This paper presents a low-cost and energy-saving urban mobility monitoring system based on wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The primary components of the proposed sensor unit are a Bluetooth sensor and a Zigbee transceiver. Within the WSN, the Bluetooth sensor captures the MAC addresses of Bluetooth units equipped in mobile devices and car navigation systems. The Zigbee transceiver transmits the collected MAC addresses to a data center without any major communications infrastructures (e.g., fiber optics and 3G/4G network). A total of seven prototype sensor units have been deployed on roadway segments in Newark, New Jersey, for a proof of concept (POC) test. The results of the POC test show that the performance of the proposed sensor unit appears promising, resulting in 2% of data drop rates and an improved Bluetooth capturing rate.

This research evaluates the impact of In-vehicle Signal Advisory System (ITSAS) on signalized arterial. ITSAS provides individual drivers equipped with a mobile communication device with advisory speed information enabling to minimize the time delay and fuel consumption when crossing intersection. Given the instantaneous vehicular driving information, such as position, speed, and acceleration rate, ITSAS produces advisory speed information by taking into consideration the traffic signal changes at a downstream intersection. The advisory speed information includes not only an optimal speed range updated every 300-ft for individual drivers but also a descriptive message to warn drivers stop to ensure safety at the downstream intersection. Unlike other similar Connected Vehicles applications for intersection management, ITSAS does not require Roadside Equipment (RSE) to disseminate the advisory speed information as it is designed to exploit commercial cellular network service (i.e., 3G and 4G-LTE). Thus, ITSAS can be easily plugged into existing traffic control management system to rapidly conduct its implementation without significant additional cost. This research presents the field evaluations of ITSAS on a signalized corridor in New Jersey, which discovered significant travel time savings for the equipped vehicle.

Recent technological advancements in the automotive and transportation industry established a firm foundation for development and implementation of various connected and automated vehicle solutions around the globe. Wireless communication technologies such as the dedicated short-range communication protocol are enabling information exchange between vehicles and infrastructure. This research paper introduces an intersection management strategy for a corridor with automated vehicles utilizing vehicular trajectory-driven optimization method. Trajectory-Driven Optimization for Automated Driving provides an optimal trajectory for automated vehicles based on current vehicle position, prevailing traffic, and signal status on the corridor. All inputs are used by the control algorithm to provide optimal trajectories for automated vehicles, resulting in the reduction of vehicle delay along the signalized corridor with fixed-time signal control. The concept evaluation through microsimulation reveals that, even with low market penetration (i.e., less than 10%), the technology reduces overall travel time of the corridor by 2%. Further increase in market penetration produces travel time and fuel consumption reductions of up to 19.5% and 22.5%, respectively.

This research presents an arrival notification system for paratransit passengers with disabilities. Almost all curb-to-curb paratransit services have a significantly large pickup time window, ranging from 20 to 40 min from the scheduled time and producing substantial passenger waiting times. The arrival notification system presented in this study delivers an automated voice call to a registered user once the paratransit vehicle is in proximity to the pickup location. The system utilizes the Google Traffic application programming interface (API) for the vehicle arrival estimation. Unlike other vehicle arrival notification systems in the state of the practice, the proposed system is compact and does not require additional equipment such as radio transmitting and positioning devices. The proposed system, which uses consumer mobile devices with the Android or iOS platform, is designed to exploit commercial cellular network service (i.e., 3G and 4G-LTE). In addition to the passenger notification, the proposed system provides paratransit drivers with real-time route guidance information developed through the Google Maps API. Field evaluation conducted in Essex County, New Jersey, revealed significant reduction in passenger waiting time. The passenger waiting time was reduced by 15 to 20 min. In addition, the accuracy of the notification system was tested. During the test, in almost all cases, the vehicle arrived 1 min earlier than the proposed arrival time.

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