Author

Dr. Jeffrey Adler
E-mail: adlerjl@earthlink.net

Description

It is said that between 6-10% of urban congestion is caused by inefficient route choice. Enabling a more efficient distribution of trips over time and space can help curb congestion. This course discusses the fundamentals of route choice behavior and the use of in-vehicle and roadside information systems for improving route choice.

Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Compare and contrast the use of "in-vehicle route guidance system" and "Dynamic Traffic Assignment" within the context of ATMIS.
• Describe spatial behavior as it relates to route choice behavior.
• Explain the concept of "cognitive maps" and how they are formed.
• List four categories of knowledge that, when learned, increase spatial ability.
• Differentiate between pre-trip and en-route tasks.
• Classify possible errors in route choice behavior and describe how information can improve decision-making.
• Provide three ways in which drivers can benefit from in-vehicle route guidance.
• Describe the major components of in-vehicle navigation systems and provide guidelines for development of these systems.

Audience

Public-sector Transportation Professionals including US DOT engineers, planners, project managers, and field staff, FTA Regional staff, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Specialists, and others as appropriate. Transportation professionals from state, regional, and local agencies would also benefit from participation in the course.

Length

Approximately eight hours.

Prerequisites

Students should have a basic understanding of ITS and familiarity with traveler information systems.

Course Outline

The course outline is as follows:
(numbers in parentheses refer to pages)

1. Introduction (1-12)
1. Terminology Primer
2. Historical Perspectives on the Emergence of Traveler Information Systems
   • First generation systems: Traveler Information Systems
   • Second generation systems: Advanced Traveler Information System
3. Quiz 1
4. Self-Review Exercise 1
   
2. Navigation, Wayfinding, and Route Choice Behavior (14-32)
1. Framework for Route Choice Behavior
• Spatial Behavior and Spatial Knowledge
• Wayfinding
• Navigation and Spatial Ability
• Pre-Trip (Activity) Planning
• Pre-Trip Route Choice
• En-route Route Choice Behavior
2. Information and Route Choice Behavior
3. Errors in Route Choice Decision Making
• Impacts on Pre-trip Route Choice Behavior
• Impacts on En-route Route Choice Behavior
4. Behavioral conditions leading to Inefficient Route Choice Behavior
5. Deriving Benefits from Information Systems
6. Quiz 2
7. Self-Review Exercise 2
   
3. In-Vehicle Route Guidance Systems (33-55)
1. Classes of Systems
• IRANS: In-vehicle Routing And Navigation System
• IMSIS: In-vehicle Motorist Information System
• ISIS: In-vehicle Signing Information Systems
• IVSAWS: In-Vehicle Safety And Warning System
2. IVI Objectives
3. The Fundamentals of Route Guidance Systems
4. Spatial database
5. Vehicle Location Systems
6. Path Search Routines
7. IVNS - Example Technology
8. Route Guidance and Notebook Computers
9. Crossword Puzzle
10. Implementation Guidelines
• Trust and Compliance
• Oversaturation
• Short-term vs Long-term Effects on Route Choice Behavior
11. Competing Architectures: Centralized vs. Decentralized
• Who controls routing?
• Market Penetration and System Performance
12. Estimating Benefits
13. Quiz 3
14. Self-Review Exercise 3
    
4. Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) (56-66)
1. Background
2. Technical Review: STA Models
3. Technical Review: DTA Modeling
4. Technical Review: DYNASMART
5. Self-Review Exercise 4
   
5. Session Examination (67)