Framework to connect planning and real-time traffic management

This is a joint research project between Transport and Main Roads and the University of Queensland and aims to develop a framework for performance-based, multi-modal network management to better connect the longer-term transport and land use planning aspirations to the shorter-term network operations activities performed by transport authorities.

The proposed framework would translate high-level directions from various strategies, policies, and plans into network operating plans and into real-time traffic control operations through a network management system.

This work will develop a conceptual solution to operationalise the framework, which includes enabling the creation and management of network operating plans and developing proof-of-concept interfaces and visualisation that provide network operations practitioners with real-time information on:

• network performance
• gaps against key performance indicators; and
• recommended operational plans to support better alignment between day-to-day operations and higher-level strategies

Participants

• Department of Transport and Main Roads (Queensland)
• University of Queensland

Project background

Government establishes land use plans and priorities for the community and economy. These range from a state-wide level through to localised in a specific area. From a transport perspective, this will include broad directions relating to outcomes like safety, efficiency, through to area and localised preferences for corridor and modal priority, accessibility, safety and so on. There are a range of existing planning inputs such as land use plans, modal plans, transport corridor plans, and local government transport plans. Some of these are broad, some are more detailed.

The traffic system, particularly on the arterial network, is the front line in translating planning aspirations into control and movement operations that transport users experience. Over the years, several frameworks have emerged that seek to better connect the longer-term transport and land use planning aspirations to the shorter-term network operations activities performed by transport authorities.

These include:

• Victoria’s SmartRoads Framework provides a process to develop a road use hierarchy and network operating plans that establish operational performance targets by mode and time of day at intersections, including review and identification of operational gaps and network fit assessment for suggested initiatives. Note a version of this approach is currently being progressed within TMR as part of the Coordinated Network Optimisation Planning (CNOP) initiative.
• The Movement and Place Framework being used in New South Wales and Victoria provides a comprehensive framework for assessing and categorising the transport network, but also its role in the surrounding environment, and can assist in informing planning, design, and operational decisions. Movement and Place is currently being investigated for application within TMR by the Policy, Planning and Investment division.
• Austroads has captured various materials through the Network Operating Planning Library
• New Zealand’s One Network Framework
• US Department of Transport’s Concept of Operations

While these frameworks provide a means of understanding the planning context and the desired modal use and operations of the network, they rely on network operations practitioners to then implement ‘on-the-ground’ operational changes that realise the objectives through day-to-day operations.

Challenges with this approach are:

• Within the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), although under development with the CNOP initiative, there is not currently an approach for developing network operating plans that describe the multi-modal and time of day operational intent of the road network.
• There are limitations in the amount, coverage and accessibility of operations and modal performance data available, which leads to difficulty in evaluating the current and future state of the network. Where data does exist, it is often across multiple systems and of different levels of granularity and quality, and therefore challenging to apply. Furthermore, the type and availability of data is expected to continue to evolve over time, meaning this will be an ongoing area of challenge and opportunity.
• Practitioners typically need to manually assess and review local conditions and implement operational plans locally. Activities are typically manual, and the network operating plans don’t ‘live within’ the network management system.
• Once these operational plans are implemented, there is an ongoing need to review the performance of the network against the desired objectives, as well as monitor and review the higher-level government and network objectives to ensure operations remain in line with the intended outcomes.
• Road network performance measures are generally focused on vehicular traffic movement, however there is need to consider and measure multi-modal movement and performance.
• Ability to engage collaboratively with stakeholders with various interests (data and visualisation of trade-offs can assist with discussion of the trade-offs).

Project objectives

This project aims to develop a framework for performance-based, multi-modal network management that can translate directions from various strategies, policies, and plans into dynamic, real-time traffic control operations.

Two project objectives are to develop a:

• Framework to translate the high-level directions into network operating plans that describe the multi-modal and time-of-day operational intent of the road network and form local traffic control plans for real-time operations.
• Conceptual solution to operationalise the framework, which includes enabling the creation and management of network operating plans and developing proof-of-concept interfaces and visualisation that provide network operations practitioners with real-time information on network performance, gaps against key performance indicators, and recommended operational plans to support better alignment between day-to-day operations and higher-level strategies.

Please note …

This page will be a living record of this project. As it matures, hits milestones, etc., we’ll continue to add information, links, images, interviews and more. Watch this space!