Algorithms to Convert Basic Safety Messages into Traffic Measures

Connected vehicles rely on short-range messaging using Basic Safety Message (BSM) data that includes information about vehicle size, speed, position, and heading (direction). In the future, all vehicles will be expected to send and receive this information to enhance safety and mobility. Exchange of BSM data among vehicles and traffic management systems will have the potential to generate traffic information that could be used to support current or develop new traffic measures such as travel time, end of queue information for work zones, road weather delay impact, and enhanced traffic signal control. This will be particularly valuable for arterial roadways and work zones in areas without instrumentation or where transportation systems management instrumentation is disrupted by construction. The aim of this research was to develop and validate algorithms that will use BSM data to estimate selected traffic measures that could be used for performance monitoring, traffic control, and traveler information.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=4550
• Supplemental Notes:
  • The final report NCHRP Research Report 997 Algorithms to Convert Basic Safety Messages into Traffic Measures and a PowerPoint presentation are available for immediate use. Source code and additional software documentation may be found via Dropbox and on GitHub.

Language

• English

Project

• Funding: $400,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  03-137

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Performing Organizations:

  Noblis, Inc.

  ,    
• Principal Investigators:

  Vasudevan, Meenakshy

• Start Date: 20190801
• Expected Completion Date: 20211130
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Algorithms; Connected vehicles; Traffic safety; Vehicle to infrastructure communications; Vehicle to vehicle communications
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01989097
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: 03-137
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 12 2026 3:54PM