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The following abstract provided
by University of Denver...
The Smart Sign project successfully merged two separate
technological disciplines of highway messaging and on-road
vehicle emissions sensing into an advanced ITS public
information system. Operated unattended/remotely in Denver,
CO during 1996/97 the system proved capable of providing the
public real-time emissions information at a high volume
interstate location. The system delivered more than 3.5 million
readings (86% Good, 10% Fair and 4% Poor) to more than
250,000 unique vehicles during its 15 months of operations.
With no need for human supervision the system is capable of
delivering information for a long term cost of only $0.02 per
test.
A phone survey of 474 drivers who used the system showed that
76% had a favorable impression of the system. More than 50%
of the survey felt it was a valuable tool for motivating people to
repair broken vehicles. 1.6% of the survey (an estimated 4000
repairs for the 15 month period) reported to have made repairs
as result of the information. This response was largest among
those having received a poor reading.
Follow-up focus groups confirmed the major findings of the
phone survey and highlighted a few deficiencies. The use of the
"Health" paradigm was seen as too vague and should be
changed to "Emissions". The availability of follow up
information, such as the brochure, needs to be improved. One
idea is to use a low powered radio station at the site. Belief in
the accuracies of the readings was found to increase with
exposure to multiple readings.
For
more information about the SMARTSIGN project go to www.feat.biochem.du.edu
or www.sign.du.edu
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