[ti:Simulation Helps Control, Manage Traffic]
[ar:Jonathan Evans]
[al:Science In The News]
[by:www.21voa.com]
[00:00.00]Controlling traffic is a complex and high cost problem in many developed countries. 
[00:07.33]It becomes more difficult and costly with the ever-increasing number of cars on the roads. 
[00:15.01]But scientists and students at the Center for Advanced Transportation Technology, or CATT, 
[00:22.92]at the University of Maryland are working to solve this problem. 
[00:27.81]They are using simulation technologies to help government 
[00:32.20]and private business control and react to changing traffic conditions.
[00:37.75]The online economics magazine Forbes.com 
[00:42.25]says traffic congestion cost Americans $124 billion in 2014. 
[00:49.68]It says that number could rise to $186 billion by 2030.
[00:56.36]But scientists at the CATT laboratory are trying to reduce those costs. 
[01:02.77]They are developing a system that helps traffic managers, 
[01:06.70]planners, emergency workers and businesses plan and react better. 
[01:13.17]Michael Pack is CATT director. 
[01:16.27]He says the system is important to help emergency workers, 
[01:21.47]or first responders, reach an accident area faster.
[01:26.15]"For every one minute that a lane on the freeway is blocked, 
[01:31.88]the chances of another accident occurring goes up about 3%. 
[01:36.77]So, if we can get a first responder out to the scene even a minute quicker 
[01:43.39]and get them to clear the accident a minute quicker, 
[01:46.98]that reduces overall delays and congestion significantly."
[01:51.11]The CATT Lab collects information from many sources, including roadside devices, 
[01:58.29]GPS - or global positioning system - equipment and wireless phones.
[02:03.91]About 60 students and 30 software developers observe traffic flow 
[02:11.08]and manage the computer servers at all times. 
[02:14.96]They also work to develop software and applications 
[02:19.54]that can help traffic run smoother and safer. 
[02:23.77]Some of them turn the information gathered into so-called "visualizations." 
[02:29.85]These visual representations help emergency workers better understand what is happening.
[02:36.97]The center shares its findings with firefighters, 
[02:41.00]police, transportation departments and the military. 
[02:45.53]They also share information with universities and transportation companies. 
[02:51.41]The technology company Google uses the data for its traffic-related websites. 
[02:58.14]Michael Pack says the information is then shared with anyone 
[03:03.56]who wants to help traffic run more smoothly.
[03:06.91]"Our tools not only tell you what's going on at the scene, 
[03:11.44]like there's an accident and it's involving a tractor-trailer truck, 
[03:14.92]they tell you who has been notified to get to the scene, 
[03:18.10]it tells you how long it took them to get to the scene, when they arrived, 
[03:22.44]how long they were there, what did they do on the scene."
[03:25.78]Mr. Pack says the goal is to help develop an intelligent system of road signals 
[03:32.41]that will communicate with each other and with vehicles on the road.
[03:37.57]I'm Jonathan Evans.
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