An Interactive Web-based System for Urban Traffi c Data Analysis

Web-based mapping technologies have been increasingly utilized for traveler information systems. However, most such systems focus on freeways rather than arterials or urban streets. This paper presents a Google-map-based online system for urban traveler information broadcast and analysis. Open source web tools and emerging web technologies, such as Ajax, are used to implement the proposed system to ensure its performance and to minimize its cost. The proposed system has operated online using the City of Bellevue’s data since January 1, 2007. It is not only an arterial traveler information system but also an online analysis tool for urban traffi c network. The system offers two analysis functions: time-domain analysis and scatter plot analysis. To demonstrate the strength of this platform, three case studies are presented in this paper, one uses historical traffi c fl ow map to identify bottlenecks, one applies before-and-after analysis to evaluate the impact of a snow storm, and the other employs time-series data to evaluate intersection performance. This system, though presented and demonstrated using the City of Bellevue’s data, is a general technology that can be applied to other urban traffi c networks.