Human-AI Collaboration in TMC Operations: Optimizing Intelligent Decision Support Systems for Real-Time Transportation Management

Focus Area: Transportation Systems Management & Operations
Submitting On Behalf Of: TRB Committee on Freeway Operations
Urgency: Critical - High Priority
Cost: $250,000 - 499,000
Timeframe: 2 - 3 years
Type of Research: Full Research Project

Date Posted: Jun 5, 2025
Status: Not Funded

Research Description

TMC operations face a critical challenge: the complexity of modern transportation systems has outpaced the capabilities of traditional operational approaches. Operators must synthesize information from multiple data sources, coordinate responses across various stakeholders, and make time-critical decisions that impact thousands of travelers. Current TMC operations rely heavily on manual processes and human interpretation of disparate data streams. This approach creates bottlenecks, increases response times, and limits the effectiveness of incident management and traffic optimization efforts. Intelligent Decision Support Systems (IDSS) offer the potential to transform TMC operations by providing real-time data synthesis, pattern recognition, and decision recommendations. However, the optimal integration of human expertise with AI capabilities in transportation operations remains undefined.

Establishing a framework for human-AI collaboration in TMC operations that maximizes the strengths of both intelligent systems and human operators while addressing the unique challenges of real-time transportation management. • What decision-making scenarios benefit most from AI assistance versus human judgment in TMC operations? • How can IDSS be designed to enhance rather than replace human decision-making capabilities? • What performance metrics best evaluate the effectiveness of human-AI collaboration in transportation operations? • How can trust and adoption of IDSS be fostered among TMC operators and management?

Additional Supporting Information

The benefits of this research are: • Enhanced decision-making speed and accuracy through optimized human-AI collaboration. • Improved incident response times and traffic management effectiveness leading to increased safety and system reliability. • Framework for sustainable TMC modernization that leverages both technological advances and human expertise

Submitted By: Jim Katsafanas; Michael Baker International; 412-269-4635

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