EROAD
EROAD set out to demonstrate how GPS and Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data could provide a comprehensive view of heavy vehicle parking performance in the United States. By combining vehicle movement data with driver Hours of Service (HOS) information, the project identified parking behaviour patterns, measured access to authorised facilities, and highlighted areas with unmet parking demand.
Approach
- Identification of Stopped Locations – Processed GPS records to identify all stationary events for heavy vehicles across the US.
- Integration of HOS Data – Linked ELD logs to each stopped event to calculate remaining driver Hours of Service, identifying whether the stop was early, compliant, or in potential violation.
- Proximity Analysis – Calculated the distance from each stopped location to the nearest authorised parking facility, determining whether parking behaviour was influenced by infrastructure access.
- Detection of Unauthorised Parking – Flagged stops occurring outside recognised parking areas to measure the scale of informal or unsafe parking practices.
- Development of Parking Performance Index (PPI) – Combined compliance, proximity, and utilisation metrics into a single index for each US state, enabling comparison and tracking over time.
- Academic Collaboration – Partnered with the University of Arkansas to formalise the methodology and publish the findings in conference papers.
Key Findings
- Comprehensive National Assessment – Produced county, state, and national-level PPI scores, revealing substantial regional disparities in heavy vehicle parking performance.
- Identification of Shortage Areas – Highlighted specific states and corridors where unmet demand led to elevated unauthorised parking rates.
- HOS-Driven Risk Insights – Found that some parking shortages directly contributed to drivers exceeding HOS limits or stopping prematurely.
- Policy-Relevant Metrics – Provided a quantitative, comparable measure that can be used by state DOTs and federal agencies to prioritise investments.
Impact
- Infrastructure Planning Support – Gave transportation agencies clear, evidence-based data to guide heavy vehicle parking expansion and upgrades.
- Safety and Compliance Benefits – Enabled proactive interventions to reduce unauthorised and unsafe parking behaviours.
- Academic and Industry Recognition – Research was presented at national conferences, positioning EROAD as a leader in applying big data analytics to freight infrastructure challenges.