Use and Impacts of Camera Images and Other

Use and Impacts of Camera Images and Other
Displays of Traveler Information
E N T E R
P R I S E
ITS Canada
2013 Annual Conference and General Meeting
May 2013
ENTERPRISE Program
Evaluating New TEchnologies for
Road PRogram Initiatives in Safety
and Efficiency
E N T E R
P R I S E
ENTERPRISE Program
Program Goals
• Facilitate rapid progress in the development and
deployment of ITS technologies
• Accelerate the systematic advancement of
selected ITS projects
Members carry out ITS projects and activities including
fundamental research, technology development,
demonstration, standardization and deployment
ENTERPRISE Program
ENTERPRISE Members
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Arizona DOT
Georgia DOT
Idaho Transp. Dept.
Illinois DOT
Iowa DOT
Kansas DOT
Maricopa County,
Arizona
• Michigan DOT
• Minnesota DOT
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Mississippi DOT
Oklahoma DOT
Texas DOT
Virginia DOT
Washington State DOT
Ontario Ministry of Transport
Transport Canada
Dutch Ministry of Transport
US. Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA)
ENTERPRISE Project
“Use and Impacts of Camera Images and other
Displays of Traveler Information”
Preliminary Results – May 2013
Final Results – Expected July 2013
Background
Verified Travel Reports
Data-driven information that is verified
or observed & communicated by agency staff
• Traffic/Speed Maps
• Incidents & Crashes
• Weather-Related Road
Conditions
Background
Unverified Displays
Information displays that are open to
interpretation by travelers
• Camera Images
• Live Video
• Weather Station Data
Project Objective
Project aims to understand how travelers use
unverified displays of “interpretable” information
Assessment Approaches
1) On-Line Survey of Travelers
2) Web Usage Statistics
3) Impacts of New Camera Deployments
On-Line Survey
U.S. States Hosting On-Line Survey
Georgia
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Minnesota
Missouri
Washington
Survey Duration
Survey posted: Late March 2013
Will be ongoing through: May 2013
486 Responses (as of April 29, 2013)
On-Line Survey – Preliminary Results
When using a Traveler Information Website to plan a trip, how useful
would the following types of information be?
Incidents / Crashes
Road Surface Conditions (Ex. snow-…
Congestion/Traffic Levels (Ex. color-…
Camera Images
Current Construction Projects
Weather Alerts (Ex. advisories, warnings)
Travel Times
Weather Information (Ex. air temp…
Future Construction Projects
Amenities (Ex. rest areas, tourist centers)
Non-auto Modes (Ex. airports,…
Commercial Vehicle Restrictions
1
2
3
1 = Not Useful, 2 = Slightly Useful, 3 = Moderately Useful
4 = Very Useful, 5 = Extremely Useful
4
5
On-Line Survey – Preliminary Results
In addition to the information types listed above, what other
information would you like to see on a Traveler Information Website?
Common Responses
Alternate Routes / Detour Information
Live video / Color video
Other Responses
Length of Crash & Construction Backups (distance and time)
Accident Reports
Icons for Message Signs
On-Line Survey – Preliminary Results
When you view a color-coded traffic map, how important is it for you to
also view camera images along your route?
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Very important, I prefer to view images of current
conditions
47.7%
193
Moderately important, I could draw any needed
conclusions based on the map
21.2%
86
During inclement weather, I prefer to view camera
images; during favorable weather, camera images are
less important
20.7%
84
I rarely or never use camera images
10.4%
42
Answer Options
answered question:
skipped question:
405
81
On-Line Survey – Preliminary Results
Please describe why you value (or do not value) camera images when
viewing traffic information.
“I like to judge it myself to determine if I should try driving in it.”
“It's helpful to see how much snow or ice is on the road”
“Camera Images are valuable when it comes to both weather and
traffic related events.”
On-Line Survey – Preliminary Results
When you view camera images, how important is it to supplement
the images with traffic information
(e.g. speeds, congestion levels, and/or travel times)?
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Very important; camera images alone do not provide
adequate information
51.6%
210
Moderately important; I can usually obtain adequate
information from camera images
38.3%
156
Not important; camera images present adequate
information
10.1%
41
Answer Options
answered question:
407
skipped question:
79
On-Line Survey – Preliminary Results
Please describe why you value (or do not value) traffic information such as
color-coded maps showing speeds, congestion levels, and/or travel times.
“Camera images are often not available due to lack of coverage and
malfunctions. Not all cameras have the newer night vision
capabilities.”
“More info the better!”
“Camera images are deceiving to me. Traffic looks faster
than it actually is.”
On-Line Survey – Preliminary Results
Choose the information type that is most useful to you when seeking
weather-related road information.
Example 1: Weather Report
Example 2: Road Condition Report
Example 3: Camera Image
On-Line Survey – Preliminary Results
Choose the information type that is most useful to you when seeking
weather-related road information.
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Road Condition Reports
50.1%
200
Camera Images
42.6%
170
Weather Reports
7.3%
29
Answer Options
answered question:
skipped question:
399
87
Web Usage Tracking
Minnesota DOT – Web Statistics
800000
Traffic Map
700000
Cameras
Travel Times
600000
500000
Incidents
Traffic Map
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
Travel Times
Cameras
Incidents
Web Usage Tracking: Cameras in Work Zones
MnDOT Camera 42: 35E/Co Rd 96
construction
140000
120000
construction
100000
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
MnDOT Camera 716: I-694/White Bear Avenue
construction
140000
120000
100000
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
Mar-12 Apr-12 May-12 Jun-12
Jul-12
Aug-12 Sep-12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Dec-12 Jan-13 Feb-13
New Camera Deployments
Impacts of New Camera Images Displayed
on Traveler Information Websites
• Interviews with Agency Staff
⁻ Why did you decide to add cameras?
⁻ What has been the public response, if any?
⁻ Have there been any noticeable changes (traffic patterns,
web usage, etc.) that could be attributed to new cameras?
• Track Web Usage
Interviews and Web Usage Tracking are Underway
Preliminary Observations
Traffic/Congestion Information:
• Nearly half of survey respondents indicated Camera Images
(in addition to traffic maps) are very important when viewing
traffic conditions.
Road Condition Information:
• Road Condition Reports and Camera Images rated nearly
equally, in terms of usefulness when seeking weatherrelated road conditions.
General:
• Camera image should be reliable, in order to be useful
• Camera images are highly utilized during periods of higher
than normal congestion (e.g. reduced lanes in work zones)
Final Results – will be available in July 2013
New Camera Deployments
QUESTIONS???
Contact Information:
Linda Preisen
Athey Creek Consultants
preisen@acconsultants.org
ENTERPRISE website:
www.enterprise.prog.org