Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) play an important role in supporting motorists and first responders to handle major incidents, hazmat spills, security measures and other emergency operations. Increasingly, technology advancements and applications are providing invaluable integration opportunities to interconnect safety, maintenance, ITS, traffic operations, facilities, and transportation equipment programs to maximize available resources and achieve efficiency in transportation operations. This research focuses on one of the prominent ITS devices: Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) operations. Using real time incident management operations data and ITS operations data, an attempt is made to develop ITS Operations Evaluations Models (ITSOEMs) that are capable of quantifying the operations value of DMS and their complementing ITS surveillance and detection systems, such as CCTV, Safety Service Patrol (SSP) and Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems. The I-95 corridor in the state of Virginia is selected as the Study Corridor. Operations data from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) on DMS and ITS detection systems and incident management is analyzed to accomplish four key research objectives: a) To collect, extract and evaluate real time operations data from VDOT ITS and incident management operations programs and identify the factors contributing to the successful operation of DMS for the duration of incidents and events occurring on the I-95 Study Corridor; b) To develop analytical models to determine measurable influence of incident detections in successfully disseminating messages on DMS; c) To develop ITS Operations evaluation models to determine the effectiveness of DMS messages during incidents by quantifying the influence of DMS messages in the deterrence of secondary incidents on the I-95 Study Corridor; and d) To develop guidelines on the application of these quantitative ITS evaluation models so that transportation engineers can effectively use these models to perform ITS evaluations at other ITS locations. The ITS evaluation framework developed in this research work is expected to assist transportation engineers in the prioritization, selection and implementation of operations and technology integration strategies.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Town and Regional Planning))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Much has been written about the desperate need to seek alternative solutions to the urban traffic congestion problems we face today. To manage these problems, three main streams of intervention have evolved from supply, demand and land-use management paradigms. Whilst their underlying measures all have the ability to reduce traffic congestion one way or another, little has been done to integrate the measures of each stream using a qualitative decision framework or process enabling the selection of site specific measures appropriate to local traffic and transport conditions. To this end the study reports the results of an empirical investigation by which a Multi-Criteria Analysis based Dynamic Adaptive Decision Framework (D.A.D.F.) were developed. This screens selected measures identifying those that have the potential to alleviate site specific road based traffic congestion. The product of the screening process is a set of sustainable measures transposed into an integrated strategy tailored to address local traffic congestion issues. Once the D.A.D.F. was developed, its usefulness and workability was tested by applying it to a case study. The case study results demonstrated that the D.A.D.F. is capable of producing integrated strategies with the ability to manage traffic congestion, encourage sustainable development and alleviate some site specific development challenges within the context of the study areas. Going beyond developing the decision framework, the study recommends positioning the D.A.D.F. within the South African planning system as part of a Traffic Congestion Management Plan (T.C.M.P.), setting out its likely components within the local context. It is concluded that the main innovation of the study is the development of the D.A.D.F., the T.C.M.P., the recommendations to situate both in the planning system and the comprehensive, but still transparent, approach undertaken to create integrated strategies for specific local conditions consisting of elements that work together to produce cumulative short to long term effects that attain a balanced set of environmental, social and economic goals - all imperative for sustainable development. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Town and Regional Planning))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Much has been written about the desperate need to seek alternative solutions to the urban traffic congestion problems we face today. To manage these problems, three main streams of intervention have evolved from supply, demand and land-use management paradigms. Whilst their underlying measures all have the ability to reduce traffic congestion one way or another, little has been done to integrate the measures of each stream using a qualitative decision framework or process enabling the selection of site specific measures appropriate to local traffic and transport conditions. To this end the study reports the results of an empirical investigation by which a Multi-Criteria Analysis based Dynamic Adaptive Decision Framework (D.A.D.F.) were developed. This screens selected measures identifying those that have the potential to alleviate site specific road based traffic congestion. The product of the screening process is a set of sustainable measures transposed into an integrated strategy tailored to address local traffic congestion issues. Once the D.A.D.F. was developed, its usefulness and workability was tested by applying it to a case study. The case study results demonstrated that the D.A.D.F. is capable of producing integrated strategies with the ability to manage traffic congestion, encourage sustainable development and alleviate some site specific development challenges within the context of the study areas. Going beyond developing the decision framework, the study recommends positioning the D.A.D.F. within the South African planning system as part of a Traffic Congestion Management Plan (T.C.M.P.), setting out its likely components within the local context. It is concluded that the main innovation of the study is the development of the D.A.D.F., the T.C.M.P., the recommendations to situate both in the planning system and the comprehensive, but still transparent, approach undertaken to create integrated strategies for specific local conditions consisting of elements that work together to produce cumulative short to long term effects that attain a balanced set of environmental, social and economic goals - all imperative for sustainable development. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Town and Regional Planning))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.