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Office of Research, Development, and Technology FY 2005 Research Project Status Summary

Table of Contents

Introduction

Over the past 2 years, the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) researchers conducted 170 research projects in support of the Agency's goals. Sixty-six of those projects were completed during the Fiscal Year (FY) 2004/2005 Plan timeframe. As a result, 50 ready-to-use products are now available to our customers. A total of 26 projects were completed in support of the Safety goal, and 40 projects were completed in support of the Mobility and Productivity goal. A number of these projects also support Agency objectives in the Environment and National Homeland Security goal areas.

Current and Future Project Distribution (End of FY 2005)

Eighty-nine projects from the FY 2004/2005 Plan are multiyear projects and will continue in FY 2006 or beyond. Further details on projects that were conducted and completed during the FY 2004/2005 period or that are ongoing for FY 2006 or beyond are available in the Research Development and Technology (RD&T) FY 2005 Research Project Status Tables.

FY 2004-2005 Projects Completed and Products Available by Goal *

Note: Seven research projects supporting the Safety or Mobility and Productivity goals also support the Environment and Security goal areas.

Funding challenges were an ongoing issue in FY 2005. RD&T worked through a number of changes to project schedules and delays. Many changes and delays were due to funding uncertainties caused by the numerous short-term extensions to FHWA's authorization prior to the passage of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Fifteen projects cited funding as a cause for delay or halting of research.

Comparative Project Status

RD&T Performance Measures Summary

The following chart depicts performance measures that are updated annually as a component of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) for Federal R&D programs.

The charts on the following pages detail RD&T Infrastructure, Operations, and Safety research, and identify the goals supported by the research. The charts also indicate which projects were completed during the FY 2004/2005 Plan period and which are ongoing for 2006 and beyond. The comment column provides more information about each project and, when necessary, an explanation of changes or deviations from the plan or schedule.

A complete list of acronyms can be found at the end of the document to assist in the interpretation of the acronyms used in the tables.

Infrastructure R&D Status

* Addition to FY 2004/2005 Performance Plan

Operations R&D Status

Office of Operations R&D
Project	Technical Contact	Projected Goal Impact	Project Completion Status (Percent)				On Schedule	Anticipated Research Completion Date	Product Available	Comments
			25	50	75	100
Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI) and Research Related to Human Centered Systems
Infrastructure Consortium (IC) Prototype I Intersection Collision Avoidance (ICA) Projects*	Gene McHale HRDO-04 202-493-3275	Safety			X		No	Apr 05	No	These projects were mostly completed by September 2005. However, the completion date for all of the projects was extended due to the significant Cooperative Intersection Collision Avoidance Systems (CICAS) support required by the IC. The final reports are expected in the near future.
CICAS IC*	Gene McHale HRDO-04 202-493-3275	Safety	X				Yes	Aug 2010	No	Partnering with automobile manufacturers, the IC will design, develop, and test prototype CICAS technologies in support of the USDOT's CICAS Initiative. Following testing of prototype systems, the IC will support field operational testing of the CICAS technologies.
Human Factors Assessment of Infrastructure-Based ICA Devices-Phase II	Greg Davis HRDS-07 202-493-3367	Safety				X	Yes	Completed	No	Research for this study was conducted on a closed test course. The goal was to gather deceleration profiles and reaction time data for drivers responding to warnings given close to and far from an intersection. A paper on this project was accepted by TRB.
Enhanced Digital Mapping	Toni Wilbur HRDO-01 202-493-3269	Safety				X	No	Completed	Yes	The final report is complete and available at http://nhtsa-nrdweb.nhtsa.dot.gov/ pdf/nrd-12/CAMP/ EDMap%20Final%20Report/ Main%20Report/ FinalRept_111904.pdf. (Download Acrobat Reader)
Work Zone ITS for Crash Avoidance-Phase I*	Peter Huang HRDO-04 202-493-3484	Safety				X	Yes	Completed	Yes	For Phase I of this project, researchers developed the operational concept for work zone crash avoidance and tested the concept using a driving simulator. They also developed hardware requirements and tested several types of sensor applications in the field. The final report was completed in March 2005.
Work Zone ITS for Crash Avoidance-Phase II*	Peter Huang HRDO-04 202-493-3484	Safety		X			Yes	Apr 06	No	In this phase, a prototype system will be developed, tested, and demonstrated. A public demonstration will be held at the ChryslerTM proving ground in the first quarter of 2006.
Transportation Management Center (TMC) National Pooled Fund Study Results	Raj Ghaman HRDO-03 202-493-3270 Thomas Granda HRDS-07 202-493-3365	Safety, Mobility and Productivity	NA	NA	NA	NA	Yes	Ongoing	Yes	This is a study of the operational and human centered issues common among agencies that manage and operate TMCs. States contribute to this pooled fund project on a yearly basis and select projects on an ongoing basis depending on the availability of funds.
Traffic Control Device Consortium Pooled Fund Study	Joe Moyer HRDS-07 202-493-3370	Safety, Mobility and Productivity	NA	NA	NA	NA	Yes	Ongoing	Yes	A consortium of State, regional, and local entities, FHWA, and other partners are evaluating innovative traffic control devices. The results will be included in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). This study will be done in conjunction with the Human Centered Systems Laboratories.
Real-Time Linux® Operating System for Advanced Traffic Controllers *	David Gibson HRDO-04 202-493-3271	Mobility and Productivity		X			Yes	Sep 06	No	The purpose of this project is to connect the Linux real-time operating system to advanced transportation controllers. This will provide the support necessary for faster detector polling and information processing, which is required for CICAS and vehicle infrastructure integration (VII) research. Phase I is complete. Phase II should be complete by September 2006.
Traffic Control and Operations
Adaptive Control System (ACS) “Lite”-Field Tests	Raj Ghaman HRDO-03 202-493-3270	Mobility and Productivity		X			No	Jan 06	No	EconoliteTM controller testing was completed in Gahanna, OH. The remaining field tests with Eagle controllers are planned for Houston, TX. The test with PeekSM controllers is planned for St. Petersburg/Tampa FL, and the field test of McCain controllers is planned for San Diego, CA. The estimated completion date is January 2006.
Surface Transportation Security and Reliability Information System Model Deployment (iFlorida)	Toni Wilbur HRDO-01 202-493-3269	Safety, Security, Mobility and Productivity		X			No	Jun 08	No	This project will demonstrate and evaluate how security, reliability, and safety can be enhanced through the widespread availability of real-time information. The deployment phase is nearing completion.
Coordinated Freeway and Arterials Plans and Procedures Handbook	James Colyar HRDO-03 202-493-3282	Mobility and Productivity			X		No	Dec 04	No	The final report is under development.
Ramp Metering 2000 Software Expanded Simulation Testing*	Deborah Curtis HRDO-03 202-493-3267	Mobility and Productivity				X	Yes	Completed	No	FHWA determined that the developer owns the software rights. Distribution is at the discretion of the developer.
Ramp Management Handbook*	James Colyar HRDO-03 202-493-3282	Mobility and Productivity			X		No	Jun 05	No	This is a followup document to the Freeway Management and Operations Handbook (FHWA-OP-04-003). The draft handbook is finished, and the final handbook now is under development.
Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) Initiative-Phase I: Foundational Research*	Dale Thompson HRDO-03 202-493-3420	Safety, Mobility and Productivity				X	Yes	Completed	Yes	The foundational research to initiate the ICM program is complete. ICM stakeholder involvement will continue through Phase II (ICM Research and Systems Development). During Phase II, researchers will address integration issues, initiate research projects, develop ICM analysis tools, and establish demonstration sites. More information is available at: http://www.itsa.org/icm.html.
Integration of DynaMIT, CLAIRE, and the Advanced Incident Detection Algorithm (AIDA) for Real-Time Traffic Management on Arterials: Field Test in Los Angeles, CA*	Henry Lieu HRDO-03 202-493-3273	Mobility and Productivity			X		No	Apr 06	No	The goal of this project is to integrate DynaMIT, CLAIRE, and AIDA to facilitate real-time traffic management on arterials in Los Angeles, CA. The data collection process has proven more time consuming than anticipated so the target completion date has been reevaluated. The new estimated completion date is April 2006.
Integration of DYNASMART-X, CLAIRE, and RHODES® for Real-Time Traffic Management: Field Test in Houston, TX *	Henry Lieu HRDO-03 202-493-3273	Mobility and Productivity	X				No	Dec 07	No	The goal of this project is to integrate DYNASMART-X, CLAIRE, and RHODES into TranStarSM in Houston, TX. This will allow for real-time traffic management to alleviate traffic congestion, particularly congestion caused by freeway reconstruction and flooding. The project was delayed by 1 year due to contracting issues that have now been resolved. The project started in early 2005 and is projected to be completed in December 2007.
Winter Weather Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) Deployment Assistance*	Randall VanGorder HRDO-03 202-493-3266 Rudy Persaud HRDO-04 202-493-3391	Safety, Mobility and Productivity, Environment			X		Yes	Sep 06	Yes	This project will provide deployment assistance to ensure that the MDSS technology is transferred successfully to the private sector. The project also will complete all programming, documentation, and evaluations from the second year of the MDSS demonstration.
Winter Weather MDSS Pooled Fund Study	Rudy Persaud HRDO-04 202-493-3391	Safety, Mobility and Productivity, Environment			X		Yes	Jun 06	No	This project is a pooled fund study involving seven States. The project goal is to develop an MDSS to help maintenance crews better plan and respond to winter weather and road conditions.
Clear Roads Pooled Fund Study*	Rudy Persaud HRDO-04 202-493-3391	Safety, Mobility and Productivity, Environment		X			Yes	Dec 07	No	Clear Roads is a new pooled fund research project aimed at rigorous testing of winter maintenance materials, equipment, and methods for use by highway maintenance crews.
Empirical Studies of Traffic Flow in Inclement Weather*	James Colyar HRDO-03 202-493-3282	Safety, Mobility and Productivity		X			Yes	Dec 06	No	This project involves collecting traffic and weather data from Baltimore, MD; Minneapolis, MN; Phoenix, AZ; and Seattle, WA. After the data are collected, the relationship between adverse weather and traffic operations will be researched.
Traffic Detector Handbook	David Gibson HRDO-04 202-493-3271	Safety, Mobility and Productivity				X	No	Completed	No	The update to the handbook is complete, and a peer review currently is underway. The estimated publication date is March 2006.
Traffic Detector Video*	David Gibson HRDO-04 202-493-3271	Safety, Mobility and Productivity	X				No	Sep 06	No	The video script has been approved, but the project is being delayed while the contractor searches for an appropriate installation to film the video. The estimated completion date is September 2006.
Pedestrian Stereo Imaging Sensor*	David Gibson HRDO-04 202-493-3271	Safety, Mobility and Productivity	X				Yes	Sep 07	No	This project will investigate the uses of stereo imaging to detect and trace pedestrians near intersections. Phase 1 was completed in September 2005. A second phase has been recommended, with an estimated completion date of September 2007.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for Aerial Surveillance	David Gibson HRDO-04 202-493-3271	Safety, Mobility and Productivity					No	NA	No	This project was terminated due to contactor fiscal problems.
Traffic Analysis Tools/Simulation and Modeling
Emergency Vehicle Network Delay Study	Gene McHale HRDO-04 202-493-3275	Mobility and Productivity				X	No	Completed	Yes	This project was delayed due to other priorities related to TSIS/CORSIM software. The expected completion date was December 2004. The project now has ended, and a final report is available.
CORSIM Application Guidelines	James Colyar HRDO-03 202-493-3282	Mobility and Productivity			X		No	Sep 05	No	The start of the project was delayed, but the draft report is now complete. A final report is being written. The new target completion date is January 2006.
Federal Facility Evacuation Study	James Colyar HRDO-03 202-493-3282	Safety, Mobility and Productivity				X	Yes	Completed	Yes	Project completed.
Next Generation Simulation Modeling (NGSIM)	James Colyar HRDO-03 202-493-3282	Mobility and Productivity		X			Yes	Dec 07	Yes	The following tasks or products are complete and available at http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficanalysistools/ngsim.htm/: Algorithm assessment and algorithm prioritization reports. High-level project development plans. Prototype and full vehicle trajectory dataset on I-80 in Emeryville, CA. Open-source version of MITSIMLab, a simulation package used for algorithm validation. Freeway lane selection algorithm. The following tasks and products are under development: Freeway dataset on Highway 101 in the Los Angeles, CA, area (January 2006). Arterial dataset of the Los Angeles, CA, area (February 2006). Commercial validation of freeway lane selection algorithm (December 2005). Cooperative freeway merge algorithm (July 2006). Arterial lane selection algorithm (August 2006). Oversaturated freeway flow algorithm (August 2006). For more information, see http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/ trafficanalysistools/ngsim.htm.
Traffic Analysis Tools Case Studies and Best Practices	James Colyar HRDO-03 202-493-3282	Mobility and Productivity				X	No	Completed	Yes	Project completed.
Strategic Work Zone Analysis Tools (SWAT)	Deborah Curtis HRDO-03 202-493-3267	Mobility and Productivity				X	No	Completed	No	Work is underway on the final draft report.
QuickZone Work Zone Delay Estimation Tool	Deborah Curtis HRDO-03 202-493-3267	Mobility and Productivity				X	No	Completed	Yes	The software is available from the McTrans Center.
QuickZone Partnership Program	Deborah Curtis HRDO-03 202-493-3267	Mobility and Productivity				X	Yes	Completed	No	No further funding and no additional States are being added. FHWA, however, is maintaining a working relationship with the current seven partner States.
Exclusive Truck Lane Simulation Safety Study*	James Colyar HRDO-03 202-493-3282	Safety, Mobility and Productivity				X	Yes	Completed	Yes	Study completed.
DynaMIT-P-Field Test in Hampton Roads, VA*	Henry Lieu HRDO-03 202-493-3273	Mobility and Productivity			X		No	Apr 06	No	The Phase 1 offline evaluation work was completed in July 2004. The Phase 2 online evaluation work started in September 2004. The estimated target completion date is April 2006.
Enabling Technologies
Global Positioning System (GPS) Surface Observation System Installation for Integrated Precipitable Water Vapor (IPWV)	James Arnold HRDO-04 202-493-3265 Rudy Persaud HRDO-04 202-493-3391	Safety, Mobility and Productivity, Environment, Security		X			No	Dec 07	No	The installation of GPS Surface Observation System (GSOS) meteorological sensors at NDGPS sites provides useful weather observations and the information needed to calculate atmospheric water vapor. Funding was not available to meet the December 2005 target date. The new estimated completion date is December 2007.
NDGPS Reference Station Modernization	James Arnold HRDO-04 202-493-3265	Safety, Mobility and Productivity, Environment, Security		X			No	Dec 08	No	This project involves research to define existing GPS capability. The December 2008 target completion date is based on anticipated funding.
High-Accuracy NDGPS	James Arnold HRDO-04 202-493-3265	Safety, Mobility and Productivity, Environment, Security		X			Yes	Dec 07	No	This is a research program to evaluate the potential for achieving very high-accuracy navigation solutions using existing infrastructure.
Precipitable Water Vapor for Weather Forecasting	James Arnold HRDO-04 202-493-3265	Safety, Mobility and Productivity, Environment, Security		X			Yes	Dec 07	No	This is a research program to develop and evaluate a precipitable water vapor algorithm, which will help improve weather forecasting.
Dedicated Short-Range Communications/ Wireless Access for Vehicular Environments*	James Arnold HRDO-04 202-493-3265	Safety, Mobility and Productivity, Environment, Security			X		Yes	Dec 08	No	This project involves the development of telecommunications technology. Researchers will obtain a spectrum allocation from the Federal Communications Commission; develop licensing rules, standards and, prototypes; and perform an initial deployment of the technology.
Telecommunications Interference Model for Predicting Ionospheric Changes*	James Arnold HRDO-04 202-493-3265	Safety, Mobility and Productivity, Environment, Security	X				Yes	Dec 08	No	This is a research program to develop and evaluate an ionospheric model for predicting interference levels with telecommunication systems.
Identify Mobility Applications for VII	Bob Ferlis HRDO-02 202-493-3268	Mobility and Productivity			X		Yes	Jan 06	No	This project will identify promising mobility applications that will be enabled by the anticipated VII infrastructure. Candidate applications will include innovations of current services and technologies, such as adaptive cruise control, and new concepts that use vehicle control technologies to achieve significant mobility improvements.

* Addition to FY 2004/2005 Performance Plan

Safety R&D Status

*Addition to FY 2004/2005 Performance Plan

Acronym List