CRS&SI Technology Application Program.

PDFTech ReportDTOS59-10-H-00004Freight transportationWaterwaysDrayageRemote sensingGeographic information systemsCost effectivenessTraffic flowComputer modelsSimulationEastern StatesGeorge Mason University ConsortiumBronzini, Michael S.George Mason University ConsortiumUnited States. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Innovative Technology AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionThis project report presents details of research carried out by the George Mason UniversityConsortium under a research contract from the U.S. Department of Transportation\ue2\u20ac\u2122s Researchand Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), in support of the Commercial RemoteSensing and Spatial Information (CRS&SI) Technology program.The Consortium research focused on developing first line decision making tools for state andlocal agencies for identifying alternate freight transportation options using available waterways.The marine highway freight system (MHFS) offers the opportunity for increasing freightcapacity and relieving highway congestion with low infrastructure investments. The GMUConsortium study showed that planning of marine highways can be accomplished costeffectively using results of model analysis and by applying emerging CRS&SI tools.The project developed methods to compare potential cost savings in marine highways bycoupling the following three modeling and analysis processes: 1) A highway model for freightflow leading to the ports; 2) a waterway model for marine transportation and 3) a drayage freightflow analysis system. The results have generic application nationwide for marine highways. Forproof of concept purposes, the study focused on the Eastern corridor region (I-95 Corridor)