Effective Message Design and Display for Dynamic Message Signs

Dynamic message signs (DMSs) are being deployed extensively in major metropolitan areas in Texas. Motorists expect the information displayed on DMSs to be consistent across the state. Therefore, it is important that the messages are formatted consistently among Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) districts. In this project, the researchers developed user-friendly guidelines for designing DMS messages for incidents, roadwork, AMBER alerts, floods, ozone alerts, major catastrophes, and other situations. A proof-of-concept software package was also developed to assist with designing messages.