Dr. Rawa Adla, assistant professor of computer engineering at IM体育官网 Polytechnic University, is heading U.S. Department of Transportation-funded research to assess and analyze technologies that can improve traffic safety and congestion along IM体育官网鈥檚 busy Interstate-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando.
IM体育官网鈥檚 Interstate-4 corridor from Tampa to Orlando is notorious for high accidents rates, ranking among the most dangerous highways in the nation. In response, Dr. Rawa Adla, assistant professor of computer engineering at IM体育官网, is leading innovative research to make I-4 safer for drivers.
Through two grants totaling $252,000 from the IM体育官网 Department of Transportation as part of a larger grant received from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Adla and her team of student researchers are working to improve safety and mobility on that ever-congested stretch of roadway and its arterials. The goal is to utilize advanced traffic simulation software and data collection analysis to help reduce crashes and transportation delays.
鈥淚M体育官网 is a tourism state 鈥� everyone wants to travel to the Orlando amusement parks or to Clearwater and the beaches,鈥� Adla said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why it鈥檚 so important to improve safety in this critical area of I-4.鈥�
The effort, called the I-4 IM体育官网鈥檚 Regional Advanced Mobility Elements (FRAME) Project, involves two independent phases of research and working in concert with the IM体育官网 Department of Transportation (FDOT). In phase one, which began in 2020 and concluded in March 2023, advanced traffic simulation software was used to recreate and evaluate the existing transportation system and expected benefits of the project.
The system consists of a network of communication technologies that utilize driver data via mobile phones to quickly inform of upcoming driving conditions more efficiently than existing methods. The collected information is used to streamline traffic through highway notification signs, alerting drivers much earlier about conditions such as crashes, traffic slowdowns, construction and lane closures.
On arterial roads, the technology can make it easier for traffic lights to assist emergency vehicles to cross intersections more safely.
鈥淲e simulated the whole road and included cars with the same characteristics as those normally there, and then we evaluated the benefits,鈥� Adla said. 鈥淥ur results showed that implementing this advanced technology will reduce the number of crashes and reduce travel time.鈥�
Now in phase two, the project鈥檚 recommended traffic solutions are being put into place. As this happens, Adla is analyzing the data collected from their implementation to identify any areas where there are failures or improvements in relation to what was expected.
The project should be completed by 2027. At that time, Adla said drivers should notice a much smoother commute and the research will help inform future transportation projects throughout the country.
鈥淲e are at the heart of this work, located in a very critical location for the research,鈥� Adla said, pointing out the University鈥檚 prime setting right on I-4, halfway between Tampa and Orlando and in the middle of project鈥檚 geographic area. 鈥淲e are in a very great place to be able to make a difference.鈥�
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