ITS America

Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) was created in 1991 to be an advocate for the development and deployment of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) in the United States. Members include private corporations, public agencies, academic institutions and research centers. The common goal is to improve the safety, security and efficiency of the U.S. transportation system via ITS. Traffic accidents and congestion take a heavy toll in lives, lost productivity, and wasted energy. ITS enables people and goods to move more safely and efficiently through a state-of-the-art, multi-modal transportation system.

ITS America

ITS America has been the leading advocate for the development and deployment of intelligent transportation systems in the U.S. Members include private corporations, public agencies, academic institutions and research centers. While our members have diverse interests, they share a common goal: to improve the safety, security and efficiency of the nation’s transportation system through the deployment of ITS. Our dedication to safety and mobility evolved into the introduction of a guiding principle called “Vision Zero.” This concept is our industry’s commitment to pursue a philosophy of zero fatalities and zero delays. ITS technologies will enable us to avoid crashes and to eliminate travel delays that can be avoided by the efficient use of information and technology, such as real-time travel information and efficient traffic management.

What is ITS

Intelligent Transportation Systems, or ITS, encompass a broad range of wireless and wire-line communications-based information, control and electronics technologies. When integrated into the transportation system infrastructure, and in vehicles themselves, these technologies help monitor and manage traffic flow, reduce congestion, provide alternate routes to travelers, enhance productivity, and save lives, time and money.

ITS Technologies

Examples of Intelligent Transportation Systems technologies include:

511 is the universal 3-digit telephone number assigned by the FCC for travel and traffic information purposes. A coalition of transportation agencies and private companies is working toward nationwide deployment of 511 service, already available to nearly 100 million Americans (as of February 2006) across 28 states, major cities, or regions.

Automated Crash Notification Systems transmit crash information such as collision force and angle of impact to assist responders in determining what type of help to send and where to transport the injured.

Advanced Traveler Information Systems deliver data directly to travelers, empowering them to make better choices about alternate routes or modes of transportation. When archived, this historical data provides transportation planners with accurate travel pattern information, optimizing the transportation planning process.

Advanced Traffic Management Systems employ detectors, cameras, and communication systems to monitor traffic, optimize signal timings on major arterials, and improve the flow of traffic.

Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks use technology such as weigh-in-motion, electronic credentialing, and electronic screening to promote the safe and legal movement of commercial vehicle traffic across the nation.

Incident Management Systems provide traffic operators with the tools to allow quick and efficient response to accidents, hazardous spills, and other emergencies. Communications systems link data collection points, transportation operations centers, and decision support software into an integrated network that can be operated efficiently and “intelligently.”

Intersection Collision Avoidance Systems monitor a vehicle's speed and position relative to the intersection, along with the speed and position of other vehicles in the vicinity, advising the driver of appropriate actions to avoid a right-of-way violation or impending collision. Almost one-third of all crashes are intersection crashes.

Mayday Systems that automatically contact a call center when a driver presses a button or an airbag deploys.

National ITS Architecture is the framework for interoperability that defines the functions associated with intelligent transportation system user services, the subsystems within which the functions reside, the data interfaces and information flows between physical subsystems, and the communications requirements associated with the information flows.

Rear-End Collision Avoidance Systems sense the presence and speed of vehicles ahead, and provide warnings to avoid collisions. Rear-end collisions account for one in four crashes, or over 1.5 million crashes a year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that driver warning systems alone would be effective in preventing 49 percent of rear-end crashes.

Road Departure Collision Avoidance Systems could prevent about 458,000 of the 1.2 million single-vehicle run-off-road crashes each year. These systems track the lane or road edge and suggest safe speeds for the road ahead. Future capabilities may integrate an adaptive cruise control function to adjust vehicle speed for the shape of the road, based on input from a map database and navigation system. Eventually, in-vehicle sensors will assess road surface conditions (wet, icy, etc.). Telemedicine Systems inside ambulances and medical helicopters enhance the ability of emergency physicians to direct the medical care of crash victims in route to the hospital or trauma center.

Transit Signal Priority is an operational strategy that facilitates the movement of in-service transit vehicles, either buses or streetcars, through traffic signal controlled intersections.

External links

* http://www.itsa.org/ - ITS America website.