Programmatic Issues
ITRE Makes Presentation to 2008 SIGGRAPH Meeting on Transportation Visualization.
Dr. Ron Hughes, Program Director for the Institute’s Transportation Visualization, Analysis, Modeling, and Simulation (T-VAMS) research area made the following presentation (SIGGRAPH.Hughes.ppt) at the 2008 SIGGRAPH meeting in Los Angeles on August 15, 2008. (Note: the animation in the Power Point presentation requires viewing in the ‘presentation’ mode) The presentation was part of a ‘class’ on the application of visualization within the field of transportation. Other presenters were Theresa-Marie Rhyne, Director of the NCSU Visualization Engagement Facility, a component of the UNC Renaissance Computing Initiative 
and Mr. Mike Manore, Chair of the Transportation Research Board’s Committee on Visualization in Transportation. TRB is a component of the National Academies of Science.
Class ‘notes’ include articles published by each of the three presenters in a special issue of TR News, September-October 2007, Number 252. The title of the special issue is “Transportation in Visualization: Empowering Transportation.” Brief abstracts of the three articles used as ‘class notes’ for SIGGRAPH are given below. The complete text of each can be read in pdf format online at:
http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/trnews/trnews252.pdf
Presentation on Visualization and GIS to LIKES Conference, April 2008
On April 19, 2008, Dr. Hughes and Greg Ferrara of NCSU/ITRE’s Visual Analytics, Modeling and Simulation (VAMS) research group made a presentation to a workshop sponsored by the Learning in the Knowledge Society (LIKES), a consortium of universities (Santa Clara University, Virginia Tech, NC A&T, and Villanova University) funded by the National Science Foundation as part of NSF’s CPATH program area (‘Pathways to a Revitalized Undergraduate Computing Education Information’). CPATH is sponsored by the NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE). The workshop, held at NC A&T State University in Greensboro, NC was the second in a series of four workshops scheduled by the program, the goal of which is to bring together computer science experts and those representing the diversity of applied disciplines that either teach and/or utilize core computer science concepts and methods. ITRE was invited to present in the areas of visualization and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Click here to view the full presentation (pdf, 1.6 MB). ITRE attended the conference hoping to learn something relevant to the instructional delivery component of the proposed Center of Excellence for Visualization in Transportation at NC State University. Instead, we found a computing science audience where only one individual had even heard of SIGGRAPH (the Association for Computing Machinery’s Special Interest Group on Graphics and Interactive Techniques). It turned out that we were the ones providing information on visualization and GIS to them. Likewise the terms information visualization and scientific visualization appeared not to be in their vocabulary. Experiences such as this question the effective direction of technology transfer in the area of applied visualization research and application.
Future Directions in Visualization
“Visualization in Transportation: Current Practice and Future Directions” (pdf, 850 KB), published in the 2004 Transportation Research Record, No. 1899, pp 167-174 captures the perceptions of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Visualization in Transportation Task Force at a ‘point in time’ with respect to the anticipated ‘future’ direction of visualization within the field of transportation. The charter of the Visualization in Transportation Task Force is expressed in its Executive Overview (pdf, 96.5 KB). The Task Force, expected to become a TRB ‘committee’ in 2006, maintains a Web site at: www.trbvis.org.
Synthesis of Current Practice
In 2005-2006, the National Cooperative Highway Safety Research Program (NCHRP) undertook a ‘synthesis’ of the current state of practice in the field of transportation visualization. The effort was completed in the Fall of 2005 and subsequently published in the 2006 TRB Transportation Research Record under the title, “NCHRP Synthesis 361, Visualization for Project Development: A Synthesis of Highway Practice.” The work is a follow-up to an earlier work, NCHRP Synthesis 229, “Applications of 3-D and 4-D Visualization Technology in Transportation.”
A Visualization Research Agenda
"Establishing a Research Agenda for Visualization Applications in Transportation" (pdf, 116 KB) was authored by Dr. Hughes in collaboration with the members of the Visualization Task Force Research Needs Subcommittee. The published paper is in the Transportation Research Record, No. 1937, 2005, pages 145-151. The paper argues for the need for both basic and applied research in sixteen topic areas organized under four main categories. The list of research needs described in the paper (to be published in Transportation Research Record) was an attachment to the Task Force’s application for full TRB committee status in 2006.
Need to Address the Research Needs for Planning Applications of Visualization Directed by SAFETEA-LU
The following DRAFT paper discusses the need to expand/extend the current visualization Research Agenda of ABJ95 (TRB Visualization in Transportation Committee) to address the unique requirements associated wtih using visualization for transportation system 'planning.'
Toward an Expanded Research Agenda for Visualization in Transportation: Incorporating SAFETEA-LU Directives for ‘Planning’ (pdf, 198 KB)
North Carolina State University (NCSU) Proposed ‘Center of Excellence’ in Visualization in Transportation
At the Annual TRB Meeting in January 2006, North Carolina State University proposed to the TRB Visualization Task Force the idea of establishing an NCSU Center of Excellence for Visualization in Transportation (pdf, 190 KB). The proposal was favorably reviewed by members of the Task Force who viewed the notion of such as ‘center’ as having the potential for creating a much needed focal point for developing efforts to address the broad set of visualization research and development needs identified in the Task Force’s proposed Research Agenda. Dr. Hughes is heading up the NCSU College of Engineering effort which is presently a collaborative effort on the part of Computer Science, the Center for Visual Analytics, Civil-Construction-and Environmental Engineering, and the University of North Carolina (UNC) system wide Renaissance Computing Initiative.
The layouts of the process linked in pdf or Microsoft PowerPoint format above show the seamless relationship between essential data elements used in modeling, manned simulation, and 3D/4D visualization applications. The chart presumes an eventual capability for interfacing a model’s (e.g, VISSIM) ability to represent/model the dynamic elements of pedestrian and motorized vehicular activity with the real time representation of these elements in the simulator environment. The presentation also shows the central role of the 3D model of the roadway across different applications.
TRB 5th International Visualization in Transportation Symposium and Workshop
The complete program of the 2006 symposium and workshop is available on-line. The interactive, on-line proceedings captures the audio and visual (slide) elements of all presentations as well as the printed papers. Access to the on-line symposium proceedings is via the Teach America Web site at: www.teachamerica.com/viz/viz2006.html#
NC State University’s participation in the symposium included an invited presentation by Theresa-Marie Rhyne, director of the NCSU Center for Visualization and Analytics and the Renaissance Computer Institute’s Engagement Center at North Carolina State University. Her presentation, “Progress and Directions in Visualization Technology” examines the parallels between visualization applications in transportation and related developments within the IEEE community and the Special Interest Group for Graphics (SIGGRAPH).
Dr. Ron Hughes, program director for ITRE’s Visualization, Analysis, Modeling and Simulation (VAMS) research area, and head of the TRB Visualization Committee’s Research Needs Task Force, provided an overview of research needs in this area. The symposium presentation was also captured in the interactive on-line proceedings and is available at: www.teachamerica.com/VIZ/23d_Hughes/index.htm
Dr. Hughes also made a presentation on the visualization, modeling, and simulation work being conducted under NCHRP 3-78, “Crossing Solutions for Visually Impaired Pedestrians at Roundabouts and Channelized Turn Lanes.” The presentation discusses the micro-simulation and modeling work being conducted with VISSIM focused on the dynamic nature of pedestrian-vehicle interactions at complex intersections as well as the estimated effects of various applications of signalization and alternative crosswalk geometries on pedestrian and vehicle delay. Working with Thomas Fisher of the NY State DOT, the work incorporates the use of high resolution 3D imagery to present a ‘matrix’ of treatment possibilities. The presentation is online at the Teach America Web site, www.teachamerica.com/VIZ/23d_Hughes/index.htm. The printed paper on which the presentation was based is also available on the TeachAmerica.com Web site.
Visualization at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board in Washington, DC
Three presentations were made at the 2007 TRB Annual Meeting that provided an overview of the earlier Visualization Symposium in Denver, Colorado. Ms.
- Ms. Barbara Harder, who facilitated the executive session at the Symposium, provided an overview that half day event, which included participation from Mr. Tom Nortion, the then-executive director of the Colorado Department of Transportation, Ms. Cynthia Burbank, the then-associate director of the FHWA Office of Planning, Environment and Realty, as well as key members of the university and industry communities involved in visualization. Ms. Harder’s presentation is available on-line at:
www.teachamerica.com/viz/00_harder/index.htm
- Chuck Hixon, of Bergmann Associates in Rochester, New York, and principal author of NCHRP Synthesis 361: Visualization for Project Development: A Synthesis of Highway Practice,” provided an overview of that work. Mr. Hixon’s presentation at the TRB Annual Meeting is available at the TeachAmerica on-line Web site at:
www.teachamerica.com/viz/00_hixon/index.htm
- Dr. Ron Hughes, head of the TRB Visualization Committee’s Research Needs Task Force, discussed the results of an online survey conducted with those who attended the 2006 Visualization Symposium and Workshop in Denver, Colorado. The survey focused extensively on participants’ perceptions of the relative importance of key research issues and needs as currently identified in the Committee’s proposed Research Agenda. Dr. Hughes’ presentation of the participant survey results is available on-line at: www.teachamerica.com/viz/00_hughes/index.htm
Project Information
ITRE’s Role in NCHRP Project 3-78
3D Visualizations of Alternative Crossing Solutions for Visually Impaired Pedestrians at Roundabouts and Channelized Turn Lanes
As part of NCHRP Project 3-78, “Crossing Solutions for Visually Impaired Pedestrians at Roundabouts and Channelized Turn Lanes,” ITRE partnered with the Visualization Section of the NY State DOT to create high resolution 3D visualizations of alternative pedestrian crossing solutions. The visualizations were intended to support the interaction between the project team and the NCHRP ‘panel’ as well as the interaction between the project team and local jurisdictions interested in participating in the installation and evaluation of proposed treatment alternatives. Alternative treatment solutions have been presented in a ‘matrix’ that allows the user to view combinations of ‘proximal’ or ‘distal’ crosswalk placement in conjunction with the use of raised crosswalks, sound-generating strips intended to provide blind pedestrians with enhanced auditory cues associated with vehicles that yield, as well as alternative ‘signal’ applications. Signal applications range from the recommended use of pedestrian-actuated ‘flashers’ to the use of HAWK pedestrian beacons at multi-lane facilities. Images in the matrix allow the user to see views from the pedestrian as well as driver viewpoints. Driver viewpoints show both exit and entry lane views. The visualizations also provide images of a zig-zag, or offset, crosswalk option.
www.itre.ncsu.edu/NCHRP378/
The visualizations portray solutions as they might be applied to a single lane roundabout. The functional nature of the solutions, we believe, makes them applicable also to multi-lane facilities although visualizations of multi-lane applications are not provided as part of the treatment matrix.
Treatment alternatives were selected by the project team based upon their ability, at least in principle, to satisfy the functional crossing needs of visually impaired pedestrians; specifically, the ability to increase crossable gaps, an improvement in the ability of the visually impaired pedestrian to reliably detect crossable gaps when they occur (such as those produced by voluntary driver yielding), the ability to reduce both pedestrian and pedestrian-induced vehicle delay, and/or the ability to reduce the tendency for visually impaired pedestrians to take “risky” gaps.
The ‘distal’ crosswalk placement option and the distal component of the exit lane crossing associated with the off-set or zig-zag configuration is intended to provide additional vehicle storage for exiting motorists who may, upon yielding voluntarily or yielding as the result of a ‘signal,’ spill back into the circulatory lane of the roundabout disrupting facility operation.
The project team is currently in discussions with the City of Charlotte, NC and with the Town of Golden, Colorado on the treatment evaluation phase of the project. Evaluations will focus on actual crossings made by visually impaired (totally blind) pedestrians, both ‘before’ and ‘after’ installation of the treatments.
The research project team is comprised of researchers from the NCSU Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE), Western Michigan University, Kittelson and Associates, and Accessible Design for the Blind. These same individuals and institutions were responsible for the recently completed NIH work in this area as well as extensions of the NIH work scheduled to begin in July 2007.
Principal Investigator and ITRE point of contact for this work is Dr. Ron Hughes, Program Director for NCSU/ITRE research in the areas of visualization, analysis, modeling, and simulation (VAMS). He can be reached by phone at (919) 515-8523 or by e-mail at ron_hughes@ncsu.edu.
Links to other ITRE publications and presentations in this area are:
- Schroeder, G., and Rouphail, N. A., Framework for Evaluating Pedestrian-Vehicle Interactions at Unsignalized Crossing Facilities in a Microscopic Modeling Environment.
(submitted for publication and presentation at 2007 Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board).
Paper available in 2 formats:
Microsoft Word file: TRB Paper II – Framework Pedestrian Simulation (doc, 146 KB)
Portable Document Format (pdf) file: TRB Paper II – Framework Pedestrian Simulation (pdf, 117 KB)
- Hughes, R., Schroeder, B., and Fischer, T., 3D Visualization and Microsimulation Applied to the Identification and Evaluation of Geometric and Operational ‘Solutions’ for Improving Visually Impaired Pedestrian Access to Roundabouts and Channelized Turn Lanes.
(submitted for publication and presentation at the 2006 International Symposium on 3D/4D Visualization in Transportation, Denver Colorado).
Paper available in 2 formats:
Microsoft Word file: 3D Visualization (doc, 2 MB)
Portable Document Format (pdf) file: 3D Visualization (pdf, 153 KB)
- Hughes, R., Improving Access to Roundabouts and Channelized Turn Lanes for the Visually Impaired: An Update on NCHRP Project 3-78. In Proceedings of 2006 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, Milwaukee, WI, July 2006. (paper and presentation slides)
Paper available in 2 formats:
Microsoft Word file: Improving Access to Roundabouts... (doc, 1.19 KB)
Portable Document Format (pdf) file:Improving Access to Roundabouts... (pdf, 282 KB)
- Presentation available in 2 formats:
Microsoft PowerPoint file: Milwaukee Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Slide Presentaiton (ppt, 4.15 MB) NOTE: Large file, for broadband users only!
Portable Document Format (pdf) file: Milwaukee ITE Slide Presentation (pdf, 4.83 MB)
Smaller files in pdf format:
Links to other ITRE involvement in visualization are
www.itre.ncsu.edu/VAMS/VISUAL/index.html
www.itre.ncsu.edu/VAMS/research/indexRe.html
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