Cross-cutting Issues

Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication is currently a focus of research and standardization in the USA, Europe and Asia. It is believed that V2V safety applications are able to reduce traffic fatalities significantly. Data security was identified as a major technical aspect to resolve before potential deployment. In particular, communication security and privacy are main aspects to consider but also physical security of the microcontroller, key injection, privacy mechanisms implemented by government agencies, and policy questions around security. This article provides an overview of the current state and of open issues.

Author: André Weimerskirch

Presented at the 18th World Congress on ITS, October 2011, Orlando, Florida

Travel times for the freeway systems in Houston, Texas are computed using information from
automatic vehicle identification sensors which read Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
tags issued by the local tolling authority.  Demonstrations were conducted to determine the
feasibility of utilizing automated number plate recognition as an alternative to RFID readers
for the determination of link travel times on an urban arterial where tag penetration of the
overall traffic might not be as great as on freeways.  This paper is the result of the
demonstration with multiple vendor products.

Texas Transportation Institute

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, November 16-20, 2008, New York, New York

In order to accomplish the goals of Florida’s Open Roads Policy, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Service Patrol contracts have many requirements. While these requirements are necessary, they are systematic in nature and typically require a significant amount of staff oversight. By using workflow management techniques coupled with technology, FDOT District VI has developed a software application titled Road Ranger Driver Information System (RRDIS) to more effectively manage Service Patrol contracts. This paper will give the reader an understanding on the type and number of Service Patrol contract requirements managed within the RRDIS, the functionality implemented within the RRDIS to effectively manage Service Patrol contracts and will provide feedback from various RRDIS user groups on overall experience.

AECOM Technical Services, Inc.

Florida DOT

Presented at the 18th World Congress on ITS, October 2011, Orlando, Florida

There are many challenges facing agencies interested in assessing mileage-based user fees as a revenue source.  Determining an appropriate fee structure and determining a mechanism by which to assess fees are some of the more significant issues.  The use of technology to assess mileage-based user fees (rather than assessment of fees via a manual odometer reading) makes it possible to introduce factors into the fee structure beyond fuel efficiency or vehicle type.  Factors can include location (e.g., inside versus outside a defined metropolitan area), time of day, and roadway type, among others.  Inclusion of factors such as these can support traffic management efforts such as congestion pricing but may also have unintended consequences on driver behavior and can negatively impact public acceptance.  Designing an appropriate fee structure requires consideration of what the State believes is equitable and what is perceived by the public to be equitable.  As additional factors are considered, it becomes even more critical to fully understand the public’s perceptions of equity.  The Minnesota Department of Transportation is conducting a pilot investigation, the Minnesota Road Fee Test, to test the use of an in-vehicle device to assess mileage-based user fees.  The test begins in September of 2011, and this paper reports on initial observations regarding technology and equity

Author: Jennifer A. Rephlo

Presented at the 18th World Congress on ITS, October 2011, Orlando, Florida

This paper is a discussion on how a systems engineering process (SEP) was used to manage the development of Version 3 of the ITE/AASHTO Traffic Management Data Dictionary Standard for Traffic Management Center-to-Center Communications (TMDD). The SEP was used to accomplish several objectives: to manage the development process such as documenting the user needs, requirements and design elements in a consistent manner; and to manage the technical aspects of the project such as risk management and configuration control. Although this process was used to develop a communications standard, the process used and the lessons learned can be applied to deploying this standard, and writing a communications specification.

Consensus Systems Technologies

Presented at the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, November 16-20, 2008, New York, New York