Projects

Sponsor: City of Scottsdale PI: Dr. Brendan Russo Co-PI: Dr. Edward Smaglik Dates: 10/01/2023-10/31/2024 The City of Scottsdale, Arizona contains numerous examples (approximately 60) of left-in left-out (LILO) treatments at intersections or driveways. An aerial view of a typical LILO treatment in the City of Scottsdale is shown in Figure 1. These treatments are typically applied on arterial roadways with medians and consist of a channelizing island in the median which helps direct vehicles turning left both on to and…

Sponsor: U.S. Department of Transportation, Pacific Southwest Region 9 UTC PI: Steven R. Gehrke Co-PIs: Brendan J. Russo and Edward J. Smaglik A continuation of automobile dependence over the past half-century within American cities has resulted in significant public health, environmental, and economic challenges. The further motivation of bicycling as a utilitarian and sustainable travel alternative has been identified as a viable solution to address societal concerns regarding physical inactivity, climate change, and transportation-related inequities. However, to date, a profound…

Sponsor: U.S. Department of Transportation, Pacific Southwest Region 9 UTC PI: Chun-Hsing Ho Co-PIs: Brendan J. Russo and Steven R. Gehrke Project Report: https://www.metrans.org/assets/research/psr%20final%20report%20nau%20instrumented%20bike%20revised%2011252022.docx.pdf This research project developed an instrumented bike with a sensor logger, a video device (e.g., GoPro), a mobile app, and a cloud server/website to detect real-time quality of cycling infrastructure systems (bike trails, sidewalks, pedestrian pathways, etc.). The instrumented bike is capable of immediately sharing the information with cyclists (road users) and governments/authorities (road managers) such…

Sponsor: U.S. Department of Transportation, Pacific Southwest Region 9 UTC PI: Steven R. Gehrke Co-PIs: Edward J. Smaglik and Brendan J. Russo Project Report: https://www.metrans.org/assets/research/psr_finalreport_21-16.pdf Information and communication technology advancements and an increased demand for contactless deliveries after the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak resulted in the growing adoption of automated delivery services. Across university campuses, the deployment of sidewalk autonomous delivery robots (SADRs) has provided students, staff, and faculty a convenient last-mile delivery option. However, SADRs traverse campuses on pathways designed…

Sponsor: City of Scottsdale PI: Dr. Brendan Russo Dates: 01/01/2021-11/30/2021 Project Report: https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/ScottsdaleAZ/Transportation/Analysis+Left+In+Left+Out+-+2021.pdf Over the past few decades the City of Scottsdale, Arizona has installed left-in/left-out (LILO) median opening treatments at approximately sixty intersections/driveways; typically at three-leg intersections or driveways on arterials with medians where the minor leg is stop-controlled. The treatment is relatively unique and consists of a channelizing island with an acceleration length provided for vehicles turning left out of the minor road (these left-turning vehicles then merge…

Sponsor: Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) PI: Dr. Edward Smaglik, Co-PI: Dr. Brendan Russo Project Report: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Programs/ResearchDocuments/SPR837DetectorMalfunctionFinalReport.pdf Start Date: January, 2020 Proper operation of transportation facilities is dependent upon reliable, accurate traffic sensing equipment; faulty detection equipment can result in unsafe and/or inefficient operation. A recent ODOT project, SPR-781 entitled, "Improving Adaptive / Responsive Signal Control Performance: Implications of Non-Invasive Detection and Legacy Timing Practices" uncovered wide spread issues of data quality irrespective of detector technology (within that work, only…

Sponsor: Maricopa Association of Governments PI: Dr. Edward Smaglik, Co-PI: Dr. Brendan Russo Start Date: February, 2020 As a member of the Tri-University Task Force (NAU, ASU, and UA), NAU is leading an evaluation of Kimley-Horn and Associates’ Smart Priority technology, funded by the Maricopa Association of Governments and installed at intersections in the City of Mesa, Arizona and Maricopa County.  The product is a software module that interfaces directly between the Fire Department’s Computer Aided Dispatch system and the…

Sponsor: Maricopa Association of Governments PI: Dr. Edward Smaglik, Co-PI: Dr. Brendan Russo Start Date: January, 2020 As a member of the Tri-University Task Force (NAU, ASU, and UA), NAU is leading an evaluation of Rhythm Engineering’s code|Green hardware and software products, funded by the Maricopa Association of Governments and installed in the City of Peoria, Arizona.  The product is a camera and software combination that can develop presence detection, vehicle counts, and timing plans.  The product will be evaluated…

Sponsor: PSR9 UTC PI: Dr. Chun-Hsing Ho Project Report: https://www.metrans.org/assets/research/psr-19-20_ho_final-report.pdf Dates: 01/06/2020-01/05/2021 The project presents a pavement sensing system along with a list of promising computing models that can be used to predict pavement conditions using a vehicle-based sensing technology. The project started with data acquisition obtained from the previous field data collection followed by a series of data computing using machine leaning methods to determine a promising computing algorithm. Subsequently, statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of sensor…

Sponsor: Institute of Automated Mobility (IAM) through the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) PI: Brendan J Russo Start Date: August 2019 The rapid development and testing of connected and automated driving system (ADS)-equipped vehicles (CAVs) in our urban communities raises serious concerns for public safety. To address these concerns, the Institute of Automated Mobility (IAM) established by Governor Ducey in Arizona has embarked on an innovative approach to driving safety performance assessment that cooperatively utilizes both infrastructure and vehicle data. Data…

Sponsor: Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) PI: Brendan J. Russo, Co-PI: Edward J. Smaglik Project Report: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Programs/ResearchDocuments/SPR833FinalReport.pdf In urban and suburban locations, intersections are where a variety of transportation modes converge, thus leading to an increased potential for conflicts, including those between bicyclists and motor vehicles. A common crash type involving bicycles at intersections is the “right/left-hook” where a right/left-turning vehicle collides with a through bicyclist. While various geometric treatments and signal control strategies (e.g. bike boxes, mixing zones, leading…

Phase One - Development of Map-Based Analysis Tool Sponsor: City of Phoenix  PI: Brendan J Russo, Co-PI: Edward J Smaglik Start Date: August 2019 Pedestrian safety is a noteworthy public health issue in the City of Phoenix, as well as for the state of Arizona and the United States as a whole. This issue is of particular concern in recent years in Phoenix and Arizona, as the number of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes has continually increased year to year.…

AZTrans staff, along with colleagues at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University, have entered into a partnership with MAG to develop a taxonomy of Smart Region technologies and assist with independent evaluations of select Smart Region technology deployments.  Over the next several years, AZTrans faculty and students will work with MAG and the other partners to scope and evaluate the effectiveness of various Smart technologies in the MAG region.

Application of Vehicle-Based Sensors in Assessing Performance of Pavements Subject to Temperature Changes Sponsor: Arizona Board of Regents – Research Innovation Fund (Prime: U of A) PI: Chun-Hsing (Jun) Ho Project Start|End Date: 2016 | 2018-12-31 The primary objective of this study is to implement cost-effective vibration sensors to predict asphalt roughness and identify critical cracking locations on I-10 under the action of temperature changes

Sponsor: Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) PI: Chun-Hsing (Jun) Ho Project Start|End Date: 2017 | 2019 The objective of the project is to evaluate the low-temperature performance of SBS modified asphalt mixtures on I-40.

PI: Edward J. Smaglik Sponsor: USDOT (Prime: USC) Project Start Date: 2016 The Pacific Southwest Region UTC is the Region 9 University Transportation Center funded under the US Department of Transportation’s University Transportation Centers Program. Established in 2016, the Pacific Southwest Region UTC (PSR) is led by the University of Southern California and includes seven partners: ·         Northern Arizona University ·         California State University, Long Beach ·         University of California, Davis ·         University of California, Irvine ·         University of California,…

Sponsor: Arizona Board of Regents – Research Innovation Fund (Prime: U of A) PI: Edward J. Smaglik Project Start|End Date: 2016 | 2018-12-31 The purpose of this project is to define and develop a pilot portfolio of transportation projects around a central theme that can be executed within the structure and processes of a transportation research center. Each of the research projects in the portfolio (7 total) is specifically identified and includes research partners from more than one of the…

PI: Brendan J Russo Sponsor: Arizona Department of Transportation (Prime: CivTech) Project Start Date: 2016 This project involves an evaluation of the potential safety impacts of inlaid pavement markings on I-40 and I-17 in northern Arizona using the Empirical Bayes (EB) methodology.  Inlaid pavement markings are designed to better withstand snow plow activities and maintain their retroreflectivity better than standard pavement markings. The project entails collecting and analyzing crash, geometric, and environmental data for both treatment sites and control sites.…

Sponsor: Arizona Board of Regents – Research Innovation Fund (Prime: U of A) PI: Brendan J Russo Project Start|End Date: 2017 | 2018-12-31 Transportation safety management at the megaregion level is critical for safe and efficient travel across the entire functional region. Even in megaregions contained within a single state, it is important for safety planning officials (at the state, metropolitan planning organization (MPO), county, or municipality level) to consider the safety performance of a megaregion as a whole. This…

Sponsor: Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) PI: Edward J. Smaglik Project Start|End Date: 2014 | 2017 In this study, NAU led a team of three universities to determine the impact the use of non-invasive vehicles has on adaptive control.  The research team developed a home-grown data collection device that was used to collect event-based detection data at multiple sites across the state of Oregon.  This collected data and associated products were then modeled and used to provide guidance for the…

Sponsor: National Institute for Transportation and Communities (Prime: PSU) PI: Edward J. Smaglik Project Start|End Date: 2015 | 2017 In this project, NAU worked with Portland State University to develop guidance for practitioners for reducing bicycle-motor vehicle conflicts at signalized intersections.  The team performed a simulation of various alternate signal control strategies to determine the impact of said strategies on all users (Leading Bike Interval, Split Leading Bike Interval, and Bike Scramble were three of the strategies), reached out to…

Sponsor: Arizona Board of Regents – Research Innovation Fund (Prime: U of A) PI: Brendan J Russo Project Start|End Date: 2016 | 2017 Traffic crashes cost society billions of dollars each year as a result of property damage, injuries, and fatalities. Additionally, traffic crashes have a negative impact on mobility, as they are a primary cause of non-recurring delay. With the Interstate 10 corridor between the ports of Los Angeles and Houston being one of the most vital links for…

Sponsor: NAU Department of Facility Services PI: Chun-Hsing (Jun) Ho Project Start|End Date: 2014 | 2016 The objective of this project was to analyze the effects of freeze-thaw cycles on the performance of asphalt mixtures.

Sponsor: National Institute for Transportation and Communities (Prime: PSU) PI: Edward J. Smaglik Project Start|End Date: 2015 | 2016 In this project, NAU worked with Portland State University to develop guidance for practitioners for reducing the delay incurred by pedestrians at signalized intersections.  The team performed a simulation of various pedestrian control strategies to determine the impact of said strategies on all users, developed an algorithm specifically designed to reduce pedestrian delay within the confines of existing field equipment and…

Sponsor: Northern Arizona University PI: Edward J. Smaglik Project Start|End Date: 2014 | 2015 In this project, researchers investigated the feasibility of using power harvesting technology in a vehicle counting sensor with the overall goal of developing a sustainable traffic sensor.  The team performed laboratory tests to maximize the output of a power harvesting technology such that it would be able to power a device in situ.  A prototype was built and installed in a local street with the end…

Sponsor: Northern Arizona University PI: Edward J. Smaglik Project Start|End Date: 2013 | 2014 In this project, researchers investigated the impact of using green paint and selected MUTCD signage to highlight bicycle – motor vehicle conflict zones.  The team worked with the City of Flagstaff to identify zones with a high bicycle – motor vehicle conflict.  Green paint was then applied at four locations along with the installation of the corresponding MUTCD sign.  Video data was collected before any improvements,…

Sponsor: Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) PI: Edward J. Smaglik Project Start|End Date: 2010 | 2012 In this project, researchers used standard traffic signal equipment and existing infrastructure to design and implement two prototypical devices for developing high-resolution performance measure data at signalized intersections.  The prototype included a hardware module and associated instructions for installation and most existing ADOT signalized intersections as well as a software solution for translating the data collected at the field into common performance measures that…

Sponsor: Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) PI: Edward J. Smaglik Project Start|End Date: 2011| 2012 For this project, the research team at NAU worked with ADOT and independent consultants to develop a span wire specification and standard drawing set for the Traffic Signals and Lighting division of ADOT.  The team research typical intersection geometries, equipment weights, signal head requirements, and other states’ span wire specification from across the country in developing a standard / specification that is unique in that…

Sponsor: Flagstaff Metropolitan Planning Organization PI: Edward J. Smaglik Project Start|End Date: 2011 | 2012 This project involved an investigation into the development of real-time travel time data within and around the City of Flagstaff during the snowplay season. Snowplay traffic on specific routes causes extreme delays on a number of peak days, and the researchers investigated the feasibility of developing probe data from Bluetooth sensors with the intent of providing this data to the traveling public to assist in…

Sponsor: Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) PI: Craig Roberts (Smaglik Co-PI) Project Start|End Date: 2010 | 2011 Research was conducted using a changeable message sign with radar (CMSR) at one work zone location on a four-lane, divided highway in Arizona.  The CMSR provided feedback to drivers about the amount of their potential traffic fine, which was triggered by the radar captured speed as their vehicles approached the CMSR.  This type of feedback has had only limited study according to the…