Research Data Exchange Release 2.0
Release 2.0 of the Research Data Exchange (RDE) is now available. New
transportation and weather data from a variety of sources are now available for
download from the RDE website. The data includes archived and real-time data
collected from Minnesota Department of Transportation (DOT) maintenance vehicles
and connected vehicle data from the Safety Pilot Model Deployment test site in Ann
Arbor, Michigan. The RDE also features a new user interface and new download
capabilities. Researchers, application developers, and others are invited to use the
data on the RDE to accelerate the integration of connected vehicles into intelligent
transportation system (ITS) related research.
RDE Background
The RDE is a transportation data-sharing system that makes available archived and
real-time data from multiple sources and multiple modes. This data-sharing capability
supports the needs of ITS researchers, application developers, and others, while
reducing costs and encouraging innovation. Data accessible through the RDE is
quality-checked, well-documented, and freely available to the public.
The RDE provides access to ITS data sets from multiple sources including connected
vehicles, probe messages, traffic monitoring and reporting devices (e.g., volumes,
speed, and crashes), incidents, traffic signals, weather sensors, and transit vehicles.
These data sets allow for a wide range of issues and factors to be considered or used
for analysis and research.
The RDE also contains forums for researchers to post projects, comment on data, and
contribute analyses and data.
Purpose:
The purpose of the RDE is to provide a variety
of data-related services that support the
development, testing, and demonstration
of multi-modal transportation mobility,
weather, and environmental applications.
Objectives:
- Enables systematic data capture from
connected vehicles (automobiles, transit
vehicles, and trucks), mobile devices, and
infrastructure
- Integrates data from multiple sources
into data environments to be used by
multiple applications for transportation
management and performance
measurement
- Performs data quality checks and
provides clean, well-documented data
relevant to research
New Data from the RDE Release 2.0
Integrated Mobile Observation (IMO) Data
- Data collected in real-time from Minnesota DOT maintenance
vehicles are available from the RDE both in archive and realtime
versions.
- The data records contain location data, road weather
observations from vehicle-mounted sensors, and engine data
directly from the vehicles’ CAN bus.
- In archive mode, users may download files containing all
records collected within a certain time interval.
- In real-time mode, an application may be downloaded from
the RDE that enables the user to receive the data records in
real-time directly from the RDE.
Safety Pilot Model Deployment Data
- The RDE now hosts one day of data from the Safety Pilot
Model Deployment conducted in Ann Arbor, MI.
- The data include Basic Safety Messages sent by over 2700
instrumented vehicles (cars, trucks, and buses), trajectorybased
driving and engine data, and messages broadcast
from roadside equipment, including signal phase and
timing messages, traveler information messages, and
MAP messages.
- Data are collected from vehicles with vehicle awareness
devices, aftermarket safety devices, retrofit safety devices,
and integrated safety devices.
- Data records from vehicles are provided in text format and in
pcap (packet capture) format every 0.1 second.
- The data environment also contains contextual data including
traffic volumes for selected intersections and highway
segments, and atmospheric weather data.
- All data files have been “sanitized” to remove any data that
could reveal Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
- Additional data from the Safety Pilot Model Deployment will
be added to the RDE in the future.
New Features of the RDE Release 2.0
- The user interface has been upgraded.
- The RDE now features a “shopping cart” model to download
multiple files as a zip file.
- The download confirmation text now provides an estimate
of the download file size.
- A copyright information file is included along with each
data download.
- Users can now subscribe to receive emailed news of RDErelated
updates and feedback opportunities.
- Data environments may be viewed and accessed via a mapbased
interface.
New data sets are continuously being added to the RDE as they
become available from the U.S. Department of Transportation
(USDOT) and other projects. ITS researchers are invited to
submit data sets for potential inclusion. The USDOT has
developed procedures for assessing the value and quality of
potential data to be added to the RDE. When a submitted data
environment passes these criteria, RDE management adds the
data to the RDE.
For more information about this initiative, please contact:
Ariel Gold
Program Manager, Data
ITS Joint Program Office
(202) 366-4374
ariel.gold@dot.gov
Gene McHale
PhD, Team Leader
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Operations (R&D) | (202) 493-3275
gene.mchale@dot.gov
Jon Obenberger
Sr. Transportation Research Engineer
Federal Highway Administration, Office of Operations (R&D)
(202) 493-3265
jon.obenberger@dot.gov