Page 22 - Jan/Feb 2023 Vol 40 No 6

NASHVILLE
World’s Largest Open-Track Traffic

Experiment Conducted in Nashville

Late last year, a first-of-its-kind traffic of Vanderbilt University, UC Berkeley, He said that addressing these challenges
experiment in Nashville began providing Temple University and Rutgers “will force us to think critically about
fresh insight on how to mitigate human- University-Camden, in coordination with solutions, as transportation infrastructure
caused traffic jams and their resulting Nissan North America and the Tennessee projects traditionally are not identified
impact on fuel savings. Department of Transportation, were nor completed before traffic congestion
In late 2022, this consortium of involved in the open-track experiment. more dramatically affects our quality of
academic researchers, working with Using 100 specially-equipped Nissan life.”
leading automakers, concluded a five- Rogue vehicles, researchers tested an AI- “One of these solutions is greater use
day test of artificial intelligence-powered powered cruise control system designed to of technology to enhance mobility. We
cruise control on a stretch of I-24 near increase fuel savings and ease traffic. are confident that this project and others
downtown Nashville—the largest study of The importance of studying this type of like it will further strengthen Tennessee’s
its kind in the world. behavior was noted by Tennessee Deputy reputation for being a hub of automotive
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governor and TDOT Commissioner excellence,” Eley said.
The experiment was held on a sensor-
Cruise Control Is Key Butch Eley, who said “when it comes filled portion of Interstate 24, and is based
to transportation and mobility in
Their preliminary findings? AI-powered Tennessee, we are at a critical juncture. on the results from an earlier, closed-track
cruise control may pave the way to Traffic congestion is now becoming more study where a single smart vehicle smoothed
promote better fuel efficiency and traffic prominent throughout Tennessee, and not human-caused traffic congestion, leading to
relief. just in urban areas.” significant fuel savings.
The CIRCLES Consortium, consisting

Above: Meredith Cebelak of Gresham Smith
shares how the experiment outcomes will
use the data to investigate traffic patterns,
commute times and fuel-economy outcomes.
Left: The digital sensors are mounted on poles
spaced 600 feet apart along Interstate 24.
Top right: Researchers monitor traffic captured
from cameras mounted along Interstate 24.
Bottom right photos: The research project
included 100 “smart” vehicles that drove
the regular flow of morning commute traffic
for five days along the four-mile stretch of
Interstate 24. The project will use data from
2,500 hours of driving to assess the impact of
vehicles with modified, adaptive cruise control.

22 TPW January/February 2023