RTMAS: an expert system for real time monitoring and analysis of traffic during evacuations

Abstract

Describes the development of a real-time traffic monitoring and analysis system (RTMAS). This system addresses more of a monitoring problem, and less of a planning problem than the other chapters. The system being developed is designed to record and monitor traffic flows, with the goals of classifying certain traffic patterns and warning of evacuations in times of emergency. In building into the system the ability to recognize particular patterns, the user must provide the information to the system about patterns due to unusual events. The entire system relies on four major software components, including an expert system, an automated forecasting package, data acquisition software, and a program which classifies specific traffic patterns. The chapter ends with the description of actual case output from the system. -from Editors