Freight TravelerFreight TravelerInformation Clearinghouse Information Clearinghouse

Mississippi Valley Freight CoalitionMississippi Valley Freight Coalition-Ravi Pavuluri-Ravi Pavuluri

BackgroundBackground2

This project emerged by combining This project emerged by combining four proposals:four proposals:

Identification of advanced Identification of advanced traveler decision pointstraveler decision points

Combine state static closure Combine state static closure informationinformation

Real time traveler information Real time traveler information needs of the trucking industryneeds of the trucking industry

Identification of alternative Identification of alternative routesroutes

Information NeedsInformation Needs

Traffic conditionsTraffic conditionsCongestion, Major incidents, other delaysCongestion, Major incidents, other delays

Construction, Lane Closures, & DetoursConstruction, Lane Closures, & Detours

Weather-related road conditionsWeather-related road conditions

Atmospheric weatherAtmospheric weather

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ObjectivesObjectives

Design basic architecture for Design basic architecture for reliable traveler information reliable traveler information clearinghouse for the 10-state clearinghouse for the 10-state Mississippi Valley RegionMississippi Valley Region

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MN

KS

WI

IA

MO

MI

IL INOH

KY

This study focuses on data needs, and This study focuses on data needs, and does not address structural issues for does not address structural issues for gathering, storing, & disseminating data.gathering, storing, & disseminating data.

Systems EngineeringSystems Engineering

An interdisciplinary approach and means An interdisciplinary approach and means to enable the realization of successful to enable the realization of successful systems.systems.

It focuses on defining It focuses on defining customer needscustomer needs and and required functionality early in the required functionality early in the development cycledevelopment cycle..

Documenting requirements, Documenting requirements,

Design synthesisDesign synthesis

System validation and completion.System validation and completion.

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Systems EngineeringSystems Engineering6

Systems Engineering “V” Diagram

Key TasksKey Tasks

Background & current practiceBackground & current practiceLiterature review, current agency activity, Literature review, current agency activity,

current information availablecurrent information available

Review of organizations and existing Review of organizations and existing information architecturesinformation architecturesSurvey motor carriers and agenciesSurvey motor carriers and agenciesDetermine user needs, decision pointsDetermine user needs, decision pointsDraft system / functional requirementsDraft system / functional requirements

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Literature ReviewLiterature Review

Literature Review FindingsLiterature Review FindingsTwo prior relevant studiesTwo prior relevant studies

Regan and Golob (1998) [CA]Regan and Golob (1998) [CA]Maze, Kroeger & Berndt (2005) [MN]Maze, Kroeger & Berndt (2005) [MN]

Results demonstrate industry desire for Results demonstrate industry desire for specialized informationspecialized information

Age of prior studies indicate need for Age of prior studies indicate need for planned MVFC member surveyplanned MVFC member survey

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Current PracticeCurrent Practice

Several existing methods for information Several existing methods for information dissemination were examined:dissemination were examined:State 511 programsState 511 programsMulti-State Corridor CoalitionsMulti-State Corridor Coalitions

Lake Michigan Interstate Gateway AllianceLake Michigan Interstate Gateway AllianceNorth/West PassageNorth/West Passage

DOT Road Closure WebsitesDOT Road Closure WebsitesNational ITS ArchitectureNational ITS ArchitectureEuropean ITS ArchitectureEuropean ITS Architecture

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ITS ArchitectureITS Architecture

Defines Defines Systems functional operationSystems functional operation Interconnection of information Interconnection of information

exchanges to accomplish transportation exchanges to accomplish transportation services.services.

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Physical ArchitecturePhysical Architecture11

• Transportation layer

• Communication layer

Fixed-Point to Fixed-Point Communications

Travelers Centers

FieldVehicles

Toll Administration

EmergencyManagement

EmissionsManagement

TrafficManagement

Vehicle

CommercialVehicle

PersonalInformation

Access

Archived DataManagement

Fleet andFreight

Management

CommercialVehicle

Administration

TransitManagement

Toll Collection

CommercialVehicle Check

Wide Area Wireless Communications

Veh

icle

to

Veh

icle

Co

mm

un

icat

ion

s

Maintenanceand Construction

Vehicle

Maintenanceand Construction

Management

InformationService Provider

ParkingManagement

Transit Vehicle

SecurityMonitoring

EmergencyVehicle

Roadway

Ded

icat

ed S

ho

rt R

ang

eC

om

mu

nic

atio

ns

RemoteTraveler Support

High Level Physical ArchitectureHigh Level Physical Architecture

Mississippi Valley Freight CoalitionFreight Info Clearinghouse

Third Party ISPGoogle Maps

Motor CarriersDispatch Centers

Motor CarriersOperators

Motor CarriersCommercial Vehicles

State DOTsOperations

Interstate Operations CorridorsLMIGA

State DOTsRegulatory

Interstate Operations CorridorsN/W Passage

ShippersIndustries

Probe-Based Info ProvidersFleet AVL

Probe-Based Info ProvidersCellular

Planned

Interconnect DiagramInterconnect Diagram

StakeholdersStakeholders

Mississippi Valley Freight CoalitionMississippi Valley Freight Coalition ShippersShippers State DOTs State DOTs Motor Carriers Motor Carriers Interstate Operations CorridorsInterstate Operations Corridors Probe-Based Information ProvidersProbe-Based Information Providers Third Party ISP Third Party ISP

SurveysSurveys

2 different groups 2 different groups Motor carrier representatives (web-based Motor carrier representatives (web-based

survey)survey)DOT/Planners/Regulators (telephone-DOT/Planners/Regulators (telephone-

based survey)based survey)

Similar questions for eachSimilar questions for each

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Survey FindingsSurvey Findings

Motor Carrier Representatives Motor Carrier Representatives Survey and InterviewsSurvey and InterviewsFirst 3 questions were demographicFirst 3 questions were demographic

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Respondent Occupations and Counts

Response totals Compliance Manager 1 Dispatcher 1 Driver 5 General Manager 3 Office Manager 1 Operations/Ops Manager (incl. Traffic, Transp. & Logistics) 12 Owner 6 President/CEO 14 Publisher 1 Safety/Risk Management Director 4 Vice President 6

Survey Findings contd.Survey Findings contd.17

Size of Truck Fleet

Survey Findings contd.Survey Findings contd.18

Current Usage of Information Delivery Methods

Survey contd.Survey contd.

Respondents were asked to evaluate nine Respondents were asked to evaluate nine different sources of traffic information for their different sources of traffic information for their value in planning or optimizing travel/delivery value in planning or optimizing travel/delivery routes.routes. These sources were:These sources were:

CB radio reports from other driversCB radio reports from other drivers Freeway changeable message signsFreeway changeable message signs Highway advisory radioHighway advisory radio Face-to-face reports among drivers at truck stops and terminalsFace-to-face reports among drivers at truck stops and terminals Traffic reports on commercial radioTraffic reports on commercial radio Reports received by dispatchers from drivers on the roadReports received by dispatchers from drivers on the road Phone calls to DOT or 5-1-1 systemsPhone calls to DOT or 5-1-1 systems Real-time traffic maps on the internetReal-time traffic maps on the internet Television traffic reportsTelevision traffic reports

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Freeway Changeable Message Signs

Face-to-Face Reports among Drivers at Truck Stops and Terminals

Traffic Reports on Commercial Radio

Phone Calls to DOT or Other Information Services (e.g. 5-1-1)

Survey Findings contd.Survey Findings contd.Survey Findings contd.

Survey contd.Survey contd.

Respondents were also asked to evaluate five Respondents were also asked to evaluate five different types of real-time information for their different types of real-time information for their overall value in optimizing or modifying routes.overall value in optimizing or modifying routes. These sources were:These sources were:

Atmospheric weather informationAtmospheric weather information Weather-related road condition informationWeather-related road condition information Congestion informationCongestion information Incidents, crashes, and other delaysIncidents, crashes, and other delays Construction, lane closures, and detoursConstruction, lane closures, and detours

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Weather-Related Road-Condition Information

Construction, Lane Closures, & Detours

Incidents, Crashes, & Other Delays

Survey Findings contd.Survey Findings contd.

Survey Findings contd.Survey Findings contd.

Respondents were asked about preferred delivery Respondents were asked about preferred delivery methods for information.methods for information.

They were also if their company currently shared/sold They were also if their company currently shared/sold real-time information, and if they would be willing to real-time information, and if they would be willing to share information with a clearinghouse, if one existed.share information with a clearinghouse, if one existed.

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Companies Currently Sharing or Selling Real-Time Information

Companies Willing to Share or Sell Real-Time Information

Web based Mock-upWeb based Mock-up

Technologies studiedTechnologies studied(Mainly open source technologies)(Mainly open source technologies)

Google Maps API(Javascript & Flash), KMLGoogle Maps API(Javascript & Flash), KMLPhp (Server side), XML, JS/CSS, AjaxPhp (Server side), XML, JS/CSS, AjaxMySQL DatabaseMySQL DatabaseWeb Services Web Services

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25 Mock-up ArchitectureMock-up Architecture

URL:http://www.mississippivalleyfreight.org/clearinghouse/

Thank YouThank You

Questions or comments?Questions or comments?

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