MS2 Blog

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Kistler and Gridsmart technologies integrated using MS2 Autopolling software

MS2 software developers have created two new custom data import routines for popular transportation data collection hardware manufacturers.Since 2003, MS2 has worked hand in hand with data collection device manufacturers to help its clients import data using the available software. It has pioneered and implemented an innovative cloud-based Transportation Data Management System (TDMS) for state DOTs, MPOs, counties, and cities.Kistler (Amherst, Ne... [Read More]

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Calculating ADT from TMC Data

Adding vehicle volume data into MS2’s Traffic Crash Location System (TCLS) benefits traffic engineers since the software can then calculate severity and crash rates at study locations.  But sometimes traffic count data is not available at all study locations.  What to do?  Our client, the City of Redmond, Washington, has a good solution – use turning movement count data (TMC) to derive vehicle volumes and enter those values into the TCLS.The City... [Read More]

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

MS2’s TDMS Brings Award to TxDOT

On October 9, 2017, the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Transportation Planning and Programming (TPP) team was awarded the Gold Level Winner for the 2017 Journey Toward Excellence (JTE) Award. JTE Awards recognize TxDOT employees and teams who demonstrate leadership and commitment to improving services, products, and processes and obtaining tangible results. Recipients must demonstrate results in a wide variety of areas including cus... [Read More]

Friday, September 22, 2017

MS2 DOT User Conference a Big Success

The Colorado DOT hosted MS2’s bi-annual DOT User Conference at the Magnolia Hotel in Denver September 18-19, 2017. We had an excellent turnout of 33 people representing 12 of our 15 state DOT clients. On Monday evening we had a client reception at the Broker Restaurant in Denver. This gave us a chance to catch up with old friends as well as personally introduce ourselves to our newest clients in the user group. After dinner we had a prese... [Read More]

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

MS2 Software Manages 2-Billion WIM Vehicle Records

You’ve heard of the Peter Principle (in bureaucracies, people work to the level of their incompetence) and Moore’s Law (the number of transistors in an integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years). At MS2 we‘re not sure it’s a “law” but it sure is “big data.” It took us four years (2011-2015) to reach 1-billion WIM vehicle records managed. Two years later, in August 2017, it’s now 2-billion WIM vehicle records managed in our Transpor... [Read More]

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

FHWA Publishes SEMCOG AADT-Calculation Case Study

As part of their Roadway Safety Data Program the FHWA recently published an interesting case study featuring one of MS2’s oldest and most technical clients, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG).  Titled “Innovative Traffic Data QA/QC Procedures and Automating AADT Estimation,” the case study focuses on AADT calculations – an important traffic engineering function to MS2 clients throughout North America.According to the case stud... [Read More]

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Bicycle and Pedestrian Data Management Software

Midwestern Software Solutions (MS2), Ann Arbor, Michigan, recently created a 3-minute video highlighting the features of their new Non-Motorized Database System designed for transportation planners and engineers.

Friday, April 7, 2017

Autopolling Traffic Data

One of MS2's newest software features is an Auto-Polling extension to our Traffic Count Database System.  Auto-Polling allows MS2's software to automatically connect to field devices (continuous counters, ITS, intersection cabinets, etc.), download data, and import data.  This means you spend less time running and monitoring complex vendor-specific software for each device.Depending on the device’s capabilities, the Auto-Polling extension support... [Read More]

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Thank You For 20 Great Years!

In early March, we distributed a thank you card to our clients celebrating the 20th anniversary of our Traffic Count Database System.  Ben's first application was an Access database designed in 1997.  We hope you got yours and understand how much we value your commitment to accurate data management and analysis.  As we move forward, MS2 is committed to learning more about serving your needs while advancing the industry through our comprehensive t... [Read More]

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

FHWA Performance Measures Rules Delayed

From the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO): The FHWA published a notice that the new effective dates for both PM2 and PM3 are now March 21, 2017. The official notice can be found here: PM2 and PM3 Delayed Effective Date This notice is consistent with the memo issued on January 20, 2017 regarding the temporary postponement of the effective dates of any, and most new, regulations published that are not yet in effect. I... [Read More]