ITS improves transportation safety and mobility and enhances American productivity through the integration of advanced communications technologies into the transportation infrastructure and in vehicles. Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) encompass a broad range of wireless and wire line communications-based information and electronics technologies.
ITS includes:
Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) Communications for Safety: This research will investigate key questions such as are vehicle based safety applications using V2V communications effective and do they have benefits. Research is designed to determine whether regulatory action by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration is warranted to speed the adoption of these safety capabilities.
Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) Communications for Safety: This research will investigate similar questions about V2I communications, with an initial focus on applications based on the relay of traffic signal phase and timing information to vehicles. The purpose is to accelerate the next generation of safety applications through widespread adoption of V2I communications.
Real-Time Data Capture and Management: This research will assess what traffic, transit and freight data are available today from various sources, and consider how to integrate data from vehicles acting as "probes" in the system. The goal is to accelerate the adoption of transportation management systems that can be operated in the safest, most efficient and most environmentally friendly way possible.
Dynamic Mobility Applications: This research will examine what technologies can help people and goods effortlessly transfer from one mode of travel (car, bus, truck, train, etc.) or route to another for the fastest and most environmentally friendly trip. The research seeks to make cross-modal travel truly possible for people and goods, and enable agencies and companies to manage their systems in light of the fact that people and goods will be changing modes often.
Road Weather Management: This research will consider how vehicle-based data on current weather conditions can be used by travelers and transportation agencies to enable decision-making that takes current weather conditions and future weather forecasts into account.
Applications for the Environment: Real-Time Information Synthesis (AERIS): This research will explore how anonymous data from tailpipe emissions can be combined with other environmental data. The goal is to enable transportation managers to manage the transportation network while accounting for environmental impact.
Human Factors: Additional technology in vehicles may have the potential to overload drivers and increase safety risks. This research will examine the extra burden that in-vehicle devices may put on drivers, with the goal of minimizing or eliminating distraction risks.
Mode-Specific Research: This research program includes active traffic management, international border crossing, roadside infrastructure, commercial vehicles, electronic payment and maritime applications.
Exploratory Research: This research program includes safety research for rail, technology scanning and a solicitation for new research ideas. The FY2010 investment will be up to $2.5 million.
Cross-Cutting Activities: This program includes architecture, standards, professional capacity building, technology transfer, and evaluation.
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