USDOT Region V Regional University Transportation Center

Research in Progress

2010-2011 Projects

• Integrated Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Risk Management Framework

  Research Information

    Start Date: Pending
    Status: Active
    Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
    Principal Investigator: Christopher Barkan, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  Summary of Research

  Rail transport plays a key role in the multimodal supply chain needed to safely and economically move hazardous materials from production to consumption points. Using comparative analysis, this research aims to develop an integrated risk management framework model to assess safety and risk at the local, regional, and national network levels. The results of this comprehensive project will be applicable to the continued study of risk management in rail and other modes, making it relevant to a wide variety of stakeholders.

• Computing Moving and Intermittent Queue Propagation in Highway Work Zones

  Research Information

    Start Date: Pending
    Status: Active
    Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
    Principal Investigator: Rahim F. Benekohal, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  Summary of Research

  Long queues and heavy congestion are common in busy highway work zones. These congested areas can be dangerous for drivers entering stop-and-go traffic unexpectedly. Alerting drivers to queue presence in work zones could reduce the frequency and severity, increasing safety and efficiency. In this research project, user-friendly computer programs will be developed to accurately calculate queue propagation and shrinkage. Real-world applications would include the implementation of online systems placed in work zones to manage the growth of queues based on the data collected.

• Agent-Based Traffic Management and Reinforcement Learning in Congested Intersections

  Research Information

  Start Date: Pending
  Status: Active
  Total Dollars:$117,786
  Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Principal Investigator: Rahim F. Benekohal, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
  Co-Principal Investigator: Satish Ukkusuri, Purdue University

  Summary of Research

  The loss of time and resources due to congestion, especially in urban areas, is significant. Appropriately operated traffic signals help to smooth the flow of traffic, leading to a reduction in commute time and fuel consumption. This study seeks to develop an agent-based traffic management technique with reinforcement learning principles. Agents, working independently within the same network, will learn from their environments to minimize travel time and reduce stoppage. The information produced by this innovative research will be applicable to improvements in mobility and reliability in the region.

• Integration of Pavement Cracking Prediction Model with Asset Management and Vehicle-Infrastructure Interaction Models

  Research Information

  Start Date: Pending
  Status: Active
  Total Dollars:$59,361
  Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Principal Investigator: William G. Buttlar, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  Co-Principal Investigator: Glaucio H. Paulino, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  Summary of Research

  Sustainable pavement infrastructure will lead to decreased maintenance costs and safer, more reliable roadways for travelers. This project will build upon previous research to develop a user-friendly pavement cracking prediction tool to assist in infrastructure renewal planning across multiple modes. Researchers will integrate cracking prediction software with actual infrastructure conditions to generate more realistic and timely data.

• Using Probe Vehicle Data to Understand Bottlenecks and Congestion

  Research Information

  Start Date: Pending
  Status: Active
  Total Dollars:$54,385
  Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Principal Investigator: Benjamin Coifman, The Ohio State University

  Summary of Research

  Freeway congestion results in lost time and resources for travelers. To date, the structure of traffic resulting from bottlenecks and congestion has only been studied with point detectors, which are limited in their scope. This project proposes the use of an instrumented probe vehicle, equipped with both positioning sensors and ranging sensors, to collect data along I-71 in Columbus, Ohio. Research findings will lead to more accurate traffic flow models, impacting safety and fuel efficiency in heavily traveled areas.

• Increasing Accuracy of Vehicle Speed Measurement in Congested Traffic Over Dual-Loop Sensors

  Research Information

  Start Date: Pending
  Status: Active
  Total Dollars:$61,003
  Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Principal Investigator: Benjamin Coifman, The Ohio State University
  Co-Principal Investigator: Heng Wei, The University of Cincinnati

  Summary of Research

  Data from loop detectors is used throughout all levels of transportation planning and traffic operation. It is almost always assumed that the data provided by detectors is accurate and reliable. This project aims to develop a suite of cost-effective tools to validate detector measurements by integrating technology with new methods of data collection. Improved loop detector measurements will enrich real time traffic control, vehicle classification, and aggregate performance measures; this feedback will assist operating agencies and policy makers to allocate resources more efficiently.

• Incorporating High Speed Passenger Rail into a Multimodal Network Model for Improved Regional Transportation Planning

  Research Information

  Start Date: Pending
  Status: Active
  Total Dollars:$63,759
  Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Principal Investigator: Dan DeLaurentis, Purdue University
  Co-Principal Investigator: Srinivas Peeta, Purdue University

  Summary of Research

  This project will study the interplay of four modes of transportation: auto, commercial air, on-demand air service (ODAS), and rail, with the purpose of reducing travel times for regional intercity trips. Investigators will update their current multimodal transportation analysis model to include high speed passenger rail, while considering transportation policy and economic variables. Shorter doorstep-to-destination travel times could have significant effects on regional economies, demographics, land use, and quality of life, and lead to shifts in business activity.

• Improved Concrete Railway Crosstie Design and Performance

  Research Information

  Start Date: Pending
  Status: Active
  Total Dollars:$50,000
  Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Principal Investigator: J. Riley Edwards, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  Co-Principal Investigator: David A. Lange, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  Summary of Research

  Rail transportation is consistently viewed as one of the most viable solutions to the transportation system capacity overload that exists in North America, due to its efficiencies in both fuel usage and comparative overall land use. The primary objective of this research project is to identify methods of improving concrete railroad crosstie design and performance through modeling and experimental testing. The conclusions reached from this research will allow investigators to provide design recommendations to the railway industry, increasing safety and longevity of railway infrastructure.

• The Regional Economic Impacts of Bypasses: A Longitudinal Study Incorporating Spatial Panel Econometrics and Multilevel Modeling

  Research Information

  Start Date: Pending
  Status: Active
  Total Dollars:$54,553
  Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Principal Investigator: Jon D. Fricker, Purdue University
  Co-Principal Investigator: Joshua B. Mills, Purdue University

  Summary of Research

  This project seeks to understand the economic impacts of bypasses on communities at the ZIP code-level. The simultaneous analysis of 60 different bypasses across Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, will allow researchers to make broader conclusions, while keeping in mind the individual characteristics of communities across the Midwest. Research findings are expected to have real-world applications in terms of enhancing mobility and safety by diverting trucks and other traffic; maintaining or restoring the economic vitality of affected communities' central business districts; and minimizing transportation costs.

• Measuring and Documenting Truck Activity Times at International Border Crossings

  Research Information

  Start Date: Pending
  Status: Active
  Total Dollars:$75,556.91
  Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Principal Investigator: Mark McCord, The Ohio State University
  Co-Principal Investigators: Prem K. Goel, The Ohio State University
  Colin Brooks, Michigan Tech Research Institute

  Summary of Research

  Efficient international commerce is critical to the U.S. economy. This project will allow researchers to continue to provide unique and valuable empirical information on activity times of freight trucks at both public and private major North American gateways into Canada. Working with Canadian investigators, NEXTRANS researchers will provide data related to congestion and overall efficiency based on an innovative approach to technology already in use.

• Smart Campus Transit Laboratory for Research and Education

  Research Information

  Start Date: Pending
  Status: Active
  Total Dollars:$202,735.85
  Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Informational Video: Campus Transit Lab Video
  Principal Investigator: Rabi G. Mishalani, The Ohio State University
  Co-Principal Investigators: Mark R. McCord, The Ohio State University
  Prem K. Goel, The Ohio State University

  Summary of Research

  NEXTRANS investigators, various OSU entities, and Clever Devices, Inc., will continue their work upgrading OSU's Campus Area Bus Service (CABS) with a state-of-the-art "smart bus" system. The implementation of technological upgrades including: sensing, communications, and passenger information systems, has improved the level of service to riders while providing valuable high-resolution data on operating performance and rider characteristics. Through research, education, and outreach, the results of this showcase project will have positive implications for a variety of stakeholders within the NEXTRANS region and beyond.

• Impact of Public Transit Market Share on Energy Consumption and GHG Emissions: Developing Statistical Models for Aggregate Predictions and Validation of Mechanistic Transportation Models

  Research Information

  Start Date: Pending
  Status: Active
  Total Dollars:$56,494.96
  Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Principal Investigator: Rabi G. Mishalani, The Ohio State University
  Co-Principal Investigator: Prem K. Goel, The Ohio State University

  Summary of Research

  This continuing study aims to clarify the proposed benefits of encouraging increased use of public transportation in an effort to reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers will further their work in developing statistical relationships that can validate the accuracy of existing mechanistic models used to evaluate the effectiveness of transportation policies on energy consumption and the environment. Results from this research will allow policy makers to more reliably use models designed to quantify the environmental benefits of public transportation.

• Field Deployment to Quantify the Value of Real-time Information by Integrating Driver Routing Decisions and Route Assignment Strategies

  Research Information

  Start Date: Pending
  Status: Active
  Total Dollars:$127,518
  Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Principal Investigator: Srinivas Peeta, Purdue University

  Summary of Research

  This showcase project aims to adequately understand the value of real-time information in real-world contexts for multiple stakeholders. An Indianapolis-based field experiment will allow researchers to study the actions of participants as they respond to real-time traffic information during their morning commute. A secure Web site will be developed for the initial survey of participants, as well as daily recording of trip diaries. Implications of real-time traffic information will be considered in terms of mobility, safety, and efficiency.

• Determination of Network Origin-Destination Matrices Using Partial Link Traffic Counts and Virtual Sensor Information in an Integrated Corridor Management Framework

  Research Information

  Start Date: Pending
  Status: Active
  Total Dollars:$68,313
  Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Principal Investigator: Srinivas Peeta, Purdue University
  Co-Principal Investigator: Shou-Ren Hu, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan

  Summary of Research

  Origin-destination (O-D) patterns are crucial in traffic operations and transportation planning. This research will estimate a network O-D demand pattern using information from partial link counts, obtained by strategically installing detectors/sensors. The strategic placement of sensors allows researchers to make O-D demand estimates about the entire network under a limited budget. This research will help transportation/highway management agencies to develop transportation planning and infrastructure strategies by leveraging limited fiscal resources.

• Highway Reservation System Design and its Application to Freight Transportation

  Research Information

  Start Date: Pending
  Status: Active
  Total Dollars:$68,313
  Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Principal Investigator: Srinivas Peeta, Purdue University
  Co-Principal Investigators: Chih-Peng Chu, National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan
  Mei-Ting Tsai, National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan

  Summary of Research

  Efficient and reliable freight transportation is a key contributor to economic development in both the United States and Taiwan. A lack of adequate government funding has motivated both nations to look to the private sector for innovative solutions to the various problems in the existing transportation systems. Researchers have proposed a highway reservation system for freight carriers using a truck-only lane that guarantees a threshold speed by charging a fee. The mutually beneficial system can potentially help to mitigate congestion; improve freight transportation efficiency and safety; and create a new financing source for highway infrastructure.

• Investigation of Freeway Operations in Metro Detroit

  Research Information

  Start Date: Pending
  Status: Active
  Total Dollars: Pending
  Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Principal Investigator: Peter T. Savolainen, Wayne State University

  Summary of Research

  This study will continue to interpret data collected along four freeways in metro Detroit by the Michigan Intelligent Transportation Systems (MITS) Center. Researchers will further their examination of freeway operations to determine how site-specific variables impact accidents and response times. The results will also allow researchers to verify the reliability and accuracy of data collected by traffic detectors for use in future projects.

• Estimating the Economic Impacts of Disruptions to Intermodal Freight Systems

  Research Information

  Start Date: Pending
  Status: Active
  Total Dollars: $67,720
  Source Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Principal Investigator: Satish Ukkusuri, Purdue University
  Co-Principal Investigators: Fred Mannering, Purdue University
  Amlan Mitra, Purdue University

  Summary of Research

  Disruptions to the movement of goods can have significant long-term and short-term consequences. This collaborative project intends to identify and estimate the impact of such disruptions through the integration of engineering, economics, and policy frameworks. Researchers will critically evaluate data from two case studies in the Midwest: one along the Borman Expressway and another at the Markland Locks and Dam. There is potential to strengthen transportation systems by analyzing the effects of disruptions to the movement of goods across multiple modes.