RITIS
Website
Technical Manual
V1.0
Submitted to
-
For
English 393
November 19, 2007
By
-
1
-
-
College Park MD, 20740
November 21, 2007
-
Center for Advanced Transportation Technology
5000 College Ave. Suite 3103
College Park, MD 20740
Dear Mr. -:
Here is the initial version (v1.0) of the manual, RITIS Website Technical Manual. The RITIS website has become a powerful set of tools with many complex features and options that require a relatively high level of familiarity and general technical experience to use. In order to alleviate any possible confusion surrounding the operation of the various components of the website for traffic management center operators throughout the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, this manual was written as a guide to its proper use.It includes complete written explanations for different sections of the site with step-by-step instructions for completing common tasks within them, and associated figures illustrating the processes.
While this version of the manual covers the operation of nearly all of the major sections of the site, the next version will include additional material that discusses thetraffic data query tool, graph usage, and those sections of the site currently under construction that have placeholdersin this version of the manual. During the time I was interacting with different features of the site in order to write this document, I discovered several bugs and errors in the system that should be addressed as soon as possible. Some of the more serious errors actually prevented my access to features of the data archive that I needed to explain in this manual. Hopefully we can schedule a meeting shortly to discuss these issues and have them resolved.
Though I was able to write most of this version of the manual from my own personal experience in using and developing the website, it could not have been completed without the assistance of yourself and the helpful employees at the CATT Lab. I would personally like to thank you for the in-depth walkthrough of the website and sit-down time you were able to provide during our meeting. Please extend my thanks to theemployees as well.
Working on this version of the manual was an enjoyable experience that greatly improved my understanding of the different components of the entire RITIS project and its accompanying website.I am confident that the finished manual will provide the detailed information necessary to answer all questions that may arise about the website.If you have any concerns or questions please contact me anytime by phone at 240-446-8749 or through e-mail at .
Sincerely,
-
1
Table of Contents
List of Figures & Tables
1 Introduction & Background Information
1.1 RITIS & the RITIS Website
2 Login Page
2.1 Logging In
2.2 Resetting Your Password
3 Transportation System Status
3.1 Incidents List
3.1.1 Sorting the Incidents List
3.1.2 Accessing the Timeline Display
3.1.2.1 Using the Responders Tool.
3.1.2.2 Using the Lane Status Tool.
3.1.2.3 Using the VMS Messages Tool.
3.1.2.4 Using the Speed Data Tool.
3.1.2.5 Using the Volume Data Tool.
3.1.2.6 Using the Icons on the Timeline Display.
3.2 Traffic Map
3.2.1 Navigating the Map
3.2.1.1 Moving Around with the Re-Center Tool.
3.2.1.2 Zooming with the Mouse Wheel.
3.2.1.3 Zooming In to a Specific Region.
3.2.1.4 Zooming Out.
3.2.2 The Legend
3.2.2.1 Viewing/Hiding the Legend.
3.2.3 The Layer List
3.2.3.1 Viewing/Hiding the Layer List.
3.2.3.2 Enabling/Disabling Layers.
3.2.3.3 Adjusting Layer Transparency.
3.2.3.4 Adjusting Layer Depth.
3.2.4 The Unmapped Incidents List
3.2.4.1 Viewing/Hiding the Unmapped Incidents List.
3.2.4.2 Sorting the List.
3.2.5 Accessing Detailed Information from Icons
3.2.5.1 Opening/Closing Information Popups.
3.2.5.2 Moving Information Popups.
3.2.5.3 Incidents, Events, and Alerts.
3.2.5.4 CCTV Traffic Cameras.
3.2.5.5 Traffic Detectors.
4 Address Book
4.1 Sort by Location
4.2 Sort by Agency Type
5 Data Feeds
6 Data Archive
6.1 Incident Data Query Tool
6.1.1 Querying (Searching) the Incident Data Archive
6.1.1.1 Set the Data Selections.
6.1.1.2 Set the Graph Options.
6.1.1.3 Set the Filters.
6.1.2 Using the Table of Results
6.1.2.1 Sorting Incidents.
6.1.2.2 Examining Individual Incident Data.
6.1.3 Printing & Saving Information
6.1.3.1 Printing Information.
6.1.3.2 Saving Information.
6.2 Traffic Data Query Tool
7 Performance Measures
7.1 Generating a Report
7.2 Pre-generated Report
7.3 Selecting the data range
7.4 Report Controls
8 Reading Room
9 User Settings
9.1 Change Password
9.2 User Management
9.2.1 Editing Users
9.2.2 Creating a New User
10 Appendix
10.1 Glossary
List of Figures & Tables
Figure 2 - 1: Login Form
Figure 2 - 2: RITIS Password Reset
Table 3 - 1: Legend of Shared Transportation System Status Icons
Figure 3 - 1: Left portion of Incident List
Figure 3 - 2: Right portion of Incident List
Figure 3 - 3: Preview of Sorting Columns
Figure 3 - 4: Timeline Links in Incident List
Figure 3 - 5: Collapsed Timeline
Figure 3 - 6: Lane Status
Figure 3 - 7: Speed Data
Figure 3 - 8: Timeline with Speed and Volume Data
Figure 3 - 9: Timeline Titlebar Icons
Figure 3 - 10: Traffic Map after Initial Load
Table 3 - 2: Map Layer Descriptions
Figure 3 - 11: Using the Zoom-Box Tool
Figure 3 - 12: Legend for Traffic Map
Figure 3 - 13: Open Layer List
Figure 3 - 14: Unmapped Incidents List
Figure 3 - 15: Information Popup Window Example for Incidents, Events, and Alerts
Figure 3 - 16: The Three types of Traffic Detector Popup Windows
Figure 4 - 1: Address Book Sorting Headers
Figure 4 - 2: Sorting by Location
Figure 4 - 3: Sorting by Agency
Figure 6 - 1: Data Selections
Figure 6 - 2: Graph Options
Figure 6 - 3: Filters
Figure 6 - 4: Filters with Calendar
Figure 6 - 5: Table of Results
Figure 6 - 6: Save Popup
Figure 7 - 1: Performance Measure Divisions
Figure 7 - 2: Specifying the Performance Time Period
Figure 7 - 3: Calendar
Figure 7 - 4: Menu of Performance Measure Options
Figure 7 - 5: Performance Measures Titlebar
Figure 9 - 1: User Profile Settings
Figure 9 - 2: Editing Users
Figure 9 - 3: Adding New Users
Figure 9 - 4: Access Levels
1
RITIS WebsiteTechnical Manual
1 Introduction & Background Information
The RITIS Website Technical Manual is the complete written companion to using the applications embedded within the website of the Regional Integrated Transportation Information System. It was originally requested to serve as a detailed instructional/reference guide for new traffic management center operators surrounding the Washington D.C. metropolitan area that will use this system’s website. In addition, it will both alleviate some of the current confusion of previous website users and provide the developers of the website with specifications for the new features currently being implemented.Through the use of detailed explanations in combination with step-by-step instructions and diagramed figures, the manual clearly explains the purpose of each section of the website as well as how to properly operate the tools and features embedded amongst the content. This manual is also writtenfor several audiences that may not have a great deal of experience working with the RITIS system or completing common computer-related tasks. As a result, the instructionsin the manual are broken down into sets of very basic steps that can be followed by all potential users accessing the site. It is organized so that the major sections, and many of the subsections, found throughout the document mirror the same organizational divisions of the website itself. In addition, an image of what the actual navigation bar from the website looks like when browsing a particular webpage is included at the top of the corresponding sections in the manual. By incorporating this image below the headers of major sections the manual becomes much easier to reference and understand while actually browsing the site at the same time.
Remember:The “Click” action used throughout this manual refers to the standard left-click of nearly all two-button computer mice. If the right mouse button needs to be clicked instead of the left mouse button then it will be explicitly stated as “Right-Click.” The “Double-click” action is achieved by clicking the left mouse button twice in rapid succession without moving the mouse pointer.
1.1 RITISthe RITIS Website
The Regionally Integrated Transportation Information System, or RITIS for short, is a $1.9 million dollar ongoing project developed at the Center for Advanced Transportation Technology (CATT) laboratory in College Park, MD. The major idea behind the development of RITIS is that the integration of traffic and transportation management data from the participating organizations currently monitoring this information in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C will improve general transportation efficiency, safety, and security. Currently, the information from these various organizations is stored and maintained locally in formats that are often incompatible with one another, making it especially difficult for traffic management centers in these areas to quickly and effectively coordinate their efforts. With RITIS, however, this scatter data is fused into a single standardized source to provide an enhanced overall view of the region’s transportation network that can be used to improve operations and emergency response preparedness, support general transportation management, and provide travelers with accurate regional information.The RITIS website serves as the central interface for accessing the consolidation of live and archived traffic and incident data for travelers, traveler information service providers, and participating agencies that cannot already access RITIS data from their native systems. In addition to providing contact information for all participating agencies, the site incorporates an automatically updated list of all current traffic-related incidentsand associated information, an interactive informational map system displaying live RITIS data, a powerful set of tools that can be used to query and analyze previously collected data stored in the archive, and several collections of automatically generated performance reports concerning various aspects of the transportation network. The proper use of these various applications, including their numerous features and options, is the focus of the remainder of this technical manual.
2 Login Page
The login page is the first screen that will be shown when the website is visited regardless of whether or not the user is linking to a specific page within the site content. Its purpose is to only allow registered users access to the information that is stored. Without the proper username and passwordaccess to the website will not be granted.
2.1 Logging In
1)Click on the text box labeled Username (Figure 2 - 1) and type in a registered username. All registered usernames are full email addresses that include the @emailProvider.com ending.
2)Click on the text box labeled Password (Figure 2 - 1) and type in the password corresponding to the username.
3)Click Connect to attempt a login.
Note:If the username is not valid or the password does not match then the words will be displayed and you will have to try again.
2.2 Resetting Your Password
1)
2)Click on the text box labeled Email Address (Figure 2 - 2) and type in the email address with which you registered to the site with.
3)Click the Submitbutton(Figure 2 - 2) and a new password will be emailed to you.
Located at the bottom of the screen are links to the participating departments of transportation surrounding the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Included just below that is a link for the Center for Advanced Transportation Technology (CATT) laboratory in College Park, MD and also one to e-mail the RITIS webmaster (Figure 2 - 2).
3 Transportation System Status
The Transportation System Status section of the RITIS Website (navigation shown above) provides several different interfaces for viewing the real-time, region-wide status of all traveler and traffic-related information. The data contained in this section is a collaboration of live information provided from the major transportationorganizations in the Washington Metropolitan Area, including:
- (DDOT) District Department of Transportation
- (MDOT) Maryland Department of Transportation
- (VDOT) Virginia Department of Transportation
- (WMATA) Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Clicking on the Transportation System Status link will open the Incident Lists page by default, described further in Section 3.1. The Traffic Map, described in Section 3.2, can be accessed by clicking The Traffic Map link just underneath the Transportation System Statuslink header. Currently, the 3D Traffic Visualization is not online and will not be discussed in this version of the manual.
Table 3 - 1: Legend of Shared Transportation System Status Icons
1
Icon / Description/ Interstate Highway
/ State Highway
/ U.S. Route Sign
/ WMATA Metro Sign
/ Traffic Accident
/ Injury Accident
/ Unspecified Incident
/ Disabled Vehicle
/ Vehicle on Fire
/ Traffic Collision
/ Traffic Congestion
/ Roadwork
/ Debris on Roadway
/ Police Activity
/ Special Event (e.g. Sporting Event)
/ Opening Drawbridge
/ Other
Icon / Description
/ Metro Incident
(Colored According to Line Color)
/ Weather-Related Incident
/ Weather Alert Issued
/ (CCTV) Closed Circuit Traffic Camera
/ (VMS) Variable Message Sign
/ Traffic Signal System
/ Traffic Detector with Current
Speed Reading > 50 mph
/ Traffic Detector with Current
Speed Reading 30 - 50 mph
/ Traffic Detector with Current
Speed Reading 0 -30 mph
/ Traffic Detector with Current
Data Unavailable
/ Map Re-Center Tool
/ Map Zoom-Box Tool
/ Map Zoom Out Tool
/ Increase Layer Visibility
(Less Transparent)
/ Decrease Layer Visibility
(More Transparent)
1
3.1 Incidents List
The Incidents List is a tool that provides information concerning the most recent activities on the roads in the DC-MD-VA area. It is an important tool in receiving up to the minute information about events that have just occurred. The list is constantly updated live in real time as new events are reported to the participating agencies. It displays the state in which each incident occurred, its location, type, and time of occurrence. It also gives a brief description of what is currently occurring and a visual representation of which lanes of the road are blocked (Figure 3 - 2). The background of the incident list alternates between white and gray to make it easier to read the different incidents’ information (Figure 3 - 1). When a planned event is scheduled, such as future construction or a football game for example, the background of the event is colored yellow to distinguish it from unplanned events.
The incident list has a heading that displays information by state, location, type and time. The Statecolumn sorts the incident list by the state that the incident takes place in. The Location column shows the exact road and what exit is closest to where the incident took place. The Type column displays the type of incident that occurred. There is a Time column that shows the date and exact time when the incident took place (Figure 3 - 1). Each of these columns can be sorted in ascending or descending order, explained further in section 3.1.1.
- Lane Status is a useful feature of the incidents list because it shows the actual configurationof road lanes and which lanes are blocked or affected (Figure 3- 2).
- The lanes that are unblocked are displayed as black while the lanes that are blocked are colored in red.
- The Description column will most often have a brief statement about the incident or event that has occurred and will displayany additional details that the poster had provided, if any.
- The Timeline column contains a link to a popup containing additional details about the incident or event in an easy to read and informative format. The Timelinewill be explained in section 3.1.2.
3.1.1 Sorting the Incidents List
The Incidents List can be sorted by the various columns of data being displayed for each incident. For example, they can be sorted alphabetically by the type of event and numerically by time of occurrence(Figure 3 - 3).
- The information that can be sorted is indicated by the headings that are underlined (Figure 3 - 3).
- Click on a heading to sort by it. There will either be displayed a ↑or a ↓ next to the heading that is sorted.These signify whether the list is either in ascending or descending alphabetical or numerical order.
3.1.2 Accessing the Timeline Display
The Timeline Display will show in-depth information about the incident that is selected. When the Display link (Figure 3 - 4) is clicked a popup will be displayed showing the additional information.
- Located on the far left the timeline column contains a display link that when clicked will bring up another window with further information pertaining to the incident selected.
At the top of the popup the incident location is displayed and also what happened. There are several different tabs that can be clicked on to expand. These will bring more information about the incident.
The features on the Time Line display are used by clicking on the icon on the left side of the display box (Figure 3 - 5A). When this icon is pressed the arrow will point downwards and data for the incident will be shown (Figure 3 - 6). The various panes of information are used to find out what response units made it out to the scene, how many lanes are closed, and how the traffic is progressing through the area of the incident.