• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.3-15
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to propose a methodology for operating variable speed limit (VSL) strategies in freeway work zones. A notable feature in this study is to incorporate a multi-criteria decision making process into deriving better VSL strategies. Decision criteria in this study include operational efficiency, safety, and environmental impacts. Travel speed, acceleration noise, and CO2 were used as performance measures for evaluating VSL strategies. A multi-criteria value function was developed through an analytical hierarchical process (AHP) for representing expert's knowledge. Then, a variety of VSL operations scenarios were investigated utilizing a microscopic traffic simulation suite, VISSIM. The proposed methodology would be useful in supporting more efficient, safer, and more environment-friendly traffic operations and control in freeway work zones.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.109-117
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• 2010

The purpose of advanced traffic information system(ATIS) is to help drivers save time and energy in getting to their destinations by providing traffic information through variable message sign(VMS), internet, traffic broadcasting and mobile phones. ATIS does not just provide drivers with benefits in terms of time and energy, but it provides them with psychological benefit as well, i.e., the drivers can relieve their anxiety by getting provided with traffic information. In this study, the efficiency of traffic information system is evaluated and degree of satisfaction of drivers with the system is analyzed by building satisfaction models of various media of traffic information. Each medium has different factors for satisfaction and each factor has different degree of influence, but in general, the efficiency of traffic information in helping drivers choose routes and in providing drivers with peace of mind is considered to have the highest influence on satisfaction of drivers with the system.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.20-29
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• 2010

The variable message sign(VMS) is a representative traffic information service medium which has the largest users and is provided and operated by a governmental agency. In this paper, we focused on psychological responses of individuals who use VMS traffic information in the light of the need for VMS to provide user-oriented service. A total of t재 scenarios were plotted to conduct our experiment on a virtual test track. A stress index analysis on VMS location, the first scenario, showed the lowest stress value at the point of 1.5 kilometers before the exit. A stress index analysis on the contents of VMS information (communication, time, and speed), the second scenario, showed the lowest stress value at time information.

• 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.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.63-74
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• 2007

Traffic information provision plays an important role in increasing the efficiency of network operation and in providing convenience for roadway users. As a typical device for disseminating real-time traffic information for collective general public, VMS is a prevalent device nowadays and it is being expanded. However, the actual monetary value of traffic information is not quantified up to now. The previous studies regarding VMS traffic information are mainly focused on the behavioral aspects of road users such as departure time and route choices under traffic information provision conditions. This paper tried to estimate the monetary value of VMS traffic information using discrete choice theory and logit model through the stated preference study(SP). The methodological framework adopted in this paper can also be used in evaluating the monetary value of other traffic information providers including PDA, CNS, and mobile phone.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2006

Message Signs (VMS) structures offer an increase in traffic safety through their ability to relay massages to motorists for warnings of hazards ahead, traffic congestion, accidents, and lane closings. The geometry of these signs sometimes results in the significant cyclic loading of the supports structure due to wind gusts, which can result from passing trucks or from natural wind. This study presents the results of analytical and experimental investigations of VMS structures. The commercially available softwareGTSTRUDL (2003) was used to perform space-frame structural analyses of these welded tubular structures. Fatigue evaluations were performed using stress ranges from field measurements and from structural analyses. Based on the results of the structural analyses that were conducted, where fatigue design loadings that had been derived from AASHTO Specifications for Structural Supports for Highway Signs, Luminaries, and Traffic Signals (2001) were used, the structures that had been studied were found not to have infinite fatigue life. According to the limited measurements that were made in this study, the fatigue design loadings derived from AASHTO Specifications (2001) appear to be conservative, but they are not overly conservative. The results of this study should be used to make a reasonable design of VMS structures, and to maintain their standards.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.75-87
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• 2004

Along the seashore regions in Korea, though strong winds with very large strength are frequently witnessed, no system which can provide appropriate speed information for driving vehicle has been introduced. The driving against strong winds could be very dangerous because of the high possibility of accidents such as rollover and collision. These accidents usually resulted from driver's forced driving try even in difficult situation for steering vehicle, and sometimes overspeed without consideration of wind impact to the vehicles. To reduce accident caused by strong winds, it is important to inform drivers of appropriate driving speeds by perceiving strong winds. By setting up WIS at the main points where strong winds frequently appear and using the variable message sign(VMS) connected to the on-line whether information system, it tis possible to provide desired speed information, which can maintain vehicles' tractive force and maximum running resistance. The case study is conducted on the case of Mokpo-Big-Bridge, which is under construction at Mokpo city. The result show that in case the annual average direction of wind is South and the wind speed is over 8m/hr, the desired speed, which is required in order for vehicles running to South direction to maintain the marginal driving power, is 60km/hr. In addition, for the case of a typhoon such as Memi generated in 2003 year, if wind speed had been 18m/sec in Mokpo city at that time, the running resistance at the speed of 40km/hr is calculated as 1131N. This resistance can not be overcome at the 4th gear(1054N) level, therefore, the gear of vehicles should be reduced down to the 3rd level. In this case, the appropriate speed is 40km/h, and at this point the biggest difference between running resistance and tractive force is generated.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.101-113
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• 2008

VMS are installed in many Korean highways in oder to give drivers informations such as travel time to destination, congestion and Incident situation. However, some guidelines for install VMS are restricted in only geometric factors although human factors considering driver behavior are very important to affect the VMS installation. Therefore, this paper are focusing on developing and verifying the discriminant model for VMS installation considering human factors. As a result, following outputs are obtained ; (1) developing the discriminant model using human factors of driving simulation experiments in oder to predict driver reading VMS messages safely detour highway. (2) proving that driving experiences in highway, personal driving history, vehicle speed orderly affects VMS installation (3) verifying predictability of developed model by comparing the real values with predicted values. (4) suggesting that VMS should be installed off 3.2Km from the I.C. of rural highway.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.61-72
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• 2011

In the benefits of ITS, there are intangible gains from real-time traffic information as well as classical gains such as travel time saving. These intangible gains are difficult to be estimated by existing transportation investment appraisal commonly used in SOC investment. The major reason is not because of the absence of methodology but because of the absence of generalized values of particular benefits from real time traffic information. This research explores the value of real-time traffic information on VMS that is the most representative of ITS services, by using CVM with Double Bounded Dichotomous Choice Question. Willingness-To-Pay (WTP) functions of drivers are built with survival functions using various types of probability distribution functions such as Exponential, Log-logistic, and Weibull functions. The results reveal that Log-logistic distribution is the most appropriate distribution model to estimate WTP, and the estimated coefficients are stable through LR (Likelihood Ratio) test. For the further study, it is recommended to perform statistical tests of temporal and spatial transferability that is not examined in this research due to the lack of data.