DRAFT Privileged Information
2003 Meeting Minutes
TRB A3A11 "Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics" (TFT) Committee,
Marriott, Hall B4, 01/15/2003 (Wed), 2:30-6:00 pm
1. Welcome
Nathan Gartner (UML) welcomed all attendees as Chairman of TRB A3A11 TFT Committee. Edmond Chang (ORNL) served as Committee Secretary and recorded the TRB TFT meeting minutes.
2. Brief self-introductions were made by a total of 80+ members and friends that attended the meeting.
TRB A3A11 Committee includes a very diverse group of members consisting of worldwide attendance. Members include USA/Canada 70%, Europe 20%, and Asia 10%. Approximately, the members’ backgrounds are Academic 50%, Government 30%, and Private Industry 20%.
3. 01/2002 TRB TFT Committee Minutes, mailed previously before the TRB’2003 and available at the website http://web.pdx.edu/~bertini/tft.htm, were approved by all members.
4. Chairman’s Report –
Nathan Gartner (UML) reported a request to respond to the TRB Executive Committee to address a set of “critical” issues on behalf of A3A11, policy issues to be considered by TRB policy Committees, and revision of the “Millenium Paper.” The issues are listed on the TRB website: http://www.trb.org and in Committee Minutes, and include: vulnerability to attack, fatalities and injuries, capacity and congestion, institutional issues, environmental goals, energy availability, aging infrastructure, financing, personnel needs, deregulation, aging population, transportation costs, telecom and information technologies, barriers to innovation. Additional issues, such as reliability, performance, extreme events, weather, and others.
The TRB TFT subcommittee will consider the inclusion of recent issues within the scope of the Committee, such as: security, computerized traffic models, etc.
5. TRB Report (by Rich Cunard)
Rich Cunard (TRB Staff Representative) gave the TRB Staff report: 9900 people registered for the meeting, 2200 papers (about 10% increase from 2002), 1400 accepted for presentation, with 40% presented at the poster sessions in TRB’2003. TRB is considering options for changing the format of the annual meeting: actions include to try “no Thursday” sessions, “no evening” sessions, or continue the present format. A questionnaire will be sent out to committee chairs. In any case, except for few glitches, the web-based electronic submission/review process is successful and will be continued in 2003. TRB Committees will be reorganized and restructured to increase the interactions, separate/elevate groups/modes (rail, port, and safety), and highlight the cross-cutting issues. Under the new organization we will be part of the Operations & Maintenance Group A3000 and the TFT Committee’s new number will be AHB45. A joint, mid-year TRB meeting is planned for 2005 outside Washington, D.C. area to allow improved interactions among committees.
The “Interactive Program Planner” on the TRB website was very useful and highly used for meeting planning, and usable for downloading to PalmPilot. However, the password-protected features may be improved so that users’ input can be protected. The CD-ROM contains the 1400 papers or 95% of the papers being presented in the PDF format. Roughly 1/3 of the papers, being presented at the TRB’2003, will be published based on the Committee’s recommendations. Comments were raised on how to improve the poster sessions, how to submit discussion papers by mid-February 2003, and listserv service on TRB website. The A3A11 committee elected to remain at the Wednesday pm schedule in 2004. TRB Executive Committee identified and summarized the “13 Big/Critical Issues” for possible policy studies by the committees in the Annual Report, such as school bus safety, sustainability, etc. All 2002 TRB publications should be available in hard copy by 01/31/2003.
Please relay all comments to “Rich Cunard” at .
6. TRB Paper Review and Sessions (Hani Mahmassani)
In 2003, the A3A11 Committees received over 40 papers, and some that were jointly reviewed with other committees. 19 presentations within 4 paper sessions were scheduled, with 15 papers possibly being considered for publication with required revisions. No poster session was used due to the theoretical nature of the papers. Typically, the papers, being submitted, are sent to 5 reviewers with an expected “rate-of-return” of three good reviews. The review chairman sends automatically all review comments to the authors and has the option to cc all the reviewers as well. Committee recommendations on publication will be given 02/01/2003, and the revised papers need to be submitted by 04/01/2003 to meet the established TRB'2003 publication schedule.
All the reviewers indicated that the electronic submission/review definitely facilitated the TRB paper review process, resulting in a higher response rate from reviewers. It was suggested by committee members to add the capability to add equations on the website. As usual, TRB also encourages members to submit TRB discussion papers with advanced notice by 02/15/2003.
7. FHWA Report (Henry Lieu)
Henry Lieu, Paul Pisano, John Halkias (FHWA) jointly presented the FHWA Report. Henry Lieu (FHWA) reported that the latest TSIS 5.0, with improved multiple-run capability, revised GUI, user-friendly postprocessor, has been finished and will be released by McTrans in 02/2003. Henry Lieu (FHWA) reported that the total of 4 prototypes "DTA/TrEPS" are available, field test, and Beta version is complete for both off-line and on-line applications. FHWA is currently selecting partnerships for real-time, on-line, advanced traffic management applications. All the reports, presentations, and prototype software are available through the DTA website: http://www.dynamictrafficassignment.org. ACS-Lite project was initiated and is ongoing to take advantage of the closed-loop signalized systems currently available in United States. FHWA will provide continuous support. QuickZone 1.0, scratch tool, is available through FHWA website at: http://tfhrc.gov. Paul Pisano <> (FHWA), described the road-weather information programs within the traffic management and operations division. Comments are being sought on the “Concept of Operations on Weather-Responsive Traffic Management” from this committee. Henry Lieu (FHWA) described how traffic models could be used to address security and emergency evacuation issues. "SWAT" tools, such as the QuickZone being identified and developed for addressing work zone activities, is available for download at http://www.tfhrc.gov/its/quickzon.htm.
John Halkias and Gene McHale (FHWA) jointly reported on the ongoing NGSIM development, award of the contract, traffic simulation guidelines, and selection criteria for traffic simulation tools. All the information will be available on the website linked to the FHWA Operations website by 02/2003. The work plan for developing the prioritized algorithms will be available by the end of 12/2003. Reviewers are sought for the model, reports, and guidelines. All the information of the traffic analysis tool primer, and traffic simulation guidelines are available at http://www.its.dot.gov.
8. TFT Monograph (Hani Mahmassani)
FHWA sponsored the development and revision activities, currently under contract through the Transportation Research Board and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Final revision is still ongoing on several key chapters by members from the TRB TFT Committee and others. The last version was posted on 12/1996 on both FHWA and ORNL websites after extensive reviews from members of the TRB TFT Committee, including original and new authors, see: http://www.tfhrc.gov/its/tft/tft.htm.
To finalize the TFT Monograph per TRB requirements, Chapter 5 “Kinetic Theory” and Chapter 8 “Un-signalized Intersections” are being reviewed and will be finalized by 01/31/2003. Additional minor editorial updates will be completed, and the monograph will be forwarded to TRB for editing and publication, with potential publication in the next year. A Special Report format will be used to publish the hardcopy of the “TFT Monograph.”
9. Workshop on Traffic Simulation Models (Nate Gartner)
Over 150+ participants attended the “Traffic Simulation Models” Workshop that was held on 01/12/2003 (Sunday) which was organized and chaired by George List (HCQS) and Nate Gartner (TFT), and was organized in cooperation with the committees on signals, highway capacity and freeway operations. The workshop focused on FHWA initiatives, reports from applications, calibration issues and new directions. A copy of the workshop agenda is attached to these minutes. It was the consensus of the discussion that this series of workshops should be continued in cooperation with the other committees.
The Chairman asked everyone to volunteer to assist in organizing the next workshop in TRB’2004. A su-committee on “Traffic Simulation Models” will be created and organized to work cooperatively with other TRB committees. A brainstorming mid-year meeting will be planned, and a separate meeting time and room will be requested for a meeting in January 2004.
10. Cooperation with Other Committees (Nathan Gartner)
Joint Simulation Workshop, following the successful workshops in 2002 and2003, will be held again in 2004. Joint paper review will continue with other committees in 2004. “Alejandra Medina (A5005 Committee)” <> reported the interests and intended liaison to increase the interactions in International activities on a worldwide basis.
11. Committee Website (R. Bertini)
A committee website has been established by Robert Bertini, with all the committee information posted, self prescribed e-Mail server, and full-function discussion group on the website http://web.pdx.edu/~bertini/tft.htm linked through the TRB website. All the privileged information is protected with the username: a3a11, password: tft
12. Sub-Committee Activities (all)
Paper Review Sub-Committee continued. TRB’2003 TFT Workshop Sub-Committee was established. A joint simulation sub-committee will be established with HCQS and other committees as well.
Possible additional sub-committees for consideration are:
Strategic Planning Sub-Committee to address scope. Developers/Users’ Interests. Joint Task Force on “Traffic Analysis Tools” Sub-Committee.
Paul, Ed, Hani, Henry, Edmond, Jim, Thanasis, Panos, Alex, and John volunteered to participate on the “Joint Modeling Task Force” if and when established, as representatives of the TFT Committee.
Needs exist for the TRB A3A11 Committee to: (1) participate the ongoing ITSA/US.DOT "DOT 10-year R&D Development Plan", (2) develop "Top-10" research topics on needed research directions to address problem-oriented solutions, and (3) relate problems/issues with the special capabilities of the TRB A3A11 "Traffic Flow Theory". TRB TFT Committee will prepare research problem statements and needs to follow-up action plans with inputs from both committee members and friends.
The need for active involvement in the traffic simulation model development by TRB A3A11 Committee was raised. These efforts may include participation in the DOT/FHWA NGSIM research activities, involvement in the Conference/ Workshop on "Existing Simulation Models" and “End Users’ Experience”.
13. ISTTT Symposium
Hani reported the current status for the preparation of the ISTTT Symposium to be held at U of Maryland in summer 2005. Future venues will be considered for a mid-year Committee meeting with potential simulation workshop before the ISTTT Symposium.
14. New Business
Christine Buisson together with Peter Wagner suggested to issue a Call for Papers on “Calibration and Validation of simulation Models” to be submitted for TRB’2004 to include both peer-review papers and invited speakers.
15. TRB TFT Committee adjourned on 01/15/2003 (Wed) at 5:00pm.est.
AGENDA
Committee on Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics
Wednesday, January 15, 2003, 2:30 – 5:30 PM
Washington B4 – Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
Washington, D.C.
1. Welcome and Call to Order NHGartner
2. Introductions – A. New Members ~~~ ~~~
B. Members & Friends All Attendees
3. Approval of Minutes – TFT&Chrs.
Committee Meeting of January 16, 2002 ECPChang
4. Chairman’s Report NHGartner
5. TRB Report – Group 3, Section A Rich Cunard
6. TRB Report – Staff Representative ~~~ ~~~
7. Paper Review and Sessions Hani Mahmassani
8. Traffic Flow Theory Monograph ~~~ ~~~
9. FHWA Activities - Report Henry Lieu
10. Cooperation with other committees NHGartner
- Workshop on Traffic Simulation Models
- Definition and Measurement of Traffic Terms
11. Sub-Committee Activity
12. Committee Website Robert Bertini
13. ISTTT Symposia – Adelaide, Maryland Nate & Hani
14. Announcements and Future Meetings
15. New Business
> Adjournment <
End
Workshop 128
Sunday, January 12, 2003, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Shoreham
Traffic Simulation Models
The Committees on Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics, Traffic Signal Systems, Highway Capacity and Quality of Service, and Freeway Operations are cosponsoring this workshop to address the development and application of advanced traffic simulation models in the design, evaluation, and operation of modern transportation facilities. This year's workshop will focus on recent model developments and on end-user requirements in light of changing objectives.
1) 1:30-1:35 Introduction: George List
2) 1:35-2:15 Federal Initiatives:
a) 1:35-1:45 Introduction: John Halkias, Gene McHale
b) 1:45-1:55 Traffic Simulation Guidelines, Rick Dowling
c) 1:55-2:05 Traffic Analysis Tools Selection Methodology and Primer, Krista Jeannote
d) 2:05-2:15 NGSIM, Vassili Alexiadis
3) 2:15-3:25 Reports from Applications:
a) 2:15-2:30 Recent Freeway Simulation Modeling Applications in California: Dolf May
b) 2:30-2:55 Experiences from Dallas and Milwaukee: Joel Fitts, Do Nam
c) 2:55-3:10 Experiences from New York City: Vassilis Papayannoulis
d) 3:10-3:25 Experiences from Germany: Werner Brilon
4) 3:25-3:40 BREAK
5) 3:40-4:50 Calibration and Other Issues
a) 3:40-3:55 In Minnesota: Panos Michalopoulos, John Hourdakis
b) 3:55-4:10 California: Alex Skabardonis
c) 4:10-4:25 In Chicago: Thanasis Ziliaskopoulos
d) 4:25-4:40 In Australia: Rod Troutbeck
e) 4:40-4:55 New Design Directions: Marc Bumble
6) 4:55-5:00 Summary/Closure - Nathan Gartner
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