• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2009

Everyday congestion length (distance) and duration (time) data are collected and recorded in Expressway Traffic Information Center. These records are based on the information that the operators watch CCTV and decide traffic condition in order to present information about congestion on VMS. Using VMS message has some merits like that it doesn't need a great lot of cost to construct hardware such like FTMS because operators can check traffic condition by watching CCTV only. Of cause in the aspect of accuracy, using VMS message has the limitation that it is based on subject decision compared with FTMS. However, it can be said that the value of using VMS message is very large. The object of this study is to use the VMS information record (log file) usefully to provide information of traffic condition on expressway for users (drivers) without keeping the VMS information record in dead storage. To do so, in this research, congestion calculation method able to understand traffic congestion condition on expressway was developed.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.12-22
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• 2010

The variable message sign(VMS) is a facility to smoothen traffic flows and enable safe passing by providing real-time necessary information on roads, weather, transportation, and traffic regulations. The VMS also solves a feeling of uneasiness and gives a sense of psychological security by providing information to drivers. However, the VMS has a strong character of being a non-market product but a public product, so it has not normally been evaluated for its value. This research has evaluated a value of satisfaction level for traffic information users, using a contingent valuation method(CVM). As a result of evaluating the value of satisfaction level for users through division into an urban roadway and an urban highway for the cities where an intelligent transportation system(ITS) has been established, the urban highway had a value of 96.7 won/system and the urban roadway had a value of 76.3 won/system.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.3D
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• pp.409-416
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• 2006

Real-time traveler information disseminated through Variable Message Signs (VMS) is known to have effects on driver route choice decisions. In the past, many studies have attempted to optimize the system performance using VMS message content as the primary control variable of driver route choice. This research proposes a VMS information provision optimization model which searches the best combination of VMS message contents and display sequence to minimize the total travel time on a highway network considered. The driver route choice models under VMS information provision are developed using a stated preference (SP) survey data in order to realistically capture driver response behavior. The genetic algorithm (GA) is used to find the optimal VMS information provision strategies which consists of the VMS message contents and the sequence of message display. In the process of the GA module, the system performance is measured using micro traffic simulation. The experiment results highlight the capability of the proposed model to search the optimal solution in an efficient way. The results show that the traveler information conveyed via VMS can reduce the total travel time on a highway network. They also suggest that as the frequency of VMS message update gets shorter, a smaller number of VMS message contents performs better to reduce the total travel time, all other things being equal.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.36-46
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• 2011

At present, the number of local governments using the Traffic Information Center are increasing and drivers are utilizing its traffic information from VMS installed on roads in cities. However, the cases of the user's utility of VMS about urban roads with special characteristics different from expressways and urban highways haven't been evaluated so far. Because VMS is a medium installed from a budget to provide traffic information, it is necessary to evaluate and manage the efficiency of users. This study judged that the efficiency of the drivers using VMS of urban roads most influences the duty on alternative route information provision so that it established its evaluation criteria. In addition, it needs to raise its value by many drivers' observation of VMS. Therefore, in case of the same conditions, the installation location of VMS should be a road section with much traffic volume so its the evaluation criteria was established. At present, the study results can be utilized to raise the user's utility of VMS installed in the urban roads.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.99-109
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• 2007

Variable message signs (VMS), which are used for providing real-time information on traffic conditions and accident occurrences, are one of the important components of intelligent transportation systems VMS messages need to meet human factor requirements: messages should be readable and understandable while driving. Lab-controlled experiments on VMS messages were conducted to obtain useful data for analyzing drivers' responsive characteristics for VMS messages. Binary logistic regression (BLR) modeling techniques were applied to explore the relationships among drivers' message perceptions, message reading time, and amount of VMS messages. Probabilistic outcomes of the proposed BLR-based perception model could be greatly utilized to design VMS messages considering drivers' legibility performance. The major contribution of this study is to develop invaluable statistical models that can be used in designing VMS messages more effectively from the human factor point of view. The results could be further applied to establish the scheme of VMS message phase and duration.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.42-52
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• 2013

In this study, value of VMS (Variable Message Sign) traffic information is estimated by using CVM (Contingent Valuation Method), which is developed to quantify the value of non-marketable goods in environmental economics. CVM is used to estimate the value of goods provided by a project under consideration and then the project feasibility can be indirectly examined on the basis of the estimated value. This study focuses on estimating to estimate value of traffic information provided through VMS, a part of the transportation system enhancement project by Korea Expressway Corporation which is aimed at mitigating traffic problems on expressways. In particular, this study analyzes value of information separately by trip purpose, information type, and traffic flow condition. A state preference survey was designed to estimate the value of non-marketable traffic information. To maximize reliability of the survey results, a pilot survey was taken before the main survey. The open-ended question method was adopted in capturing users' willingness-to-pay. Both Tobit and binary Probit models were applied in estimating the value of VMS traffic information and their parameters were estimated using the maximum likelihood estimation. The estimation results suggests that the value of traffic information perceived by users is 518.28 KRW.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.2D
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• pp.193-201
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• 2011

The provision of traffic information plays an important role in increasing social benefit not only by saving travel time for individuals but also by improving the efficiency of road operation. VMS(Variable Message Sign) helps on-wheel drivers easily understand the road situation, and also provides real-time traffic information to people on the streets. However, it has not been sufficiently studied on how traffic information based on VMS influences on the drivers' selection of route. This study investigated how drivers use VMS traffic information and how they are satisfied with it. Then, the model of drivers' route selection was specified with the types of traffic information and the expected travel time to examine the influence on the selection of drivers' route. The model was estimated and analyzed in three types according to the condition of detour roads, and the rate of route change and the degree of sensitivity was calculated from the estimation. The results of analysis are as follows. the $1^{st}$ type model showed the 10% of route change for the travel time saving of 5minutes, and the 81.6% of route change for the travel time saving of 20minutes. The $2^{nd}$ type led to the range of route change from 14.2% to 92.7% over the 5 through 20 minutes of travel time saving. The $3^{rd}$ model resulted in the 99.1% of route change. The sensitivity of route change showed the highest for the travel time saving of 11 minutes with the $1^{st}$ type model, 9 minutes with the $2^{nd}$ type model, and 5 minutes with the $3^{rd}$ type model respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.470-477
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• 2015

VMS informs the public of traffic and weather information in real time and functions to facilitate traffic flow. However, as smart phone navigation becomes more popular with the rapid propagation of the smart phone, the efficiency and applicability of VMS are challenged. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the drivers' preference for the traffic information service between VMS and smart phone navigation by conducting a survey using a stated preference in Busan Metropolitan City in August 2013. This study found that 60% of survey respondents prefer VMS to the smart phone navigation. Further analysis to investigate the preference focused on the smart phone users revealed that female, younger, more educated, and less experienced drivers more rely on the smart phone navigation. Consequently, this study implicates that private and governmental institutes have to take a measure to develop the integrated traffic information system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.22 no.4 s.75
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• pp.107-116
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• 2004

VMS를 통한 정보제공에는 과도반응과 통행집중의 위험부담이 따른다. 즉 대안경로간에 이루어져야 할 통행배분을 정확히 유도할 수 있는 VMS 메시지란 존재치 않는다. VMS 메시지에 의해 특정 경로가 교통상황이 타 경로에 비해 좋다고 정보가 주어질 때, 그 정보에 대한 과도반응과 그 특정경로에 대한 통행집중 문제가 발생하여 정보제공에 의해 오히려 상황이 악화될 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 대안경로간의 물리적 특성 측면에서 우열이 있는 가상 네트워크를 대상으로 하여, 과도반응과 통행집중 문제를 극복하고 대안경로간의 적절한 통행배분을 달성하기 위한 VMS 운영알고리즘을 개발하는 것을 목표로 한다. VMS정보제공 결과, 즉 VMS를 통해 상황이 좋다고 알려준 경로에 통행이 집중할 경우 문제가 될 것인가 여부를 미리 예측해 보고, 문제가 될 경우 정보제공 전략을 수정하도록 하는, 피드백 제어에 예측적 방식을 접목하였다. 본 연구에서 제안한 알고리즘의 주요 기능은 다음과 같다. 1. 교통량, 속도 등에 대한 실시간 모니터링 시스템이 구축되어 있음을 전제로 한다. 2. 실시간 제어에는 모니터링 결과와 이에 근거한 정보제공전략의 시행사이에는 시간차가 존재한다. 이러한 시간차이로 인하여 단기예측이 필요하고, 이를 수행하는 모듈이 있다. 3. 정보제공 결과로 특정 경로에 과부하가 걸리는지 여부를 예측하기 위하여, 그 판단기준으로 그 경로의 실제 용량 산정이 필요하다. 이에 혼잡의 시공간적 전개에 따라 변하는 동적 용량을 산정하는 모듈이 있다. 4. 대안 경로간 통행배분 목표치를 수리적으로 산정할 수는 있으나, 이를 자동적으로 이루어 주는 메시지는 존재하지 않는다. 아울러 현실적으로 예측 불가능한 외란을 모형에 의존하여 예측하기 보다는, 계속적인 피드백 레귤레이터(Regulator) 작동에 의해 보정하여 목표를 달성해 가는 자동제어 기능을 갖고 있다.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.3D
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• pp.401-407
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• 2006

VMS which provides information about real-time traffic situation to the drivers is operating 41 places in 204km section at 2003 present time. Contrary to VMS which is constructed in freeway or highway, VMS in Roadway is increasing the demand of relocating according to development of environment. However there is not any definite standard for ITS field devices' relocating. That would be many problem such as re-relocating in the near future. This study presents optimal VMS relocating methodology using the concept of Decision Problem considering budget and number of drivers given information.