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Table of Contents

Measuring Border Delay and Crossing Times at the U.S.–Mexico Border—Part II
Guidebook for Analysis and Dissemination of Border Crossing Time and Wait Time Data

Final Report

CONCLUSION

Conclusion

The purpose of this document is to describe to local, regional, and State agencies how to analyze and disseminate data collected by RFID-based crossing time and wait time measurement systems.  The guidebook provides key steps and related discussions for disseminating real-time information at international land border crossings and for archiving the data (in support of monitoring the performance of border crossings).

The guidebook is not specific to any particular border crossing and hence is applicable to any border crossing where crossing time and wait time data are collected by RFID-based systems.  The guidebook was largely based on experiences gathered while deploying RFID-based crossing time and wait time measurement systems in Texas.  However, implementing agencies from other States now have information useful for analyzing and disseminating border crossing information for commercial vehicles.  The analysis and dissemination of data collected on passenger vehicles or from technologies besides RFID can benefit from the same approach.

Key Steps for Data Analysis and Dissemination

The guidebook starts by describing how an implementing agency needs to go about first creating a framework to analyze crossing time and wait time data and to disseminate the information (real-time and archived) to stakeholders.  The framework needs to be part of the design document that needs to be prepared prior to deployment and implementation, as it is crucial to address stakeholder needs and requirements for the information.  To achieve stakeholder requirements, system designers have to consider information such as physical layout of the border crossing, operational practices by different State and Federal agencies, and capabilities of the technology being considered.  With that in mind, following are key steps necessary for developing such a framework:

  1. Setting basic definitions of border crossing and wait times.
  2. Identifying characteristics of the border crossing.
  3. Obtaining stakeholder input for data analysis and dissemination.

Analysis of both real-time and archived data revolves around two main objectives: (1) creating advanced traveler information, and (2) developing performance measures about individual border crossings.  To achieve both objectives, data analysis starts with processing raw data, including filtering and aggregating the data into different temporal granularities, which can then be used to create traveler information and performance measures.  It is recommended that visibility and traceability of the raw data processing be maintained for quality assurance and to validate data analysis results.  Following are the key steps necessary for analyzing the data for archiving in support of performance measurement:

  1. Filtering the raw data.
  2. Aggregating raw data in different temporal granularities.
  3. Reporting sample size.
  4. Analyzing data for performance measurement.

Following are the key steps necessary for analyzing the data to provide real-time information:

  1. Filtering the raw data.
  2. Determining current crossing and wait times.
  3. Determining predicted crossing and wait times.

Real-time and archived information can be disseminated using mechanisms such as agency Web sites, RSS feeds, and mobile devices.  The implementing agency needs to put forward policies and procedures prior to relaying real-time information and distributing archived information to users.  Such policies and procedures may cover when and how to relay the information, accuracy of the information, scope, and third-party use of the data.  The implementing agency preferably needs to enter into data-sharing agreements with private entities such as media and private data providers.  Following are key steps necessary to provide real-time and/or archived information to users:

  1. Identifying preferred mechanism for dissemination of real-time and/or archived information.
  2. Developing policies and procedures, including data-sharing agreements.
  3. Implementing real-time and/or archived information dissemination.

Limitations of the Guidebook

Contents of this guidebook are largely based on experiences obtained from implementation of RFID-based border crossing time and wait time measurement systems deployed at international border crossings in the State of Texas on the U.S.–Mexico border.  Every border crossing is different; a system that is deployed at a given border crossing may be different in scope and size from the ones that were implemented in Texas.  Hence, the guidebook is not and cannot be a comprehensive tool for analyzing and disseminating border wait time and crossing time data.  With that in mind, it is important to outline limitations of the guidebook so that implementing agencies can deploy a similar system while acknowledging the need for customization to fulfill local needs and requirements.

Data Analysis

Data analysis and dissemination methods described in this guidebook do not deal with how crossing and wait times of different categories of trucks can be distinguished depending on shipment type (e.g., empty, loaded, FAST, and non-FAST trucks, commodities, and so forth).  Such distinctions are plausible only if (a) there are separate lanes for FAST and dedicated booths for processing FAST shipments, (b) there are separate lanes for empty versus loaded trucks, and (c) identification numbers of transponders can point to the categories of trucks.  This limitation is not attributed to the RFID technology; rather, systems as they were implemented did not have access to information on trucks’ shipment types.

The guidebook mainly focuses on crossing and wait times of trucks.  With deployment of additional RFID stations, such information can be further dissected to determine what part of the crossing time or wait time was spent at which agency’s facility.  Readers of the guidebook need to be cognizant of where and how crossing and wait times are measured before interpreting the data.

The guidebook provides a commonly used method to determine minimum sample size, which need to be associated to archived data being reported.  The equations described for determining the sample size are typically used for determining minimum number of probe vehicles required to estimate speed on highways and arterials.  While these equations are widely used, implementing agencies need to verify their appropriateness for their purposes.  Also, there are no established methods to determine sample size in the context of border wait times and travel times.

While this guidebook touches on the subject of predicting crossing and wait time for traveler information purposes, it does not provide methodologies or algorithms to implement that capability. 

Data Dissemination

The guidebook does not endorse any particular standards for dissemination of data (specifically traveler information); it is left to the implementing agency to consider appropriate standards for such purposes.  The guidebook includes discussions regarding the importance of having data-sharing agreements in place prior to providing real-time and archived data access to third-party agencies.  While there are no standard templates for such agreements, the guidebook does provide key components if agencies desire to develop one.  In addition, States and regional agencies may typically have such templates already available that suit their needs and requirements.

Future Improvements

Several future improvements mostly related to obtaining granularity of crossing and wait time information as well as distinction by shipment types will benefit stakeholders. These improvements can be achieved by integrating with other external systems such as electronic manifests and weigh-in-motion systems.  However, these improvements will not change the fundamentals of analyzing and disseminating real-time and archived data; they will simply be reported in higher detail.

Identification of shipment type, especially FAST and non-FAST, and hence distinction of wait time and crossing time is highly desirable among stakeholders.  Such distinction allows stakeholders to compare crossing- and wait-time-related benefits of the FAST program.  This also allows the implementing agency to disseminate separate real-time information for FAST and non-FAST.  One way to obtain shipment type information is through the electronic manifest that is filed with the CBP by carriers prior to arrival at the border crossing.

Volume of U.S.-bound commercial vehicles is one of the factors in explaining reasons for changes in crossing- and wait-time-related information.  Other factors include changes in infrastructure, processing capacity, and so forth.  Increased volume due to improved trade can lend itself to explain increased wait times and increased buffer index.  Real-time volume data can be one of the parameters for short-term prediction of wait and crossing times, as volume in many ways may be directly proportional to wait and crossing time, other operational factors remaining constant.  At a majority of U.S.–Mexico border crossings, commercial vehicles entering the United States are subject to safety inspection by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and/or State highway safety agencies.  As part of the safety inspection, these agencies typically have weigh-in-motion devices, which could provide volume as well as gross weights of vehicles.  Gross weight can indicate whether the trucks are empty or loaded.  Many border crossings have a large drayage operation, and large numbers of empty trucks cross the border moving goods in one direction.  Knowing trucks’ weights allows for distinguishing crossing and wait times based on weight as well.

Delay at the border is not only because of inspection on the U.S. side by the CBP but may also be the result of inspection by Mexican Aduanas.  After the trucks are inspected by the CBP, they are further inspected by one or more Federal agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FMCSA, and, finally, the State’s vehicle safety agency.  Adding RFID reader stations at interfaces of these agencies provides a better understanding of travel times incurred by trucks due to different inspections performed by different agencies present at the border.

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