Real-Time Data Capture and Management
The Real-Time Data Capture and Management Program (DCM) aims to enable the active
acquisition and systematic provision of integrated, multisource data to enhance current operational
practices and transform surface transportation systems management.
Research Program
The Mobility Program area of the USDOT research initiative for wirelessly connected vehicles,
travelers, and infrastructure includes the DCM program and the Dynamic Mobility Applications
program (DMA). The DCM program addresses the capture, quality-checking, and integration
of real-time data. Real-time data examples include vehicle status and location, transit data,
weather data, and infrastructure data.
The DMA Program addresses the use of these data to develop and deploy enhanced or transformative
mobility applications such as enhanced weather applications, real-time transit signal
priority, traveler information, fleet management applications, and safety advisory systems.
A key concept of the DCM Program is the development of data environments. Data environments
support the collection, management, integration, and application of real-time transportation
data from fixed sensors, vehicles, and travelers for use by researchers, application
developers, public sector system operators, and private sector information service providers.
A variety of data types from multiple sources are captured, quality checked, and integrated
into virtual data environments and made available to be used by multiple applications.
Data Products Available for Research
The extensive research behind these data environments is a multiyear effort. The first of the
data products, the Prototype Data Environment, is now available. It will be expanded over the
course of the next year.
Where: Prototype Data Environment (PDE): https://datacapture.noblis.org/
The DCM Prototype Data Environment is a web-based resource supporting the sharing of
both archived and real-time data from multiple sources (including vehicle probes) and multiple
modes. The PDE serves as a test case useful in the evaluation of emerging data-related
technologies and policies, as well as a model for the development of additional future data environments. The PDE supports the collection, management, and
provision of multisource transportation data and also contains forums
for researchers to register projects, flag erroneous data, and contribute
analyses and data views.
What: Data in the PDE include:
-
Archived, simulated, and real-time vehicle probe data from ongoing
research activity in the V2V/V2I Test Bed (Michigan).
- Real-time vehicle probe data feed from ongoing field testing at
the FHWA Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory Test Bed
(Virginia.
- The Road Weather Management program Integrated Mobile Observations
(IMO) Test data from wirelessly connected snowplows
and maintenance trucks.
- Integrated multimodal data from vehicles and roadside sensors
in four test data sets (Seattle, Portland, Pasadena, San Diego).
Data includes vehicle (light vehicle, truck, and transit), weather,
freeway/arterial sensor, and traffic signal data.
- Vehicle data from the 2011 World Congress Demonstration.
- Traveler, vehicle, and infrastructure sensor data from other demonstrations
and DMA research.
Research Questions
A list of research questions that can be addressed using data from
the PDE data are available at: https://datacapture.noblis.org/content/
research-ideas
The research questions cover the areas of:
- Fundamental understanding of the use of Dedicated Short-Range
Communications (DSRC) for Mobility applications.
- Use of vehicle probe data for potential mobility, safety, and environmental
applications.
- Integrating data from simulations and field tests to cost-effectively
address issues associated with incremental technology adoption
and implementation.
Next Steps
Data and other capabilities resident in the PDE will be transitioning
to a next-generation data management system, the Research Data
Exchange (RDE). The RDE embodies a connected system of data
environments needed to support application research and development.
The RDE will not be a single, centralized repository, but rather a
system of systems linking multiple data management systems some of
which will be maintained and controlled outside of the USDOT, through
a common web-based Data Portal.
- PDE-to-RDE transition (March 2012)
Vision
Active acquisition and systematic
provision of integrated, multisource
data to enhance current operational
practices and transform surface
transportation systems management.
Program Objectives
- Enable systematic data capture
from connected vehicles (automobiles,
transit, and trucks), mobile
devices, and infrastructure.
- Develop data environments
that enable integration of data
from multiple sources for use in
transportation management and
performance measurement.
- Reduce costs of data management
and eliminate technical
and institutional barriers to the
capture, management, and sharing
of data.
- Determine required infrastructure
for transformative applications
implementation, along with associated
costs and benefits.
To learn more about this research, contact:
Ariel Gold
Program Manager, Data
ITS Joint Program Office
(202) 366-4374
ariel.gold@dot.gov
Gene McHale
Team Leader, Transportation Enabling Technologies
Office of Mobility Innovation
Federal Transit Administration
(202) 493-3275
gene.mchale@dot.gov