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Poster Presentation at the Conference

Transportation Planning

Session: Meet the Author - Poster Session PS-4

1373957 - Perceptions and usage of traffic monitoring devices during past hurricane evacuations in Texas

Friday, June 16, 2023
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM CST
Room: Governor's Grand Ballroom
Salon ABC
TRACK: Poster Presentation

    Primary Author(s)

  • Kangni Jiang

    Graduate Research Assistant
    The University of Texas, Austin
    AUSTIN, TX, United States

    • Presenter(s)

  • Kangni Jiang

    Graduate Research Assistant
    The University of Texas, Austin
    AUSTIN, TX, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Kyle Bathgate, n/a

    Graduate Research Assistant
    University of Texas at Austin
    Austin, Texas, United States

    • Presenter(s)

  • Kyle Bathgate, n/a

    Graduate Research Assistant
    University of Texas at Austin
    Austin, Texas, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Jingran Sun, n/a

    Postdoctoral Fellow
    Center For Transportation Research, UT Austin
    Austin, Texas, United States

  • Shidong Pan

    Graduate Research Assistant
    The University of Texas at Austin
    Austin, TX, United States

  • Michael R. Murphy, n/a

    Deputy Director
    Center for Transportation Research - UT Austin
    Austin, Texas, United States

  • Zhe Han, n/a

    Research Associate
    Center for Transportation Research - UT Austin
    Austin, Texas, United States

  • Zhanmin Zhang, Ph.D.

    Professor
    The University of Texas at Austin
    Austin, Texas, United States

Relocating large populations from at-risk locations to safe areas using existing road networks in a timely matter is a challenge faced by many transportation agencies in regions exposed to hurricanes. Residents may react disparately to evacuation orders based on their past experiences and the information that they receive. Real-time traffic monitoring devices may assist with evacuations by alerting operators to traffic congestion or roadway incidents such as disabled vehicles, which may block evacuation routes and impact the safety and efficiency of the evacuation event. Evacuees may rely on real-time traffic information to make evacuation decisions and select their routes and destinations. To better understand their perceptions and usage of traffic monitoring devices during past hurricane evacuations, an online survey was distributed via email and social media, targeting Texas residents who were exposed to previous hurricane events in the state. Survey questions were designed to learn about the demographics of evacuees, common issues encountered during past Texas hurricane evacuations, the usage of traffic monitoring devices, and suggestions for traffic monitoring system improvements. Over 1,000 valid responses were received, and the results suggest that improved traffic data quality and accessibility may increase the likelihood for residents to evacuate and improve evacuation efficiency. The results help decision makers better understand how evacuees interact with real-time traffic monitoring systems during hurricane events.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees can expect to learn the following from this session:
  • Understand evacuee's perceptions and usage of traffic monitoring devices during past hurricane evacuations in Texas.
  • Understand how traffic monitoring devices can help with a safe and efficient hurricane evacuation.
  • Understand the demographics of evacuees in past Texas hurricane evacuations and how they could influence people's evacuation decisions.
  • Understand the actions needed to improve the current traffic monitoring strategies used in hurricane evacuations in Texas.