Integration of Emergency and Weather Elements Into Transportation Management Centers
Integration of Emergency and Weather Elements Into Transportation Management Centers

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 105

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Integration as applied to transportation management and operations is a concept that reflects how Transportation Management Center (TMC) operators, agencies internal to the TMC, external agencies and support systems interact to improve transportation operations, safety, security and customer satisfaction. Integration is a catalyst and a tool for enhancing operational performance and is one of a variety of strategies available to, and used by, TMCs. This study is part of an ongoing Federal Highway Administration research effort that seeks to document transportation operations across the country and identify strategies that can enhance the operational effectiveness of transportation management systems in general and TMCs in particular. The TMC Integration study documents how weather and emergency information and systems are being integrated into transportation operations now and the potential for applying practical, effective concepts and methods of integration in the future. The study investigated the needs and opportunities for TMC integration of emergency and weather information and systems, and further explored the concepts, methods and potential for integration to benefit operations. Thirty-eight TMCs across the country that demonstrated current best practices in integration were interviewed and ten of those selected for site visits. A concept of integration and measures of integration attainment were developed and described. The state of the practice was reviewed, and challenges to integration identified along with strategies for addressing those challenges. Benefits of integration were presented, best practices described, and recommendations offered for how weather and emergency integration in TMCs could be initiated or enhanced. The practice of weather and emergency integration in TMCs is in its infancy, but the examples of best practices in selected TMCs across the country offer examples of the long-term value of an integrated approach to transportation operations that other TMCs can emulate. It is hoped that the lessons learned in this study can help inspire and guide widespread efforts to achieve the benefits of integration in more TMCs in the future.

Potential Impacts of Climate Change on U.S. Transportation
Potential Impacts of Climate Change on U.S. Transportation

Author: Division on Earth and Life Studies

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2008-07-16

Total Pages: 199

ISBN-13: 0309185408

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) and the Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS) have released the pre-publication version of TRB Special Report 290, The Potential Impacts of Climate Change on U.S. Transportation, which explores the consequences of climate change for U.S. transportation infrastructure and operations. The report provides an overview of the scientific consensus on the current and future climate changes of particular relevance to U.S. transportation, including the limits of present scientific understanding as to their precise timing, magnitude, and geographic location; identifies potential impacts on U.S. transportation and adaptation options; and offers recommendations for both research and actions that can be taken to prepare for climate change. The book also summarizes previous work on strategies for reducing transportation-related emissions of carbon dioxide--the primary greenhouse gas--that contribute to climate change. Five commissioned papers used by the committee to help develop the report, a summary of the report, and a National Academies press release associated with the report are available online. DELS, like TRB, is a division of the National Academies, which include the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council.

Where the Weather Meets the Road
Where the Weather Meets the Road

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2004-03-31

Total Pages: 189

ISBN-13: 0309166578

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Weather has broad and significant effects on the roadway environment. Snow, rain, fog, ice, freezing rain, and other weather conditions can impair the ability of drivers to operate their vehicles safely, significantly reduce roadway capacity, and dramatically increase travel times. Multiple roadway activities, from roadway maintenance and construction to shipping, transit, and police operations, are directly affected by inclement weather. Some road weather information is available to users currently, however a disconnect remains between current research and operations, and additional research could yield important safety and economic improvements for roadway users. Meteorology, roadway technology, and vehicle systems have evolved to the point where users could be provided with better road weather information through modern information technologies. The combination of these technologies has the potential to significantly increase the efficiency of roadway operations, road capacity, and road safety. Where the Weather Meets the Road provides a roadmap for moving these concepts to reality.

Intelligent Transportation Systems Benefits, Costs, Deployment, and Lessons Learned
Intelligent Transportation Systems Benefits, Costs, Deployment, and Lessons Learned

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 384

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

"Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) provide a proven set of strategies for addressing the challenges of assuring safety and reducing congestion, while accommodating the growth in transit ridership and freight movement. This report presents information on the performance of deployed ITS under each of these goal areas, as well as information on the costs, deployment levels, and lessons learned regarding ITS deployment and operations. The report, and the collection of four Web-based resources upon which it is based, have been developed by the U.S. DOT's ITS Joint Program Office (JPO) to support informed decision making regarding ITS deployment. This report discusses 17 different areas of ITS application. These chapters are divided into two sections discussing technologies deployed on the transportation infrastructure and those deployed within vehicles. The 14 different infrastructure applications discussed can be grouped into ITS strategies applied to roadways, transit, management and operations of transportation systems, and freight movement. Lessons learned during ITS planning implementation and deployment, are highlighted throughout the report and in a chapter following the review of ITS applications."--Technical report documentation page.