MS2 Blog

Friday, February 27, 2015

A Traffic Jam of Engineers?

Like many successful software and engineering firms, MS2 is out looking for new traffic engineers and software programmers to join our staff. We've added two new bright young people to our programming side from the University of Michigan recently. But we are still looking for traffic engineers to join us and assist with project management tasks. The shot above shows the madhouse of engineers (all sorts from civil to mechanical to compute... [Read More]

Monday, February 16, 2015

Reporter Maps Minnesota’s Road Network

We were impressed by the analytical effort shown recently by St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer Press reporter David Montgomery. Since that state’s legislature is debating a multi-billion dollar tax and fee program aimed at improving the state’s roads, Montgomery decided a public education effort on the state road network – and who pays for maintenace – was needed. So he wrote this story showing 11 maps his team developed hoping to educate both le... [Read More]

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Why Ants Handle Traffic Better Than You Do

We had to chuckle when we heard this story about how humans can learn about traffic congestion from ant behavior. Go here to both read the story and listen to it as reported on National Public Radio.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

New 2015 TRB Conference Venue is a Winner

MS2's booth at the 2015 TRB Conference The Transportation Research Board's (TRB) annual Washington, DC conference had been held at the Marriott Wardman for many years. While the hotel was always nice attendees were forced to take shuttle buses to two other local hotels to attend various conference sessions. And all the exhibits were jammed into two halls in the basement of the Wardman. Everything was somewhat inconvenient. The conference had ... [Read More]

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

MS2 Makes Traffic Count Data Reporting Easy

A key interest of traffic engineers is how to efficiently export traffic count data and create reports once the data has been collected.  Since there are many different needs and uses for traffic count data, MS2’s traffic count database system (TCDS) makes it easy for engineers and planners to create reports easily and efficiently. Once a user logs into the application, a “Report Center” button appears above the numeric record indicator. ... [Read More]

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Software to Analyze Bicycle and Pedestrian Count Data

In recent years, communities have seen an increasing number of people walking and riding bicycles for both recreational and business (e.g., biking to work) purposes.  In addition local, regional, State and/or Federal funding programs are increasingly looking at linking funding to Complete Streets considerations, that is, streets “designed and operated to enable safe access for all users.” The latest FHWA Traffic Monitoring Guide (TMG) even inc... [Read More]

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Software to Manage Vehicle Traffic Count Data

Example of cloud-based software to manage and analyze traffic count data. Given the importance of vehicle traffic count data to a transportation planner or traffic engineer's business we are constantly amazed that many agencies still rely on paper to manage this vital data. Traffic count data is omnipresent in the professional life of a traffic engineer.  It is used to validate travel demand models.  It is used in the design of new roadwa... [Read More]

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Map Your Road Signs for Better Management

Public road agencies face a challenge managing the number, condition and types of road signs in their jurisdictions.  Larger counties in the US can have well over 50,000 road signs.  These signs need to be replaced from time to time or after their useful life has been attained but it's difficult to keep track of a data set so large.  What's the best way to meet this asset management challenge?  Software that automatically locates, maps and manage... [Read More]

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Road Sign Database Software for Inventory Planning

The June 2014 date for compliance with the FHWA road sign regulations is quickly approaching.  By that time agencies need to select a sign assessment and management method to maintain minimum levels of road sign retroreflectivity.  MS2 offers cities and counties an easy-to-use database system that allows agencies to manage retroreflectivity data as well as map, manage and inventory all their road signs. MS2 is expert in the design and hosting ... [Read More]

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Transportation Agencies Share Vehicle Volume Data with the Public

Vehicle volume count data is a critical component of many professional studies.  Realtors need vehicle volume counts for their clients as that data indicates whether a new commercial site will be seen by potential customers.   And traffic consultants and planners need updated vehicle volume count data to verify and calibrate complex traffic models. Until now, obtaining updated traffic count data meant calling the city traffic engineer or regio... [Read More]