MS2 Blog

Friday, September 22, 2017

MS2 DOT User Conference a Big Success

The Colorado DOT hosted MS2’s bi-annual DOT User Conference at the Magnolia Hotel in Denver September 18-19, 2017. We had an excellent turnout of 33 people representing 12 of our 15 state DOT clients. On Monday evening we had a client reception at the Broker Restaurant in Denver. This gave us a chance to catch up with old friends as well as personally introduce ourselves to our newest clients in the user group. After dinner we had a prese... [Read More]

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

MS2 Software Manages 2-Billion WIM Vehicle Records

You’ve heard of the Peter Principle (in bureaucracies, people work to the level of their incompetence) and Moore’s Law (the number of transistors in an integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years). At MS2 we‘re not sure it’s a “law” but it sure is “big data.” It took us four years (2011-2015) to reach 1-billion WIM vehicle records managed. Two years later, in August 2017, it’s now 2-billion WIM vehicle records managed in our Transpor... [Read More]

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

FHWA Publishes SEMCOG AADT-Calculation Case Study

As part of their Roadway Safety Data Program the FHWA recently published an interesting case study featuring one of MS2’s oldest and most technical clients, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG).  Titled “Innovative Traffic Data QA/QC Procedures and Automating AADT Estimation,” the case study focuses on AADT calculations – an important traffic engineering function to MS2 clients throughout North America.According to the case stud... [Read More]

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Bicycle and Pedestrian Data Management Software

Midwestern Software Solutions (MS2), Ann Arbor, Michigan, recently created a 3-minute video highlighting the features of their new Non-Motorized Database System designed for transportation planners and engineers.

Friday, April 7, 2017

Autopolling Traffic Data

One of MS2's newest software features is an Auto-Polling extension to our Traffic Count Database System.  Auto-Polling allows MS2's software to automatically connect to field devices (continuous counters, ITS, intersection cabinets, etc.), download data, and import data.  This means you spend less time running and monitoring complex vendor-specific software for each device.Depending on the device’s capabilities, the Auto-Polling extension support... [Read More]

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Thank You For 20 Great Years!

In early March, we distributed a thank you card to our clients celebrating the 20th anniversary of our Traffic Count Database System.  Ben's first application was an Access database designed in 1997.  We hope you got yours and understand how much we value your commitment to accurate data management and analysis.  As we move forward, MS2 is committed to learning more about serving your needs while advancing the industry through our comprehensive t... [Read More]

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

FHWA Performance Measures Rules Delayed

From the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO): The FHWA published a notice that the new effective dates for both PM2 and PM3 are now March 21, 2017. The official notice can be found here: PM2 and PM3 Delayed Effective Date This notice is consistent with the memo issued on January 20, 2017 regarding the temporary postponement of the effective dates of any, and most new, regulations published that are not yet in effect. I... [Read More]

Friday, February 3, 2017

New Canadian Traffic Monitoring Practices Guide Coming Soon

Attention Canadian traffic monitoring professionals - according to an article posted on the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) website on January 6, 2017 , the TAC's Chief Engineers’ Council has approved a national-level traffic monitoring practices guide.  In the US, the FHWA's Traffic Monitoring Guide is the go-to guidance document for all state highway agencies engaged in traffic monitoring procedures.The article says, "the Guide will ... [Read More]

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

The 2016 TMG Updates and an Alternative Method of Calculating AADT

The need for traffic data at the Federal and State levels requires that States develop a well-designed traffic monitoring program to support all business areas. In late 2016 the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) updated the Traffic Monitoring Guide (TMG), which presents recommendations to be used by State departments of transportation (DOTs). These recommendations are intended to improve and advance the future of traffic monitoring while cons... [Read More]

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Our Team Today

Here’s a picture of our team. We’ve grown a lot since our founding in 2003. Since you talk to us, send us emails and Zendesk requests, do web meetings with us, and use our software, we thought you might want to know who we are. Please let us know how MS2 can help you better map, manage and analyze your transportation data sets. Happy New Year from your friends at MS2. Back row (from l to r): Jim Valenta, Laura Creagh, Ben Chen, Lev Wood, J... [Read More]