by Innovative Mobility Research | Aug 26, 2015 |
Authors: Susan Shaheen, Ph.D, Troy Young, Ph.D, Daniel Sperling, Ph.D, Daniel Jordan, Ph.D, Thomas Horan, Ph.D Date Published: January 1, 2004 Abstract: This report presents a literature review on the energy and environmental impacts of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies, a presentation of the development of deployment/modeling scenarios, and a description of the modeling effort. The two-fold objective of this project was to: 1) identify those ITS technologies and systems that have positive environmental effects, and 2) rank order those technologies according to their energy and emission benefits and net reduction in VMT. The authors examine the policy context and regulatory arena in which ITS technologies are deployed. They also provide scenarios and market penetration estimates developed to form the basis of modeling efforts with the INTEGRATION model....
by Innovative Mobility Research | Jul 21, 2015 |
Authors: Susan Shaheen, Kunik Lee Published: November 15, 2012 Abstract: Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) have primarily focused on systems management. To further improve connectivity and safety in the future, ITS might embrace a more holistic planning approach. While the future of ITS remains an open question, its evolution is closely linked to how the world evolves on many dimensionssocial, political, economic, legal, and environmental. In this paper, the authors present results from four expert workshops. These consisted of an initial steering committee workshop (February 2011), two expert scenario-planning workshops (June 2011), and a final steering committee workshop (July 2011). The scenario planning workshops explored the implications of alternative futures on ITS and incorporated a broad interdisciplinary approach in developing a long-term transportation vision (2030 to 2050 time horizon) for the United States. Twenty-four experts, representing diverse disciplines, participated in a series of workshops to envision plausible futures and to assess their effects on the transportation system. By exploring different futures, experts identified opportunities and barriers for implementing advanced seamless transportation systems. Opportunities include the deployment of adaptable, integrated technology and transportation infrastructure to address natural disasters and climate change. The most significant barriers were funding and politics. The experts suggested that financial barriers be overcome through innovative funding techniques and improved public outreach. Building upon the experts’ recommendations, several visions for an integrated ITS approach, which addresses social and environmental challenges in the future, were created. These include private-public partnerships; distributed implementation models (e.g., localized); and the development of seamless transportation systems to reduce energy consumption, emissions, and road congestion. View...
by Innovative Mobility Research | Jul 21, 2015 |
Authors: Susan Shaheen, Timothy Lipman Published: January 2007 Abstract: Climated change is rapidly becoming known as a tangible issue that must be addressed to avoid major environmental consequences in the future. Recent change in public opinion has been caused by the physical signs of climate change–melting glaciers, rising sea levels, more severe storm and drought events, and hotter average global temperatures annually. Transportation is a major contributor of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions from human activity, accounting for approximately 14 percent of total anthropogenic emissions globally and about 27 percent in the U.S. Fortunately, transportation technologies and strategies are emerging that can help to meet the climate challenge. These include automotive and fuel technologies, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), and mobility management strategies that can reduce the demand for private vehicles. While the climate change benefits of innovative engine and vehicle technologies are relatively well understood, there are fewer studies available on the energy and emission impacts of ITS and mobility management strategies. In the future, ITS and mobility management will likely play a greater role in reducing fuel consumption. Studies are often based on simulation modes, scenarios analysis, and limited deployment experience. Thus, more research is needed to quantify potential impacts. Of the nine technologies examined, traffic signal control, electronic toll collection, bus rapid transit, and traveler information have been deployed more widely and demonstrated positive impacts (but often on a limited basis). Mobility management approaches that have established the greatest CO2 reduction potential in Europe and Canada, to date, include road pricing policies (congestion and cordon) and carsharing (short-term auto access). Other approaches have also indicated CO2 reduction...
by Innovative Mobility Research | Jul 21, 2015 |
Authors: Caroline Rodier, Susan Shaheen, Ellen Cavanagh Published: January 1, 2006 Abstract: In the past five years, commercial vehicle travel has increased 60 percent on California’s highways, without a corresponding increase in compliance inspection station capacity or enforcement officers. Commercial vehicles that do not comply with regulations impose significant public costs including, for example, pavement and structural damage to roads and catastrophic crashes. In response to these problems, the California Department of Transportation is investigating the potential application of detection and communication technology in virtual compliance stations (VCS) to cost effectively improve enforcement of commercial vehicle regulations. This study begins with a description of the fledgling VCS research programs in the U.S., as well as more advanced international VCS programs. Next, the results of expert interviews with key officials involved in the early deployment stages of VCS programs in Kentucky, Florida, and Indiana, and Saskatchewan are reported. This is followed by an analysis of institutional barriers to VCS screening and automated enforcement based on the relatively extensive body of literature on the commercial vehicle electronic pre-screening programs and red-light and speeding automated enforcement programs. The paper concludes with some key recommendations to address legal and institutional barriers to VCS deployment in the U.S. View...
by Innovative Mobility Research | Jul 21, 2015 |
Authors: Matt Barth, Michael Todd, Susan Shaheen Published: January 1, 2002 Abstract: As an innovative mobility solution, there has been significant interest and activity in shared-use vehicle systems. Shared-use vehicle systems (i.e., carsharing, station cars) consist of a fleet of vehicles that are used by several different individuals throughout the day. Shared-use vehicles offer the convenience of a private automobile and more flexibility than public transportation alone. In recent years, varying degrees of intelligent transportation system technologies have been applied to shared-used systems, providing better manageability and customer service. Many shared-use vehicle service providers today include some degree of advanced technologies (e.g., online reservations, vehicle tracking, smartcard access) in their operations. At present, there is a developing need for interoperability among shared-use vehicle service providers (e.g., smartcard access among carsharing organizations) and transit operators (i.e., transit fare collection via smartcards). Interoperability will likely result in higher customer satisfaction and use, leading to greater market penetration. Similarly, some degree of standardization will likely unfold for overall operational techniques (e.g., online reservations and insurance policies), customer interactions, and to some degree vehicle interfaces. However, shared-use vehicles systems are still a relatively new mobility concept, thus an industry-wide standardization approach is still premature. Nevertheless, this paper attempts to identify many of the important issues that will play a significant role in interoperability discussions among shared-use vehicle providers and the development of industry standards in the future. This paper focuses on key elements of intelligent shared-use vehicle system operations, describing many of the tradeoffs that have been encountered during the pioneering stage of shared-use vehicle system developments. Key topics include vehicles, user/system interactions, user/vehicle interactions, and...
