Module 1: Introduction to ITS

Authored by Pat Noyes, Principal, Pat Noyes & Associates, Boulder, CO, USA

Introduction
Imagine a world where transportation systems provide real-time information for every available
mode of travel, allowing commuters to make informed decisions about their next trip to minimize
time and cost; where technology monitors the flow of vehicles, people, and goods to maximize
efficient movement and minimize fuel consumption and vehicle emissions; or where, in the face
of an impending hurricane, transportation operations are changed to accommodate mass
evacuations between States through electronic monitoring, transit, and traffic control. Even
more exciting is a world where vehicles monitor the conditions and traffic around them to warn
drivers of weather changes, traffic congestion, and potential hazards or a world where vehicles
drive themselves, eliminating crashes and maximizing system capacity. The technology to
deliver that world exists today in the field of intelligent transportation systems (ITS), which brings
diverse disciplines together to deliver safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation.

ITS technology enhances investments in transportation infrastructure and supports the

management and operation of a system that is essential to the economy and social fabric of our
nation. Transportation agencies, private sector technology developers and vendors, and
professionals from a wide array of disciplines come together through ITS to enhance local,
regional, and multimodal transportation systems. For example, active traffic management (ATM)
provides advance notice of traffic conditions to motorists using variable speed limit signs, lane
management signs, and overhead message signs that warn drivers of congestion or collisions.
As a result, the I-5 corridor in Seattle, WA, and other regions adopting this strategy have
experienced reductions in collisions, reduced congestion, and enhanced emergency response
and emergency management. On the eastern seaboard of the United States, the I-95 Corridor
Coalition provides comprehensive and continuous travel time information on freeways and
arterials using probe technology that runs from New Jersey through Florida. To facilitate safe
and efficient evacuations, transportation engineers in metropolitan areas such as Washington,
DC, are devising methods to allow transit vehicles priority access at traffic-controlled
intersections during evacuations in which no police assistance is available. With the advent of
connected vehicle technology, researchers, automobile manufacturers, communication
providers, and State and local agencies are coming together to build a technological platform
that will enable a connected, data-rich travel environment that will reduce crashes, decrease
congestion, and facilitate environmentally friendly travel choices.

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The coming of age of ITS in the 21st century
Adaptive Signal Control Technology: An ITS
provides unprecedented opportunities to monitor,
Success Story
evaluate, and manage multimodal transportation
systems to sustainably maximize safety,
efficiency, and user convenience in a complex
environment. Modern transportation systems
support national, regional, and local economies,
providing access to employment, goods, and
services. The ability to manage and operate these
complex systems efficiently and effectively to
meet economic, social, and mobility needs
depends on strategic ITS technology applications.
ITS has evolved over several decades—from
early initiatives in traffic operations and intelligent Source:
vehicle highway systems to current practices in www.fhwa.dot.gov/everydaycounts/technology/ad
systems management and operations to emerging sc/intro.cfm.
applications such as connected vehicle
technologies and active traffic and demand Adaptive signal control technology (ASCT) uses
real-time traffic information to cut costs and
management (ATDM). ITS applies a variety of
reduce congestion, improve traffic flow, and
technologies to monitor, evaluate, operate, and
reduce vehicle emissions. ASCT collects and
manage transportation systems to enhance evaluates traffic data and uses the data to
efficiency, reliability, and safety. develop and implement signal timing to improve
traffic flow. By continually collecting information
ITS is redefining how transportation agencies and and updating signal timing to reflect current traffic
managers think about system investment and conditions, ASCT can respond to traffic incidents,
operation. It changes the role of agencies and special events, recurring traffic congestion, and
expands the opportunity to coordinate and construction impacts to reduce delays and
collaborate across systems, disciplines, and improve system efficiency. According to the
Texas Transportation Institute, traffic congestion
industries. ITS applies technologies developed by
costs $87.2 billion in wasted fuel and lost
industry, university, government, and military
productivity, or $75 per traveler. On average,
researchers and inventors to maximize ASCT improves travel time by more than 10
transportation system safety and efficiency. percent, reducing delays, fuel consumption, and
labor costs.

ITS Overview Other ASCT resources are available at the

following sites:
ITS applies information, technology, and systems
• Adaptive Traffic Control in Los Angeles Video
engineering principles to the management and
• ASCT Case Studies
operations of surface transportation facilities and
• Training
systems, including freeways, arterials, and transit.
It provides numerous benefits to transportation systems management and operations. ITS is an
engineering discipline that encompasses the research, planning, design, integration, and
deployment of systems and applications to manage traffic and transit, improve safety, provide
environmental benefits, and maximize the efficiency of surface transportation systems. This field
includes strategic planning; systems architecture; multimodal and multijurisdictional integration

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of technology, data, and communications interoperability; real-time data monitoring; and timely
and accurate user information.

ITS stakeholders are multidisciplinary, representing a broad spectrum of user types and
technical experts who, together, develop and constitute the ITS discipline. Each stakeholder
brings perspective and knowledge to the profession, and this diversity is necessary to plan,
develop, implement, manage, and maintain multimodal ITS. Civil, electrical, computer, and
systems engineers; roadway and transit planners; logistics, policy, finance, and management
experts; multimodal users; maintenance and operations professionals; public safety and
emergency responders; and members of other disciplines that use and support transportation
facilities and systems are all integral to the ITS discipline. Each stakeholder is part of a complex
and collaborative team that envisions, deploys, and manages ITS.

Transportation systems include multiple modes (such as automobiles, transit, freight, bikes, and
pedestrians) and facility types (such as highways, arterials, fixed guideways, dedicated
bikeways, sidewalks, and multimodal facilities). ITS has evolved to encompass programs,
applications, and coordination across modes and facility types, thereby increasing the system’s
complexity and providing an opportunity to apply systems engineering to support multimodal
ITS.

Integrated corridor management (ICM) is an example of a systems approach to transportation

management that integrates freeways, parallel arterials, high-occupancy facilities, and transit
services to optimize a network of facilities and services. This shift from individual facilities to
networks and systems can be seen in Dallas, TX, where ICM strategies in the Route 75
corridor, including combined route and mode diversion strategies for incidents, high-occupancy
vehicle/high-occupancy toll strategies, smart parking systems for light rail transit, and advanced
traveler information systems have been implemented. Oakland, CA, is coordinating operations
of existing I-880, arterials, rails, and bus transit networks through an integrated transportation
system that balances real-time demand and supply. These ICM systems increase system
capacity, reliability, and safety, while reducing congestion, fuel consumption, and vehicle
emissions.

Systems engineering provides a framework for the development and application of successful
ITS systems. By focusing ITS on customer needs and required functionality, systems
engineering integrates multiple disciplines in a structured development process that considers
business and technical needs. Systems engineering has provided a foundation for ITS
development, leading to the National ITS Architecture that guides ITS from a concept of
operations to application deployment.

Transportation Challenges
Over the past 30 years, the demand for the use of public roads has increased approximately 95
percent, as measured in vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Over this same time the number of lane
miles on public roads has increased less than 9 percent. These statistics indicate a sharp rise in

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demand while capacity, in terms of the number of lane miles, has stayed relatively constant.
Although economics, changes in commuting patterns through flextime and telecommuting, and
increasing availability of transit options have slowed the growth in VMT, vehicle miles traveled
continue to grow. The graph below shows the percentage of increase in VMT over a 30-year
period and the corresponding increase in capacity. To meet the increasing demand,
transportation agencies must manage existing lane miles to maximize safety and efficiency. ITS
offers a wide variety of management and operation tools to address increasing demand while
enhancing safety and using technology to maximize facility throughput.

Figure 1. Trends in Capacity and Demand 1

Percent Change 1980-2010
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Public Road Mileage Lane Miles VMT

Source: FHWA Highway Statistics 2010.

Although funding for highways and public transportation almost doubled every 10 years from
1980 to 2000, limited funding and increasing pressure to do more with less at the beginning of
the 21st century have significantly reduced the funding available for highways and public
transportation through the U.S. Highway Trust Fund. This reduced growth in funding, seen in
the graph below, also increases the need to improve the efficient operation of limited
infrastructure and to find new and innovative ways to safely manage the existing transportation
system. ITS technologies support operational strategies such as ATM and ICM to address
congestion and system reliability.

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Figure 2. Highway Trust Fund Expenditures (in billions) 2
$45

$40

$35

$30

$25

$20

$15

$10

$5

$0
1980 1990 2000 2010

Source: FHWA Highway Statistics 2010.

Public transportation ridership increased in the first decade of the 21st century, providing
opportunities to move more people within current and expanded infrastructure. According to the
American Public Transit Association (APTA), nearly 60 percent of public transportation trips are
commuter trips, and as employment increases, so too does the number of transit trips.
Approximately 900 million trips were taken on public transportation per month in the United
States in 2012. 3 This number includes riders of heavy rail, light rail, and buses. ITS addresses
this transportation challenge by managing transit systems and roadways to enhance transit
mobility and integrate public transportation and highway facilities. In the past two decades,
traveler information, transit prioritization, electronic fare collection, shared data, and integrated
operations support increased ridership, system safety, and efficiency.

Benefits of ITS
ITS applications that improve safety, mobility, and the environment, combined with traveler
information and system demand management, enhance travel options and livability while
minimizing costs to system owners, operators, and users. ITS technologies offer a wide variety
of benefits for personal and public transportation, such as making trip scheduling and mode
selection easier, and provide public safety improvements by managing transportation systems
during incidents, emergencies, and natural disasters.

ITS provides the technologies, tools, and applications to improve the capacity, reliability, and
safety of surface transportation systems. The main purpose of ITS is to enhance system
efficiency and safety. System efficiency supports the larger economy and environment while
minimizing costs to system owners, managers, and users. ITS benefits transportation system
users by reducing travel time and cost, simplifying toll and fare collection, and enhancing safety.

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Commercial carriers save time and money with electronic screening and timely route
information.

Safety is a significant goal of transportation policy served by ITS programs and applications. ITS
technology directly addresses safety through current and emerging programs such as ATDM,
traffic incident management, emergency traffic operations, and emerging connected vehicle
applications. ITS also provides increasing capabilities to monitor conditions and develop data-
driven programs to enhance safety. Many of these applications have been implemented and
have evolved since the emergence of ITS in transportation operations. These applications,
along with other safety initiatives such as enhanced vehicle and roadway design, seat belt
usage, and drunk driving public education campaigns, have contributed to the reduction of
roadway fatalities in the United States. In 2010, fatal crashes on highways were down more
than 35 percent from 1980, despite significant increases in the number of vehicle miles traveled.

ITS applications also benefit the transportation system by addressing specific challenges in
system management and operations. For example, road weather management addresses
challenges associated with adverse weather conditions through the use of advisory, control, and
treatment strategies. These applications monitor and inform motorists of adverse conditions,
regulate motorist behavior to improve safety, and actively maintain roads to minimize weather
effects. The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) developed a library of best
practices for road weather management, available at
www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/mitigating_impacts/best_practices.htm, which presents State
and local practices and case studies from around the country. The benefits of road weather
management include better traveler information, more effective use of agency staff and
resources, reduced incident response time, and improved planning for traffic management and
weather events.

ITS enhances safety, improves mobility, and protects the environment through applications such
as electronic toll collection. Applying ITS to high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes allows for the
deployment of variable pricing programs to manage congested freeway corridors. The
technology that automates tolled express lanes can separate express traffic from general-
purpose lanes and maintain free-flow conditions. The system has been found to increase the
value of express lanes by more than 50 percent compared to carpool lanes, largely by saving
significant travel time. For example, the ITS Joint Program Office (ITS JPO) of USDOT
estimates that electronic tolling provides over $1 billion per year in savings. Additional
information is available on the USDOT Research and Innovative Technology Administration
(RITA) site (available at
www.itsknowledgeresources.its.dot.gov/ITS/benecost.nsf/ID/0095631D5E70108A852576CE004
C795A?OpenDocument&Query=Home).

Another benefit comes from red light cameras, which detect red light violations at signalized
intersections. By generating citations for vehicle violations, the technology is estimated to
provide $1 billion in safety-related benefits by reducing injuries and fatalities as well as damage
to property. ITS applications that improve vehicle operations and reduce congestion have

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positive implications for fuel consumption and vehicle emissions, minimizing environmental
impacts from transportation sources. 4

History of ITS
Management and operation of surface transportation systems that focus on safety and
efficiency can be traced back to the mid-20th century, when roadway planners began to address
increasing commuter travel and system congestion. During the 1980s and early 1990s, many of
the technological advances in computing and communications enabled the development of
applications that spawned modern ITS programs. In 1988, the USDOT Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) convened Mobility 2000, a working group focused on developing a
national program of automated technology. The group brought together public, private, and
academic representatives to explore and promote the application of advanced technologies on
highways to improve safety and efficiency.

The 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and subsequent
reauthorization encouraged new technologies to improve safety, information exchange, system
capacity, and travel times. These initiatives spawned the development of ITS and technology
applications that form the foundation of the modern ITS program in the United States. ISTEA
also required the development of standards and protocols to promote compatibility among the
technologies that were being deployed by State and local agencies. The initial development of
the National ITS Architecture began in the mid-1990s, with the involvement of multidisciplinary
public, private, and academic teams, which provided the foundation for current ITS national and
regional architectures.

The term intelligent transportation systems emerged in the late 1990s to include a more
multimodal focus. The USDOT’s ITS program is structured to meet a wide variety of user needs
through ITS strategies and technologies. Advances in ITS development include expanded
multimodal applications such as transit operations, intermodal and commercial vehicle
operations, and integrated traveler information. These applications support a systems approach
to surface transportation that allows the sharing of information and ITS infrastructure across
multiple modes of transportation.

Increased focus on intelligent vehicles has evolved over the past decade to enhance safety,
operations, and the environment through vehicle-based applications and technologies, including
collision avoidance, driver assistance, and collision notification. These applications, developed
in partnership with vehicle manufacturers, offer opportunities to expand ITS capabilities with
minimal infrastructure costs. This evolution to a system of connected vehicles will reduce the
need to invest in large, centralized infrastructure-based systems while supporting and
expanding system capabilities.

Recent enhancements in technology and infrastructure include public-private partnerships

between USDOT and auto manufacturers to test connected vehicle applications and private
sector products and services such as smartphone applications that provide real-time information

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on route options and selection, ridesharing, parking, and transit times. ITS continues to evolve
and to expand the application of systems engineering and technology to the transportation
system. The National ITS Architecture provides support and guidance for ITS expansion
continue to address new developments in technology.

The 2012 surface transportation funding legislation, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st
Century (MAP-21), transforms the policy and programmatic framework for investments in
transportation; creates a streamlined and performance-based surface transportation program;
and builds on many of the highway, transit, bike, and pedestrian programs and policies
established in 1991 with the passage of ISTEA.

An increased focus on performance measures and system management changes the role of
ITS in two fundamental ways. First, ITS offers greater system efficiencies with potentially
smaller investment than capacity-expanding infrastructure programs; therefore, a performance-
based system may favor increased investments in the operational and safety capabilities offered
through ITS. Second, ITS is built on the collection, exchange, and evaluation of management
and operations data. This data will be critical to any performance-based system. ITS
infrastructure and personnel are uniquely positioned to support data-driven, performance-based
policies and processes.

MAP-21 requires States and metropolitan planning organizations to set performance targets and
report annually on their progress. The integration of management and operations into regional
and statewide planning requires coordination with regional ITS architecture and collaboration
with multiple jurisdictions and multimodal providers. Regional ITS architectures, which are
modeled on the National ITS Architecture, provide a foundation for linking planning and
operations and support the delivery of regional planning objectives for operations. Integrated
regional planning, performance measures, and ITS architecture promote efficiency, safety, and
reliability of transportations systems while leveraging limited resources to meet shared goals
and objectives.

ITS presents broad opportunities and benefits to support national goals called for in the 2012
MAP-21 legislation. It brings together programs, professionals, technologies, and information to
enhance safety, reliability, efficiency, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality in the
U.S. transportation system.

National and Regional ITS Architectures

In the 1990s, as applications and deployment of intelligent vehicle highway system became
more extensive and complex, there was a need for a shared architecture to provide a framework
for systems planning and operation that addressed compatibility, functionality, integration, and
interoperability. Architecture development was initiated in 1994 and continues to evolve to meet
current needs of ITS. The National ITS Architecture and Standards Program is part of USDOT’s
Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA).

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The National ITS Architecture provides a framework for the following:

• The functions that are required for ITS

• The physical subsystems where these functions reside
• The information exchanges that connect these functions and physical subsystems into
an integrated system 5

The National ITS Architecture is maintained and updated by USDOT in collaboration with ITS
stakeholders. Version 7.0 was released by USDOT in January 2012. It includes expanded
guidance on integration with transportation planning and project development, active traffic
management, connected vehicles, commercial vehicle operations, road user pricing, and
coordination with the Canadian ITS Architecture.

Architectural Layers
The National ITS Architecture includes three architectural layers: institutional, transportation,
and communications. The institutional layer is built to address transportation system user needs
and to support ITS planning and project development. Currently 33 user services are identified
and grouped into eight user service bundles: travel and traffic management, public
transportation management, electronic payment, commercial vehicle operations, emergency
management, advanced vehicle safety systems, information management, and maintenance
and construction operations. The institutional layer also establishes the program objectives and
requirements and addresses institutional policies, processes, and funding mechanisms that
support the ITS program.

Figure 3. The Architectural View 6

The transportation layer is where transportation services and systems are described. It includes
both a logical architecture and a physical architecture that define the processes, data flows,
architectural flows, physical entities, and equipment packages. These elements provide the
basis for specific service packages and communication needs.

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The communications layer addresses the ability to exchange information and interoperability
needs between systems. The need for system integration drives the need for ITS standards to
ensure effective communication between systems, subsystems, and individual components. 7

Regional Architecture
Whereas the National ITS Architecture guides ITS programs at the national level and addresses
all subsystems, technologies, and standards, regional ITS architectures define the plans,
programs, goals, and objectives for implementation on a more localized basis. A regional ITS
architecture is developed for regional implementation areas through the participation of regional
stakeholders, including highway and transit agencies, public safety agencies, motor carrier
organizations, and other public transportation facility owners and managers.

Any region that implements an ITS program is required to develop a regional ITS architecture if
it is using Federal funds. Although a regional architecture will not include all subsystems or
services within the National ITS Architecture, it must use the National ITS Architecture as a
template for those programs and services it does include.

A regional ITS architecture is developed to meet the specific needs of a region, define program
goals, identify a concept of operation, develop institutional agreements, and focus on technical
integration of ITS systems within the region. Crafting a regional ITS architecture builds a shared
vision for ITS implementation and advances regional transportation improvement programs and
long-range transportation plans by defining goals and planning operations for regional ITS
programs.

National ITS Standards

The ITS Standards Program focuses on interfaces and information exchanges identified in the
National ITS Architecture to ensure that development and implementation of the system and
system components by Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as private sector developers
and vendors, maintain technological compatibility and functional communications. Standards
development is supported by the ITS Standards Program of USDOT’s ITS JPO and provides a
collaborative process to define and update standards for use by all public and private entities
involved in the development of ITS applications and technology. The ITS Standards Program
works with standards development organizations, such as the American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE),
the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), and the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE), to address interface requirements between different ITS
applications.

ITS standards provide the technical guidance and requirements for each component of an ITS
system. They guide every aspect of technical applications and system communications, and
compliance is required for all applications. The collaboration between a broad range of
stakeholders to develop the ITS standards continues through standards management and

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professional capacity building. As part of its Standards Implementation Assistance program, the
ITS JPO offers technical assistance, guidance, and training. Recent initiatives include a Web-
based, modular ITS Standards training series, available at
www.pcb.its.dot.gov/stds_training.aspx, as part of a larger ITS Professional Capacity Building
Program.

Growth of ITS Deployment

The nation’s public sector investment in ITS nearly tripled in 15 years, from approximately $6.5
billion in 1997 to $18.5 billion in 2010. Technologies such as electronic toll collection systems
have achieved near universal deployment, while other applications, such as arterial surveillance
and freeway communications, have seen some of the greatest growth in deployment. Regional
planning policies and ITS architectures have stimulated deployment through increased funding
and prioritization. In 2000, two-thirds of freeway operations agencies were using closed-circuit
television cameras for surveillance and dynamic message signs for traveler information; by
2010 this had grown to about 85 percent of these agencies. The use of electronic fare payments
on fixed-route buses increased from 30 percent in 1997 to 80 percent in 2010. In major urban
areas, 50 percent of signalized arterial intersections are now covered by electronic surveillance
cameras and 17 percent of arterial miles are covered by service patrols. 8

Private sector investments in ITS deployment can be seen in commercial vehicle management
and fleet vehicle tracking, and in public-private initiatives in tolling and connected vehicle
applications. The demand for increased deployment by system users continues to grow as
travel reliability and safety are improved. Technology advances that make deployment more
efficient and more cost-effective, combined with expanded opportunities with emerging
technologies, continue to fuel the deployment of ITS applications across the country. A study
conducted by the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) predicts continued
expansion of the ITS industry, with expected industry revenues to climb over 40 percent from
2009 through 2015. The study determined that the economic impact of the ITS industry is
significant, with an estimated end-use ITS market of $48 billion. It concluded that the “U.S. ITS
market revenues exceed those for electronic computers, motion picture and video products,
direct mail advertising, or internet advertising… and anticipates continuing expansion and a
projected CY 2015 total U.S. private sector ITS market of $67 billion.” 9

Future Vision for ITS

In December 2009, the USDOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration released
a five-year ITS Strategic Research Plan focused on “transforming the nation’s transportation
system through connectivity.”

The ITS Strategic Research Plan is designed to achieve a vision of a national, multimodal surface
transportation system that features a connected transportation environment among vehicles, the
infrastructure and passengers’ portable devices. This connected environment will leverage
technology to maximize safety, mobility and environmental performance. Current initiatives by the

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 USDOT ITS program focus on the creation of an intelligent transportation through the integration
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of intelligent vehicles and intelligent infrastructure.

The ITS Strategic Research Plan “is a multimodal initiative to enable safe interoperable
networked wireless communication among vehicles, the infrastructure, and passengers’
personal communications devices.” The research focus areas identified in the ITS Strategic
Research Plan are safety, mobility, the environment, technology and distraction, and a roadmap
for connected vehicle safety. 11

The Connected Vehicle Program offers a fundamental shift in the vision for ITS programs and
applications. By focusing on information collected by and distributed between vehicles, the
program presents opportunities for real-time information sharing, and it expands vehicle
operations tremendously with minimal improvements needed for field and center subsystems.
Connected vehicle development and deployment require a robust technological platform that
integrates research in systems engineering, human factors, international standards and
architecture, and connected vehicle applications. The connected vehicle environment of the
future will require vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications. It also will
require research and analysis of the policy and institutional issues associated with connected
vehicles. The work being done on connected vehicles is multimodal and multinational, and it
involves public and private sector investment and initiatives.

In August 2012, USDOT launched a year-long pilot study of nearly 3,000 connected vehicles,
including cars, trucks, and buses, to test the ability of Wi-Fi technology to improve traffic flow
and avoid crashes through enhanced driver awareness. Data from this study will help define
how vehicle-to-vehicle communications will shape the future of ITS.

The future vision of ITS is far reaching. Current ITS architecture and deployment provide a
strong foundation for transportation system management and operations. Future opportunities
provided through connected vehicles, performance-based Federal funding, and linkages with
regional planning and other policy initiatives offer a rich environment for ITS research and
applications. The technology-based nature of ITS makes it a dynamic field with limitless
potential, both in terms of leading and supporting innovative applications in the public and
private sectors.

ePrimer Overview
The ITS industry is an expanding market for information, engineering, and technology
professionals. A study by ITS America found that ITS jobs pay well above the national average
and that the ITS value chain will contribute 500,000 private sector jobs in the United States by
2015. This ITS ePrimer introduces the expanding field of ITS to students and professionals and
addresses ways to integrate it with the practical applications of transportation engineering in the
field of surface transportation management and operations. To support changing transportation
and environmental needs and system challenges, the ePrimer updates information presented in
the Intelligent Transportation Primer, published in 2000, and considers systems engineering,

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multimodal applications, institutional and policy issues, and new and emerging technologies.
ITS provides an array of technical and systems management applications to maximize system
management and operations.

The structure of the ePrimer was developed to provide an introductory overview of a wide range
of multimodal ITS topics. A project management team composed of the USDOT’s ITS JPO, the
FHWA Office of Operations, the Federal Transit Administration, the Institute of Transportation
Engineers, and ITS America led the development of the primer and the selection of module
authors.

The ePrimer is organized in a series of modules that address key ITS concepts and
applications. The modules were written by a team of ITS practitioners, and each focuses on a
specific aspect of ITS. The individual authors were selected as subject matter experts, and each
brings his or her experience, perspective, and approach to the module topics. For that reason,
the modules vary somewhat in level of detail, depth of discussion, and writing style. It is hoped
that these differences enhance the overall product and reflect the authors’ experience.

Each module provides specific learning objectives, an introduction to the module topic, and
topical discussions developed to introduce ITS to university students and transportation
professionals. The modules incorporate multimedia resources that provide topic-related
examples, training materials, case studies, or other linked media. This current module provides
an introduction to ITS and an overview of the ePrimer. Subsequent modules of the ePrimer
present various aspects and applications of ITS in managing surface transportation systems.
The following is a brief description of the modules:

Module 2. Systems Engineering

Systems engineering is used to develop ITS projects in an interdisciplinary, structured process
that meets the needs of the users, providers, and other stakeholders while it maintains the
schedule and budget. This module provides an overview of systems engineering and its
application to ITS architecture, planning, and deployment.

Module 3. Application of ITS to Transportation Management Systems

Transportation management systems provide the tools and framework for managing roadway
systems. This module addresses the ITS available for roadway management. It focuses on the
application of ITS technology to transportation supply, recurring transportation demand, and
congestion.

Module 4. Traffic Operations

Roadway applications of ITS have roots in highway safety and efficiency initiatives dating back
50 years. Today’s traffic operations are generally focused on transportation management
centers (TMCs) that integrate ITS applications on highways and major arterials. This module
examines how TMCs incorporate, integrate, and manage an array of ITS applications to
address traffic safety and reliability focused on nonrecurring and human factor operations.

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Module 5. Personal Transportation
ITS technologies offer an array of applications and enhancements for personal transportation,
from real-time information to safety applications and driver conveniences. This module explores
current and emerging applications that enhance driver experience and safety.

Module 6. Freight, Intermodal, and Commercial Vehicle Operations

ITS applications in commercial fleets and intermodal and freight movement address safety,
security, efficiency, and driver services. This module highlights various ITS applications used in
commercial vehicles and freight management.

Module 7. Public Transportation

ITS offers a broad range of applications to enhance efficiency, convenience, safety, and security
in public transportation and transit systems management. This module discusses system and
fleet management, advanced traveler information, and safety and security applications in transit
and public transportation. It identifies ways in which ITS can be integral to achieving
multimodalism, facilitating round trips from origin to destination, and trip linking.

Module 8. Electronic Tolling and Pricing

ITS technologies play a significant role in facility pricing and collection applications, including
multimodal, highway, and transit applications. Pricing and collection systems provide the
technological foundation for user fees and managed facilities. This module considers both the
application and integration challenges and technologies available.

Module 9. Supporting ITS Technologies

Data collection, weather and traffic monitoring, communication, and in-vehicle systems are all
essential supporting technologies for effective ITS. Advances in technology and integration
provide opportunities for system enhancement. This module provides an overview of various
support technologies and considers opportunities for deployment and integration.

Module 10. Rural and Regional ITS Applications

The application of ITS in different geographic, jurisdictional, and land use contexts presents
unique challenges and opportunities to ITS professionals. This module considers varying
contexts, from rural applications to large, multistate, multimodal programs.

Module 11. Sustainable Transportation

ITS technologies can support a number of sustainable transportation initiatives, including
monitoring, evaluating, and enhancing system efficiency and sustainable transportation
programs. This module explores opportunities to integrate ITS technologies in support of
sustainable transportation.

Module 12. Institutional Issues

ITS institutional issues are as complex and challenging as technological issues. Public concerns
with personal privacy and political and organizational challenges with funding, system
ownership, and legal requirements need to be addressed effectively to deploy ITS on a

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consistent and systematic basis. This module looks at several of these issues and provides
guidance on addressing institutional concerns and opportunities.

Module 13. Connected Vehicles

Connected vehicles offer a fundamental change in systems management and ITS infrastructure
by focusing on vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-roadway communication. This module looks at
the current and emerging technology and the institutional, policy, legal, and funding challenges
of connected vehicle applications.

Module 14. ITS Emerging Opportunities and Challenges

ITS, like other technology fields, is changing and evolving at an unprecedented pace, opening
new fields and applications in transportation systems management. This module explores some
of the emerging applications, information management, and technologies as well as anticipated
changes to current practices and infrastructure requirements.

Although the 13 modules are structured around specific topic areas, some applications,
technologies, and other considerations cut across two or more topics. Each module is designed
to stand on its own, so some information may be discussed in more than one module, with an
orientation or focus on the module topic. To receive maximum benefit from each module, the
reader should click on the links provided to take advantage of the interactive nature of this
ePrimer.

References
1
FHWA Highway Statistics 2010, www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2010/
2
FHWA Highway Statistics 2010, www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2010/
3
APTA Statistical Reports, www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Pages/OtherAPTAStatistics.aspx
4
USDOT JPO Benefits for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS),
www.its.dot.gov/factsheets/pdf/Benefits_FactSheet.pdf
5
USDOT RITA, www.its.dot.gov/press/2012/architecture_update.htm
6
USDOT FHWA Office of Operations, www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/its_arch_imp/resources.htm, link to
National ITS Architecture Version 6.1, www.iteris.com/itsarch/html/menu/hypertext.htm
7
USDOT FHWA Office of Operations, www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/its_arch_imp/resources.htm, link to National
ITS Architecture, www.iteris.com/itsarch/index.htm
8
USDOT RITA, Deployment Tracking Survey Results, 2010, www.itsdeployment.its.dot.gov/
9
ITS Market Research Report, www.itsa.org/knowledgecenter/market-data-analysis
10
USDOT RITA, ITS Strategic Plan, 2010–2014, www.its.dot.gov/research_planning.htm
11
USDOT RITA, ITS Strategic Research Plan, 2010–2014, www.its.dot.gov/research_planning.htm

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