Timely, Dynamic, and Spatially Accurate Roadway Incident Information to Support Real-Time Management of Traffic Operations

At present, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 5 obtains incident Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) information from Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) only for selected interstates in the district through its Transportation Management Center (TMC) system. The lack of incident information on other roadways prevents FDOT from implementing a real-time responsive and proactive traffic operation management system. For incident information on other roadways, CAD systems at public safety answering points (PSAPs) are the best data sources available. However, FDOT lacks an effective communication method to receive incident information from PSAPs in a timely manner. To address this issue, the research team conducted fundamental research to support real-time incident information sharing between PSAPs and FDOT. Specifically, the authors reviewed related documents, interviewed, and surveyed PSAPs in District 5 to understand the current practice of incident information management. The authors also reviewed best professional practices in the country on traffic-incident-related information sharing between transportation agencies and PSAPs, based on which, the authors identified three common approaches for incident information sharing: dedicated workstation, CAD-to-TMC integration, and information exchange hub. By conducting a feasibility analysis using a cost-benefit framework, the authors found that the best approach to achieve district-wide or statewide incident information sharing is through an information exchange hub. Between the two options to receive incoming information into the exchange system, the industry standard HTTP POST method is superior to the email/text method. To support the successful implementation of a district-wide or even statewide incident information sharing system, the research team identified a list of data elements that FDOT should request from PSAPs, proposed an architecture for the exchange system, and developed a three-phase implementation plan that includes development of the system prototype, followed by a pilot phase, and it is completed by an expansion phase. The proposed solution creates opportunities for greater data accuracy and integration improvements that can lead to new efficacies in incident management and traffic operations far beyond the objectives of this research.

• Record URL:
  https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/research/reports/fdot-bdv31-977-111-rpt.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/research/reports/fdot-bdv31-977-111-sum.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/63056
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program. Cover date: June 2020.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Florida, Gainesville

  Gainesville, FL  United States  32611

  Florida Department of Transportation

  605 Suwannee Street
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399-0450
• Authors:
  • Bejleri, I
  • Zhang, Y
  • Zhai, L
  • Yan, X
• Publication Date: 2020-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 130p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Best practices; Data sharing; Feasibility analysis; Implementation; Information management; Real time information; Surveys; Traffic incidents
• Identifier Terms: Florida Department of Transportation; Public Safety Answering Points
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01760121
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: BDV31-977-111
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 16 2020 9:31AM