Advanced Signal Control Strategies

·         Transit Signal Priority (TSP) systems

·         Actuated control strategy optimization

·         Dilemma zone protection

·         Simulation-based adaptive signal control investigations

·         Video-based traffic data collection at intersections

Freeway Operations

·         Active Traffic Management (ATM) for congestion mitigation

·         Area-wide coordinated ramp metering control algorithms

·         Simulation-based investigation on High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane operations

·         Feedback-based optimal tolling algorithms for HOT lane operations

Traffic Flow Theory and Driver Behavior Modeling

·         Parametric headway distribution modes

·         Non-parametric Gaussian kernel-based headway modeling

·         HOV lane headway modeling

Advanced Traffic Detection Technologies

·         Dynamic estimation of freeway traffic speed

·         Large truck volume estimation

·         Traffic congestion monitoring and forecast

Traffic Data Fusion and Management Systems

·         Transportation database design

·         On-line traffic information retrieval systems

·         Distributed traffic data management systems

·         GIS-based transportation data visualization

Statistical Methods and Traffic Pattern Discovery

·         Statistical methods in transportation

·         Traffic pattern discovery and vehicle route decision modeling

Computer Version-based Real-time Data Collection Systems

·         Video-based vehicle detection and classification systems using surveillance video cameras

·         Motion feature-based vehicle tracking

·         Robust algorithms for overcoming vehicle shadow and occlusion

Advanced Computing Technologies for Transportation Applications

·         Artificial neural network algorithms for estimating classified vehicle data using single loops

·         Reinforcement learning algorithms for optimizing network-wide vehicle routing

Traffic Safety Analysis and Accident Modeling

·         Animal-vehicle collision modeling

·         Rural highway intersection safety analysis

·         Pavement surface distress data collection, process, interpretation and visualization 

Collect and analyze pavement surface distress condition data on the major corridors in New Mexico. Formulate and develop various models to extract knowledge from the pavement condition data, and elaborate the relationship between pavement conditions and dynamic traffic characteristics for improving asset management systems. Funded by NMDOT.

 

·         Improving truck and speed data using paired video and single-loop sensors

Developed a prototype software system entitled Video-based Vehicle Detection and Classification (VVDC) system for truck data collection using wide-ranging available surveillance cameras. This system was applied for data collection along Interstate-5 and its performance has been highly evaluated by WSDOT. Funded by both WSDOT and Transportation Northwest (TransNow, the USDOT University Transportation Center for Federal Region 10).

·         Signal control optimization and traffic simulation

Developed a novel stochastic model to dynamically calculate the green time boundaries for NEMA controllers which are primary traffic signal controllers in the U.S. Developed the model that effectively avoids signal cycle failure, minimize vehicular delays, and maximize total traffic throughputs. Funded by Royalty Research Funds, University of Washington. 

·         Artificial neural network algorithms for traffic speed estimation

Developed an artificial neural network algorithm to estimate length-based vehicle classification data using single loop outputs. This novel artificial neural network model emulates the identification capabilities of human beings’ brains, and extracts the valuable data from single loop detectors without any extra cost. Funded by the Smart Transportation Application and Research Laboratory Innovation Funds, University of Washington. 

·         Self-adaptive tolling strategies for High Occupancy Toll lane operations

Developed dynamic tolling strategies for optimizing High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane operations. This work is of practical importance for the State Route 167 HOT lane pilot project in the Washington state and other nation-wide research on managed lane operations. Funded by WSDOT and Transportation Northwest (TransNow), the USDOT University Transportation Center for Federal Region 10.

·         Transit signal priority  system modeling and simulation

Established a signal control module to implement advanced control strategies using traffic simulation software, VISSIM, for the Transit Signal Priority (TSP) system. Funded by Transportation Northwest (TransNow).  

·         South Snohomish County transit signal priority  system evaluation

Field data were collected to build and simulate the TSP system deployed in the South Snohomish County. Funded by Federal Highway Administration and Community Transit.  

·         Traffic flow theory 

Developed a non-parametric Gaussian kernel-based headway model. This study is essential for traffic flow modeling and simulation research. Funded by the Smart Transportation Application and Research Laboratory Innovation Funds, University of Washington.