• 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.

• 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.8 no.4
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• pp.1-13
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• 2009

VMS(Variable Message Sign) which makes the traffic flow smooth by providing traffic information to road users in real-time has been being installed or operated on the road as part of the detailed ITS system. However, some problems were found as a result of survey on express way currently. In the part of the phase operation, the message interpretation time wasn't defined so that the phase operation was difficult. In the part of the information service, not considering characteristic of the VMS section caused the confusion to drivers. In the part of the message exposure, font, alignment, conversion and composition of the information were not consistent and use of superfluous words and inconsistent use of word having the same meaning brought about the problem on information communication This study established the detailed exposure method based on instructions relative to VMS operation. The method established by defining the number of appropriate phase and setting required function of each individual VMS installation location. The method is as follow. the font type is the GULIM, the message conversion method is simple conversion method, the alignment method is centering alignment method and the color is defined according to each situation. In this study, the preference survey was performed to review the validity of the proposed improvement through the common driver. The results were similar with the pre-study except for the font type. This study established the detailed exposure method based on instructions relative to VMS operation. The method established by defining the number of appropriate phase and setting required function of individual VMS installation location. For the evaluation of status and improvement, preference survey of ordinary drivers and statistics analysis was carried.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.177-183
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• 2002

Current state-of-the-art of VMS control is based upon simple knowledge-based inference engine with message set and each message's priority. And R&Ds of the VMS control are focused on the accurate detection and estimation of traffic condition of the subject roadways. However VMS display itself cannot achieve a desirable traffic allocation among alternative routes in the network In this context, VMS display strategy is the most crucial part in the VMS control. VMS itself has several limitations in its nature. It is generally known that VMS causes overreaction and concentration problems, which may be more serious in urban network than highway network because diversion should be more easily made in urban network. A feedback control algorithm is proposed in this paper to address the above-mentioned issues. It is generally true that feedback control approach requires low computational effort and is less sensitive to models inaccuracy and disturbance uncertainties. Major features of the proposed algorithm are as follows: Firstly, a regulator is designed to attain system optimal traffic allocation among alternative routes for each VMS in the network. Secondly, strategic messages should be prepared to realize the desirable traffic allocation, that is, output of the above regulator. VMS display strategy module is designed in this context. To evaluate Probable control benefit and to detect logical errors of the Proposed feedback algorithm, a offline simulation test is performed using real network in Daejon, Korea.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4453-4461
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• 2012

In this study, the effect of traffic information satisfaction and expansion by the attitude on traffic information media using the structural equation modeling was evaluated. Research findings showed that the attitude formed by experience with VMS had a positive impact on user satisfaction and expansion on traffic information. Howevr, the expansion on traffic information was not affected significantly. by user satisfaction on traffic information. In other words, If experiences with VMS is positive, higher uset satisfaction on traffic information. In addition, it should be positive to expand traffic information.

• 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.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.129-136
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• 2011

Variable Message Signs have been used for providing information on the current traffic conditions. However, it is considered more important to achieve optimal traffic allocation among the alternative routes by strategic VMS information provision. Fuzzy control is very effective and efficient to deal with such systems that are too complex and uncertain to build mathematical models. In this paper, a fuzzy feedback controller for VMS is proposed, whose goal is to achieve the travel time equilibrium between the two alternative routes. The performance of the suggested controller is implemented and examined using MATLAB/Simulink. More robust controller applicable to a real highway network is suggested for the further research.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.22 no.7 s.78
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• pp.71-78
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• 2004

This paper presents a game-theoretic model of information transmission for variable message sign(VMS) operations. There are one VMS operator and many drivers as players. Operator wants to minimize the total travel time while the drivers want to minimize their own travel time. The operator who knows the actual traffic situation offers information strategically. The drivers evaluate the information from operator, and then choose the route. We model this situation as a cheap-talk game which is a simplest form of Bayesian game. We show that there is a possibility that the operator can improve the traffic efficiency by manipulating the electric signs at times. Indeed, it is an equilibrium of the game. This suggests that the operator must consider the strategic use of VMS system seriously.

• 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.