Browsing by Author "Ozden, Abdulkadir"

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    Utilization of knowledge-based expert systems to enhance the decision making in states' traffic monitoring programs: a focus on traffic pattern group analysis
    (University of Delaware, 2017) Ozden, Abdulkadir
    Traffic monitoring is one of the primary activities of state highway agencies. A reliable estimation of the traffic is vital for the management and future planning of the roadways, and as well as the apportionment of the federal funding. Traffic Monitoring Program in states is responsible for collecting, storing, processing, and disseminating the traffic data. Determination of volume and vehicle classification trends, utilization of appropriate MADT and AADT estimation methods, establishment of Traffic Pattern Groups (TPG) and use of the adjustment factors to expand the short duration counts are some of the primary activities within states’ traffic monitoring program. ☐ DelDOT Traffic Monitoring Program has been evaluated and updated to establish the TPGs and derive the adjustment factors to represents the current traffic conditions in Delaware. Analysis of data revealed few problems that should be addressed (i.e. adjustment factors are sometimes not properly used, and TPGs are not regularly evaluated/updated). Additionally, a national level survey conducted to understand the issues and challenges that state highway agencies facing in collecting and processing of state traffic monitoring data, specifically continuous and shortduration data. Both survey responses and DelDOT analysis results have shown that a Knowledge-based Expert System (KBES) application can contribute to states’ traffic monitoring program by informing and guiding the user to improve the traffic monitoring related decisions. ☐ The primary objective of this study was to develop a KBES application, called TMDEST, for providing assistance and decision support tool to the transportation agencies in states’ traffic monitoring programs, specifically in TPG analysis. TMDEST asks focused and relevant questions to the user and provide situation-specific advice in six modules. In some modules, the user is asked to provide numerical input such as the number of stations and coefficient of variation value if available. ☐ Class/Weight Trend Module is designed to guide the user to identify the most important vehicle classes and the trucks that exert the most weight by using FHWA’s VTRIS W-Tables. MADT/AADT Methods Module and TPG Methods Module are designed to inform the user regarding the major MADT/AADT estimation methods and TPG analysis methods to recommend the most appropriate methods based on the presence and amount of missing data and the inclusion of temporal variations. TPG Groups Module provides an approximate estimation of TPGs based on roadway functional classification and seasonal variation. Sample Size Estimation Module is designed to test the number of continuous count stations in each TPG for statistical significance. Lastly, Adjustment Factors Module incorporates all possible adjustment factors and evaluates the necessity of the use by asking multiple-choice questions to the end user regarding the extent of the collected short duration data. ☐ Overall evaluation of the TMDEST revealed that each module well satisfies the design specifications, and in general, the developed tool (1) informs and guides the user regarding the methods and procedures, (2) provides an approximate method for establishing TPGs. Additionally, verification, validation, and evaluation of the TMDEST showed that the expert system based tool was built right and does the job that it intends to do. Utilization of an expert system development tool (Exsys Corvid® Core) significantly expedited to the verification and validation process. The simple proof method was used to evaluate each module for completeness, consistency, and correctness. Although the majority of the content in the knowledge base was obtained from FHWA’s traffic monitoring guide, simple true/false test was applied to the modules where the content was partially generated to validate the knowledge base. TMDEST and each module are considered as valid and applicable tool in states traffic monitoring program. Lastly, a discussion of further work is provided to improve the extent of the TMDEST in states’ traffic monitoring program.
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    Web 2.0 in transportation: practices, utilization, and potential
    (University of Delaware, 2010) Ozden, Abdulkadir
    Advances in information and communication technology have changed many aspects of our life. Since the invention of the World Wide Web, thousands of miles became seconds in terms of reaching and using information and communicating with people. However, there were still gaps for creating an interactive communication and collaboration environment. In 2004, Web 2.0 was introduced as a new version of the World Wide Web (WWW), not in terms of technical specifications but in the ways of communication and usage. With the Web 2.0 technologies such as web-based applications, social-networking platforms, photo/video sharing, wikis, blogs, content syndication applications, mashups, and synchronous conferencing applications, web sites turn into interactive and dynamic platforms from static information providers. Recent applications show that transportation industry has been adapting to the evolution of web technologies. In this study, Web 2.0 technologies and tools are explained in detail with the popular examples within and without the transportation field to emphasize the effectiveness and capabilities of the new version of the World Wide Web. Usage of Web 2.0 in different transportation areas such as transportation planning, public transit and public relations are presented with successfully implemented applications. Additionally, utilization of Web 2.0 tools and applications by transportation professionals are examined with a national level survey. The survey is designed to gather information from transportation professionals about their familiarity with Web 2.0, the ways Web 2.0 is used in transportation, the most used Web 2.0 technologies and tools in different transportation study areas, and the utilization of Web 2.0 technologies at the institution/agency/organization levels. 1080 transportation professional were contacted from across the U.S. and 137 of them participated in the survey. Survey results demonstrate that 71% of transportation professionals are aware of Web 2.0 technologies. However, only 24% of respondents utilize Web 2.0 for professional purposes and 28% of them for personal reasons. Also, participants’ responses indicate that Web 2.0 technologies are highly effective in transportation planning, transportation education and public relations areas. After introducing Web 2.0 and presenting practices in transportation area, a Commuter Information System (CIS) is proposed to improve the congestion management by utilizing Web 2.0. CIS, which will provide real-time information to daily commuters, is aiming at relieving the effects of the congestion by informing drivers before and during their trips. CIS utilizes Web 2.0 to facilitate commuter data entry and information dissemination, and provides communication and collaboration environment for the public. Finally, future potential of Web 2.0 and the next step, Web Squared, are discussed. Because web technologies are changing rapidly, 3-5 years predictions are presented. In this perspective, smart computers and devices are expected to be the most significant change in near future.