How WSDOT Incident Tracking System Leverages Archived Data

1. How WSDOT Incident Tracking System Leverages Archived Data Presentation to ITS America Annual Meeting Gummada Murthy Director Maintenance and Operations Division May 2, 2005

2. WSDOT Incident Tracking System (WITS) The WITS tracks incident response data daily, and archive data is available since January 2002 WITS is an application with 3 basic functions • Electronic Data Collection System • Database Management System (DBMS) • Query/Reporting Capability, and Management Decision Making Tool

3. What are we at WSDOT measuring with WITS data? • Examples… • Customer feedback • Number of responded incidents • Clearance and response times • Benefits of Incident Response • Disabled Vehicles on I-405 with and without Incident Response • Economic value of Incident Response • Benefits to System Performance • Special Studies

4. WITS DATABASE Performance Measurement (PM) Development Process Using WITS First Step: Electronic Data Collection • Responders fills in Incident Reports in WITS after each response • Each truck is equipped with a laptop with WITS application • Data is stored in a laptop computer in trucks during work shift • After each shift, the stored data is uploaded to secured DOT server via DOT (internal and external) networks • Data is collected to a central (HQ) server (WITS Database)

5. Performance Measurement DevelopmentSecond Step: Database Management and Monitoring • Accessible Data • WITS allows concurrent, multi-user access to the uploaded data in the WITS database located at HQ Central Server • WITS users are supervisors/mgrs, engineers, and PIO as well as PM staff • Data is viewable and editable • Data access is protected by a hierarchy of passwords with various security levels • Data Quality Assurance • Regional IR Supervisors monitor their local response activities and data quality in WITS • HQ Performance Measurement Staff daily monitors overall data quality and integrity • Statewide WITS training (with a refresher course) is mandatory for all responders as a part of responder training matrix

6. Performance Measurement (PM) Development Third Step: Data Analysis and Research • WITS Database is analyzed by analysis software systems (SAS  and ArcGIS ) • Data and statistical analyses • Spatial (GIS) analyses • Exploratory analyses • Special Studies • Match/Overlay with external data sources for mapping and denominator information

7. Performance Measurement (PM) DevelopmentThird Step: Reporting, Program Operations and Management • Summary results are reported in various forms to management, administration, and public • Reports/information are used in transportation studies and in management and system performance decisions Program Operations and Management • WSDOT Agency PM Reports (Gray Notebook) • Executive Reports • Share WITS data with research communities (e.g., UW-TRAC, FHWA) • Research Notes and Memos • WSDOT Web pages

8. The information gathered from WITS is used to measure many different components of the program and highway system performance Customer Feedback is important to the Incident Response Program and is documented in WITS. • An average 150 comments cards are received monthly in the Secretary’s office. • Incident Responders receive information back on how customers feel their safety the service they received.

9. WSDOT Agency Accountability ReportMeasures, Markers, and Mileposts(report is known as the Gray Notebook)

10. Trend Analysis with WITS Data With 3-complete years of WITS data archive, short-term trend analyses are being conducted to monitor overall program performance Incident Response Program Expansion of July 2003 Before-and-After Comparison: Clearance Time and Response Total 3-Year Trend: January 2002 - December 2004

11. Yearly Comparison of PM with WITS Data Example below shows quarter-to-quarter comparison of Clearance Times and frequencies for different types of incidents

12. Planning with Targeted Analyses Non-Collisions are most frequently occurring incidents. If blocking travel lanes, they significantly impact traffic flow (non-recurring congestion) and public safety. Examples below track change in the progress in response activities to those blocking incidents.

13. Corridor-Specific AnalysesWITS data for trend analyses including incident characteristics are used in reports and studies for different segments of the roadway

14. Spatial AnalysesWITS data are first mapped for visual monitoring. Visualization assisted by GIS-based analyses are specially useful to identify problem areas (for roving zone decisions), and help target directions for statistical analyses

15. Economic Analyses Savings for Travel Time Savings, Fuel and Car/Truck Operating Costs To remove just one incident quicker (reduction of 7 minutes) we saved over $5,800 for fuel and other operating costs, and over $7,000 for time saved. I-405 Disabled Vehicles Average Delay Savings with Incident Responsein Minutes Improvements in areas such as incident management or other congestion management techniques such as road weather information systems and improved signal timing/coordination are often demonstrating performance benefits equivalent to new capacity at a fraction of the costs.

16. WITS Data Being Used in Various StudiesCongestion studies, Systems Efficiency, and Recurrent and Non-Recurrent Congestion studies are on-going Current studies and data sharing with other agencies and universities contribute to congestion relief but…

17. In the future, Non-Recurrent Congestion studies need more and better information than just incidents responded too • Comparing data and sharing information with other responder agencies such as fire, law enforcement, ecology and the emergency management departments helps to make the Incident Response program a greater success. • Universities and consultants request WITS data and better ways to compare data to help study congestion relief issues. • Not all incident data is stored in WITS data base. WITS data only include incidents that the WSDOT responds too. • Another data rich resource for incident data is the Washington State Patrol Computer Aide Dispatch system (CAD) and other software programs in responders agencies.