using loop detectors, are prone to coverage gaps, arising from sensor noise, processing errors and transmission problems. Such gaps adversely affect the accuracy ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Improving Travel Information Products via Robust Estimation Techniques Author: Maier, David, Tufte, Kristin A., Fernández Moctezuma, Rafael J. Year: 2009 Traffic-monitoring systems, such as those using loop detectors, are prone to coverage gaps, arising from sensor noise, processing errors and transmission problems. Such gaps adversely affect the accuracy of Advanced Traveler Information Systems. This project will explore models based on historical data that can provide estimates to fill such gaps. We build on an initial study by Mr. Rafael J. Fernandez-Moctezuma, using both a linear model and an artificial neural network (ANN) trained on historical data to estimate values for reporting gaps. These initial models were 80% and 89% accurate, respectively, in estimating the correct speed range, and misclassifications were always between adjacent speed ranges (in particular, the free-flow range and congested range were never confused). Going forward, we will investigate other non-linear models, such as Gaussian Mixtures, that provide further statistical metrics, in contrast to the uninterpreted weights of ANNs. This work will exploit the Portland Transportation Archive Listing (PORTAL) at the Intelligent Transportation Systems Laboratory at PSU. Dr. Tufte helps supervise development of PORTAL, and Mr. Fernandez used PORTAL data in his study. PORTAL holds more than two years of Portland-area freeway-loop-detector data at both detailed and aggregated levels, and is an ideal resource for the proposed work. Initially we will be building and testing estimators in off-line mode. We will select a highway segment (comprising multiple detector stations) that is representative in terms of pattern of outages. We will build models for this segment, then examine their performance on estimates for synthetic gaps (so we can compare estimates to reported values). Later, using live loop-detector data (which PORTAL supports), we will work towards on-line estimation over the local freeway network, which requires computing estimates in a timely manner. Our end target is improvements in end-user travel information products, such as the Portland-Metro Speed Map on ODOT's Trip Check. Our main evaluation metric will be the trade-off curve bewteen accuracy of prediciton and percentage of gaps that can be filled. This research supports national surface-transportation research priorities, including the Systems Management Information area (ITS JPO). Within that area, it relates to (2) Data Management (techniques and guidance for processing and managing data associated with highway and transit monitoring) and (5) Data Dissemination (exchanging information about transportation services and providing that information to travelers). [Page 3-15, U.S. Department of Transportation Research, Development, and Technology Plan, 6th Edition] Title: Improving Travel Information Products via Robust Estimation Techniques Author: Maier, David, Tufte, Kristin A., Fernández Moctezuma, Rafael J. Year: 2009 Traffic-monitoring systems, such as those using loop detectors, are prone to coverage gaps, arising from sensor noise, processing errors and transmission problems. Such gaps adversely affect the accuracy of Advanced Traveler Information Systems. This project will explore models based on historical data that can provide estimates to fill such gaps. We build on an initial study by Mr. Rafael J. Fernandez-Moctezuma, using both a linear model and an artificial neural network (ANN) trained on historical data to estimate values for reporting gaps. These initial models were 80% and 89% accurate, respectively, in estimating the correct speed range, and misclassifications were always between adjacent speed ranges (in particular, the free-flow range and congested range were never confused). Going forward, we will investigate other non-linear models, such as Gaussian Mixtures, that provide further statistical metrics, in contrast to the uninterpreted weights of ANNs. This work will exploit the Portland Transportation Archive Listing (PORTAL) at the Intelligent Transportation Systems Laboratory at PSU. Dr. Tufte helps supervise development of PORTAL, and Mr. Fernandez used PORTAL data in his study. PORTAL holds more than two years of Portland-area freeway-loop-detector data at both detailed and aggregated levels, and is an ideal resource for the proposed work. Initially we will be building and testing estimators in off-line mode. We will select a highway segment (comprising multiple detector stations) that is representative in terms of pattern of outages. We will build models for this segment, then examine their performance on estimates for synthetic gaps (so we can compare estimates to reported values). Later, using live loop-detector data (which PORTAL supports), we will work towards on-line estimation over the local freeway network, which requires computing estimates in a timely manner. Our end target is improvements in end-user travel information products, such as the Portland-Metro Speed Map on ODOT's Trip Check. Our main evaluation metric will be the trade-off curve bewteen accuracy of prediciton and percentage of gaps that can be filled. This research supports national surface-transportation research priorities, including the Systems Management Information area (ITS JPO). Within that area, it relates to (2) Data Management (techniques and guidance for processing and managing data associated with highway and transit monitoring) and (5) Data Dissemination (exchanging information about transportation services and providing that information to travelers). [Page 3-15, U.S. Department of Transportation Research, Development, and Technology Plan, 6th Edition] Close

• 13. [Article] Analysis of Bus Collision Incidents Using Transit ITS and other Archived Operations Data

  This report analyzes factors contributing to bus operations safety incidents at TriMet, the transit provider for the Portland Oregon metropolitan region. The analysis focuses on 4,631 collision and non-collision ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Analysis of Bus Collision Incidents Using Transit ITS and other Archived Operations Data Author: Strathman, James G., Wachana, Paul Herman, Callas, Steve Year: 2010 This report analyzes factors contributing to bus operations safety incidents at TriMet, the transit provider for the Portland Oregon metropolitan region. The analysis focuses on 4,631 collision and non-collision incidents that occurred between 2006 and 2009. Empirical analysis of these incidents draws on a wide array of operator-level data recovered by transit ITS technologies in combination with information from TriMet’s human resources, scheduling, and customer relations databases. Incident frequencies are estimated in relation to operators’ demographic characteristics, employment status, assigned work characteristics, service delivery and performance indicators, temporal factors, and customer information. Apart from identifying factors that are empirically related to the frequency of safety incidents, the findings offer insights into operations policies and practices that hold promise for improving safety. Title: Analysis of Bus Collision Incidents Using Transit ITS and other Archived Operations Data Author: Strathman, James G., Wachana, Paul Herman, Callas, Steve Year: 2010 This report analyzes factors contributing to bus operations safety incidents at TriMet, the transit provider for the Portland Oregon metropolitan region. The analysis focuses on 4,631 collision and non-collision incidents that occurred between 2006 and 2009. Empirical analysis of these incidents draws on a wide array of operator-level data recovered by transit ITS technologies in combination with information from TriMet’s human resources, scheduling, and customer relations databases. Incident frequencies are estimated in relation to operators’ demographic characteristics, employment status, assigned work characteristics, service delivery and performance indicators, temporal factors, and customer information. Apart from identifying factors that are empirically related to the frequency of safety incidents, the findings offer insights into operations policies and practices that hold promise for improving safety. Close

• 14. [Article] Portland-Vancouver ULTRA-Ex: Evaluating Relationships Between Governance and Environmental Quality in Urban Ecosystems

  The Portland-Vancouver Urban Long Term Research Area (ULTRA-Ex) is a multidisciplinary project aimed at understanding the feedbacks between human and natural systems in urban settings. The ULTRA-Ex project ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Portland-Vancouver ULTRA-Ex: Evaluating Relationships Between Governance and Environmental Quality in Urban Ecosystems Author: Yeakley, J. Alan, Duncan, Sally, Bollens, Steve, Ozawa, Connie P., Shandas, Vivek, Chang, Heejun, Dresner, Marion, Gordon, Sean N., Harrison, John A., Kline, Jeffrey D., Morzillo, Anita T., Netusil, Noelwah R., Rollwagen-Bollens, Gretchen, Stephan, Mark, Thiers, Paul R. Year: 2013 The Portland-Vancouver Urban Long Term Research Area (ULTRA-Ex) is a multidisciplinary project aimed at understanding the feedbacks between human and natural systems in urban settings. The ULTRA-Ex project is seeking to answer the overarching question: How do human governance and biophysical systems respond interactively to both press and pulse disturbances in urban socio-ecological systems? This presentation provides early observations and findings from the PV ULTRA-Ex project. Title: Portland-Vancouver ULTRA-Ex: Evaluating Relationships Between Governance and Environmental Quality in Urban Ecosystems Author: Yeakley, J. Alan, Duncan, Sally, Bollens, Steve, Ozawa, Connie P., Shandas, Vivek, Chang, Heejun, Dresner, Marion, Gordon, Sean N., Harrison, John A., Kline, Jeffrey D., Morzillo, Anita T., Netusil, Noelwah R., Rollwagen-Bollens, Gretchen, Stephan, Mark, Thiers, Paul R. Year: 2013 The Portland-Vancouver Urban Long Term Research Area (ULTRA-Ex) is a multidisciplinary project aimed at understanding the feedbacks between human and natural systems in urban settings. The ULTRA-Ex project is seeking to answer the overarching question: How do human governance and biophysical systems respond interactively to both press and pulse disturbances in urban socio-ecological systems? This presentation provides early observations and findings from the PV ULTRA-Ex project. Close

• 15. [Article] Analysis of Transit Signal Priority Using Archived TriMet Bus Dispatch System Data

  This paper presents findings on changes in bus running times, on-time performance, and excess passenger wait times following implementation of transit signal priority in select bus corridors in the Portland ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Analysis of Transit Signal Priority Using Archived TriMet Bus Dispatch System Data Author: Kimpel, Thomas J., Strathman, James G., Bertini, Robert L., Callas, Steve Year: 2005 This paper presents findings on changes in bus running times, on-time performance, and excess passenger wait times following implementation of transit signal priority in select bus corridors in the Portland metropolitan region. Analysis of the effectiveness of transit signal priority is often undertaken using simulation techniques or empirical studies that are either limited in scope and/or data availability. The present research uses an abundance of trip-level data collected from TriMet’s Bus Dispatch System. The study focuses on the most common performance measures of interest to both transit operators and passengers. Our study shows that the expected benefits of TSP are not consistent across routes and time periods, nor are they consistent across the various performance measures. We believe that benefits of transit signal priority will accrue only as the result of extensive evaluation and adjustment initial deployment. In most cases, an ongoing performance monitoring and adjustment program should be implemented in order to maximize the benefits of transit signal priority. Title: Analysis of Transit Signal Priority Using Archived TriMet Bus Dispatch System Data Author: Kimpel, Thomas J., Strathman, James G., Bertini, Robert L., Callas, Steve Year: 2005 This paper presents findings on changes in bus running times, on-time performance, and excess passenger wait times following implementation of transit signal priority in select bus corridors in the Portland metropolitan region. Analysis of the effectiveness of transit signal priority is often undertaken using simulation techniques or empirical studies that are either limited in scope and/or data availability. The present research uses an abundance of trip-level data collected from TriMet’s Bus Dispatch System. The study focuses on the most common performance measures of interest to both transit operators and passengers. Our study shows that the expected benefits of TSP are not consistent across routes and time periods, nor are they consistent across the various performance measures. We believe that benefits of transit signal priority will accrue only as the result of extensive evaluation and adjustment initial deployment. In most cases, an ongoing performance monitoring and adjustment program should be implemented in order to maximize the benefits of transit signal priority. Close

• 16. [Article] Track Time and Monetary Costs of Transportation as a Comprehensive Performance Measure: Development and Application of Transportation Cost Index

  As federal and state policies place increasing emphasis on using comprehensive transportation performance measures to guide transportation decision making, there is a gap in such measures of transportation ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Track Time and Monetary Costs of Transportation as a Comprehensive Performance Measure: Development and Application of Transportation Cost Index Author: Wang, Liming Year: 2016 As federal and state policies place increasing emphasis on using comprehensive transportation performance measures to guide transportation decision making, there is a gap in such measures of transportation and land use systems. This seminar reports the results from a research project aiming to fill the gap in the type of applications and policy areas covered by existing measures. Modeled after the popular Consumer Price Index, the project refines and develops a transportation cost index (TCI) measure for transportation and land use systems by tracking the time and monetary costs of transportation for households as they travel to satisfy their daily needs. The TCI can be used in applications ranging from monitoring historical and projected trends (benchmarking), to evaluating and comparing scenarios outcomes (scenario evaluation), and it is capable of representing policy areas not sufficiently covered by existing similar measures. The seminar will review similar performance measures, describe the rationale, design and implementation of TCI, and present results of its applications in Portland and Corvallis, Oregon, as well as nation-wide in the US. The project is sponsored by National Institute of Transportation Communities (NITC) and Oregon DOT. Title: Track Time and Monetary Costs of Transportation as a Comprehensive Performance Measure: Development and Application of Transportation Cost Index Author: Wang, Liming Year: 2016 As federal and state policies place increasing emphasis on using comprehensive transportation performance measures to guide transportation decision making, there is a gap in such measures of transportation and land use systems. This seminar reports the results from a research project aiming to fill the gap in the type of applications and policy areas covered by existing measures. Modeled after the popular Consumer Price Index, the project refines and develops a transportation cost index (TCI) measure for transportation and land use systems by tracking the time and monetary costs of transportation for households as they travel to satisfy their daily needs. The TCI can be used in applications ranging from monitoring historical and projected trends (benchmarking), to evaluating and comparing scenarios outcomes (scenario evaluation), and it is capable of representing policy areas not sufficiently covered by existing similar measures. The seminar will review similar performance measures, describe the rationale, design and implementation of TCI, and present results of its applications in Portland and Corvallis, Oregon, as well as nation-wide in the US. The project is sponsored by National Institute of Transportation Communities (NITC) and Oregon DOT. Close

• 17. [Article] A Land Use Network for the Johnson Creek Watershed

  This document presents a design for a Land Use Network. It is a starting point from which to build a network that connects, educates, and motivates stakeholders within the Johnson Creek Watershed to facilitate ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Land Use Network for the Johnson Creek Watershed Author: Caldwell, Jessica, Felton, Joyce, Redden, Elisa, Pagenstecher, Gerhard Year: 1998 This document presents a design for a Land Use Network. It is a starting point from which to build a network that connects, educates, and motivates stakeholders within the Johnson Creek Watershed to facilitate effective participation in the land use process. The Johnson Creek Watershed Council contracted the Watershed Network Group (WNG) to design the Network as a mechanism for organizing efforts to promote environmentally sound development throughout the watershed. The Johnson Creek Watershed Council comprises representatives from government, residents, and business organizations with interest in the Johnson Creek Watershed. The need for a Land Use Network within the watershed arose because existing methods of monitoring and managing the effects of development on the watershed are inadequate for meeting current development pressures. Development pressures on the watershed have had negative effects on the watershed environment. Development pressures are expected to increase as expansion of the Urban Growth Boundary makes more land available for development. Currently, each jurisdiction addresses the impacts of development as they occur within its own boundary. However, the Johnson Creek Watershed extends across several jurisdictional boundaries, and environmental impacts are not confined to the jurisdiction of origin. The Johnson Creek Watershed Council was formed in 1992 to monitor and manage impacts across boundaries, on a watershed-wide basis. To operate effectively, the Council needs a way to establish two-way communication among all stakeholders in the watershed. A Land Use Network would help fill that need by providing a focal point for gathering and distributing land-use information. It would organize the information-gathering process, develop educational materials for public distribution, and organize the distribution channels. To develop the Land Use Network plan, the WNG researched the history of the watershed and its regulatory environment, theories of communication, and information on citizen participation networks. The WNG also conducted interviews and focus groups with current stakeholders to help clarify issues and identify communication needs that a Land Use Network might address. Finally, the WNG outlines a proposal for the Land Use Network. The proposal begins with a Network Structure diagram that illustrates the main elements of the Network Proposal. The elements of the Network Structure show how the Network can function effectively in the land use planning process. The issues, recommendations and actions provide methods for implementation for each element of the Network Structure. Finally, a summary of recommended actions shows the short-term, ongoing, and long-term implementation actions for the Network. This project was conducted under the supervision of Deborah Howe and Connie Ozawa. Title: A Land Use Network for the Johnson Creek Watershed Author: Caldwell, Jessica, Felton, Joyce, Redden, Elisa, Pagenstecher, Gerhard Year: 1998 This document presents a design for a Land Use Network. It is a starting point from which to build a network that connects, educates, and motivates stakeholders within the Johnson Creek Watershed to facilitate effective participation in the land use process. The Johnson Creek Watershed Council contracted the Watershed Network Group (WNG) to design the Network as a mechanism for organizing efforts to promote environmentally sound development throughout the watershed. The Johnson Creek Watershed Council comprises representatives from government, residents, and business organizations with interest in the Johnson Creek Watershed. The need for a Land Use Network within the watershed arose because existing methods of monitoring and managing the effects of development on the watershed are inadequate for meeting current development pressures. Development pressures on the watershed have had negative effects on the watershed environment. Development pressures are expected to increase as expansion of the Urban Growth Boundary makes more land available for development. Currently, each jurisdiction addresses the impacts of development as they occur within its own boundary. However, the Johnson Creek Watershed extends across several jurisdictional boundaries, and environmental impacts are not confined to the jurisdiction of origin. The Johnson Creek Watershed Council was formed in 1992 to monitor and manage impacts across boundaries, on a watershed-wide basis. To operate effectively, the Council needs a way to establish two-way communication among all stakeholders in the watershed. A Land Use Network would help fill that need by providing a focal point for gathering and distributing land-use information. It would organize the information-gathering process, develop educational materials for public distribution, and organize the distribution channels. To develop the Land Use Network plan, the WNG researched the history of the watershed and its regulatory environment, theories of communication, and information on citizen participation networks. The WNG also conducted interviews and focus groups with current stakeholders to help clarify issues and identify communication needs that a Land Use Network might address. Finally, the WNG outlines a proposal for the Land Use Network. The proposal begins with a Network Structure diagram that illustrates the main elements of the Network Proposal. The elements of the Network Structure show how the Network can function effectively in the land use planning process. The issues, recommendations and actions provide methods for implementation for each element of the Network Structure. Finally, a summary of recommended actions shows the short-term, ongoing, and long-term implementation actions for the Network. This project was conducted under the supervision of Deborah Howe and Connie Ozawa. Close

• 18. [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

• 19. [Article] Continuous Data Integration for Land Use and Transportation Planning and Modeling

  There is an urgent need for improved models that address the interdependencies between land use and transportation, and considerable new work is underway to develop such models in Oregon and elsewhere. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Continuous Data Integration for Land Use and Transportation Planning and Modeling Author: Wang, Liming, Kim, Kihong Year: 2014 There is an urgent need for improved models that address the interdependencies between land use and transportation, and considerable new work is underway to develop such models in Oregon and elsewhere. These models and planning practices to integrate land use into the process, however, require the integration of massive amounts of land use data that is messy and incomplete. There have been considerable advances in the treatment of such data problems in other domains, drawing on data mining and machine-learning techniques to address issues in various domains. To date, however, little systematic effort has applied these technological advances to the problem domain of land use and transportation data. Experience suggests that as much as 70% of the total effort in developing integrated land use and transportation models is directly or indirectly associated with data development, integration and cleaning, yet there is remarkably little systematic research focused on the development of reusable methods and tools to support this problem domain. In coordination with an ongoing project of similar theme funded by University of California Transportation Center (UCTC), this project will focus on bringing interdisciplinary methods to develop land use datasets for integrated land use and transportation planning and modeling, with special attention on preserving temporal dimension of the data and monitoring data quality through indicators. Utilizing statistics and machine-learning techniques, we will develop reusable tools that will create a harmonized and coherent land use database from various public and private sources. These tools will be made available to the public and can be used by cities, counties, metropolitan planning agencies, state agencies, universities or anyone else needing to develop a usable database for use in integrated planning and modeling. All of the resulting data, with the exception of proprietary or confidential input data where there is no viable alternative, would be public and reusable for planning and research. Title: Continuous Data Integration for Land Use and Transportation Planning and Modeling Author: Wang, Liming, Kim, Kihong Year: 2014 There is an urgent need for improved models that address the interdependencies between land use and transportation, and considerable new work is underway to develop such models in Oregon and elsewhere. These models and planning practices to integrate land use into the process, however, require the integration of massive amounts of land use data that is messy and incomplete. There have been considerable advances in the treatment of such data problems in other domains, drawing on data mining and machine-learning techniques to address issues in various domains. To date, however, little systematic effort has applied these technological advances to the problem domain of land use and transportation data. Experience suggests that as much as 70% of the total effort in developing integrated land use and transportation models is directly or indirectly associated with data development, integration and cleaning, yet there is remarkably little systematic research focused on the development of reusable methods and tools to support this problem domain. In coordination with an ongoing project of similar theme funded by University of California Transportation Center (UCTC), this project will focus on bringing interdisciplinary methods to develop land use datasets for integrated land use and transportation planning and modeling, with special attention on preserving temporal dimension of the data and monitoring data quality through indicators. Utilizing statistics and machine-learning techniques, we will develop reusable tools that will create a harmonized and coherent land use database from various public and private sources. These tools will be made available to the public and can be used by cities, counties, metropolitan planning agencies, state agencies, universities or anyone else needing to develop a usable database for use in integrated planning and modeling. All of the resulting data, with the exception of proprietary or confidential input data where there is no viable alternative, would be public and reusable for planning and research. Close

• 20. [Article] Assessment and Refinement of Real-Time Travel Time Algorithms for Use in Practice

  The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has set a high priority on the use of existing dynamic message signs (DMS) to provide travel time estimates to the public. The Oregon Department of Transportation ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Assessment and Refinement of Real-Time Travel Time Algorithms for Use in Practice Author: Tufte, Kristin A., Kothuri, Sirisha Murthy Year: 2008 The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has set a high priority on the use of existing dynamic message signs (DMS) to provide travel time estimates to the public. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) currently has three DMS in the Portland metropolitan area configured to display travel time information. In the near future, ODOT would like to make travel time estimates available on additional DMS, over the Internet on tripcheck.com and via 511. Travel time estimates are valuable to the traveling public; however, the estimates must be accurate to be useful. The FHWA indicates that 90% accuracy is ideal and suggests a minimum accuracy of 80%. Thus, in order to display travel time estimates, it is essential to understand the accuracy of the estimates. The purpose of this study is to extend prior travel time research conducted at Portland State University with additional data collection and analysis to provide statistical confidence in travel time estimates and to determine the best travel time estimation approach for ODOT. Ground truth data in the form of probe vehicle runs will be collected and travel time estimates will be evaluated using that data. Several travel time estimation algorithms will be evaluated and modifications to existing algorithms will be proposed. In addition, this project will provide analysis to help understand the reliability and performance of the algorithms under various conditions (free-flow, congestion, incidents). A methodology will be developed for determining if travel time estimates fall within an acceptable accuracy limits. At the conclusion of the project, it is desired that a methodology can be recommended that will provide accurate measures of travel time for use with DMS, the Internet and 511 applications. Title: Assessment and Refinement of Real-Time Travel Time Algorithms for Use in Practice Author: Tufte, Kristin A., Kothuri, Sirisha Murthy Year: 2008 The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has set a high priority on the use of existing dynamic message signs (DMS) to provide travel time estimates to the public. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) currently has three DMS in the Portland metropolitan area configured to display travel time information. In the near future, ODOT would like to make travel time estimates available on additional DMS, over the Internet on tripcheck.com and via 511. Travel time estimates are valuable to the traveling public; however, the estimates must be accurate to be useful. The FHWA indicates that 90% accuracy is ideal and suggests a minimum accuracy of 80%. Thus, in order to display travel time estimates, it is essential to understand the accuracy of the estimates. The purpose of this study is to extend prior travel time research conducted at Portland State University with additional data collection and analysis to provide statistical confidence in travel time estimates and to determine the best travel time estimation approach for ODOT. Ground truth data in the form of probe vehicle runs will be collected and travel time estimates will be evaluated using that data. Several travel time estimation algorithms will be evaluated and modifications to existing algorithms will be proposed. In addition, this project will provide analysis to help understand the reliability and performance of the algorithms under various conditions (free-flow, congestion, incidents). A methodology will be developed for determining if travel time estimates fall within an acceptable accuracy limits. At the conclusion of the project, it is desired that a methodology can be recommended that will provide accurate measures of travel time for use with DMS, the Internet and 511 applications. Close

• 21. [Article] Diurnal and Seasonal Variations of NO, NO2 and PM2.5 Mass as a Function of Traffic Volumes Alongside an Urban Arterial

  Urban arterial corridors are landscapes that give rise to short and long-term exposures to transportation-related pollution. With high traffic volumes and a wide mix of road users, urban arterial environments ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Diurnal and Seasonal Variations of NO, NO2 and PM2.5 Mass as a Function of Traffic Volumes Alongside an Urban Arterial Author: Kendrick, Christine M., Koonce, Peter, George, Linda A. Year: 2015 Urban arterial corridors are landscapes that give rise to short and long-term exposures to transportation-related pollution. With high traffic volumes and a wide mix of road users, urban arterial environments are important targets for improved exposure assessment to traffic-related pollution. A common method to estimate exposure is to use traffic volumes as a proxy. The study presented here analyzes a unique yearlong dataset of simultaneous roadside air quality and traffic observations for a U.S. arterial to assess the reliability of using traffic volumes as a proxy for traffic-related exposure. Results show how the relationships of traffic volumes with NO and NO2 vary not only by time of day and season but also by time aggregation. At short-term aggregations (15 minutes) nitrogen oxides were found to have a significant linear relationship with traffic volumes during morning hours for all seasons although variability was still high (r2= 0.1 - 0.45 NO, r2=0.14 - 0.27 NO2), and little to no relationship during evening periods (r222). Comparisons with coarse annual results validate the use of traffic volumes to estimate annual exposure concentrations for morning periods (r2= 0.89 NO, r2=0.87 NO2) and evening NO2 (r2=0.46). Traffic volumes are a weak or poor predictor for annual evening NO (r2= -0.09) and short-term 15 minute aggregations. Seasonal and diurnal characterizations show that roadside PM2.5 (mass) measurements do not have a relationship with local traffic volumes, leading us to conclude that PM2.5 mass is more tied to regional sources and meteorological conditions. As epidemiology and personal exposure assessment research aims to study health impacts and pollutant levels encountered by pedestrians, bicyclists, those waiting for transit, and other road users, these results show when traffic volumes alone can be a reliable proxy for exposure and when this approach is not warranted. Title: Diurnal and Seasonal Variations of NO, NO2 and PM2.5 Mass as a Function of Traffic Volumes Alongside an Urban Arterial Author: Kendrick, Christine M., Koonce, Peter, George, Linda A. Year: 2015 Urban arterial corridors are landscapes that give rise to short and long-term exposures to transportation-related pollution. With high traffic volumes and a wide mix of road users, urban arterial environments are important targets for improved exposure assessment to traffic-related pollution. A common method to estimate exposure is to use traffic volumes as a proxy. The study presented here analyzes a unique yearlong dataset of simultaneous roadside air quality and traffic observations for a U.S. arterial to assess the reliability of using traffic volumes as a proxy for traffic-related exposure. Results show how the relationships of traffic volumes with NO and NO2 vary not only by time of day and season but also by time aggregation. At short-term aggregations (15 minutes) nitrogen oxides were found to have a significant linear relationship with traffic volumes during morning hours for all seasons although variability was still high (r2= 0.1 - 0.45 NO, r2=0.14 - 0.27 NO2), and little to no relationship during evening periods (r222). Comparisons with coarse annual results validate the use of traffic volumes to estimate annual exposure concentrations for morning periods (r2= 0.89 NO, r2=0.87 NO2) and evening NO2 (r2=0.46). Traffic volumes are a weak or poor predictor for annual evening NO (r2= -0.09) and short-term 15 minute aggregations. Seasonal and diurnal characterizations show that roadside PM2.5 (mass) measurements do not have a relationship with local traffic volumes, leading us to conclude that PM2.5 mass is more tied to regional sources and meteorological conditions. As epidemiology and personal exposure assessment research aims to study health impacts and pollutant levels encountered by pedestrians, bicyclists, those waiting for transit, and other road users, these results show when traffic volumes alone can be a reliable proxy for exposure and when this approach is not warranted. Close

• 22. [Article] Tri-Met's Experience With Automatic Passenger Counter and Automatic Vehicle Location Systems

  The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (Tri-Met) is one of about 30 metropolitan transit agencies that have deployed both automatic vehicle location (AVL) and automatic passenger ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Tri-Met's Experience With Automatic Passenger Counter and Automatic Vehicle Location Systems Author: Strathman, James G. Year: 2002 The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (Tri-Met) is one of about 30 metropolitan transit agencies that have deployed both automatic vehicle location (AVL) and automatic passenger counter (APC) systems (Casey, 1999). These technologies are important components of the agency’s new automated bus dispatching system (BDS). The AVL and APC systems at Tri-Met recover comprehensive operations and passenger activity data at the bus stop level that is archived for later analysis. The agency has gained a reputation as an industry leader in the areas of data archiving and the application of archived data to performance monitoring and analysis. Prior to the implementation of AVL and APC technology, Tri-Met, like others in the transit industry, relied on costly manual data recovery. During lean budget years in the early 1980s, the agency began using stand-alone APCs instead of ride checkers, and recovered very little operating data beyond what was required for Federal Transit Administration reporting. With its AVL and APC systems, Tri-Met is now automatically collecting and archiving over 500,000 stop and event data records per day. Offline analysis of this data supports a wide array of agency activities. The transformation from scarce to abundant data has contributed to a variety of functional changes that have both enhanced service quality and improved efficiency. This report examines factors related to the development of Tri-Met’s BDS that have contributed to its success in data archiving and analysis. The organization of the report includes a description of the BDS, a review of the types of analyses that have been supported by archived data, a discussion of factors that influenced decisions made on the design of the system, reflections on unrealized expectations and missed opportunities, and concluding observations. Title: Tri-Met's Experience With Automatic Passenger Counter and Automatic Vehicle Location Systems Author: Strathman, James G. Year: 2002 The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (Tri-Met) is one of about 30 metropolitan transit agencies that have deployed both automatic vehicle location (AVL) and automatic passenger counter (APC) systems (Casey, 1999). These technologies are important components of the agency’s new automated bus dispatching system (BDS). The AVL and APC systems at Tri-Met recover comprehensive operations and passenger activity data at the bus stop level that is archived for later analysis. The agency has gained a reputation as an industry leader in the areas of data archiving and the application of archived data to performance monitoring and analysis. Prior to the implementation of AVL and APC technology, Tri-Met, like others in the transit industry, relied on costly manual data recovery. During lean budget years in the early 1980s, the agency began using stand-alone APCs instead of ride checkers, and recovered very little operating data beyond what was required for Federal Transit Administration reporting. With its AVL and APC systems, Tri-Met is now automatically collecting and archiving over 500,000 stop and event data records per day. Offline analysis of this data supports a wide array of agency activities. The transformation from scarce to abundant data has contributed to a variety of functional changes that have both enhanced service quality and improved efficiency. This report examines factors related to the development of Tri-Met’s BDS that have contributed to its success in data archiving and analysis. The organization of the report includes a description of the BDS, a review of the types of analyses that have been supported by archived data, a discussion of factors that influenced decisions made on the design of the system, reflections on unrealized expectations and missed opportunities, and concluding observations. Close

• 23. [Article] Overlooked Destinations: Suburban Nodes, Centers, and Trips to Strips

  This study looks at travel to typical suburban commercial strips by residents living within one-third of a mile of the strip by focusing on six sites – four in the Portland, OR., metro area and two in ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Overlooked Destinations: Suburban Nodes, Centers, and Trips to Strips Author: Larco, Nico, Parker, Robert Year: 2013 This study looks at travel to typical suburban commercial strips by residents living within one-third of a mile of the strip by focusing on six sites – four in the Portland, OR., metro area and two in the Atlanta, GA., metro area. The study mapped pedsheds around the commercial strips in these sites and found significant increases in network extents when formal and informal pedestrian paths were added to street centerline data. Informal networks such as goat paths through vacant land and cuts in fences were widespread and suggest a pent-up demand for route directness. Travel surveys of residents found significant amounts of walking and biking in these areas – just over one-third of all trips to the commercial strip – with travel distance and walking along or across arterials affecting mode choice. This suggests network extent and connectivity to be a critical factor in increasing walking and biking in these suburban areas. Resident motivations behind mode choice included convenience (which mode is easiest); cost (active travel is less expensive than auto travel); and culture (a pattern of driving or active travel, regardless of ease or cost). There was little variation across sites, suggesting that this level of active travel and the motivations behind it are fairly consistent, with a few variations, across income and geography. Title: Overlooked Destinations: Suburban Nodes, Centers, and Trips to Strips Author: Larco, Nico, Parker, Robert Year: 2013 This study looks at travel to typical suburban commercial strips by residents living within one-third of a mile of the strip by focusing on six sites – four in the Portland, OR., metro area and two in the Atlanta, GA., metro area. The study mapped pedsheds around the commercial strips in these sites and found significant increases in network extents when formal and informal pedestrian paths were added to street centerline data. Informal networks such as goat paths through vacant land and cuts in fences were widespread and suggest a pent-up demand for route directness. Travel surveys of residents found significant amounts of walking and biking in these areas – just over one-third of all trips to the commercial strip – with travel distance and walking along or across arterials affecting mode choice. This suggests network extent and connectivity to be a critical factor in increasing walking and biking in these suburban areas. Resident motivations behind mode choice included convenience (which mode is easiest); cost (active travel is less expensive than auto travel); and culture (a pattern of driving or active travel, regardless of ease or cost). There was little variation across sites, suggesting that this level of active travel and the motivations behind it are fairly consistent, with a few variations, across income and geography. Close

• 24. [Article] Traditional and Nontraditional Data as Indicators of Economic Activity in Rural Communities

  The objective of this study was twofold: (1) to identify nontraditional sources of data that can be used to monitor economic activity in rural areas, and (2) to test the relationship between such data ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Traditional and Nontraditional Data as Indicators of Economic Activity in Rural Communities Author: McHugh, Richard, Cooper, Ronald, Martin, Sheila A., Otto, Daniel, Johnson, Stanley R. Year: 1990 The objective of this study was twofold: (1) to identify nontraditional sources of data that can be used to monitor economic activity in rural areas, and (2) to test the relationship between such data and trends in traditional measures, such as income and employment. The need for alternative sources of data arises primarily out of the inconsistent quality and availability of traditional economic data at the subs tate level. New sources of data can help reduce this metro-rural data gap and provide a fuller picture of the diverse experience and structure of subs tate economies. Two sources of nontraditional data were explored: state government administrative records, and data from local private and quasi-private companies, such as utilities and banks. In particular, banking data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, phone connection data from Northwest Bell (U.S. West), and food stamp program data were used. The data series consisted of county-level data for Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. These data were statistically compared to employment growth levels in each county. Banking data (reflecting bank Willingness and ability to lend), phone data (reflecting new household and business formations), and food stamp participation correlated significantly (though weakly) with growth. The weak correlations are expected because the nontraditional data series are generally more volatile, or erratic, than employment data series. Composite indexes were constructed from the data and correlated with the employment data series. The results showed improved correlations and suggest that such indexes may be useful as leading indicators of economic activity. Overall, the results show that there is considerable potential in the development of economic indicators from nontraditional data. Title: Traditional and Nontraditional Data as Indicators of Economic Activity in Rural Communities Author: McHugh, Richard, Cooper, Ronald, Martin, Sheila A., Otto, Daniel, Johnson, Stanley R. Year: 1990 The objective of this study was twofold: (1) to identify nontraditional sources of data that can be used to monitor economic activity in rural areas, and (2) to test the relationship between such data and trends in traditional measures, such as income and employment. The need for alternative sources of data arises primarily out of the inconsistent quality and availability of traditional economic data at the subs tate level. New sources of data can help reduce this metro-rural data gap and provide a fuller picture of the diverse experience and structure of subs tate economies. Two sources of nontraditional data were explored: state government administrative records, and data from local private and quasi-private companies, such as utilities and banks. In particular, banking data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, phone connection data from Northwest Bell (U.S. West), and food stamp program data were used. The data series consisted of county-level data for Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. These data were statistically compared to employment growth levels in each county. Banking data (reflecting bank Willingness and ability to lend), phone data (reflecting new household and business formations), and food stamp participation correlated significantly (though weakly) with growth. The weak correlations are expected because the nontraditional data series are generally more volatile, or erratic, than employment data series. Composite indexes were constructed from the data and correlated with the employment data series. The results showed improved correlations and suggest that such indexes may be useful as leading indicators of economic activity. Overall, the results show that there is considerable potential in the development of economic indicators from nontraditional data. Close

• 25. [Article] Output-Based Performance Measures for the North Carolina Office of Waste Reduction

  Research Triangle Institute (RTI) conducted this study to provide the foundation for implementing a results-based performance measurement system. RTI designed a system for NC OWR and similar state waste ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Output-Based Performance Measures for the North Carolina Office of Waste Reduction Author: Martin, Sheila A., Youngberg, James R., Bethke, Albert D. Year: 1996 Research Triangle Institute (RTI) conducted this study to provide the foundation for implementing a results-based performance measurement system. RTI designed a system for NC OWR and similar state waste reduction outreach programs in EPA’s Region 4 that will collect, analyze, report, and maintain the output-based performance measures needed to manage the system, to monitor program scope and effectiveness, and to report to managers and key stakeholders on the program’s success in accomplishing its 0bjectives. Key questions we have addressed in this study include the following: What is the current best practice for collecting and analyzing information about the effectiveness of waste reduction and pollution prevention technology deployment? Who are the key users of the evaluation system? What are their information needs? What are the key sources of information for the evaluation system? What information do they provide? Given the sources and uses of data, what are the key variables for the system? Which variables already exist, and which need to be defined and constructed? At what levels are they measured and over what time frames? What methods should be employed to convert raw data into usable information, including performance metrics? How will database users access the system? This report summarizes the study and describes the database system that we developed to assist the NC OWR and other waste reduction offices in Region 4 in tracking and evaluating their efforts. Title: Output-Based Performance Measures for the North Carolina Office of Waste Reduction Author: Martin, Sheila A., Youngberg, James R., Bethke, Albert D. Year: 1996 Research Triangle Institute (RTI) conducted this study to provide the foundation for implementing a results-based performance measurement system. RTI designed a system for NC OWR and similar state waste reduction outreach programs in EPA’s Region 4 that will collect, analyze, report, and maintain the output-based performance measures needed to manage the system, to monitor program scope and effectiveness, and to report to managers and key stakeholders on the program’s success in accomplishing its 0bjectives. Key questions we have addressed in this study include the following: What is the current best practice for collecting and analyzing information about the effectiveness of waste reduction and pollution prevention technology deployment? Who are the key users of the evaluation system? What are their information needs? What are the key sources of information for the evaluation system? What information do they provide? Given the sources and uses of data, what are the key variables for the system? Which variables already exist, and which need to be defined and constructed? At what levels are they measured and over what time frames? What methods should be employed to convert raw data into usable information, including performance metrics? How will database users access the system? This report summarizes the study and describes the database system that we developed to assist the NC OWR and other waste reduction offices in Region 4 in tracking and evaluating their efforts. Close

• 26. [Article] First Annual 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: First Annual Portland Metropolitan Region Transportation System Performance Report Author: Gregor, Brian, Endo, Sonoko, Monsere, Christopher Michael, Dill, Jennifer, Baglien, Jacob Year: 2004 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, the Portland State University Center for Transportation Studies 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 this First Annual 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 over the next year, and in years to come. We hope that you will help us. Title: First Annual Portland Metropolitan Region Transportation System Performance Report Author: Gregor, Brian, Endo, Sonoko, Monsere, Christopher Michael, Dill, Jennifer, Baglien, Jacob Year: 2004 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, the Portland State University Center for Transportation Studies 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 this First Annual 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 over the next year, and in years to come. We hope that you will help us. Close

• 27. [Article] 1988 Oregon Public Transportation Study

  Oregon continues to face challenges in public transportation. The lack of a consistent and comprehensive framework of state policy is making local efforts to meet public transportation demands harder and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: 1988 Oregon Public Transportation Study Author: Edner, Sheldon, Dueker, Kenneth, Dean, Janice Year: 1989 Oregon continues to face challenges in public transportation. The lack of a consistent and comprehensive framework of state policy is making local efforts to meet public transportation demands harder and fails to exploit economic and transportation opportunities for improving the vitality of the state. The absence of continuous and stable state financial assistance has weakened the state/local partnership in providing public transportation services and kept mobility for many Oregonians at a minimal level. Finally, as the federal role in funding transportation declines the need for aggressive state leadership increases. The following recommendations for Legislative and Executive action are offered as incremental steps towards meeting Oregon's public transportation challenge: Authorize additional funding for special needs transportation by increasing the revenues to the Special Transportation Fund. Authorize and fund an annual, stable capital assistance program for public transportation providers equivalent to the funding level of the past biennium. Provide greater flexibility of local public transportation option funding through authorization of new local revenue sources. Authorize and fund an expanded administrative role for the ODOT Public Transit Division to provide technical assistance, establish standards and monitor public transportation provider performance, administer state capital assistance to providers, and promote cooperation and coordination between transportation providers. Adopt as a statewide policy goal, cooperation among modal transportation agencies to achieve efficient and coordinated use of scarce resources. Adopt as a statewide policy goal, cooperation among public transportation programs and economic development programs in order to make Oregon an attractive and profitable location for industry. Adopt as a statewide policy goal, the coordination of services and resources among agencies that support public transportation and human service transportation. Create incentives for local land use guidelines that promote integration of transportation planning into existing and future land use policies. Title: 1988 Oregon Public Transportation Study Author: Edner, Sheldon, Dueker, Kenneth, Dean, Janice Year: 1989 Oregon continues to face challenges in public transportation. The lack of a consistent and comprehensive framework of state policy is making local efforts to meet public transportation demands harder and fails to exploit economic and transportation opportunities for improving the vitality of the state. The absence of continuous and stable state financial assistance has weakened the state/local partnership in providing public transportation services and kept mobility for many Oregonians at a minimal level. Finally, as the federal role in funding transportation declines the need for aggressive state leadership increases. The following recommendations for Legislative and Executive action are offered as incremental steps towards meeting Oregon's public transportation challenge: Authorize additional funding for special needs transportation by increasing the revenues to the Special Transportation Fund. Authorize and fund an annual, stable capital assistance program for public transportation providers equivalent to the funding level of the past biennium. Provide greater flexibility of local public transportation option funding through authorization of new local revenue sources. Authorize and fund an expanded administrative role for the ODOT Public Transit Division to provide technical assistance, establish standards and monitor public transportation provider performance, administer state capital assistance to providers, and promote cooperation and coordination between transportation providers. Adopt as a statewide policy goal, cooperation among modal transportation agencies to achieve efficient and coordinated use of scarce resources. Adopt as a statewide policy goal, cooperation among public transportation programs and economic development programs in order to make Oregon an attractive and profitable location for industry. Adopt as a statewide policy goal, the coordination of services and resources among agencies that support public transportation and human service transportation. Create incentives for local land use guidelines that promote integration of transportation planning into existing and future land use policies. Close

• 28. [Article] Accuracy of Bicycle Counting with Pneumatic Tubes in Oregon

  Interest in counting bicycles and establishing nonmotorized counting programs is increasing, but jurisdictions still struggle with how to integrate bicycle counting into standard practice. In this paper, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Accuracy of Bicycle Counting with Pneumatic Tubes in Oregon Author: Nordback, Krista, Kothuri, Sirisha Murthy, Phillips, Taylor, Gorecki, Carson, Figliozzi, Miguel Year: 2016 Interest in counting bicycles and establishing nonmotorized counting programs is increasing, but jurisdictions still struggle with how to integrate bicycle counting into standard practice. In this paper, the authors share findings and recommendations for how to minimize error for bicycle counting from tests conducted in conjunction with the Oregon Department of Transportation. This research studied three types of off-the-shelf pneumatic tube counters for counting bicycles, including equipment from five manufacturers: two bicycle-specific counters, three varieties of motor vehicle classification counters, and one volume-only motor vehicle counter. Tests were conducted both in a controlled environment and in on-road mixed traffic to better identify problems in accuracy. Equipment studied generally undercounted cyclists, especially those in groups. Results from the controlled test with standard bicycles showed that within 10 ft of the counter, the undercounting error ranged from 0% to 212%. In the mixed-traffic test, all the equipment tested tended to undercount with mean percent error ranging from 210% to 273%. Each counter type has pros and cons, but in general, counting accuracy decreased with increases in bicycle and motor vehicle traffic and longer tube lengths. Higher accuracy can be achieved by careful selection of equipment type, classification scheme, and tube configuration. Bicycle speeds given by off-the-shelf pneumatic counting equipment were accurate. Title: Accuracy of Bicycle Counting with Pneumatic Tubes in Oregon Author: Nordback, Krista, Kothuri, Sirisha Murthy, Phillips, Taylor, Gorecki, Carson, Figliozzi, Miguel Year: 2016 Interest in counting bicycles and establishing nonmotorized counting programs is increasing, but jurisdictions still struggle with how to integrate bicycle counting into standard practice. In this paper, the authors share findings and recommendations for how to minimize error for bicycle counting from tests conducted in conjunction with the Oregon Department of Transportation. This research studied three types of off-the-shelf pneumatic tube counters for counting bicycles, including equipment from five manufacturers: two bicycle-specific counters, three varieties of motor vehicle classification counters, and one volume-only motor vehicle counter. Tests were conducted both in a controlled environment and in on-road mixed traffic to better identify problems in accuracy. Equipment studied generally undercounted cyclists, especially those in groups. Results from the controlled test with standard bicycles showed that within 10 ft of the counter, the undercounting error ranged from 0% to 212%. In the mixed-traffic test, all the equipment tested tended to undercount with mean percent error ranging from 210% to 273%. Each counter type has pros and cons, but in general, counting accuracy decreased with increases in bicycle and motor vehicle traffic and longer tube lengths. Higher accuracy can be achieved by careful selection of equipment type, classification scheme, and tube configuration. Bicycle speeds given by off-the-shelf pneumatic counting equipment were accurate. Close

• 29. [Article] Lighten Everyone's Load: LIDAR Applications to Support Engineers, Planners, Scientists and More

  Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology is reshaping the civil engineering profession and offers many unique advantages. National efforts such as the 3D Elevation Plan (3DEP) are helping increase ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Lighten Everyone's Load: LIDAR Applications to Support Engineers, Planners, Scientists and More Author: Olsen, Michael J. Year: 2015 Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology is reshaping the civil engineering profession and offers many unique advantages. National efforts such as the 3D Elevation Plan (3DEP) are helping increase the availability of LIDAR data. LIDAR is one of the crucial technologies that is transitioning the world of civil and construction engineering from 2D paper-based design to 3D digital design. The high spatial resolution and accuracy capabilities of LIDAR have led to increased efficiencies, improved analyses, and more informed decision making. A further advantage of this dataset is that multiple people can use the same dataset for a variety of purposes across multiple disciplines. The visual nature of the dataset also is more intuitive than traditional data acquisition and analysis techniques. This presentation will provide a brief background of LIDAR , its capabilities, limitations and platforms, and discuss its current and future role in civil engineering. Examples of a wide range of transportation, geotechnical, coastal, and structural engineering, science, and planning applications will be presented including development of mobile LIDAR guidelines for transportation applications, seacliff erosion in San Diego, CA, landslides and slope stability studies in Oregon, Alaska, and New Zealand, earthquake and tsunami damages in American Samoa, Chile, and Japan, cultural heritage in Florence, Italy, and in-situ change detection for geomorphological studies and infrastructure monitoring. Benefits and challenges of LIDAR for these applications will be highlighted. E-learning resources created as part of the mobile LIDAR guidelines for the website learnmobilelidar.com will also be shown. Title: Lighten Everyone's Load: LIDAR Applications to Support Engineers, Planners, Scientists and More Author: Olsen, Michael J. Year: 2015 Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology is reshaping the civil engineering profession and offers many unique advantages. National efforts such as the 3D Elevation Plan (3DEP) are helping increase the availability of LIDAR data. LIDAR is one of the crucial technologies that is transitioning the world of civil and construction engineering from 2D paper-based design to 3D digital design. The high spatial resolution and accuracy capabilities of LIDAR have led to increased efficiencies, improved analyses, and more informed decision making. A further advantage of this dataset is that multiple people can use the same dataset for a variety of purposes across multiple disciplines. The visual nature of the dataset also is more intuitive than traditional data acquisition and analysis techniques. This presentation will provide a brief background of LIDAR , its capabilities, limitations and platforms, and discuss its current and future role in civil engineering. Examples of a wide range of transportation, geotechnical, coastal, and structural engineering, science, and planning applications will be presented including development of mobile LIDAR guidelines for transportation applications, seacliff erosion in San Diego, CA, landslides and slope stability studies in Oregon, Alaska, and New Zealand, earthquake and tsunami damages in American Samoa, Chile, and Japan, cultural heritage in Florence, Italy, and in-situ change detection for geomorphological studies and infrastructure monitoring. Benefits and challenges of LIDAR for these applications will be highlighted. E-learning resources created as part of the mobile LIDAR guidelines for the website learnmobilelidar.com will also be shown. Close

• 30. [Article] Modeling the Impact of Traffic Conditions on the Variability of Mid-Block Roadside PM2.5 on an Urban Arterial

  Modeling Impact of Traffic Conditions on Variability of Midblock Roadside Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations on an Urban Arterial: This paper presents an innovative modeling of fine particulate matter ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Modeling the Impact of Traffic Conditions on the Variability of Mid-Block Roadside PM2.5 on an Urban Arterial Author: Moore, Adam Year: 2014 Modeling Impact of Traffic Conditions on Variability of Midblock Roadside Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations on an Urban Arterial: This paper presents an innovative modeling of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations as a function of very high resolution meteorological and traffic data. Peak period measurements were taken at a mid-block roadside location on an urban arterial commuter roadway. To capture the impact of dynamic traffic conditions, data were analyzed at 10-second intervals, with substantially higher resolution than typical roadside air quality study designs. Particular attention was paid to changes in traffic conditions, including fleet mix, queuing and vehicle platooning over the course of the study period, and the effect of these changes on PM2.5. Significant correlations were observed between vehicle platoons and increases in PM2.5 concentrations. Traffic state analysis was employed to determine median PM2.5 levels before and after the onset of congestion. A multivariate regression model was estimated to determine significant PM2.5 predictors while controlling for autocorrelation. Significance was found not only in the simultaneous traffic variables but also in lagged traffic variables; additionally, the effects of vehicle types and wind direction were quantified. Modeling results indicate that traffic conditions and vehicle type do have a significant impact on roadside PM2.5 concentrations. For instance, the addition of one heavy vehicle was shown to increase PM2.5 concentrations by 2.45% when wind blew across the roadway before reaching the monitoring location. This study serves as a demonstration of the abilities of very high resolution data to identify the effects of relatively minute changes in traffic conditions on air pollutant concentrations. Title: Modeling the Impact of Traffic Conditions on the Variability of Mid-Block Roadside PM2.5 on an Urban Arterial Author: Moore, Adam Year: 2014 Modeling Impact of Traffic Conditions on Variability of Midblock Roadside Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations on an Urban Arterial: This paper presents an innovative modeling of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations as a function of very high resolution meteorological and traffic data. Peak period measurements were taken at a mid-block roadside location on an urban arterial commuter roadway. To capture the impact of dynamic traffic conditions, data were analyzed at 10-second intervals, with substantially higher resolution than typical roadside air quality study designs. Particular attention was paid to changes in traffic conditions, including fleet mix, queuing and vehicle platooning over the course of the study period, and the effect of these changes on PM2.5. Significant correlations were observed between vehicle platoons and increases in PM2.5 concentrations. Traffic state analysis was employed to determine median PM2.5 levels before and after the onset of congestion. A multivariate regression model was estimated to determine significant PM2.5 predictors while controlling for autocorrelation. Significance was found not only in the simultaneous traffic variables but also in lagged traffic variables; additionally, the effects of vehicle types and wind direction were quantified. Modeling results indicate that traffic conditions and vehicle type do have a significant impact on roadside PM2.5 concentrations. For instance, the addition of one heavy vehicle was shown to increase PM2.5 concentrations by 2.45% when wind blew across the roadway before reaching the monitoring location. This study serves as a demonstration of the abilities of very high resolution data to identify the effects of relatively minute changes in traffic conditions on air pollutant concentrations. Close

• 31. [Article] Webinar: Developing Practical Dynamic Evaluation Methods for Transportation Structures

  Deteriorating transportation infrastructure is constantly in the news. Government agencies at all levels are pursuing methods to monitor structural health, so that they can prioritize repairs. In Oregon, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Webinar: Developing Practical Dynamic Evaluation Methods for Transportation Structures Author: Riley, Charles Year: 2017 Deteriorating transportation infrastructure is constantly in the news. Government agencies at all levels are pursuing methods to monitor structural health, so that they can prioritize repairs. In Oregon, the Cascadia Subduction Zone megathrust earthquake looms as a significant natural hazard for which our transportation network is ill-prepared. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) estimates that it will take around $2.6 billion over seven years to repair or replace many of the existing bridges in the state’s network to maintain lifeline routes after a Cascadia event. Funding for the scenarios envisioned by ODOT is not forthcoming, and the project described in this webinar is aimed at creating a tool to support visual inspection of bridges for determining the extent of damage. The work presented in this webinar has evolved out of NITC-funded research and into a feasibility study of relatively simple but effective field methods for transportation structure dynamic evaluation. The primary driver for the methods under investigation is the advent of robust mobile apps that can process data from on-board accelerometers in real time. The goal of this work is to identify an easily deployed system to evaluate the dynamic response of a structure (commonly referred to as modal testing). Assuming such a system can be developed and deployed to record baseline data prior to the Cascadia event, the same system could be used after the event, or any significant event for that matter, to assist in determining if a structure has sustained damage that would limit its safe return to service. This webinar will describe the development and use of various tools for conducting modal testing in the field. After viewing the webinar, attendees should be able to: Describe the scale of the everyday and future hazards facing Oregon bridges Explain the relationship of structural parameters to dynamic response Describe a framework for conducting dynamic evaluation of structures to determine dominant modal frequencies Summarize the results of preliminary field studies using ambient traffic and forced vibration in conjunction with mobile-device based data acquisition Use mobile devices and apps to acquire acceleration data Title: Webinar: Developing Practical Dynamic Evaluation Methods for Transportation Structures Author: Riley, Charles Year: 2017 Deteriorating transportation infrastructure is constantly in the news. Government agencies at all levels are pursuing methods to monitor structural health, so that they can prioritize repairs. In Oregon, the Cascadia Subduction Zone megathrust earthquake looms as a significant natural hazard for which our transportation network is ill-prepared. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) estimates that it will take around $2.6 billion over seven years to repair or replace many of the existing bridges in the state’s network to maintain lifeline routes after a Cascadia event. Funding for the scenarios envisioned by ODOT is not forthcoming, and the project described in this webinar is aimed at creating a tool to support visual inspection of bridges for determining the extent of damage. The work presented in this webinar has evolved out of NITC-funded research and into a feasibility study of relatively simple but effective field methods for transportation structure dynamic evaluation. The primary driver for the methods under investigation is the advent of robust mobile apps that can process data from on-board accelerometers in real time. The goal of this work is to identify an easily deployed system to evaluate the dynamic response of a structure (commonly referred to as modal testing). Assuming such a system can be developed and deployed to record baseline data prior to the Cascadia event, the same system could be used after the event, or any significant event for that matter, to assist in determining if a structure has sustained damage that would limit its safe return to service. This webinar will describe the development and use of various tools for conducting modal testing in the field. After viewing the webinar, attendees should be able to: Describe the scale of the everyday and future hazards facing Oregon bridges Explain the relationship of structural parameters to dynamic response Describe a framework for conducting dynamic evaluation of structures to determine dominant modal frequencies Summarize the results of preliminary field studies using ambient traffic and forced vibration in conjunction with mobile-device based data acquisition Use mobile devices and apps to acquire acceleration data Close

• 32. [Article] Webinar: Transport Cost Index: A New Comprehensive Performance Measure for Transportation and Land Use

  Recent federal and state policies are placing increasing emphasis on using comprehensive transportation performance measures to guide transportation decision making processes covering policy areas ranging ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Webinar: Transport Cost Index: A New Comprehensive Performance Measure for Transportation and Land Use Author: Wang, Liming Year: 2015 Recent federal and state policies are placing increasing emphasis on using comprehensive transportation performance measures to guide transportation decision making processes covering policy areas ranging from mobility, safety, economy and livability, to issues of equity and environment. While it is relatively easy to build consensus on mobility measures that center on the transportation system alone, it is much harder for performance measures to incorporate both transportation and land use, loosely defined as accessibility measures, even with continuous efforts to catalog and design such measures. Two projects at PSU sponsored by Oregon DOT and National Institute of Transportation Communities (NITC) aim to to develop and evaluate Transport Cost Index (TCI), a comprehensive performance measure for transportation and land use, in order to fill important gaps in popular accessibility measures: TCI is a composite indicator that is able to present an overall picture of a community’s accessibility, while at the same time is relatively easy to interpret for policy makers and the public; It fills gaps in policy areas represented by popular performance measures of land use and transportation systems, in particular the equity and balance aspects; It is applicable for monitoring historical and projected trends (benchmarking), evaluating and comparing outcomes from what-if scenarios (scenario evaluation), as well as to report the current status. The webinar reviews similar measures, describes the rationale, design and implementation of TCI, and presents results of its applications in Portland and Corvallis, Oregon, as well as preliminary testing results from Salt Lake City, Utah and Tampa Bay, Florida. Title: Webinar: Transport Cost Index: A New Comprehensive Performance Measure for Transportation and Land Use Author: Wang, Liming Year: 2015 Recent federal and state policies are placing increasing emphasis on using comprehensive transportation performance measures to guide transportation decision making processes covering policy areas ranging from mobility, safety, economy and livability, to issues of equity and environment. While it is relatively easy to build consensus on mobility measures that center on the transportation system alone, it is much harder for performance measures to incorporate both transportation and land use, loosely defined as accessibility measures, even with continuous efforts to catalog and design such measures. Two projects at PSU sponsored by Oregon DOT and National Institute of Transportation Communities (NITC) aim to to develop and evaluate Transport Cost Index (TCI), a comprehensive performance measure for transportation and land use, in order to fill important gaps in popular accessibility measures: TCI is a composite indicator that is able to present an overall picture of a community’s accessibility, while at the same time is relatively easy to interpret for policy makers and the public; It fills gaps in policy areas represented by popular performance measures of land use and transportation systems, in particular the equity and balance aspects; It is applicable for monitoring historical and projected trends (benchmarking), evaluating and comparing outcomes from what-if scenarios (scenario evaluation), as well as to report the current status. The webinar reviews similar measures, describes the rationale, design and implementation of TCI, and presents results of its applications in Portland and Corvallis, Oregon, as well as preliminary testing results from Salt Lake City, Utah and Tampa Bay, Florida. Close

• 33. [Article] Configuring the Urban Smart Grid: Transitions, Experimentation, and Governance

  In the face of challenges of energy security, decarbonization, resilience, and the replacement of aging infrastructure systems, federal, state, and local actors are facilitating the development of smart ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Configuring the Urban Smart Grid: Transitions, Experimentation, and Governance Author: Levenda, Anthony Michael Year: 2016 In the face of challenges of energy security, decarbonization, resilience, and the replacement of aging infrastructure systems, federal, state, and local actors are facilitating the development of smart electricity networks to transition towards a more sustainable electricity system. In the United States, development of "smart grids" is being pursued as a national policy mandate and goal, promising that the deployment of smart grid technologies -- referring in general to digital information and communication technologies that sense, monitor, control and manage the electric grid -- will make electricity systems more environmentally sustainable and reliable, and at the same time, provide opportunities for growth and innovation. This dissertation examines and analyzes three interconnected issues relating to these sociotechnical changes in electricity infrastructure: the material and discursive construction of the smart grid, urban smart grid experimentation, and the mobility of smart grid models and knowledge. A conceptual framework is proposed for investigating sociotechnical transitions that accounts for dimensions of power and politics that are commonly overlooked in conventional analysis, and highlights how governance regimes shape and are shaped by sociotechnical change. Utilizing Foucauldian discourse analysis and relational comparative case study methodology, this dissertation analyzes the development of the smart grid as a governmental program highlighting its rationalities, techniques, and imagined subjects. The findings of these analyses suggest that the transition to a smarter grid involves much more than top-down policy mandates; significant urban experimentation is involved, as well as inter-city learning that is shaped by local political economy and broader political rationalities. This dissertation also argues for a synthesis between policy mobilities and sociotechnical transitions theory, highlighting through case studies how urban smart grid experiments are influenced by experiences and knowledge generated from "vanguard" cities. The conclusion of this dissertation is that the creation of the smart grid is far from a purely technical infrastructural intervention, and instead, requires significant changes in the everyday social practices and conduct of energy consumers, while also reconfiguring the city, engaging in a material politics in order to govern energy transitions. Title: Configuring the Urban Smart Grid: Transitions, Experimentation, and Governance Author: Levenda, Anthony Michael Year: 2016 In the face of challenges of energy security, decarbonization, resilience, and the replacement of aging infrastructure systems, federal, state, and local actors are facilitating the development of smart electricity networks to transition towards a more sustainable electricity system. In the United States, development of "smart grids" is being pursued as a national policy mandate and goal, promising that the deployment of smart grid technologies -- referring in general to digital information and communication technologies that sense, monitor, control and manage the electric grid -- will make electricity systems more environmentally sustainable and reliable, and at the same time, provide opportunities for growth and innovation. This dissertation examines and analyzes three interconnected issues relating to these sociotechnical changes in electricity infrastructure: the material and discursive construction of the smart grid, urban smart grid experimentation, and the mobility of smart grid models and knowledge. A conceptual framework is proposed for investigating sociotechnical transitions that accounts for dimensions of power and politics that are commonly overlooked in conventional analysis, and highlights how governance regimes shape and are shaped by sociotechnical change. Utilizing Foucauldian discourse analysis and relational comparative case study methodology, this dissertation analyzes the development of the smart grid as a governmental program highlighting its rationalities, techniques, and imagined subjects. The findings of these analyses suggest that the transition to a smarter grid involves much more than top-down policy mandates; significant urban experimentation is involved, as well as inter-city learning that is shaped by local political economy and broader political rationalities. This dissertation also argues for a synthesis between policy mobilities and sociotechnical transitions theory, highlighting through case studies how urban smart grid experiments are influenced by experiences and knowledge generated from "vanguard" cities. The conclusion of this dissertation is that the creation of the smart grid is far from a purely technical infrastructural intervention, and instead, requires significant changes in the everyday social practices and conduct of energy consumers, while also reconfiguring the city, engaging in a material politics in order to govern energy transitions. Close

• 34. [Article] Evaluation of Transportation Microenvironments Through Assessment of Cyclysts' Exposure to Traffic-Related Particulate Matter

  It is well established that vehicles powered by carbon-based fuels (e.g. gasoline, diesel) have a negative impact on air quality, especially in urban centers. Traditionally, air quality conformity studies ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Evaluation of Transportation Microenvironments Through Assessment of Cyclysts' Exposure to Traffic-Related Particulate Matter Author: George, Linda A., Figliozzi, Miguel A., Monsere, Christopher M., Kendrick, Christine M., Bigazzi, Alexander Y, Moore, Adam Year: 2011 It is well established that vehicles powered by carbon-based fuels (e.g. gasoline, diesel) have a negative impact on air quality, especially in urban centers. Traditionally, air quality conformity studies analyze the macroenvironmental impact of transportation corridors, as they relate to regional air quality management concerns. Urban residents spend a considerable amount of outdoor time in transportation microenvironments as pedestrians, bicycle commuters, people waiting to use public transport, residents and workers situated along roadways, and commuters within vehicles. An emerging area of research has shown that human health impacts within transport microenvironments can be considerable, but have not been well-characterized. As urban public policies increasingly encourage the use of multi-mode commuting in dense urban centers, decisionmakers need reliable modeling tools to predict and mitigate the health consequences of vehicle-related emissions in transportation microenvironments. This project proposes unique integration of real-time multi-modal personal exposure monitoring with real-time detailed traffic monitoring in order to develop a computer model that links traffic characteristics, emissions, built environment configuration, mode of travel and health impacts. Existing emission and dispersion models do not take direct account of the dynamic nature of traffic and how emissions impact the health of the diversity of urban dwellers, bus commuters, pedestrians, and bicycle riders. Typical approaches use highly aggregated vehicle data and computed link speeds to assign an emission factor to the traffic, an assumed proportion of which is trucks. In addition, existing methods to assess environmental impacts tend to focus on the production source of the pollutant not the impacts, which require information on population activities and its proximity to vehicle flows. Personal exposure studies document significant air quality impacts within the transportation microenvironment but do not integrate dynamic traffic and emission analysis. Previous research argues for a comprehensive approach. From the perspective of mitigating transportation impacts, it is significant to understand: a) exposure to the pollution, which in turn requires assessment of where people are in relation to the source of the pollutant, and b) the relation between pollution and vehicle flows. This research will target highly polluted high exposure hotspots in Portland, e.g. high traffic flows running through a major trip destination area for shopping, entertainment, education, or health care highly dependent on mode of travel, traffic levels and type, and built environment characteristics. Our approach is to conduct field studies to measure personal exposure to particulate matter as a function of transportation mode through pre-determined routes in the city. Exposure levels, position, time and rate of travel will be recorded. Simultaneously we will collect detailed traffic data that will provide type/number of vehicle, speed of travel and start/stop behavior. GIS analysis of the urban form and land use characteristics will establish built environment parameters. These data will be integrated into a built environment-travel mode-exposure model. The major scientific innovations offered by this project are: 1) integration of detailed and real-time exposure/emissions with a real-time traffic measurement approach, and 2) development of an integrated emissions and transportation model that combines traffic characteristics, emissions, built environment configuration, mode of travel and predicted health impacts. The outcomes of the research will be of importance to the general public, urban communities, departments of transportation charged with managing urban traffic, and public health authorities. Title: Evaluation of Transportation Microenvironments Through Assessment of Cyclysts' Exposure to Traffic-Related Particulate Matter Author: George, Linda A., Figliozzi, Miguel A., Monsere, Christopher M., Kendrick, Christine M., Bigazzi, Alexander Y, Moore, Adam Year: 2011 It is well established that vehicles powered by carbon-based fuels (e.g. gasoline, diesel) have a negative impact on air quality, especially in urban centers. Traditionally, air quality conformity studies analyze the macroenvironmental impact of transportation corridors, as they relate to regional air quality management concerns. Urban residents spend a considerable amount of outdoor time in transportation microenvironments as pedestrians, bicycle commuters, people waiting to use public transport, residents and workers situated along roadways, and commuters within vehicles. An emerging area of research has shown that human health impacts within transport microenvironments can be considerable, but have not been well-characterized. As urban public policies increasingly encourage the use of multi-mode commuting in dense urban centers, decisionmakers need reliable modeling tools to predict and mitigate the health consequences of vehicle-related emissions in transportation microenvironments. This project proposes unique integration of real-time multi-modal personal exposure monitoring with real-time detailed traffic monitoring in order to develop a computer model that links traffic characteristics, emissions, built environment configuration, mode of travel and health impacts. Existing emission and dispersion models do not take direct account of the dynamic nature of traffic and how emissions impact the health of the diversity of urban dwellers, bus commuters, pedestrians, and bicycle riders. Typical approaches use highly aggregated vehicle data and computed link speeds to assign an emission factor to the traffic, an assumed proportion of which is trucks. In addition, existing methods to assess environmental impacts tend to focus on the production source of the pollutant not the impacts, which require information on population activities and its proximity to vehicle flows. Personal exposure studies document significant air quality impacts within the transportation microenvironment but do not integrate dynamic traffic and emission analysis. Previous research argues for a comprehensive approach. From the perspective of mitigating transportation impacts, it is significant to understand: a) exposure to the pollution, which in turn requires assessment of where people are in relation to the source of the pollutant, and b) the relation between pollution and vehicle flows. This research will target highly polluted high exposure hotspots in Portland, e.g. high traffic flows running through a major trip destination area for shopping, entertainment, education, or health care highly dependent on mode of travel, traffic levels and type, and built environment characteristics. Our approach is to conduct field studies to measure personal exposure to particulate matter as a function of transportation mode through pre-determined routes in the city. Exposure levels, position, time and rate of travel will be recorded. Simultaneously we will collect detailed traffic data that will provide type/number of vehicle, speed of travel and start/stop behavior. GIS analysis of the urban form and land use characteristics will establish built environment parameters. These data will be integrated into a built environment-travel mode-exposure model. The major scientific innovations offered by this project are: 1) integration of detailed and real-time exposure/emissions with a real-time traffic measurement approach, and 2) development of an integrated emissions and transportation model that combines traffic characteristics, emissions, built environment configuration, mode of travel and predicted health impacts. The outcomes of the research will be of importance to the general public, urban communities, departments of transportation charged with managing urban traffic, and public health authorities. Close

• 35. [Article] Spatial variations in the intra-urban response to a noise source

  Most research on the urban sonic environment has been recent. One finding has been that physical noise exposure indices calibrate poorly with human noise response. The vagaries of human response to noise ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Spatial variations in the intra-urban response to a noise source Author: Conder, Wilbur David Year: 1973 Most research on the urban sonic environment has been recent. One finding has been that physical noise exposure indices calibrate poorly with human noise response. The vagaries of human response to noise have given impetus to research to isolate the factors that differentiate human response to noise. The present thesis continues this research. The thesis specifies human noise response to occur on three levels: awareness, annoyance, and complaint. The factors that structure each level of noise response are identified in the published Iiterature. Noise awareness is a function of noise exposure. Noise annoyance is a function of noise exposure to a lesser degree. In addition annoyance is structured by attitudes toward the noise source, special interests in its economic benefits and personal susceptibility to noise irritation. Complaint concerning noise involves the previous factors plus an affluence or socio-economic component. The trend as one moves upward in the noise response hierarchy is for the structuring factors to become specific to individuals rather than location. Hence, noise awareness with respect to a stationary noise source will vary spatially, while complaint will be random in space. In testing these premises the author has made use of noise exposure indices for Portland International Airport and a social survey of response in the area surrounding the airport. The noise exposure indices were supplied by the consulting firm of Bolt, Beranek, and Newman Inc. and the social survey was conducted and tabulated by the Center for Population Research and Census at Portland State University. Multivariate methods were used for testing the premises concerning the hierarchical relationships between awareness, annoyance, and complaint.The variables representing awareness, annoyance, and complaint are quantified from the survey data through principle component and factor scores computer programs. The noise awareness measure is selected for greatest emphasis since it underlies to annoyance and complaint. The noise awareness measure is investigated and errors in its measurement are estimated through psychometric methods. Trend surface techniques are used to test the spatial regularity of awareness, annoyance, and complaint. As hypothesized, awareness is regular in space, annoyance less so, and complaint is random. Through multiple regression analysis noise awareness is tested against socio-economic measures, noise exposure measures, attitudes, and special interest. Noise exposure variables account for the largest part of the variation in noise awareness. A trend surface analysis is conducted on the values of awareness predicted by a large number of exposure, attitude, and other variables. The process is repeated for the residual values from the multiple regression. Predicted values are systematic in space but the residual values are largely random. The predicted values are mapped and compared with the actual smoothed awareness response surface. The two maps correspond well. It is concluded that noise exposure corrected for ambient noise levels adequately approximates the noise awareness response surface. Title: Spatial variations in the intra-urban response to a noise source Author: Conder, Wilbur David Year: 1973 Most research on the urban sonic environment has been recent. One finding has been that physical noise exposure indices calibrate poorly with human noise response. The vagaries of human response to noise have given impetus to research to isolate the factors that differentiate human response to noise. The present thesis continues this research. The thesis specifies human noise response to occur on three levels: awareness, annoyance, and complaint. The factors that structure each level of noise response are identified in the published Iiterature. Noise awareness is a function of noise exposure. Noise annoyance is a function of noise exposure to a lesser degree. In addition annoyance is structured by attitudes toward the noise source, special interests in its economic benefits and personal susceptibility to noise irritation. Complaint concerning noise involves the previous factors plus an affluence or socio-economic component. The trend as one moves upward in the noise response hierarchy is for the structuring factors to become specific to individuals rather than location. Hence, noise awareness with respect to a stationary noise source will vary spatially, while complaint will be random in space. In testing these premises the author has made use of noise exposure indices for Portland International Airport and a social survey of response in the area surrounding the airport. The noise exposure indices were supplied by the consulting firm of Bolt, Beranek, and Newman Inc. and the social survey was conducted and tabulated by the Center for Population Research and Census at Portland State University. Multivariate methods were used for testing the premises concerning the hierarchical relationships between awareness, annoyance, and complaint.The variables representing awareness, annoyance, and complaint are quantified from the survey data through principle component and factor scores computer programs. The noise awareness measure is selected for greatest emphasis since it underlies to annoyance and complaint. The noise awareness measure is investigated and errors in its measurement are estimated through psychometric methods. Trend surface techniques are used to test the spatial regularity of awareness, annoyance, and complaint. As hypothesized, awareness is regular in space, annoyance less so, and complaint is random. Through multiple regression analysis noise awareness is tested against socio-economic measures, noise exposure measures, attitudes, and special interest. Noise exposure variables account for the largest part of the variation in noise awareness. A trend surface analysis is conducted on the values of awareness predicted by a large number of exposure, attitude, and other variables. The process is repeated for the residual values from the multiple regression. Predicted values are systematic in space but the residual values are largely random. The predicted values are mapped and compared with the actual smoothed awareness response surface. The two maps correspond well. It is concluded that noise exposure corrected for ambient noise levels adequately approximates the noise awareness response surface. Close

• 36. [Article] Output-Based Performance Measures for the North Carolina Alliance for Competitive Technologies

  The North Carolina Alliance for Competitive Technologies (NC ACTs) is an organization operated by the state of North Carolina to coordinate technology development and, deployment activities in the state. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Output-Based Performance Measures for the North Carolina Alliance for Competitive Technologies Author: Martin, Sheila A. Year: 1994 The North Carolina Alliance for Competitive Technologies (NC ACTs) is an organization operated by the state of North Carolina to coordinate technology development and, deployment activities in the state. The mission of NC ACTs is to apply innovation, technology, and technical resources to promote economic growth in the state. NC ACTs will operate as a central, strategic organization to guide existing resources and to develop new resources when necessary. To accomplish its mission, NC ACTs must coordinate institutions and organizations that currently offer technology development and deployment into a rational, customer-driven system that measures and rewards results. Timely, reliable assessment and evaluative feedback will be essential to managing these programs effectively. A well-designed system for performance assessment and evaluation can fill a number of management needs (Shapira, Youtie, and Roessner, 1994): Monitoring the progress of NC ACTs and its components in accomplishing their missions; Measuring and improving customer satisfaction; Identifying the most promising strategies and understanding why they are effective; Rewarding and reinforcing positive results; Allocating resources to their most effective uses; and Demonstrating accountability and value to program sponsors. The design of an evaluation plan is critical in public institutions. While sponsors of public programs demand measures of performance and effectiveness, typical market indicators of success (i.e., market share, profit, stock price) are not applicable. Therefore, the evaluation plan must use credible techniques, reliable data, and consistent methodologies without draining organizational resources. To meet these standards, an evaluation plan must be developed during the genesis of the organization. Early assessment allows program managers to adopt the evaluation system as part of the overall management strategy and provides data for program assessment at critical early stages of operation. For this reason, NC ACTs has designed an output-based performance measurement system as part of the NC ACTs operating plan for its first year. The remainder of this paper discusses our plans for measuring the effectiveness of NC ACTs. Some features of the evaluation design are typical of the data collection efforts being conducted by many of the Manufacturing Technology Centers (MTC’s) and Manufacturing Outreach Centers (MOC’s). However, due to the unique design and mission of NC ACTs, we have deviated somewhat from the usual set of performance metrics for technology deployment organizations. This paper focuses on two of those features: measuring organizational influence and measuring technological influence. The second section contains a discussion of the overall design of the data collection, analysis, and reporting system being planned for NC ACTs. The third section focuses on how NC ACTs will measure its influence on the quality and direction of the technology services available in the state of North Carolina. The fourth section discusses a strategy for analyzing the influence of NC ACTs on the use of efficient core technologies emphasizing environmental technologies. The final section contains a summary. Title: Output-Based Performance Measures for the North Carolina Alliance for Competitive Technologies Author: Martin, Sheila A. Year: 1994 The North Carolina Alliance for Competitive Technologies (NC ACTs) is an organization operated by the state of North Carolina to coordinate technology development and, deployment activities in the state. The mission of NC ACTs is to apply innovation, technology, and technical resources to promote economic growth in the state. NC ACTs will operate as a central, strategic organization to guide existing resources and to develop new resources when necessary. To accomplish its mission, NC ACTs must coordinate institutions and organizations that currently offer technology development and deployment into a rational, customer-driven system that measures and rewards results. Timely, reliable assessment and evaluative feedback will be essential to managing these programs effectively. A well-designed system for performance assessment and evaluation can fill a number of management needs (Shapira, Youtie, and Roessner, 1994): Monitoring the progress of NC ACTs and its components in accomplishing their missions; Measuring and improving customer satisfaction; Identifying the most promising strategies and understanding why they are effective; Rewarding and reinforcing positive results; Allocating resources to their most effective uses; and Demonstrating accountability and value to program sponsors. The design of an evaluation plan is critical in public institutions. While sponsors of public programs demand measures of performance and effectiveness, typical market indicators of success (i.e., market share, profit, stock price) are not applicable. Therefore, the evaluation plan must use credible techniques, reliable data, and consistent methodologies without draining organizational resources. To meet these standards, an evaluation plan must be developed during the genesis of the organization. Early assessment allows program managers to adopt the evaluation system as part of the overall management strategy and provides data for program assessment at critical early stages of operation. For this reason, NC ACTs has designed an output-based performance measurement system as part of the NC ACTs operating plan for its first year. The remainder of this paper discusses our plans for measuring the effectiveness of NC ACTs. Some features of the evaluation design are typical of the data collection efforts being conducted by many of the Manufacturing Technology Centers (MTC’s) and Manufacturing Outreach Centers (MOC’s). However, due to the unique design and mission of NC ACTs, we have deviated somewhat from the usual set of performance metrics for technology deployment organizations. This paper focuses on two of those features: measuring organizational influence and measuring technological influence. The second section contains a discussion of the overall design of the data collection, analysis, and reporting system being planned for NC ACTs. The third section focuses on how NC ACTs will measure its influence on the quality and direction of the technology services available in the state of North Carolina. The fourth section discusses a strategy for analyzing the influence of NC ACTs on the use of efficient core technologies emphasizing environmental technologies. The final section contains a summary. Close

• 37. [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