Research
State & International Research
Montana
Research/Project Description
NSF/USDOT Partnership for Exploratory Research - ICSST:
Timely and Effective Dissemination of Traveler Information in Rural Areas The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Montana State University collaborated with WTI in a project that explored alternative technical and structural approaches to effectively disseminating traveler information in rural areas. Researchers used a systems engineering approach to incorporate technologies and methodologies from diverse disciplines.
Peer to-peer, ad hoc communications between vehicles and between vehicles and roadside sensors, using recent advances in wireless technologies such as DSRC and ad hoc networking protocols are being explored to serve as a surrogate for extensive fixed communication and information infrastructure. Human factors and inputs from private and public sector stakeholders are being used to further shape the system design.
Emerging technologies such as smart antennas are being evaluated using requirements-based criteria and an end-to end system design. Researchers used modeling and simulation techniques to conduct performance assessments and technology trade-off studies. Yellowstone National Park was selected as a representative example of a remote area where communications infrastructure is limited and numerous information intensive activities ranging from public safety to tourist services are taking place.
With the cooperation of park staff, researchers are building a model of the Yellowstone area including topography, demographics, vehicle flows and other data and then examining how ad hoc networking can be used as a surrogate for more conventional communications infrastructure to meet application demands in a timely way. One of the objectives of this research is to design a prototype that might be deployed in a rural area for a field trial. The results of this research will direct future investments in communications and information technology infrastructure that will suit the particular demands of rural and sparsely populated areas. The approach provides a high benefit to cost ratio that meets the structural requirements of large portions of the less populated regions of the country.
The benefits go beyond improvements in safety and efficiency, as the infrastructure also supports a broad range of traveler information services that are of value to businesses that rely on transportation, such as fleet management, as well as the broader tourist industry. The development of the communications and information infrastructure in remote areas will also benefit the economic development efforts of rural and Native American communities
Sponsoring Organizations/Researchers
- National Science Foundation/ USDOT
Contact
- Richard Wolff Montana State University, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering (406) 994-7172; [email protected]
Time Frame
Non applicableResearch/Project Description
Greater Yellowstone Rural VII Demonstration and Test-bed
Road-Weather Case Study/Demonstration: The first demonstration project will address the ability for the roadside infrastructure (Road-Weather Information Systems) to communicate road-weather information and to pass, or hand-off, that information to other vehicles before those vehicles encounter road-weather problems. - Corridor Animal -Vehicle Collision Warning and Avoidance Demonstration:
The second demonstration project will focus on warning motorists of potential animal collisions. - Western States Emergency Medical Services Network VII: Working with our partners, the Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation and the Western States EMS Network, WTI will expand the VII research and demonstration effort to the western United States and a potential fleet of 5000 vehicles.
Contacts
- Steve Albert, Director, Western Transportation Institute, College of Engineering - Montana State University; (406) 994-6114
Time Frame
Non applicable
Research/Project Description
MANETS for Rural Public Safety
The overall objective of this project is to enhance or develop a routing protocol for Mobile Ad-hoc Networks and conduct proof-of-concept demonstration of Mobile Ad-hoc Networks, as a method for enhancing wireless communications for law enforcement agencies in remote, rural locations. Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) provide the potential for addressing these pressing needs.
A MANET is a network of computers that can automatically start communicating when they are close enough to one another to be in wireless range. A team from the Western Transportation Institute and the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science at Montana State University, and the Hot Springs County Wyoming Sheriff’s Department have initiated a project to develop a routing protocol for Mobile Ad-hoc Networks and field test a MANET, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The DHS SAFECOM program funds research into emerging technologies that can help public safety agencies communicate with each other and coordinate services. Through this project, researchers will develop a standardized routing protocol in response to the requirements of law enforcement agencies in Hot Springs County, Wyoming, with the expectation that the protocol will be applicable to agencies in similar rural locations.
Sponsoring Organizations/Researchers
- Luke Klein-Berndt, OIC Program Mgr Department of Homeland Security 245 Murray Lane, SW Washington, DC 20528 [email protected]
Contacts
- Douglas Galarus WTI P.O. Box 174250 Bozeman, MT 59717-4250 406-994-5268 [email protected]
Time Frame
Within one yearResearch/Project Description
Northern California Rural VII Case Study
The intent of the Rural Fleet Application Case Study was to recommend applications and consider implications of Vehicle-Highway Cooperative Systems in a rural environment. The research developed the plan for applying advanced technology solutions that will assist fleet operations and would ultimately increase safety and improve operations of the transportation system in northern California.
The study area for this project consists of Caltrans Districts 1 and 2, which make up the California portion of the California Oregon Advanced Transportation Systems (COATS) project. The research examined principally applications for the two-lane rural highway (non-interstate) system. This project provides a foundation for testing and deployment of Vehicle-Highway Cooperative Systems concepts in northern California.
As it is difficult to initiate or influence the deployment of technologies on light duty passengers vehicles, the opportunities for research, development, testing and potential deployment lie in partnering with a fleet owner/operator and in developing infrastructure systems that complement emerging in-vehicle technologies. Examples of fleets include trucking, transit, law enforcement, and emergency vehicles as well as vehicles that operate and maintain utilities like power, communications, or transportation facilities.
The vision for this Rural Fleet Application Case Study was to define a VII System that can evolve as the roadside and vehicle safety systems are implemented, communication coverage increases, fleet technology improvements migrate to a rural environment, and fleet managers understand the application of technology to their specific needs. This project will outline VII for spot application and information assistance.
WTI will work with Caltrans and other stakeholders to identify technologies that exchange information between the vehicle and roadside infrastructure and may provide some level of assisted vehicle control. Researchers will review technologies that can be implemented in the near term, are beneficial in the rural environment, and can be implemented in a fleet of vehicles.
Sponsoring Organizations/Researchers
- Matt Hanson Caltrans New Technology and Research 1227 O Street, P.O. Box 942873 Sacramento, CA 94273-0001 916-654-8171 [email protected]
Contacts
- Michael Kelly, WTI 406-994-7377 [email protected]