Intelligent Transportation Systems
Recently Completed Projects

Completed September 2005
States are increasingly looking at deploying condition reporting systems to support their transportation system operations and provide timely and accurate information to travelers. Although several condition reporting systems have been developed, these systems have not been fully embraced by the majority of state transportation departments. A number of issues, sometimes unique to each state, contribute to the lack of widespread deployment of condition reporting systems, including data collection and coding requirements; staff and funding resources; and integration with other systems. At the same time, there is an increased focus on real-time system information, including new federal regulations which promote data standards and interoperability.

This project aimed at documenting some of the lessons learned from limited deployment of condition reporting systems in North Dakota and Wisconsin. The project was later modified because of funding issues that delayed North Dakota's deployment and CARS updates that affected Wisconsin's pilot. The final report for the project included the following:

1. A description of new federal requirements for (real-time) statewide information systems
2. General descriptions of CARS, IRIS, and Arizona's HCRS
3. Lesson-learned from Wisconsin's CARS limited deployment
4. Review of South Dakota Department of Transportation's (SDDOT) limited Meridian condition reporting system deployment and study on improved road condition reporting
5. A listing of state traveler information sources and contact information

For more information, e-mail ayman@atacenter.org
Keywords: Condition Reporting Systems, North/West Passage, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin

Completed March 2005
ATAC helped the Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments, the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the North Dakota Department of Transportation develop ITS architectures to meet Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) requirement.
The FHWA is requiring transportation planning regions nationwide to develop ITS architecture, a plan and vision for ITS implementation and use. The regional ITS architecture serves as a roadmap guiding future ITS planning, detailing system requirements, coordinating agency roles and integrating functions across jurisdictional lines. Regions that do not comply will no longer receive federal highway funding for ITS projects.
ATAC was able to pool resources from North Dakota's MPOs and the NDDOT for developing the four regional architectures. The FHWA ND Division assisted ATAC and provided support for training to regional stakeholders and reviewing the completed architectures. This not only ensured consistency across the state, but also resulted in a streamlined process which produced the regional architectures ahead of the April 7, 2005 federal deadline.

For more information, e-mail ayman@atacenter.org
Keywords: ITS, Regional Architecture, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Fargo, NDDOT

Completed February 2005
The purpose of this project was to develop the communications design for supporting an automated anti-icing system on the I-94 bridge over the Red River. This location has a high potential for weather-related crashes due to traffic congestion, "black ice" formation due to freezing vehicle exhaust moisture, and unique meteorological conditions at the bridge. Therefore, automated anti-icing would greatly reduce the number of vehicle accidents on the bridge, prolong the life expectancies of bridge structures, and further demonstrate the technical, operational, and economic feasibility of fully automated bridge anti-icing technology.
ATAC worked with URS Consultants from Minneapolis and CCI of Fargo to develop a project-level architecture, devise communications alternatives, and support the RFP development. In addition to the bridge anti-icing system, the architecture included a future DMS to be installed on the North Dakota side of the Red River Bridge as well as two surveillance video cameras to assist in traffic management and incident response.

For more information, e-mail ayman@atacenter.org
Keywords: ITS Architecture, Automated Bridge Anti-icing Systems, North/West Passage, North Dakota, Minnesota