Analysis of Parking Reliability Guidance of Urban Parking Variable Message Sign System

Operators of parking guidance and information systems (PGIS) often encounter difficulty in determining when and how to provide reliable car park availability information to drivers. Reliability has become a key factor to ensure the benefits of urban PGIS. The present paper is the first to define the guiding parking reliability of urban parking variable message signs (VMSs). By analyzing the parking choice under guiding and optional parking lots, a guiding parking reliability model was constructed. A mathematical program was formulated to determine the guiding parking reliability of VMS. The procedures were applied to a numerical example, and the factors that affect guiding reliability were analyzed. The quantitative changes of the parking berths and the display conditions of VMS were found to be the most important factors influencing guiding reliability. The parking guiding VMS achieved the best benefit when the parking supply was close to or was less than the demand. The combination of a guiding parking reliability model and parking choice behavior offers potential for PGIS operators to reduce traffic congestion in central city areas.

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Analysis of the Influence of Traffic Information Messages on Route Selection

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/154193129503901704 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 39 (17) ◽

pp. 1082-1086

Author(s):

W. Bradley Fain

Keyword(s):

Situation Awareness ◽

Intelligent Transportation Systems ◽

Traffic Congestion ◽

Intelligent Transportation ◽

Transportation Systems ◽

Traffic Information ◽

Route Selection ◽

Variable Message Signs ◽

Message Format ◽

Message Signs

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) can reduce traffic congestion by displaying congestion-related delay information on roadside variable message signs or in-vehicle displays. Message format and content may have a significant impact on the percentage of drivers who decide to make a route diversion. In this study, the effect of various traffic information message types on driver routing decisions was evaluated. Results suggest that messages including both an advisory and a descriptive component promote situation awareness and rapid decision making, both of which are critical for this application.

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A comparative analysis of information provision strategies for parking variable message sign display problems

Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems ◽

10.3233/jifs-190962 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 2725-2735

Author(s):

Xun-You Ni ◽

Weite Lu ◽

Chunqin Zhang ◽

Yong Liu ◽

Jing Zhao

Keyword(s):

Comparative Analysis ◽

Information Provision ◽

Threshold Value ◽

Agent Based ◽

Variable Message Signs ◽

Traffic Conditions ◽

Average Travel Time ◽

Parking Lot ◽

Message Signs ◽

Urban Parking

Parking spaces are insufficient and are plagued by over-consumption in hot areas. To assist drivers easily in identifying available parking spaces, parking variable message signs are commonly adopted to display information on space availability. This paper analyzes the performance of various information provision strategies. To achieve this objective, we first present the mechanisms of the information provision strategies. Then, the information provision strategies are classified into three categories: regular, symmetric, and discriminative. The regular strategies provide the collected parking information directly to drivers; the symmetric schemes employ the equal threshold values for all parking lots; and the discriminative schedules adopt an independent threshold value for each parking lot. The threshold value provides an upper limit for the Space Occupancy Percentage (SOP): when the SOP is larger than the threshold value, the parking lot status becomes FULL; otherwise, it is displayed having available spaces. Finally, an agent-based simulation model is introduced to describe the parking and traffic conditions. The results indicate that both the symmetric and discriminative strategies significantly decrease the highest failure rate and average travel time, whereas the latter performs better. The results of this comparative analysis can assist in the configuration and operation of an urban parking guidance and information system.

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Effect Evaluation and Modeling of Variable Message Signs on Route Choice Behavior

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.587-589.2003 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 587-589 ◽

pp. 2003-2006

Author(s):

Xi Jun Ou Yang ◽

Xi Zhang ◽

Hang Wang

Keyword(s):

Choice Behavior ◽

Route Choice ◽

Multinomial Logit Model ◽

Multinomial Logit ◽

Peak Period ◽

Variable Message Signs ◽

Personal Property ◽

Route Choice Behavior ◽

Accident Conditions ◽

Message Signs

Based on SP survey, this study researched on the driver's personal property, travel attribute and VMS (Variable Message Signs) attribute. On this basis, combining with the traffic survey data, the multinomial Logit models were used to reflect the route choice behavior. The data were analyzed by Matlab software, then to compare the effect of VMS under different traffic conditions, and proved the rationality of the model. The results of SP survey show that the main factors that affect drivers' route choice are familiarity of road network, accuracy of VMS and attention to VMS. The calculations of Multinomial Logit model demonstrate that the effect of VMS is more obvious during peak period, and it’s more effective under traffic accident conditions. Combining qualitative and quantitative analysis, it provides suggestions for the widely application of the VMS in Changsha city.

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Effectiveness of Newly Introduced Variable Message Signs in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia

PROMET - Traffic&Transportation ◽

10.7307/ptt.v26i2.1305 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 169-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Nedal Taisir Ratrout ◽

Yazan F Issa

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Field Experiment ◽

Traffic Congestion ◽

Positive Attitude ◽

Evaluation Process ◽

Local Environment ◽

Statistical Relationship ◽

Variable Message Signs ◽

Traffic Conditions ◽

Message Signs

Recently, Variable Message Signs (VMS) were introduced in Saudi Arabia and their reliability under local environment is being tested. This paper aims to evaluate the possible response of the drivers to VMS when used for messages related to traffic conditions. A major arterial in Al-Khobar city in Saudi Arabia with a massive VMS board was selected for this paper. The evaluation process started by interviewing drivers selected randomly from the study area. About 77% of the interviewed drivers indicated positive attitude toward messages requesting change of route. The drivers’ interviews demonstrated statistical relationship between the degree of response to messages requesting change of route and the reason for such request. The maximum response was for messages related to accidents, roadwork activities, and traffic congestion. A field experiment was also conducted along the studied arterial. It was found that VMS statistically increased the percentage of diverted traffic during specific peak periods.

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