Travel Time Estimation Using Bluetooth

2015PDFTech Reporthttp://www.ncitec.msstate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013-43FR.pdfLTRC Project Number: 13-2SSState Project Number: 30001396Travel timeBluetooth technologyTraffic congestionTraffic delayBluetoothCongestionProbeDelayResearch HubUnited StatesLouisiana Transportation Research CenterGudishala, RavindraWilmot, Chester G.Mokkapatti, AdityaLouisiana State University (Baton Rouge, La.). Dept. of Civil and Environmental EngineeringLouisiana. Dept. of Transportation and DevelopmentMississippi State University. National Center for Intermodal Transportation for Economic CompetitivenessUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionThe objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using a Bluetooth Probe Detection System (BPDS) to estimate travel time in an urban area. Specifically, the study investigated the possibility of measuring overall congestion, the trend in congestion, the location of congestion \u201chotspots,\u201d and finally measurement of the level of congestion at the hotspots using a BPDS. A secondary objective was to assess the possibility of obtaining travel time from other quicker and cheaper methods such as simply purchasing it from a commercial vendor. The findings of the study indicate that a BPDS can reliably be used to measure travel time and estimate congestion in terms of indices such as travel delay, planning time index, and travel time index. However, the acquisition of a BPDS includes certain overheads such as installation costs, maintenance costs and monitoring costs. Purchase of travel time from a commercial vendor might be a viable option if the travel time data is not needed on a day-to-day basis and over an extended period of time. However, one of the disadvantages of purchasing travel time data is limited flexibility in using the data because of contractual issues. The study recommends using BPDS for collecting travel time if real-time data are needed on a constant basis and over a period of one or more years. If the data are not needed in real time and are needed for limited purposes and for less than a year, then it would be preferable to acquire the data through a commercial vendor