Principal Investigator(s):
M. Imran Hayee, Dept. Head, Professor, UMD-Electrical Engineering
Project summary:
This project involved the development of a dedicated short range communication (DSRC)-based Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) communication system for improving traffic efficiency and safety in congestion build-up around work zones on US roadways. The goal was to develop a portable system that can be easily deployed at a work zone site to acquire and communicate important travel information, e.g., travel time (TT) and start of congestion (SoC) location to the driver. By providing this information, drivers can make informed decisions on route choice and be prepared for upcoming congestion.
The system is composed of a portable road-side unit (RSU) that can engage the on-board units (OBUs) of the traveling vehicles using DSRC technology to acquire necessary traffic data (speed, time, and location). From the acquired data, the RSU periodically estimates the SoC location and TT that are broadcast to all vehicles in its coverage range. An OBU receiving the broadcast message calculates the distance to the SoC location. The distance to the SoC location and TT are then relayed to the driver, who can make smart decisions regarding whether to seek an alternate route and when to expect a sudden speed reduction. Results from the field demonstration have shown that the developed system can adapt smoothly to changing work-zone environments under various congestion patterns on the road.