UTL News Archive
Ivana Vladisavljevic named Winner of the 2006 ITE Intermountain Section Annual Student Paper Contest
Ivana Vladisavljevic has received first place in the Utah Chapter Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Student Paper Contest. Her paper, "Impact of Cell Phone Conversation While Driving on Car Following Behavior", investigates the impact that distracted drivers have on traffic flow. The intermountain section includes students from universities in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Utah. Ivana received a $400 cash reward and has been asked to present her paper at the Intermountain Section Meeting in Jackson, Wyoming. Ivana is a research assistant at the Utah Traffic Lab and a graduate student at the University of Utah. Congratulations Ivana!!
Abstract
In consideration of the growing number of wireless phone subscribers and drivers who are using cell phones, it is important to examine the effects that having a cell phone conversation while driving has on traffic flow. The goal of the study was to investigate integrating a driver simulator and a traffic simulator in order to understand cell phone impact on traffic flow. The literature review mostly contains Strayer’s work. I have chosen the simulation software VISSIM for experiments because it uses the psycho –physical driver behavior model developed by Wiedemann. Detailed conditions and a parameter setup of the simulation model are provided. I have also explained challenges encountered and reasons for choosing certain values. The coefficients of determination confirmed that a stochastic traffic simulator can replicate results from a deterministic driving simulator. A freeway simulation model was used to examine the impact of the different percentages of drivers who are talking on the cell phone on travel time, delays, and average speed.
More recently we have seen the benefits of the UTL, both in the construction of a new video conference center, and in the recognition of hard working students by outside institutions such as the ITE. The Lab is putting itself on the map. Increases in technology give us more visibility throughout the United States. Increases in technology, such as the conference room pictured below, give us more visibility throughout the United States.
Traffic Lab student is awarded by ITE
Dhruvajyoti (“Dhruva”) Lahon received first place in the Utah Chapter Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Student Paper Contest for the second consecutive year. Her paper on “Developing a Forecasting Model for Managed Lanes using Data from Utah's High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes” was selected as one of the top two papers in the Utah Chapter ITE Student Paper Contest. After making a presentation at the Utah Chapter ITE luncheon meeting on April 19, her research was voted the best. She received an award of $250 and the ITE Traffic Engineering Handbook. Dhruva is also noted for recieving first place in the 2004 Utah Chapter ITE Student Paper Contest for her paper on “Evaluation of the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes on I-15 in Salt Lake Valley, Utah.” Congratulations Dhruva!
UPDATE: Dhruva was notified she would be recieving the ITE Ellis L. Mathes scholarship shortly after recieving 1st place in the ITE student paper contest. The ITE scholarship includes $1,000 and an invitation to an award ceremony at the Intermountain Section annual meeting to be held in Jackson, Wyoming on May 19-21, 2005.
Abstract
A managed lane optimizes the available roadway capacity through the use
of various operations and designs. It restricts its users based on
eligibility, pricing, and access. Therefore, managed lanes include
all traditional High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, High Occupancy
Toll (HOT) lanes, value-priced lanes, reversible lanes, bypass lanes
and special use lanes (such as express, bus-only, or truck-only lanes).
Periodic performance evaluations of the managed lanes help determine
whether they are serving their intended purpose. A strong forecasting
model enables evaluations with projected values. A broad-based forecasting
model of managed lanes was developed based on the data from three Salt
Lake Valley HOV lane studies. The Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs)
considered were vehicle volume, person throughput, Average Vehicle
Occupancy (AVO), travel time savings in minutes, travel time savings
in percentage, speed, and violation rate. Smoothing methods and trend
projection in forecasting were applied to each MOE. The selection of
the best technique for each MOE was based on the least Mean Squared
Error (MSE) generated. A key finding from the modeling was that it
is easier to make predictions about violation rate, speed, and AVO
than it is to make predictions about vehicle volume and person throughput.
The forecasting model has generic applicability. It can be applied
to both existing and planned managed lane projects and is valuable
in projecting future managed lanes performance.