CE 444 - Lecture # 5

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS): An Overview

CE-807 Traffic Engineering

(Fall 10)
Lecture # 10
Traffic Studies and Programs
(Statistical application in Traffic Engg.)

National University of Science &Technology (NUST)

Outline of Today’s Lecture
 Introduction to ITS
 Possible Applications of ITS
 Goals for ITS
 Branches of ITS
 ITS Technologies
 Functions of ITS
 Key ITS Concepts
 ITS in Pakistan
WHAT IS ITS?
Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) is an
umbrella term for a range of technologies
including processing, control, communication
and electronics, that are applied to a
transportation system. It also includes an
advanced approach to traffic management.
What is ITS ?
 Taking advantage of modern Electronic, Communication and
Control technologies to:
 Inform the Traveler
Better and more timely information that will allow the traveler
to make informed decisions
 Improve the vehicle
Better equipment such as early warning systems, route
navigation devices and improved communication capabilities
that will make driving task easier and safer
 Improve the infrastructure
Better traffic flow monitoring, roadside communication and
devices that could eventually control the driving task
 What is ITS ?
 Use “new” technology to improve:

1- Safety Benefits

3- Convenience

2- Efficiency
Possible ITS applications
 Payment Transactions
 - Public transport fare payment
 - Motorway tolling,
 - Congestion charging
 - Parking and Park n Ride
 Safety
 - Variable Speed Limits
 - Cameras for speed, red-traffic light enforcement
 - Incident Management
 - Cameras at Road or Rail Junctions
 Intelligent Vehicle Technology
 - Electronic Vehicle Identification
 - Collision Avoidance
Possible ITS applications
 Travellers Information
 - Driver Information and Route Guidance
 - Real Time Passenger Information
 - Kiosks, text and email alerts
 - Internet based Journey Planning Services
 Traffic Management
 - Urban Traffic Control on roads
 - Centralised Train Control
 - On street priority of bus and light rail at junctions
 - Motorway Management
 Improving Efficiency
 - Fleet Management
 - Asset Tracking
 - Automatic Vehicle Location
HOW ITS WORKS?
Intelligent transportation systems (ITS)
encompass a broad range of wireless and
wire line communications-based
information and electronics
technologies. When integrated into the
transportation system's infrastructure, and
in vehicles themselves, these technologies
relieve congestion, improve safety and
enhance productivity.
GOALS FOR ITS
 Improved Safety
 Reduced Congestion
 Increased Mobility
 Reduced Environmental Impact
 Improved Energy Efficiency
 Improved Economic Productivity
INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE
 Planned arteries, highways, traffic signals, their
coordination and use of latest technologies such as DMS
(Dynamic message signs) and HAR (Highway Advisory
Radios) enables transportation infrastructure for smooth
and efficient traffic operation

 Intelligent infrastructure has attached or built-in

components that are able to collect and transmit
information about the state of the infrastructure to a central
computer, and in some cases receive back instruction from
the computer, which triggers controlling devices.
INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE

Arterial
Freeway Transit
Management
Management Management

Incident Emergency Electronic payment

management management and pricing
INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE

Traveler Information Crash Prevention

information Management and Safety

Roadway Operation Road Weather Commercial Vehicle

and Maintenance Management operation
INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE

Inter-Modal
Freight
Arterial Management
Arterial management systems manage traffic along
arterial roadways, employing traffic detectors,
traffic signals, and various means of communicating
information to travelers. These systems make use of
information collected by traffic surveillance devices
to smooth the flow of traffic along travel corridors.
They also disseminate important information about
travel conditions to travelers via technologies such
as dynamic message signs (DMS) or highway
advisory radio (HAR).
Freeway Management
Freeway management systems’ application is found in
different forms. Traffic surveillance systems use detectors
and video equipment to support the most advanced freeway
management applications. Traffic control measures on
freeway entrance ramps, such as ramp meters, can use sensor
data to optimize freeway travel speeds and ramp meter wait
times. Lane management applications can address effective
capacity of freeways and promote use of high-occupancy
commute modes.
Transit Management
Transit ITS services include surveillance and
communications, such as automated vehicle
location (AVL) systems and remote vehicle and
facility surveillance cameras, which enable transit
agencies to improve the operational efficiency,
safety, and security of the nation's public
transportation systems
 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

SIGNAL CONTROL

RAMP METERING
PARKING GUIDANCE
DRIVER INFORMATION CONROL CENTER

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
(CCTV)

VARIABLE MESSAGE ELECTRONIC TOLL

SIGNING COLLECTION
 Incident Management
Incident management systems can reduce the effects of
incident-related congestion by decreasing the time to
detect incidents, the time for responding vehicles to
arrive, and the time required for traffic to return to
normal conditions. Incident management systems
make use of a variety of surveillance technologies,
often shared with freeway and arterial management
systems, as well as enhanced communications and
other technologies that facilitate coordinated response
to incidents.
 Incident Management

GOALS:`
• Minimize the impact of incidents on traffic
congestion.
• Reduce the probability of secondary incidents.
• Reduce the time required to detect ,respond,
and clear an incident
Incident Management
Emergency Management
ITS applications in emergency management
include hazardous materials management,
the deployment of emergency medical
services, and large and small-scale
emergency response and evacuation
operations.
Emergency Management
 Traveler Information
 Traveler information applications use a variety of technologies,
including Internet websites, telephone hotlines, as well as
television and radio, to allow users to make more informed
decisions regarding trip departures, routes, and mode of travel.
 Static and real-time information on traffic conditions, schedules,
road and weather conditions, special events, and tourist
information.
 Operations essential to the success of these systems are the
collection of traffic and traveler information.
Traveler Information & Route Guidance Systems
Information Management
ITS information management supports the archiving and
retrieval of data generated by other ITS applications and
enables ITS applications that use archived information.
Decision support systems, predictive information, and
performance monitoring are some ITS applications enabled by
ITS information management. In addition, ITS information
management systems can assist in transportation planning,
research, and safety management activities.
Crash, Prevention & Safety
Crash prevention and safety systems detect unsafe conditions
and provide warnings to travelers to take action to avoid crashes.
These systems provide alerts for traffic approaching at
dangerous curves, off ramps, restricted overpasses, highway-rail
crossings, high-volume intersections, and also provide warnings
of the presence of pedestrians, and bicyclists, and even animals
on the roadway. Crash prevention and safety systems typically
employ sensors to monitor the speed and characteristics of
approaching vehicles and also monitor roadway conditions and
visibility.
 Crash, Prevention & Safety
These systems may be either permanent or temporary. Some systems
provide a general warning of the recommended speed for prevailing
roadway conditions. Other systems provide a specific warning by
taking into account the particular vehicle's characteristics (truck or
car) and a calculation of the recommended speed for the particular
vehicle based on conditions. In some cases, manual systems are
employed, for example where pedestrians or bicyclists manually set
the system to provide warnings of their presence to travelers.
Electronic Payment & Pricing
Electronic payment systems employ various
communication and electronic technologies to facilitate
commerce between travelers and transportation
agencies, typically for the purpose of paying tolls and
transit fares. Pricing refers to charging motorists a fee
or toll that varies with the level of demand or with the
time of day.
 Electronic Payment Systems (EPS)

EPS Applications:
 Public Transit
 Parking
 Road Tolling
Road Weather Management
Road weather management activities include road
weather information systems (RWIS), winter
maintenance technologies, and coordination of
operations within and between state DOTs. ITS
applications assist with the monitoring and forecasting
of roadway and atmospheric conditions, dissemination
of weather-related information to travelers, weather-
related traffic control measures such as variable speed
limits, and both fixed and mobile winter maintenance
activities.
Intermodal Freight
ITS can facilitate the safe, efficient, secure, and
seamless movement of freight. Applications being
deployed provide for tracking of freight and carrier
assets such as containers, and improve the efficiency of
freight terminal processes, drayage operations, and
international border crossings.
 INTELLIGENT Vehicle
With the rapid development of the highway in the world, traffic
accidents are remarkably increasing. They are often caused by
drivers themselves, such as their sleeping, telephone talking, music
entertaining, chatting and so on. There is no way to make all drivers
obey proper driving rules to prevent traffic accidents from
happening. To solve the problem, the most effective approach is to
develop a new type of vehicle, which can release drivers from some
of its operation, which is named as Intelligent Vehicle. In recent
years, the research on Intelligent Vehicles is very active in some
countries.
INTELLIGENT Vehicle
Intelligent Vehicle Technologies comprise electronic,

electromechanical, and electromagnetic devices - usually

operating in conjunction with computer controlled devices

and radio transceivers to provide precision functions (such as

in robotics artificial intelligence systems)

INTELLIGENT Vehicle

Collision Avoidance Driver Assistance Collision Notification

Systems Systems Systems
Collision Avoidance System
To improve the ability of drivers to avoid accidents,
vehicle-mounted collision warning systems (CWS)
continue to be tested and deployed. These applications
use a variety of sensors to monitor the vehicle's
surroundings and alert the driver of conditions that
could lead to a collision. Examples include forward
collision warning, obstacle detection systems, and road
departure warning systems.
In-vehicle Warning Systems
Driver Assistance System
Numerous intelligent vehicle technologies exist to assist
the driver in operating the vehicle safely. Systems are
available to aid with navigation, while others, such as
vision enhancement and speed control systems, are
intended to facilitate safe driving during adverse
conditions.
Driver Assistance System
Collision Notification System
In an effort to improve response times and save lives,
collision notification systems have been designed to
detect and report the location and severity of incidents
to agencies and services responsible for coordinating
appropriate emergency response actions. These systems
may transmit information on the type of crash, number
of passengers, and the likelihood of injuries.
ITS Technologies
ITS Technologies
Intelligent Transportation Systems vary in technologies applied,
from basic management systems such as car navigation, traffic
signal control systems, variable message signs or speed cameras to
monitoring applications such as security CCTV systems, and then
to more advanced applications which integrate live data and
feedback from a number of other sources, such as Parking
Guidance and Information systems, weather information.
Categories

 Wireless Communication
 Computational Technologies
 Sensing Technologies
 Inductive Loop Detection
 Video Vehicle Detection
Wireless Communication
 Short Range Wireless Communication
 Short range communications are used for less than 500 yards
 Long Range Wireless Communication
 Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) or 3G
Computational Technologies
Recent advances in vehicle electronics have led to a move
toward fewer more capable computer processors on a vehicle. A
typical vehicle in the early 2000s would have between 20 and
100 individual networked microcontroller/Programmable logic
controller modules with non-real-time operating systems. The
current trend is toward fewer more costly microprocessor
modules with hardware memory management and Real-Time
Operating Systems.
Sensing Technologies
Sensing technologies have greatly enhanced the technical
capabilities and safety benefits of Intelligent Transportation Systems
around the world. These sensors include inductive loops that can
sense the vehicles' speed, the number of vehicles passing as well as
the size of these vehicles.
Infrastructure Sensors

Acoustic Array Sensor Mounted Along Roadway

Vehicle Sensors
Vehicle sensors are those devices installed on the
road or in the vehicle, new technology
development has also enabled cellular phones to
become anonymous traffic probes
Inductive Loop Detection
Inductive loops can be placed in a roadbed to detect vehicles
as they pass over the loop by measuring the vehicle's magnetic
field. The simplest detectors simply count the number of
vehicles during a unit of time, that pass over the loop, while
more sophisticated sensors estimate the speed, length and
weight of vehicles and the distance between them. Loops can
be placed in a single lane or across multiple lanes, and they
work with very slow or stopped vehicles as well as vehicles
moving at high-speed.
Inductive Loop Detection
Video Vehicle Detection
Non- Intrusive Detection Subsystems:
Video Image processing (VIP)
Signal Priority For Transit Vehicles
Local Coordination Approach
Variable Speed Limit

Dynamically changing speed limit. Messages are displayed to approaching

traffic (well in advance of the queue or disturbance)
Sub-systems:
• Sensors for real-time traffic speed and flow data.
• Central Processor
• Variable message sign (VMS)
Benefits: Smoother traffic flow, better safety and higher throughput
Real-Time Parking Information

 Collect and display real-time information

on parking availability for drivers
 Typically part of larger efforts to promote
the viability of city centers and/or projects
to enhance information to travelers.
 Utilize detectors to count vehicles as they
enter and leave parking lots.
 Display of the real-time information to
drivers via variable message signs (VMS)
located at “Decision Points”
 Reduction of 25 percent in downtown
traffic volumes related to “searching for a
parking space.”
Enforcement Technology: Red light running

Lane Enforcement
Control Centre
 Examples of Variable Speed Limit
Applications

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