western transportation institute montana state university-bozeman marcel p. huijser, phd challenges...

Western Transportation InstituteMontana State University-Bozeman

Marcel P. Huijser, PhD

Challenges of Advanced Signing Technology Applications


Situation Transportation - Environment importantTransportation - Environment important

-- 725,000-1,500,000 animal-vehicle crashes 725,000-1,500,000 animal-vehicle crashes

-- > 200 human fatalities, 29,000 injuries > 200 human fatalities, 29,000 injuries

-- > $1 billion in property damage / yr US > $1 billion in property damage / yr US

.… and increasing.… and increasing

Conover et al., 1995; Cook & Daggett, 1995



PDF format downloadable fromPDF format downloadable fromwww.coe.montana.edu/wti/wwwshare/yellowstone www.coe.montana.edu/wti/wwwshare/yellowstone



Static warning signs, deflectorsStatic warning signs, deflectors High fencesHigh fences High fences & crossing structuresHigh fences & crossing structures Animal detection systemsAnimal detection systems

Historical perspectiveHistorical perspective

No ultimate solutionNo ultimate solution

Local context and objectivesLocal context and objectives

Tools for toolboxTools for toolbox



Evaluate animal detection systems

Western US (Yellowstone, MT): elkEastern US (Harrisburg, PA): w-t deer

2 systems: MT: break-the-beam (STS)PA: movement (Oh Deer)

Funders: 15 DOT’sFHWA

ProjectProject



System effectiveness– Vehicle speed– Animal-vehicle collisions

Research questionsResearch questions

System acceptance – DOT (MDT)

– Traveling public

– Others (e.g. Yellowstone NP)

System performance

– False positives

– False negatives



Hw 191Hw 191

Yellowstone NPYellowstone NP



Manufacturer: Manufacturer: Sensor Technology Systems (STS)Sensor Technology Systems (STS)(Scottsdale, AZ)(Scottsdale, AZ)

Location:Location: Yellowstone NP, Hwy 191, Mile 28-29Yellowstone NP, Hwy 191, Mile 28-29

Owner:Owner: MDT, and operation and maintenance MDT, and operation and maintenance

Research: Research: WTI, and project managementWTI, and project management

Timeframe:Timeframe: administration: started in 2000administration: started in 2000research: Nov 2002 – Dec 2004research: Nov 2002 – Dec 2004

Project partnersProject partners



DelaysDelays

Change system STS and subcontractor

Special requirements Yellowstone NP- topsoil- topsoil- vegetation- vegetation- landscape- landscape

Cost overruns for STS and WTIConcerned funders

Park Manual

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT

FOR CONSTRUCTION

DISTURBANCE



19 17 11 21 23 7 5 3 1

20 18 16 4 12 10 6

15 13

T - Transmitter (15)R - Receiver (15)M - Master (1)B - Beacon (4)

MP 29MP 28

North

391'483'180'489'556'1384'79'83'3081320

BB

R 1

B B

872'643'745'1073'536'1320

M

Safe Zone for TrailHead Parking

E

4C

8 3

D

5

F

9

A

6

1

0

7

B

R 1

R 1

R 1

R 1

R 1

R 2T 1R 2 R 2

R 1

R 1

T 2T 1

T 1T 1

T 2T 2

T 2

T 2

T 1 T 1 T 1R 2

R 2

R 2

T 2 T 2

T 2

R 2

0 2

46

Metal Pole

Wood Pole

Metal Sensor Pole withMetal Power Pole

DesignDesign



Eagle Rock TimberEagle Rock Timber

Michiana ContractingMichiana Contracting

Yelowstone NPYelowstone NP

And…And…

Dependable PaintDependable Paint

Coral Sales CompanyCoral Sales Company

Myrstol Post and PoleMyrstol Post and Pole

MDTMDT

Field playersField players



Installation challengesInstallation challenges Winter deadline

Coordination no cell phone reception

Traffic control no priority, no overtime

Working conditions (snow, cold)



Location posts - telephone line

Access road

Painting equipment

Cell phone modem

Installation challengesInstallation challenges



Average speed (n=52)

108.7 km/hr SD=15.2

67.5 M/hr SD=9.4

Speed readingsSpeed readings

Top speed: semi141 km/hr88 M/hr



Speed reductionSpeed reduction

Local speed limitLocal speed limit

55 M/hr55 M/hr



0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

0 5 10 15 20

Speed reduction (km/hr)

Req

uir

ed s

amp

le s

ize

(n v

ehic

les) 1 sided t-test

=0.05, power = 0.8

Based on speed readingsBased on speed readings

from Yellowstone study site from Yellowstone study site

5 km/hr115 vehicles per treatment

Power analysisPower analysis

Warning signalsWarning signals

on - off on - off



Road surfaceRoad surface PrecipitationPrecipitation Light Light conditionsconditions

DryDry NoneNone DaylightDaylight

Snow packedSnow packed SnowSnow DaylightDaylight

DryDry NoneNone DarknessDarkness

Snow packedSnow packed SnowSnow DarknessDarkness

Road- and weather Road- and weather conditionsconditions



Driver reaction timeDriver reaction time

Expected: 0.7 sec. 0.5 is perception and 0.2 is movement: release the

accelerator and to depress the brake pedal)

Unexpected common road signal: 1.25 sec. Increased perception time

Surprise by unusual circumstance: 1.5 sec. Increase interpretation and decision time

"'How Long Does It Take To Stop?' Methodological Analysis of Driver Perception-Brake Times"Transportation Human Factors, 2, pp 195-216, 2000



Potential reduction in reaction time:

1.5-0.7 = 0.8 sec.

Potential reduction in braking distance:

0.8 sec. at 55 M/hr = 20.8 m (68.4 ft)

Driver reaction timeDriver reaction time



11/22/2002 05:42:47 8 1511/22/2002 05:42:47 8 15

11/22/2002 05:42:55 0 2611/22/2002 05:42:55 0 26

19 17 11 21 23 7 5 3 1

20 18 16 4 12 10 6

15 13


MP 29MP 28

North

391'483'180'489'556'1384'79'83'3081320

BB

R 1

B B

872'643'745'1073'536'1320

M


E

4C

8 3

D

5

F

9

A

6

1

0

7

B

R 1

R 1

R 1

R 1

R 1

R 2T 1R 2 R 2

R 1

R 1

T 2T 1

T 1T 1

T 2T 2

T 2

T 2

T 1 T 1 T 1R 2

R 2

R 2

T 2 T 2

T 2

R 2

0 2

46

Metal Pole

Wood Pole


DataData

Possible animal crossingPossible animal crossing



11/23/2002 12:21:57 A 1111/23/2002 12:21:57 A 11

11/23/2002 12:22:27 6 1211/23/2002 12:22:27 6 12

11/23/2002 12:22:43 1 1111/23/2002 12:22:43 1 11

11/23/2002 12:22:43 0 3011/23/2002 12:22:43 0 30

11/23/2002 12:23:02 7 1911/23/2002 12:23:02 7 19

11/23/2002 12:23:14 B 1511/23/2002 12:23:14 B 1519 17 11 21 23 7 5 3 1

20 18 16 4 12 10 6

15 13


MP 29MP 28

North

391'483'180'489'556'1384'79'83'3081320

BB

R 1

B B

872'643'745'1073'536'1320

M


E

4C

8 3

D

5

F

9

A

6

1

0

7

B

R 1

R 1

R 1

R 1

R 1

R 2T 1R 2 R 2

R 1

R 1

T 2T 1

T 1T 1

T 2T 2

T 2

T 2

T 1 T 1 T 1R 2

R 2

R 2

T 2 T 2

T 2

R 2

0 2

46

Metal Pole

Wood Pole


DataData

snow spray from snow plowsnow spray from snow plow



Problems and solutionsProblems and solutionsNovember - December 2002

Problems

Low temperatures – radios

FCC regulations radios

Management plan MDT

Research permit suspended

Remote access?

Snow spray impact?

Snow dunes?

Shade – solar panels?

Theft / vandalism?



Problems and solutionsProblems and solutionsJanuary 2003

Solutions

Low temperatures – radios fixed

FCC experimental license

Sensors, software, accident, curves

Outreach

Problems

Randomly flashing beacons

Management plan MDT

Concerns Yellowstone NP

Research permit suspended

Remote access?

Elk sign stolen



Lessons learnedLessons learned Expect delays

Extensive lab tests

Good field reconnaissance

Limit project partners?

Avoid weather deadlines

Construction crew = flagging crew

“Green light” analysis!

Mile markers – payments!

Decision points

western transportation institute montana state university-bozeman marcel p. huijser, phd challenges...

Documents

yellowstone np slide

toolbox slide

system sts

dots fhwa project slide

construction disturbance

project management research

animalvehicle crashes

project management timeframe