12.

0 TRAVEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS

12.1 TRAVEL DEMAND MANAGEMENT

 Congestion of traffic in cities is a serious problem. Medium and long term solutions like
widening roads, providing elevated flyovers and constructing bypasses and urban
expressways are costly. Simple and inexpensive solutions can mitigate the crisis for some
time. Transportation System Management (TSM) is a package of short term measures to,
make the most productive and cost-effective use of existing transportation facilities, services
and modes
 Many of the urban streets carry traffic volumes for which they were not simply designed. The
inevitable result is delay, congestion and accidents. The resultant ills can be got over to
some extent by controlling the traffic, imposing regulatory measures and enforcing
management techniques, so as to make the most economic use of the streets. Traffic control
measures include traffic signals and these have been already considered. Regulatory
measures include restrictions on speed, parking, and size of vehicles and so on, and these
also have been discussed separately.
 The third of the set of measures available to the traffic engineer are collectively known as
traffic management measures.
 The fundamental approach in traffic management measures is to retain as much as possible
existing pattern of streets but to alter the pattern of traffic movement on these, so that the
most efficient use is made of the system. In doing so, minor alternations to traffic lanes,
islands, curbs etc. are inevitable, and are part of the management measures. The general
aim is to reorient the traffic pattern on the existing streets so that the conflict between
vehicles and pedestrians is reduced. Some of the well-known traffic management measures
are:
i. Tolling of heavily trafficked sections of highway, possibly at peak times only
ii. Carpooling and other ride-sharing programs, where high occupancy rates within the cars
of commuters is achieved voluntarily either by the commuters themselves, in order to save
money, or by employers in order to meet some target stipulated by the planning authority.
Use of carpooling can be promoted by allowing private cars with multiple occupants to use
bus-lanes during peak hour travel or by allowing them reduced
iii. Restrictions on turning movements；At a junction, the turning traffic includes left-turners
and right-turners. Left-turning traffic does not usually obstruct traffic flows through the
junctions, but right-turning traffic can cause serious loss of capacity
iv. One-way streets One-way streets are those where traffic movement is permitted in only one
direction.
v. Tidal-flow operations: Traffic flow on any street leading to the city centre is imbalanced in
directional distribution during the peak hours.
vi. Exclusive Bus-lanes； traffic management practice where a lane of the carriageway is
reserved exclusively for bus traffic
vii. Closing side-streets；A Main Street may have a number of lightly trafficked side-streets. It
maybe possible to close some of these side-streets without adversely affecting traffic, and
still get the benefits of improved traffic flows
viii. Staggered work hours for traffic management
ix. Parking: Peripheral Parking schemes, Parking management and control/Parking charges at
their destination:
x. Chartered buses (Institutional buses) to serve areas of trip origins to common work place
xi. Internal shuttle service in the CBD
xii. Entry fee/Road pricing/Congestion pricing
xiii. Mode change support
xiv. Telecommuting and alternate work schedule
12.2 INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

• Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is the application of computer, electronics, and

communication technologies and management strategies in an integrated manner to provide
traveler information to increase the safety and efficiency of the road transportation systems
• Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) enables elements within the transportation system -
vehicles, roads, traffic lights, message signs, etc. - to become intelligent by embedding them
with microchips and sensors and empowering them to communicate with each other through
wireless technologies.
• The core of ITS consists in obtaining, processing, and distributing information for better use
of transportation system, infrastructure and services.
• ITS is a concept that will contribute to the more efficient use of infrastructure and transport
solutions in the future.
• Transport systems can reduce impact on the environment, and increase safety and security
through real-time traffic information, remote monitoring, and communication between
transport vehicles and the infrastructure.
 These systems involve vehicles, drivers, passengers, road operators, and managers all
interacting with each other and the environment, and linking with the complex
infrastructure systems to improve the safety and capacity of road systems.
 Traditional driver training, infrastructure and safety improvements, may contribute to certain
extent to reduce the number of accidents but not enough to combat this menace. Intelligent
Transport Systems are the best solution to the problem. Safety is one of the principal driving
forces behind the evolution, development, standardization, and implementation of ITS
systems.
 ITS improves transportation safety and mobility and enhances global connectivity by means
of productivity improvements achieved through the integration of advanced communications
technologies into the transportation infrastructure and in vehicles. Intelligent transportation
systems encompass a broad range of wireless and wire line communication based
information and electronics technologies to better manage traffic and maximize the utilization
of the exist-ing transportation infrastructure.
 It improves driving experience, safety and capacity of road systems, reduces risks in
transportation, relieves traffic congestion, improves transportation efficiency and
reduces pollution.
 The number of ITS user services, keep changing over time when a new service is added. All
the above services are divided in eight groups.described as follows:
12.2.1 Travel and traffic management:

 Pre-trip information: This user service provides information to the travelers about the
transportation system before they begin their trips so that they can make more informed
decisions regarding their time of departure, the mode to use and route to take to their
destinations.

Pre-Trip and en-route Information

  En-route driver information: This user service provides travel related information to the
travelers en route after they start their trips through variable message signs (VMS), car radio,
or portable communication devices
 Route guidance: This service provides information to the travellers with a suggested route
to reach a specified destination, along with simple instructions on upcoming turns and other
manoeuvres. The benefits of this service are reduced delay and drivers stress levels
particularly in an unfamiliar area.
 Ride matching and reservation: This user service provide real-time ride matching
information to travellers in their homes, offices or other locations, and assists transportation
providers with vehicle assignments and scheduling. Travellers give information to the service
center and get number of ride sharing options from which they can choose the best.

12.2.2 Traveller Services Information

 Traffic Control: This service collects the real time data from the transportation system,
processes it into usable information, and uses it to determine the optimum assignment of
right-of-way to vehicles and pedestrians.
 Incident Management: This service aims to improve the incident management and
response capabilities of transportation and public safety officials, the towing and recovery
industry, and others involved in incident response.
 Incident Management
12.2.3 Public transportation operations
 Highway Rail Intersection: This service is to provide improved control of highway and train
traffic to avoid or decrease the severity of collisions between trains and vehicles at highway-
rail intersections
 Emissions Testing and Mitigation
The main objective of this service is to monitor and implement strategies to divert traffic away
from sensitive air quality areas, or control access to such areas using advanced sensors.
This also used to identify vehicles emitting pollutants exceeding the standard values and to
inform drivers to enable them to take corrective action. This helps in facilitating
implementation and evaluation of various pollution control strategies by authorities.
 Electronic payment: This user service allows travellers to pay for transportation services
with a common electronic payment medium for different transportation modes and functions.
Toll collection, transit fare payment, and parking payment are linked through a multi-modal
multi-use electronic system.
 Public Travel Security: This user service creates a secure environment for public
transportation operators and support staff and monitors the environment in transit facilities,
transit stations, parking lots, bus stops and on-board transit vehicles and generates alarms
(either automatically or manually) when necessary. It also provides security to the systems
that monitor key infrastructure of transit (rail track, bridges, tunnels, bus guide ways, etc.).

12.2.4 Commercial Vehicle operations

 This involves following services: CV electronic clearance, automated road side safety
inspection, On-board safety monitoring administrative process, Hazardous material incident
response and Freight Mobility.
 Automated Roadside Safety Inspection: At inspection station the safety requirements are
checked more quickly and more accurately during a safety inspection using automated
inspection capabilities. Advanced equipments are used to check brake, steering and
suspension performance and also the driver’s performance pertaining to driver alertness and
fitness for duty.
 On-board Safety Monitoring: This service monitors the driver, vehicle, and cargo and
notifies the driver, carrier, and, also to the enforcement personnel, if an unsafe situation
 arises during operation of the vehicle. This is user service also assures freight container,
trailer, and commercial vehicle integrity by monitoring on-board sensors for a breach or
tamper event.
 Freight Mobility; This service provides information to the drivers, dispatchers, and inter-
modal transportation providers, enabling carriers to take advantage of real-time traffic
information, as well as vehicle and load location information, to increase productivity.

12.2.5 Advanced vehicle control and safety systems

This user service aims to improve the safety of the transportation system by supplementing drivers'
abilities to maintain vigilance and control of the vehicle by enhancing the crash avoidance
capabilities of vehicles. Some of the applications include:

 Longitudinal Collision Avoidance through implementing rear-end collision warning

and control, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), head-on collision warning and control,
and backing collision warning to the drivers.
 Lateral Collision Avoidance This helps drivers in avoiding accidents that result
when a vehicle leaves its own lane of travel, by warning drivers and by assuming
temporary control of the vehicle
 Intersection Collision Avoidance: This user service is specifically aimed at
providing vehicle operators with assistance in avoiding collisions at intersections.
 Safety Readiness: This helps to provide drivers with warnings regarding their own
driving performance, the condition of the vehicle, and the condition of the roadway
as sensed from the vehicle.
12.2.6 Emergency management: This is to provide travellers the ability to notify
appropriate emergency response personnel regarding the need for assistance due to
emergency or non-emergency situations either by manually or automatically from the
vehicle on the occurrence of an accident and reduces the time from the receipt of an
emergency notification to the arrival of the emergency vehicles at incident location
thereby reducing the severity of accident injuries.
12.2.7 Information management: This service is aimed to provide the functionality needed
to store and archive the huge amounts of data being collected on a continuous basis
by different ITS technologies.
12.2.8 Maintenance and construction management: This user service is aimed to
provide the functionality needed for managing the fleets of maintenance vehicles,
managing the roadway with regards to construction and maintenance and safe
roadway operations.