Highway Traffic Monitoring Committee

Transportation Research Board Committee Number: ABJ35

3-Year Strategic Plan 2015-2017

DRAFT DEVELOPED: October 31, 2014

Section 1 - Scope and Introduction:

The scope of this Committeeis to address all aspects of research in the fields of highway traffic monitoring, including detection, counting, classification, and in-motion weighing of highway vehicles. Its scope encompasses the full range of monitoring technology, including traffic sensors (both intrusive and non-intrusive), installation materials and techniques, signal processing algorithms, analysis and reporting techniques, and comprehensive monitoring programs. The committee is also concerned with highway monitoring standards to ensure the applicability and quality of traffic data in all its applications. This Committee oversees three subcommittees including ABJ35(2) Weigh-In-Motion Subcommittee, ABJ35(3) Bicycle and Pedestrian Data Subcommittee, and ABJ30(3) Travel Time, Speed, and Reliability Subcommittee.

Section 2 - Mission:

The mission of the ABJ35 Committee is to provideresources, support and guidance to enhance, enable, and advance the state of the practice with regards to highway trafficmonitoring and data collection technologies, methods, and management techniques.

Section 3 – Committee History – Membership, Publications, and Sponsorship Activities

The Highway Traffic Monitoring Committee has an active group of 25 members representing State Department of Transportation (DOT) Agencies, University Researchers, and Private Vendors/Consultants working in the field of highway traffic monitoring. Below is a summary of the Committee’s membership, publications, and sponsorship activities.

The Highway Traffic Monitoring Committee maintains an active membership that is organizationally and geographically diverse. This diversity allows representation of various perspectives in discussions so that committee decisions may be more broadly applicable and appropriate. Organizationally the committee membership represents the following:

  • Federal – 3 members
  • State – 10 members
  • International – 1 member
  • Academia – 7 members
  • Consultants – 5 members

Through active participation as members or friends of other committees and panels, the membership serves as liaisons, sharing information bi-directionally so that committee discussions consider possible interactions with others. The following list demonstrates the additional involvement of ABJ35 committee members.

  • AFH30 – Application of Emerging Technologies to Design and Construction.
  • ABJ30 – Urban Transportation Data and Information Systems.
  • AHB15 – Intelligent Transportation Systems.
  • AHB55 – Work Zone Traffic Control
  • ATO55 – Truck Size and Weight
  • AFD60 – Flexible Pavement Design

The committee also supports the participation of three young members, representing one state agency and two universities. The committee actively involves these young members in activities and discussions as a means of fostering their continued involvement as productive associates of the Transportation Research Board.

ABJ35 was actively engaged in outreach activities during the evaluation period. Activities included participation in the TRB annual meetings, and hosting mid-year meetings in conjunction with 2012 and 2014 NATMEC conferences. More details are provided for each of these activities below.

  1. TRB Annual Meeting Participation – participation in the 2012, 2013, and 2014 Annual Meetings. Participating included:
  2. 2012 –The 2012 annual TRB meeting was a very busy one for the ABJ35 committee. In addition to the annual committee meeting, the committee reviewed 30 papers, recommended nine papers for publication, sponsored two paper sessions and one poster session, co-sponsored two workshops and five sessions/meetings. The committee provided input as required to reflect committee interests in each of these activities. During this time period the committee actively participated in discussion and review of Traffic Monitoring Guide chapters as requested by the contractor updating that document under contract to the FHWA. Unfortunately, meeting attendance information was not available, but attendance has remained steady and consistent with past years, with variations mainly attributable to meeting time and competing sessions. The session and workshop details are provided below:
  3. Paper Session 628 – New Technologies in Collecting and Archiving Nonmotorized Travel Data. Co-sponsored with three other committees.
  4. Paper Session 696 – Innovations in Vehicle Detection and Classification. Co-sponsored with one other committee.
  5. Poster Session 592 – Dealing with the Real World: Techniques for Deriving Better Traffic Data. Co-sponsored with four other committees.
  6. Workshop 123 - Establishing National Bicycle and Pedestrian Data Clearinghouse, Part 1: T3 Approach. Co-sponsored with five other committees.
  7. Workshop 191 – Establishing National Bicycle and Pedestrian Data Clearinghouse, Part 2: Setting a Research Agenda. Co-sponsored with five other committees.
  8. Co-sponsored session APS12-026 – Applying Weigh-In-Motion Data in Truck Size and Weight Policy Analysis: Needs, Experiences, and Opportunities. Co-sponsored with one other committee.
  9. C0-sponsored session SMW12-007 – Practical Smoothness Solutions with ProVAL. Co-sponsored with three other committees.
  10. Co-sponsored session TPP12-005 – Harnessing New Data Sources: Bluetooth Readers and Probes.
  11. Co-sponsored session TPP12-006 – Toward Better Understanding of Travel Time and Speed Estimation.
  12. Co-sponsored session TPS12-020 – Utilizing Loops and Probes for Improved Travel Time Analysis.
  13. 2013 – In addition to the normal meeting agenda items, in 2013 the committee focused on development of working groups to support initiatives in traffic monitoring that were defined during the 2012 NATMEC Conference. The committee remained active in outreach efforts, reviewing a total of 33 papers and recommending six for publication. The committee was involved in some capacity in three paper/conference sessions, four poster sessions, two workshops, and three co-sponsored sessions/meetings. Details of these outreach efforts from the 2013 annual TRB meeting are as follows:
  14. Paper Session 640 – Bicycle and Pedestrian Counting Data and Collection Methods. Co-sponsored with two other committees.
  15. Paper Session 796 – Optimizing Traffic Data Programs for Informed Decision Making. Co-sponsored with one other committee.
  16. Paper Session 766 – Travel Time Estimation and Processing. Co-sponsored with one other committee.
  17. Poster Session 425 – Utilizing and Collecting Data on Nonmotorized Traffic: Bicycles and Pedestrians. Co-sponsored with twoother committees.
  18. Poster Session 610 – Applications of Traffic Data for Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Guide. Co-sponsored with one other committee.
  19. Poster Session 353 – New Approaches to Vehicle Detection and Classification. Co-sponsored with one other committee.
  20. Poster Session 360 – Travel Time Algorithms and Arterial Monitoring. Co-sponsored with one other committee.
  21. Workshop 182 – Factoring Bicycle and Pedestrian Data. Co-sponsored with three other committees.
  22. Workshop 126 – Counting on the Locals for Traffic Data. Co-sponsored with four other committees.
  23. Co-sponsored session RPP13-005 – Speed Data Needs and Methodologies. Co-sponsored with eight other committees, and strong cross-cutting issue focus.
  24. Co-sponsored session TPS13-002 – Collect It Once, Use it Many Times; Leveraging Existing Data Sources.
  25. 2014 –During 2014 the committee members discussed and prioritized a number of key focus areas. From this list the committee identified the highest priority areas and developed working groups to make progress on development of research needs statements, sponsored sessions, or other means of advancing the state of the knowledge in these areas. The committee meeting during the 2014 annual TRB conference solidified membership in these working groups and made assignments for activities and deliverables. To maintain outreach the committee reviewed 55 papers, and recommended five papers for publication. The committee participated in some capacity in two paper/conference sessions, three poster sessions, one workshop, and two co-sponsored sessions. Details about these outreach efforts follow:
  26. Paper session 408 – Bicycle and Pedestrian Counts, Factoring, and Forecasting: Employment in Diverse Applications. Co-sponsored with two other committees.
  27. Paper session 296 – Traffic Data Inputs for Pavement Design and Damage Cost Estimates. Co-sponsored with two other committees.
  28. Poster Session 380 – Developments in Activie Transportation: Meeting the Challenges of Demand for Data in Bicycle and Pedestrian Fields. Co-sponsored with two other committees.
  29. Poster session 381 – Innovations in Vehicle Detection.
  30. Poster session 383 – Traffic Data Analysis for Quality and Effectiveness.
  31. Workshop 194 – Bike, Pedestrian, and Motorized Local Traffic Counting on All Roads. Co-sponsored with four other committees.
  32. Co-sponsored session TPP14-006 – Preparing for MAP-21: Measuring Travel Time and Travel Time Reliability.
  33. Co-sponsored session TPS14-023 – Time Prediction and Data Quality.
  34. 2015 – half-day workshop on Strategies for improved communication between traffic data practitioners and transportation decision-makers Workshopwith cosponsors from Statewide Transportation Data and Information Systems (ABJ20); Committee on Urban Transportation Data and Information Systems (ABJ30); Committee on Visualization in Transportation (ABJ95)
  35. Mid-year Meetings – In addition to regularly scheduled annual meetings during the TRB conferences, the committee met on two occasions during mid-year meetings in conjunction with the 2012 and 2014 NATMEC conferences. These meetings, although generally less formal than the annual meetings, provide a valuable opportunity for focused discussions of research needs and progress on initiatives. The primary focus of the 2012 mid-year meeting was research needs and the development of statements. The primary focus of discussions during the 2014 mid-year meeting was the progress on high priority initiatives in progress within working groups of the committee. Both of these meetings maintained forward momentum in important activities under way. It is also worth noting that A number of the committee members actively participated in the organization of both of the NATMEC conferences, which were extremely successful.

Section 4 - Goals:

  1. Advance the TRB Bicycle and Pedestrian Data Subcommittee to a Full Committee

In the next three years, ABJ35 will support the Bicycle and Pedestrian Data subcommittee in an effort to advance the subcommittee to become a full committee within the TRB organizational structure by continuing to enlist members, producing valuable research documentation, obtaining research funding for projects with national significance/benefits, provide guidance and support for a national bicycle and pedestrian data warehouse, as well as continue to host podium, poster, and presentations sessions at the TRB Annual Meeting. (*Reference the TRB ABJ35(3) Triennial Strategic Plan for more details on this subcommittee and activities planned in the next three years to achieve this goal.)

  1. Provide Federal Regulatory Highway Traffic Monitoring Guidance and Support

The Committee members, together with governmental agencies, public/private universities, and private companies, will contribute to the state of the practice by providing subject matter experts and resources that can provide guidance and support to agencies throughout the nation. The Committee will continue to strategically work with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) staff to ensure federal guidelines for providing highway traffic monitoring data is communicated, understood, and supported throughout the nation. This includes supporting the implementation of the 2013 Traffic Monitoring Guidebook.

  1. Continue to Support Efforts in Compiling Highway Traffic Monitoring Data

Specifically addressing the need for continued highway traffic monitoring data collection, the Committee will work with local, regional, and national resources to ensure efforts are prioritized that support compiling national highway traffic monitoring datasets. This includes supporting the FHWA Traffic Monitoring Analysis System (TMAS) software storage, integration, and distribution data initiatives by integrating web based data administration tools, capable of combining local, state, and regional and national level data through customizable visualizations, data analytics and standardized report outputs.

  1. Encourage and Work Towards Obtaining Funding for Research Projects that Further theHighway Traffic MonitoringState of the Practice

The Committee anticipates a continued and significant interest in obtaining information about highway traffic monitoring from and for a varied audience across the nation and abroad (e.g., long distance intercity bus travel using classification count data). In an effort to accomplish ABJ35 and national agencies’ goals related to collecting, maintaining, and distributing highway traffic monitoring information, Committee members and friends will continue to develop research needs statements while working to identify funding sources by engaging local, regional and national entities at the highest levels possible. Focusing on projects that advance the state of the practice in highway traffic monitoring, the Committee will continue to solicit input and feedback from other supporting TRB committees, university researchers, governmental agencies, and private vendors. The Committee will utilize this collaborative and all-inclusive approach to work on identifying and funding new and innovative research projects.

  1. Enhance Guidance and Support Materials with a Web-enabled Repository of Highway Monitoring Information

A major focus of the Committee in the next three years will be to enhance the existing website to provide a venue for highway traffic monitoring guidance and support materials. As the highway traffic monitoring field continues to advance in available technology and tools, a need to provide a venue for training materials is necessary. Continuing to ensure the Committee’s exposure to other TRB committees by cosponsoring events will be a key to obtaining highway monitoring support materials. The Committee will also continue to update and maintain its website while extending the current website’s features to include a data collection and guidance support page. Developing an electronic compendium of guidance and support materials organized by current highway traffic monitoringtopics such as data standards is expected to be completed within the next three years.

  1. Provide Leadership and Communication to Strengthen Support for Gathering Highway Traffic Monitoring Data

In the next three years, the Committee will continue to actively communicate with its Committee members and friends. The Committee willtarget communication distribution to topics that improve the understanding and evaluation highway traffic monitoring information. For example, the committee will look at how highway traffic monitoring data influences facility design, enhances safety by providing accurate crash rates, allows for accurately reported progress on performance measures, provides for better facility maintenance and operations, and supports agencies in finding new funding sources for commuter and recreational facilities. The Committee will continue communicating highway traffic monitoring data future needs, current practices, and historical lessons learned while addressing planning, engineering, policy, and design needs by using an interdisciplinary collaboration and contributory approach with practitioners, customers, and data user’s participation.

  1. Coordinate and Communicate with Professional working on Connected Vehicle Advancements

Developing connected vehicle technologies and functionalities potentially requires highway traffic monitoring applications. Connected Vehicle data may eventually be archived which is of interest to this committee and the highway travel monitoring community in general. There are also a tremendous amount of research opportunities to determine how the connected vehicle data should be used for traffic monitoring applications. Coordination and communication with professional working on Connected Vehicle Advancements is one way to ensure this committee stays informed and involved in technology advancements in the Connected Vehicle technology area.

Section 5 - Strategic Initiatives:

The Committee will undertake strategic initiatives to help achieve the foregoing goals. These initiatives aim to continue and enhance the work and responsibilities of the Committee.

  • Strategy A: Host meetings (e.g., at TRB Annual Meeting, NATMEC), workshops and webinars to help advance the understanding of highway traffic monitoring topics.
  • Strategy B:Develop research needs statements that reflect the needs of the highway traffic monitoring community.
  • Strategy C: Develop annual meeting calls for papers that focus on topics important to the Committee.
  • Strategy D: Support research projects by providing subject matter experts to research teams developing tools and methods for advancing highway traffic monitoring practices
  • Strategy E: Identify and seek out funding and sponsorships (e.g., NCHRP, Federal agencies) for research needs.
  • Strategy F:Support cross-committee sessions at the annual and summer meetings that address research gaps and priority issue areas.
  • Strategy G:Maintain wide and effective communication of research findings, best practices, ongoing research and related information.
  • Strategy H:Use the Committee website to enhance communication with Committee members and friends, and serve as a repository for information on highway traffic monitoring resources

The following matrix identifies how the Committee envisions each strategic initiative to support the seven Committee goals.

Committee Goals / Strategic Initiatives
A / B / C / D / E / F / G / H
  1. Create a Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee
/  / 
  1. Support and guide federal traffic monitoring
/  /  /  /  / 
  1. Support compilation of traffic monitoring data
/  /  /  /  / 
  1. Obtain research funding
/  /  / 
  1. Enhance guidance and support materials
/  /  /  /  / 
  1. Provide leadership for gathering traffic monitoring data
/  /  /  /  /  / 
  1. Coordinate with connected vehicle community
/  /  / 