Real-Time Traffic Maps for the Internet and Mobile Devices Kirk Goldsberry Oregon State University...

Real-Time Traffic Maps

for the Internetand Mobile Devices

Kirk GoldsberryOregon State University

February 20, 2007

Feb 20 2007

Oregon State University: Department of Geosciences:

2007 Winter Seminar Series

Who am I? Kirk Goldsberry, PhD candidate, UCSB I study the influence of design

variables on traveler information 2 Scientific Communities:

GIScience Transportation Science

Feb 20 2007



GeoVisualization Interactivity Dynamic displays Decision Support Revealing unknowns Personalizing views The map reader vs. the map user

Feb 20 2007



Today: Looking at Traffic Maps Background - the traffic problem Data collection strategies Around the world in traffic maps Design issues with traffic maps

Feb 20 2007



Congestion is bad… and getting worse Los Angeles has the worst traffic in

the USA (Shrank and Lomax, 2006) 2005 Travel rate index 1.75

What is that? Congestion occurs more often and

during more parts of the day everywhere in the US

Feb 20 2007



Traffic and GeoVisualization Traffic is dynamic, often

unpredictable, and inherently geographic

Unlike traditional cartography, GeoVis can deal with streaming geographic information

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Breaking News The President is proposing new ways to

reduce highway congestion FY2008 proposed budget (2-5-07) A new $175 million highway congestion initiative

“That strategy would include … faster deployment of real-time traffic information. The goals of the initiative are to test new ways to mitigate congestion, evaluate the benefits and costs of these approaches, and determine if they can be applied in other parts of the country.”

Feb 20 2007



Goals of my research…1. To create a superior traffic map for

Los Angeles Clear and legible on small-screens intuitive, efficient A useful wayfinding aid

2. To explore the role of human subjects in the map design phase

Data Collection Strategies

To make real-time maps, we need real-time data

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2 Traffic data collection approaches1. Macroscopic data collection

Measuring conditions at fixed network locations- sensors, and loop detectors

2. Microscopic data collectionMeasuring agents’ progress along network links- cell phones

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Macroscopic …

Loop detectors in pavement Example: California

Data from the California Freeway Measurement Project (PeMS)

5-minute aggregates Speed, flow, occupancy Text files stored on FTP at UC Berkeley

Yahoo, Google, Sigalert, Traffic.com

Feb 20 2007



Microscopic…

Measuring individual dynamic agents within network

The wave of the future Employs GPS enabled mobile phones Privacy issues Examples - Baltimore, Atlanta, Rome

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Baltimore Metro Council 2004

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MIT’s Real-time Rome project

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Georgia Tech’s Commute Atlanta Project

Around the world in traffic

mapsA quick tour of the world’s most

popular traffic visuals…

Feb 20 2007



Traffic Information Resources Radio and television reports Personal traffic mythologies

Mental traffic atlases Internet traffic maps

Why haven’t current maps caught on? Let’s have a look-see

The Bay Area

Portland, Oregon

Seattle

Moscow

Athens

London

Design Issueswith Traffic

MapsCritical design decisions that

will influence map interpretations and wayfinding

behavior

Feb 20 2007



Designing Traffic Maps Legend Design

Symbolization Interpolation Classification of velocity data Incorporating travel time information

Designing for the small screen

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Symbolization of Traffic The Stoplight Metaphor versus

Cartographic Principle

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

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Interpolation Data is collected at fixed locations or

at fixed times

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Classification of velocity data

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How fast is traffic? At what average velocity does

congestion begin at?

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Feb 20 2007



Findings Classification influences map

interpretation People don’t consistently equate

velocity with traffic congestion A large group of map readers “leans”

on symbols more than their associated numerical ranges

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Incorporating travel time 2007 distance

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Incorporating travel time 2007 distance Isochrone lines connect

points of equal travel time Like contour lines but

with travel time

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Designing for the small screen

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Designing for the small screenEven more challenges

for traffic map design Less space Lower screen

resolution Dimmer displays

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Up the road, this morning

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Prototype Design Experiment A new real-time traffic map for LA Question: Is SVG viable, will it hold

up? Question: Can we apply findings from

HS experiments to map design?

Feb 20 2007



Token code slide if (myMapApp.trafficData[id]) { if (myMapApp.trafficData[id].speed) { if (myMapApp.trafficData[id].speed <= 30)

{ lineColor = "red"; } else if (myMapApp.trafficData[id].speed >

30 && myMapApp.trafficData[id].speed <= 45) { lineColor = "yellow"; } else if (myMapApp.trafficData[id].speed >

45) { lineColor = "green";

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Prototype Design Status SVG holds up We can apply human subjects findings

to the design It’s Alive!

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It’s Alive!

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Major design issues with traffic maps Clarity and legibility Classification of velocity data Portability and versatility

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Conclusions Design decisions influence human

travel behavior User-centered design can benefit the

product

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Conclusions Design decisions influence human

travel behavior User-centered design can benefit the

product Geovisualization can enhance the

road maps of the future

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Thanks OSU Geosciences

Dr. Dawn Wright

L.L. Stewart Faculty Development Fund

IGERT

Feb 20 2007



Future Directions GIScience:

Design principles for mobile cartography User-centered design approaches

Feb 20 2007



Future Directions GIScience:

Design principles for mobile cartography User-centered design approaches

Transportation Science: Evacuation graphics for large cities Maps in ATIS

Real-Time Traffic Maps for the Internet and Mobile Devices Kirk Goldsberry Oregon State University...

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