What is ITS?
ITS is an acronym that stands for Intelligent Transportation Systems. ITS is all about systems that make our streets and roadways work smarter, not harder. While the concept of automating traffic control is not new (i.e. early electro-mechanical traffic signals) the convergence of computer and advanced communication technologies have launched traffic management capabilities into new horizons.
A basic requirement for making the roadway network more responsive is having equipment that can automatically collect and transfer data between users, designers and operatives of the transportation network. Real time data moving over high speed communication networks allow complex calculations to trigger split second decisions. This is how we can optimize vehicular/person throughput, e.g. more people per hour in the same right-of-way and limited impermeable surface. It also allows quicker response to incidents that account for over half of all traffic congestion.
While many still baulk at technology due to the pioneering cost, the deployment of ITS is necessary, ongoing and inevitable. The wonders of ITS have already achieved commercial penetration in freight and passenger markets, i.e. freight tracking, On-Star "mayday" from passenger vehicles, on-board map navigation etc. On the government side deployment is taking place at so many different levels that an overarching description of the phenomena needed to be established. Therefore the federal government established a National ITS Architecture, which describes how transportation subsystem data needs to be shared with various agencies and businesses (See below to read more about the EASTGATE ITS Regional Architecture).
ITS is still in the infancy stage. In some cases ITS is merely agreeing to code objects in exactly the same way, so as to enable systems to speak to one another, i.e.
ODOT is using citizen cell phone calls that reference new freeway mile markers to report the location of an incident. The location is relayed to 'first responders' and broadcast over traditional radio. The result are "quick clear' of the incident, less slow down due to rubber necking, reduced secondary collisions due to advanced warning, and rerouting to alternative routes.
Ultimately universal protocols, platforms and infrastructure will be in-place to efficiently manage our transportation system. To date the ITS deployment in Trumbull and Mahoning County includes:
Transit
Nationally transit has been in leader in ITS deployment; it also requires one of the most complex communication protocols to describe the parameters that are needed to interact with: the operation center, the traffic controllers, the bus riders, other buses, bus operators and the maintenance garage. The Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA) was one of the early adopters of Automated Vehicle Identification/Automated Vehicle Location (AVI/AVL) system on their buses, which used Lorenz C to calculate/predict the bus location prior to the availability of GPS. In 1998, WRTA updated to a Global Positioning System (GPS) to track buses in real time. Fortunately, WRTA partnered with a company that has emerged as a leader in transit tracking and scheduling (e.g. Trapeze). The communication link between the bus on the street and central dispatch is a dedicated 400MHz data channel that provides uninterrupted location monitoring. The agency has activated driver triggered silent alarms and installed on-board digital cameras to increase security. The central base has been equipped with new devices for both video and audio surveillance.
WRTA intends to upgrade the transit tracking and scheduling software this year. Eventually they may also enable the en-route engine diagnostics function to monitor bus engine and motor train performance in real time.
Advanced Traffic Control Systems
In 2000 EASTGATE purchased 20 portable changeable message signs (CMS) for use in construction zones and during special events throughout Mahoning and Trumbull counties. The signs are excellent for traffic control during construction and events. The police have been using the signs at check points set up to apprehend drunk drivers.
Major upgrade of the central traffic control systems in the cities of Niles and Warren is complete and operative. A lesson learned workshop was conducted on June 30th 2005 featuring the implementation of the Warren City and City of Niles partially responsive coordinated traffic control systems. The workshop was organized to benefit the City of Hubbard, which is planning to implement a similar system in 2008.
In the future Eastgate will promote projects that include advancements in:
Broadcast Traveler Information
Coordinated Response
Road/Weather Information System (RWIS)
Highway Rail Grade Crossing
Traffic Control Systems
Commercial Vehicle Operations (trucks)
Surveillance and traveler information technologies can decrease incident response time by up to 7 minutes and decrease fatalities by 10%. Traveler information can decrease travel time for motorists by 45% during an incident.
For more information on the ITS Initiative in the Mahoning Valley please contact Ed Davis at edavis@eastgatecog.org or (330) 779-3800.
EASTGATE ITS Regional Architecture
Per federal mandate, EASTGATE developed a regional ITS architecture in May of 2004. This overarching document describes the functions that ITS will perform in Trumbull and Mahoning County between now and 2020. All highway and transit project seeking federal monies must conform to the ITS Regional Architecture (see the Architecture at www.consystec.com/ohio/youngstown/youngstownintro.htm ).
