Applications of Connected Vehicle Infrastructure Technologies to Enhance Transit Service Efficiency and Safety

Final Report 1 (Hancock)

Final Report 2 (Lee)

Abstract

Currently, many transit agencies provide real-time operational information, including routing and scheduling through phone, web, and smartphone applications. They also provide a trip-planning tool for a given origin and destination.

It is a one-direction information flow from transit agencies to transit users, and the PIs believe that current smartphone technology and connected vehicle infrastructure (CVI) can allow a two-direction information flow that includes information from users to transit agencies and transit vehicles.

The PIs propose that users can send their origin and destination information to the agency, and the agency can use that information for demand-responsive transit (DRT) routing and scheduling primarily for small urban area and rural transit operation. Also, global positioning system (GPS) data from smartphone can provide the location of users, which can be used to support flexible routing of transit vehicles to pick up passengers more efficiently (especially when they are not where they are supposed to be) and save transit travel time. It is believed that identification of the user location can also help passenger’s safety during nighttime operations.

This user input can help not only flexible routing DRT operation and users, but also fixed-route transit operation and passenger safety during nighttime operations. If the bus driver can identify the locations of passengers who are late to the bus stop, the bus driver can wait a short time for passengers near the bus stop, eliminating the chance for a passenger to miss the bus and to wait at the stop for the next bus that may come 20-30 minutes later.

Objectives

1. 1. Develop person-to-infrastructure (P2I), infrastructure-to-vehicle (I2V), and person-to-vehicle (P2V) connections among transit users, transit agency, transit vehicles, and transit stops as follows:

• P2I – OD information from passengers to agency
• I2V – Routing information from agency to vehicle
• P2V – GPS location from passenger to vehicle

1. 2. Develop a smartphone application for transit users that supports Objective 1.
2. 3. Develop a database for transit agencies’ server.
3. 4. Develop a mobile on-board application for a transit vehicle.
4. 5. Test applications at the Virginia Smart Road Connected Vehicle Test Bed.
5. 6. Document potential improvements to transit efficiency and safety using smartphone and CVI technologies.

Highlights

• This project developed a rudimentary architectural framework for two CVI applications which is conceptual and designed to generically map communications and linkages between components that make up the applications:

1. 1. an application for dynamic DRT services and,
2. 2. an enhanced traveler safety application that allows individuals to notify a transit vehicle that they are within a specified distance of the vehicle’s current stop.

• A handheld mobile app for users, a mobile app for transit drivers, and a management server program are being developed, and they are in the final debugging process.
• An annotated bibliography of resources used for this study was developed.
• A limited simulation was performed to evaluate the potential of using this location with respect to a transit vehicle to provide flexibility for that vehicle to remain at a stop for a limited time minimizing passenger wait time and exposure to potential safety issues, specifically during night operations. The simulation exposed some limitations in the initial design, specifically routes with closely spaced transit stops. The concept is valid but additional logic is necessary to ensure that information provided to both the driver and traveler is consistent and unambiguous.
  • A user mobile app can request a trip and users can confirm their travel and they can check the location of the bus.
  • Bus driver can check the locations of the users, bus stops, and who are going to board and alight, so they can make sure that all the passengers can be picked up.
• Once the programs are finalized, the apps and the server program will be field-tested at Morgan State University for the following purposes
  • Communication between the handheld mobile app and the data server
  • GPS accuracy for the passenger safety purpose
  • Communication latency and droppage

• Currently, surveys are being conducted to find out user perceptions whether this kind of user location based transit mobile app can improve ridership and safety (especially during the night time)

Publications

Lee, Y.-J., Thomas, C., and Dadvar, S. (2016, submitted). Perception and Acceptability Analysis on User Location-Based Transit Mobile Application. Submitted to Transportation Research Record.

Presentations

Lee, Y.-J., Thomas, C., and Dadvar, S. (2016, submitted). Perception and Acceptability Analysis on User Location-Based Transit Mobile Application. Submitted to the 96th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.

Young-Jae Lee, “Application of Connected Vehicle Infrastructure Technology for Public Transportation”, 2014 International Conference on Sustainable Urban Transportation Research and Innovation, TOD-based Sustainable Urban Transportation Engineering Research Center, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea, June 2, 2014.

Young-Jae Lee, “Future of Connected Vehicle Technology and Its Applications”, Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association Virginia Washington Metro Regional Conference, Fairfax, VA, April 4-5, 2015.

Project Information

Start date: 2012/9/3
End date: 2013/9/2
Status: Active
Contract/Grant Number: 0031370150000
Secondary Number: 54-6001805
Total Dollars: $150,000
Source Organization: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg
Date Added: 08/20/2012

Sponsor Organization

Research and Innovative Technology Administration
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
USA

UTC Grant Manager

Harwood, Leslie
Phone: 540-231-9530
Email: lharwood@vtti.vt.edu

Performing Organization

Morgan State University
National Center for Transportation Management, Research and Development
Montebello D-206
1700 East Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21251
USA

Research Investigators

Farkas, Andrew
Hancock, Kitty
Lee, Young-Jae
Rakha, Hesham

Subjects

Pedestrians and Bicyclists
Operations and Traffic Management
Safety and Human Factors
Transportation (General)
Environment

More Information

RiP URL
Project Poster
TriD Format