ITS applications a key part of US national strategy

The US Department of Transportation's ITS Joint Program Office has issued a Request for Information for its next five-year plan, which will emphasis the transformative potential of wireless connectivity. Shelley Row, ITS JPO Director, writes.

During his confirmation hearing in January, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood emphasised that the 324 US Department of Transportation (USDOT) will remain committed to improving the safety of the country's transportation system under his leadership, and will engage in a renewed focus on creating an infrastructure that supports economic vitality, is sustainable, and fosters liveable communities.

Intelligent transportation systems applications have and will continue to be a key part of the national strategy to realise this vision. The 321 Research and Innovative Technology Administration's (RITA) ITS Joint Program Office is central to the USDOT's efforts to advance innovative approaches and cutting-edge technologies to address the transportation challenges of the 21st century.

In 2004, the USDOT's ITS programme established a five-year strategic plan focused on strengthening the Federal role in facilitating research and development within the transportation community through several ITS initiatives that explored safety, mobility, and system performance applications. As the current strategic agenda and research initiatives come to a close, it has become clear that the next generation of ITS research must focus on the transformative potential of wireless connectivity. Connectivity among vehicles, onboard devices and the infrastructure will offer a foundation for system tools and applications that offer unprecedented safety, mobility and environmental benefits.

The next step is to build upon current initiatives and shape the direction of the programme for the next five years. To ensure that stakeholders and the public are included, the 781 ITS JPO issued a Request for Information (RFI) in April this year and is also hosting a public workshop on 4 June following the 560 ITS America Annual Meeting. We are actively seeking insight and comments on our preliminary set of goals and objectives and although the RFI response deadline is 20 May late filed comments will continue to be considered to the extent possible. However, comments received beyond early June are likely to be too late to significantly influence the process.

We will use the information we receive as we develop our next ITS research strategic plan. Moving forward, we have established a preliminary set of goals and objectives - focused on researching the potential of wireless connectivity - as a framework for the plan. These are as set out in the accompanying table.

To provide comments, please go to External000oLinkExternalwww.regulations.govwww.regulations.govfalsehttp://www.regulations.gov/falsefalse%>, docket number RITA 2009-0001.

Goal 1: Transformative safety through vehicle and infrastructure connectivity. Enable active safety applications (applications designed to assist vehicle operators in avoiding imminent crashes and which require low-latency communications) Improve safety by providing in-vehicle crash avoidance warnings which do not require low-latency communications Perform the necessary research and testing to enable potential safety regulations Provide a foundation for technologies to enable partial or full vehicle control Enable vehicle-based applications such that they achieve programme objectives without negatively impacting driver focus Harmonise standards and architecture internationally around the vehicle platform
Goal 2: Capture complete, real-time information on all roads and all modes to support transformational system performance. Capture real-time mobility data from vehicles Capture real-time system cost information across modes (parking, transit, pricing, tolling and so on) Integrate real-time mobility data from all sources for use in transportation management and performance improvement
Goal 3: Achieve transformational transportation management and system performance through applications of vehicle and infrastructure connectivity. Create applications and strategies for the use of real-time mobility and cost data from all sources for use by transportation managers Create applications and strategies for the use of real-time mobility and cost data to ensure safe and secure freight movement Create information from real-time mobility and cost data from all sources for use in traveller information
Goal 4: Realise 'next-generation' electronic payment systems that support transformational system performance. Create interoperability of electronic payment systems across modes (parking, transit, pricing, tolls and so on) Enable technology solutions in support of national policy for transportation financing
Goal 5: Enable environmental management through vehicle and infrastructure connectivity. Capture real-time environmental data from vehicles Integrate real-time environmental data from all sources for use in transportation management and performance improvement Create applications that use real-time data on environmental impact for use by transportation managers Create information from real-time data on environmental impact for use in traveller information
Goal 6: Establish an institutional foundation for deployment of safety, mobility and environmental applications based on vehicle and infrastructure connectivity. Identify and research solutions to address institutional foundations, governance, privacy issues, potential regulations, and policies, both nationally and internationally, to implement transportation technologies Address social equity in all goal areas to ensure that all users benefit from transportation solutions