Researchers Fight Road Gridlock

From increased pollution to increased stress, traffic congestion can be the bane of urban existence. Researchers in the School of Engineering are working on ways to better manage traffic without building more roads.

Professor Charles Standridge and Assistant Professor Shabbir Choudhuri have been awarded funding from the Michigan-Ohio University Transportation Center for work on relieving urban congestion through near-real time route selection. This work involves the development of computer models as well as the analysis of data collected continuously by the intelligent transportation system in the Detroit area.

“When we don’t have the money or the space to build more highways, we have to figure out how to use what we have better,” Standridge said.

Standridge and Choudhuri are working with engineering students to analyze data collected from road sensors to develop algorithms to help deal with congestion. Using those algorithms, drivers will someday be directed to different alternate routes as roads become congested.

“We’ll be able to use some of these algorithms to develop ways to update display signs to show alternative routes to help you get around the congestion,” Standridge said. “Now, we have signs that tell you there’s an accident, but they don’t tell you what to do.”

Using Grand Rapids as an example, if there’s a crash on Fuller Street, drivers may be redirected to Leonard. Once Leonard becomes congested, drivers may then be redirected to Michigan.

The Michigan-Ohio University Transportation Center was formed in 2006 when the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $2 million its creation. The center combines the resources of Grand Valley State University, Wayne State University, University of Toledo, and Bowling Green State University, and lead partner University of Detroit-Mercy to address transportation issues critical to the area. The center receives funding from the Federal Highway Administration and the Michigan Department of Transportation.