MULTI-CRITERIA ASSESSMENT FOR SUPPORTING FREEWAY OPERATIONS

Traffic Management Centers (TMCs) provide many benefits to both traffic operators and on-road travelers. ITS technologies such as closed circuit videos allow traffic operators to monitor and operate freeways; dynamic message signs can provide roadway information so that travelers can properly react to the roadway situation. For long term support of TMCs, this research described three separate tasks. First, this research describes the factors influencing the TMCs investments, effective methods in persuading the public to support deployment of TMCs, and legal issues involved with making a decision to deploy TMCs. After developing two approaches, which provide the range of criteria weights, this research uses a concordance approach to explain the priority ranking of these criteria. The results indicate that incident management, improved environment and improved safety are the most important factors influencing the TMCs investment, while newspaper articles and other media are the most effective method in persuading the public to support deployment of TMCs.

Autorentext

Dr. Auttawit received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, United State in December 2008. He earned Bachelor degree and Master degree in Civil Engineering from Chiang Mai University, Thailand in 1997 and 2001, respectively. Dr. Auttawit is a member of TRB and ITE.