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MDARS: Mobile Data Acquisition and Reporting System

MDARS: Mobile Data Acquisition and Reporting System. Presented by Ginny Crowson Minnesota Department of Transportation ITS America 14th Annual Meeting Session 30: New Sources of Data April 28, 2004. Outline. Background How it Works Costs and Benefits Future Direction Questions.

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MDARS: Mobile Data Acquisition and Reporting System

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  1. MDARS: Mobile Data Acquisition and Reporting System Presented by Ginny Crowson Minnesota Department of Transportation ITS America 14th Annual Meeting Session 30: New Sources of Data April 28, 2004

  2. Outline • Background • How it Works • Costs and Benefits • Future Direction • Questions

  3. Background • CARS: Condition Acquisition and Reporting System • MDARS: Mobile Data Acquisition and Reporting System • Developed to test CARS data entry from a mobile environment • Piloted in Southwestern Minnesota winters 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 • Over 75 plow operators used MDARS to make over 500 entries

  4. Background • Original objectives were to: • Provide an effective mobile reporting system to transmit information directly to CARS • Provide alternative method for reporting road conditions to reduce radio traffic • Improve quality of traveler information regarding road conditions

  5. How it Works • MDARS operation • Plow operators access Internet and MDARS web site through web-enabled cell phones • Enter road conditions using drop-down menus • Can also check R/WIS • Information sent over Internet via XML interface to CARS • Sent on to 511 and 511mn.org for travelers

  6. How it Works MDARS Operation R/WIS Web-Enabled Cell Phone 511 3 6 9 # * 2 5 8 8 CARS Work Station 511mn.org

  7. Costs and Benefits • Initial system development of $127,000 was ITS funded • Phone equipment costs were district funded * Most recent cell phone purchase through Midwest Wireless

  8. Costs and Benefits • Monthly service costs were district funded * Most recent service agreement through Midwest Wireless

  9. Costs and Benefits • Plow operator evaluation conducted • One-to-one interviews with 12/75 plow operators • Positively regarded and most would continue data entry if required to • Neutral toward concept of using MDARS for more than road condition entries • If continued, better explanations of how MDARS and CARS feed 511 will increase support

  10. Costs and Benefits • Direct benefits • Reduced radio traffic • Decreased stress on Mn/DOT and MSP dispatchers • Created plow operator ownership • Eliminated field to dispatch interpretations • Provided better route-specific road conditions • Particularly during inclement weather • Mn/DOT and MSP could not staff TOCCs statewide to provide this coverage at the cost of MDARS ($9,600/year for 80 phones x 7 districts + $15,000 MDARS support = $82,200)

  11. Future Direction • Make MDARS available for use statewide • Modify to allow data entry for construction and incidents in addition to road conditions • Initially focusing on road conditions in other districts • For districts with limited cell coverage or budget, focus on Interstate and US routes • Explore alternatives to web-enabled cell phones

  12. Questions? For more information, contact: Daryl Taavola, ITS Director daryl.taavola@dot.state.mn.us 651-282-2115

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