GRIDLOCK AVOIDANCE
SYSTEM
(GAS)
Functional Specifications Briefing
Briefing Highlights

Introduction

Functional Specs

Project Overview

Schedule/Resources/
Budget

Background/
Project Objectives

Conclusion

Questions
Introduction

GAS intends to
develop a computerbased simulation
model to mimic the
behavior of the
Hampton Roads
Interstate System
south of Mercury
Blvd. to Battlefield
Blvd.
Overview
Overview

Effective operation of the interstate highway
system in Hampton Roads is an integral piece of
the infrastructure and it is necessary for continued
development of the area.

We intend to provide transportation authorities and
city planners with data results that describe the
system’s operations at current and at modified
vehicle flows in two formats; statistical and
graphical.
Problems
The average Driver wastes 41 hours behind
the wheel on congested highways in
Hampton Roads. *
 Overall, the price of congestion to local
drivers -- including time, fuel, and vehicle
operating costs -- is $645. *

* Drivers idle a work week away, Debbie Messina, The
Virginian-Pilot, Dec. 3, 1998, copyright 1998, Landmark
Communications Inc.
Background
Year
1982
1996 Percent change
Inventory Measures
Freeway
Daily VMT (000)
3870.00 6700.00
173.13
Lane-Miles
410.00
610.00
148.78
VMT/Lane-mile
9440.00 10985.00
Congested Fwy Travel (%)
35.00
50.00
142.86 15.00
Percent Moderate Congestion
60.70
40.40
66.56
Percent Heavy Congestion
32.00
23.60
73.75
Percent of Severe Congestion
7.30
36.00
493.15 28.70
Annual Hours of Delay
Total (1000 Person-Hours)
10750.00 31925.00
296.98
Rank
27.00
32.00
Freeway
Recurring Person-Hours (000) 2180.00 6180.00
283.49
* Drivers idle a work week away, Debbie Messina, The Virginian-Pilot, Dec. 3, 1998, copyright 1998,
Landmark Communications Inc.
70.0
60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
0.0
Moderate
Heavy
Year
19
96
19
94
19
92
19
90
19
88
19
86
Severe
19
84
19
82
Percentage Congestion
Norfolk Congestion
Objectives

Provide transportation authorities and city planners with
data results that describe the system’s operations at
current and at modified vehicle flows in two formats;
statistical and graphical.

Demonstrate a small segment of the Hampton Roads
interstate system through simulation for project
validation and verification.

Market the project on a consultant basis to other
communities.
Project completion by the end of the calendar year 2001.
Software and hardware to be Y2K compliant.


Gridlock Avoidance System
Formatted traffic
flow data
Output
Statistical Data
Graphical Data
Organization Structure
Dave Grant
Project Manager
Administration
Co-ordination
Carl Craft
Department Head
Simulation
Taylor Frith
Department Head
Data Gathering
Simulation
Nhu Nguy
Web Data Head
Data Gathering
Simulation
David Graham
Data Assistant
Traffic Data
Chuck Askin
Department Head
Web Page
Geoff Weller
Asst. Dept Head
Web Page
Functional Specs Can-Dos
Produce a detailed, quantitative description
of system performance for the present
Hampton Roads Interstate Highway.
 Long-term lane closures
(construction/repairs).
 Short-term lane closures
(breakdowns/collisions).

Can-Dos (cont.)
Addition of lanes/interchanges to current
system.
 Addition of alternative routes to current
system.
 Reaction of system to speed limit changes.
 System reaction to changes in vehicle mix
(percentage of cars/trucks/commercial
vehicles).

Can-Dos (cont.)
Introduction of weather phenomena on
system (bright sun at eye level during AM
and PM hours).
 Introduction of weather changes on system.
(snow, heavy rain, etc.).
 Introduction of seasonal phenomena to
system (tourists, vacationers, etc.).

Functional Specs Can’t Do
Not a real-time system.
 Surface road traffic patterns not included.
 Individual lane change tendencies not
included.
 Driver related attribute tendencies not
included.
 System entering and exiting for individual
vehicles at predetermined points is not
illustrated.

Phase I







Fall 1998
Project Feasibility Presentation
Organizational Diagram
Cost/Resource Plan
Proposed Schedule
Milestones Presentation
Detailed Map of Hampton Roads
Interstate Highway System
11/98
11/98
11/98
11/98
11/98 
12/98
Phase I





Fall 1998 (cont.)
Functional Specifications
Document delivered
Initial Data gathered
Project Scope Determined
Approval Proofs of Concept
Presentation
12/98
12/98
12/98
12/98
Phase II





Spring 1998
Final Data for Demo
gathered
Select Demo highway
segment
Subcontract work for
CS 300u and CS 250
Preliminary Project
Prototype Specifications
1/99
15%
1/99
50%
1/99
40%
2/99
10%
Phase II




Spring 1999 (cont.)
Project Home Page Demo
Project Prototype Demo
Grant Proposal Document
delivered
3/99
4/99
75%
5%
4/99
5%
Research, Development, and
Implementation Phase III
Lease office space and
begin operations
6/99
 Format and prepare data
for simulator migration 6/99 - 6/00

Phase III (cont.)





Unit Testing
1/00 - 12/00
Unit Regression Testing
6/00 - 1/01
System Testing
1/01 - 9/01
System Regression Testing 9/01 - 12/01
Project Delivery
12/01
Resources






CS 300u
Conduct survey of real-life traffic patterns.
Marketing research to determine funding sources.
CS 250
Collect and format data for Statistical Analysis.
Collect and format data for Simulator migration.
Resources (cont.)




Dr.Leathrum
(ODU - ECE)
Dr.Overstreet
(ODU - CS)
Mr.DennisWatson
(VDOT)
Mr.GarlandCampbell
(VDOTSr. Traffic Engineer)
Budget: Personnel
ODU Faculty Advisor
(annual cost $46,000)
$
 ODU Graduate Student
workers (12 - 15 working
20 hours per week at
$15 per hour)
Total Personnel Costs

115,000
450,000
565,000
Budget: Office
Office Space
(annual cost $18,000)
 Office Furniture
(annual cost $6,000)
 Office Supplies
(annual cost $7200)
Total Office Costs

$ 45,000
15,000
18,000
78,000
Budget: Equipment



Six Gateway E-5200 computers
One AlphaServer 8200 5/625,
UNIX, 2 CPU, 4 GB, 4.3 GB
KFTHA
Note: Media and doc required for
first system on site
One EISA Bridge
$ 15,600
178,000
2,000
Budget: Equipment (cont.)




Two PCI 3 port RAID controller
w/4 MB cache
Note: If using 9 GB drives refer
to SOC for significant restrictions
6,400
Twenty-three 4.3 GB 7200 RPM
Storage
Works Ultra Wide Disk
27,000
Three Storage Wide Shelf for
8299 (SE, Single BUS)
4,300
One PS/2 style Keyboard – North
American/English
100
Budget: Equipment (cont.)






One VT510, White, Low-emissions,
US/Canada/Mexico
One Power cord for 8200
One Bulkhead assembly kit for
KZPSC-BA
Four 2.0 meter VHDCI male to
VHCDI male cable
Lexmark OPTRA 3455 network printer
Hewlett-Packard OfficeJet Pro 1175C
all-in-one printer
400
100
100
600
2,600
1,000
Budget: Equipment (cont.)




Statistical software package
Hewlett-Packard DeskJet 2500C
Plotter
IBM Fast Ethernet LAN
switch 1100
Evaluation Simulator Engines
Total Equipment Costs
200
9,400
1,900
4,300
$ 254,000
Budget: Total
Total Personnel Costs
 Total Office Costs
 Total Equipment Costs
 ODU Research Foundation


$
565,000
78,000
254,000
403,000
Total Project Expenditures $ 1,300,000
Conclusion

The biggest hurdle to overcome is a correct
depiction of the current highway system. Through
the development of our prototype, the extensive
unit and system level testing, and the research data
collected from organizations such as the Virginia
Department of Transportation, (VDOT), we can
deliver a reliable an effective tool to be used in the
fight to overcome and eventually defeat ‘Highway
Gridlock’ in the Hampton Roads area.
Conclusion


In order to avoid this threat we must act decisively
and quickly. A weapon in our arsenal such as the
GAS project could thwart any possibility of
surrendering the area to gridlock forever.
It will not only preserve our current lifestyle but
work to better it in the future.
Conclusion



The risk of gridlock capturing and holding
Hampton Roads and many other cities for ransom
throughout the United States is a real and
identifiable threat.
The Gridlock Avoidance System is a necessary
tool to insure the stability of the infrastructure of
the Hampton Roads area. The risks of not
proceeding with the project far outweigh the risks
of proceeding on schedule.
Conclusion
1,300,000 people in Hampton Roads
 975,000 vehicles
 @$645 per vehicle
 Total cost of not proceeding with GAS


$629,000,000

That is $1 vs. $483 for every person in Hampton
Roads
* 1997 estimates from HamptonRoads.com
Conclusion

Thank you for the
opportunity to present
our project to you and
remember that a vote
of confidence for the
GAS project will
allow Hampton Roads
to continue to be a
winner now and for
future generations.