Conceptual Framework

Question 1

Mention the challenges and opportunities in Traffic Control

Answer 1

Challenges:
Information Availability
Globalization of Market
Urbanisation and Megacitites
Demography
Energy Consumption
Enviromental Aspects

Opprtunities:
Communication
Computing power, data processing
Information provision
V2X
Automating

Question 2

Three Levels of Strategies of Supply and Demand Management

Answer 2

Avoid Traffic (Demand)
 causes of traffic
Shift Traffic (Demand)
 time / space / mode 
Operate Traffic
 conforming to objectives

Question 3

What is the definition of control

Answer 3

The process of a change that does not occur at random but under control. Control theory deals with the behavior of dynamical systems.

Question 4

Kinds of Control

Answer 4

Open loop control
 without online processed-data

Open Loop Control – Feedforward: The desired output of a system is called the reference. The controller manipulates the inputs to a system to obtain the desired effect on the output of the system
Open Loop Control with online processed-data

Closed Loop Control - Feedback: The desired output of a system is called the reference. The controller manipulates the inputs to a system to obtain the desired effect on the output of the system
Closed loop control  with online processed-data

Question 5

Objectives of Transport Management and Control

Answer 5

Environmentally friendly traffic 
Safe transportation
Efficient transport system 
Comfortable travel
Economic traffic management 

to support the overall goal:
‘Sustainable Transportation’

Question 6

Define Sustainability

Answer 6

• “Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” [Brundtland Commission, UN, 1987]
• three “pillars” of sustainability are relevant
- Environment
- Society
- Economy

Question 7

Specific Objectives of Traffic Control – Examples

Answer 7

Highways
• Optimal usage of existent road network
• Ensure smooth traffic flow
• Early warning in case of adverse weather
• Efficient incident management

Long-distance transport (passengers, goods)
• Maximal and equal saturation of trains
• Control of interchanges and connections
• Passenger information during incidents and disturbances

Urban and Regional Transport
• Optimal usage of existing multi-modal supply
• Parking management (places, guidance)
• Improvement of traffic flow conditions
• Inter-modal traveller information

Question 8

Which are the Scope of influence of Traffic Control

Answer 8

traffic flow
speed control on highways, priority of traffic streams at intersections
• driving manner
information on the traffic situation of the road lying ahead
• route choice
information on the state of the traffic in the network or dynamic route information
• departure time choice
information on travel times (cars) or availability of seats (PT)
• mode choice
information on alternative travel possibilities before/during the journey

Question 9

Which are the type of information of Traffic Control

Answer 9

Collective/Global
at the disposal of all travelers
(radio traffic channel, variable message signs, …)

Individual
supply specific information to individual travelers (radio traffic channels with RDS-TMC,
navigation systems, V2X technology, …)

Question 10

Which are the response to traffic

Answer 10

Static Traffic Control Systems
 Independent from the traffic situation and time
static traffic signs
pre-timed traffic signals

Dynamic Traffic Control Systems
 Dependent on the traffic situation or time
variable message signs
traffic responsive signal control

Question 11

Which are the type of regulation

Answer 11

Compulsatory
- Regulation and Control

Voluntary

• Information
• Recommendation and Guidance

Question 12

Define Telematics

Answer 12

Telecommunication & Informatics
• Acquisition,
• Transmission,
• Storage,
• and Processing
of information.
Traffic Telematics / Vehicle Telematics are terms for transport applications.

Question 13

Define ITS

Answer 13

• “ITS integrate telecommunications, electronics and information technologies - in short, ‘telematics’ - with transport engineering in order to plan, design, operate, maintain and manage transport systems.
• This integration aims to improve safety, security, quality and efficiency of the transport systems for passengers and freight, optimizing the use of natural resources and respecting the environment.
• To achieve such aims, ITS require procedures, systems and devices to allow the collection, communication, analysis and distribution of information and data among moving subjects, the transport infrastructure and information technology applications.”

Question 14

What are three view points of IT

Answer 14

Logical or functional viewpoint: (What)
• information collection (e.g. detector measurements)
• information processing (e.g. control model)
• information distribution (e.g. route advice)

Technical or physical viewpoint: (How)
• central facilities (e.g. control center, computers)
• roadside facilities (e.g. detectors, traffic control facilities)
• vehicle-based facilities (e.g. navigation device, HMI)
• data transmission systems (e.g. communication networks)

Organizational or institutional viewpoint: (Who)
• institutions and persons (e.g. police, traffic engineer)
• regulations (e.g. Signal Timing Manual, traffic law)
processes (e.g. dispatching, operation)

Question 15

Generic Process of Integrated System Design

Answer 15

1. Set objectives
2. Determine situations
3. Agree on strategies
4. Identify measures
   scenarios
5. Build/adopt systems
6. Measure and assess effects and Control quality