模拟有助于控制、管理交通

Simulation¹ Helps Control, Manage Traffic 模拟有助于控制、管理交通

Controlling traffic is a complex and high cost problem in many developed countries. It becomes more difficult and costly² with the ever-increasing number of cars on the roads. But scientists and students at the Center for Advanced Transportation Technology, or CATT, at the University of Maryland are working to solve this problem. They are using simulation technologies to help government and private business control and react to changing traffic conditions.

The online economics³ magazine Forbes.com says traffic congestion⁴ cost Americans $124 billion in 2014. It says that number could rise to $186 billion by 2030.

But scientists at the CATT laboratory are trying to reduce those costs. They are developing a system that helps traffic managers, planners, emergency workers and businesses plan and react better. Michael Pack is CATT director. He says the system is important to help emergency workers, or first responders, reach an accident area faster.

"For every one minute that a lane on the freeway is blocked, the chances of another accident occurring goes up about 3%. So, if we can get a first responder out to the scene even a minute quicker and get them to clear the accident a minute quicker, that reduces overall delays and congestion significantly."

The CATT Lab collects information from many sources, including roadside devices, GPS - or global positioning system - equipment and wireless⁵ phones.

About 60 students and 30 software developers observe traffic flow and manage the computer servers at all times. They also work to develop software and applications that can help traffic run smoother and safer. Some of them turn the information gathered into so-called "visualizations." These visual representations⁷ help emergency workers better understand what is happening.

The center shares its findings with firefighters, police, transportation departments and the military. They also share information with universities and transportation companies.  The technology company Google uses the data for its traffic-related websites. Michael Pack says the information is then shared with anyone who wants to help traffic run more smoothly⁸.

"Our tools not only tell you what's going on at the scene, like there's an accident and it's involving a tractor-trailer truck, they tell you who has been notified⁹ to get to the scene, it tells you how long it took them to get to the scene, when they arrived, how long they were there, what did they do on the scene."

Mr. Pack says the goal is to help develop an intelligent system of road signals that will communicate with each other and with vehicles on the road.

Words in this Story

application – n. a computer program that performs a particular task

congestion – n. a crowd of something such as vehicles or people

freeway – n. a wide highway that is built for fast travel

significantly – adv. in a way that is large or important enough to be noticed or have an effect

simulation – n. something that is made to look, feel, or behave like something else especially so that it can be studied or used to train people

visualization⁶ – n. a mental picture of someone or something

1 simulation   

n.模拟

参考例句：

• To make the training realistic the simulation operates in real time . 为使训练真实，模拟是实时运行的。
• a computer simulation of how the planet functions 行星活动方式的计算机模拟

2 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

3 economics   

n.经济学，经济情况

参考例句：

• He is studying economics,which subject is very important.他正在学习经济学，该学科是很重要的。
• One can't separate politics from economics.不能把政治与经济割裂开来。

4 congestion   

n.阻塞，消化不良

参考例句：

• The congestion in the city gets even worse during the summer.夏天城市交通阻塞尤为严重。
• Parking near the school causes severe traffic congestion.在学校附近泊车会引起严重的交通堵塞。

5 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。

6 visualization   

n.想像，设想

参考例句：

• In 2D visualization and drawing applications, vertical and horizontal scrolling are common. 在二维的可视化及绘图应用中，垂直和水平滚动非常普遍。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• Ophthalmoscopy affords the only opportunity for direct visualization of blood vessels. 检眼镜检查法提供直接观察血管的唯一机会。

7 representations   

n.陈述，投诉，抗议；表现( representation的名词复数 )；陈述；表现…的事物；有代理人

参考例句：

• Naturally, we tend to use old representations in our new environments. 同样很自然的，在新的环境里，我们习惯于采用旧的表达方式。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• They made representations to the college cook about the bad food. 他们向学校厨师抗议伙食太差。 来自辞典例句

8 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

9 notified   

通知，告知，报告( notify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Competition winners will be notified by post. 将发信通知竞赛的优胜者。
• I notified the post office that my address had changed. 我把变更的地址通知了邮局。