1995-2002

Trying to determine an appropriate driving speed under less than ideal conditions is a challenge for the motorist. It is equally difficult for law enforcement agencies to enforce and cite someone going too fast for poor conditions. The determination is difficult and subjective. In many cases drivers are cited for going too fast for conditions after an accident has happened. Currently no system is available in the U.S. to identify safe speed limits on a variable basis.

This project developed a variable speed limit system that utilizes fuzzy control technology to identify speed limits appropriate for differing environmental conditions. Fuzzy technology is proving to be effective in a broad cross-section of difficult control problems. In particular, fuzzy control concepts are well-suited to the control of complex non-linear systems where classical mathematical analysis is difficult and imprecision is
inherent.

The project objectives were to develop a variable speed limit signing system for identifying speed limits that are more realistic and appropriate for environmental conditions than posted highway limits.

The goals were achieved through the following objectives:

• Developed a fuzzy control algorithm that uses environmental conditions to define
  speed limits;
• Built a test system for conveying variable speed limits;
• Tested and validate the system in a simulation environment; and
• Evaluated the potential for operational field testing of the system.

Project Duration: 1997 – 1998

In 1996, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) asked the ENTERPRISE Program to help them conduct a rural outreach study. The objective was to identify and describe proven, cost-effective ITS solutions for rural transportation-related problems and needs. The result was a stand-alone document targeted at rural transportation professionals. It described simple ITS solutions developed by rural transportation professionals to address their common problems. The document detailed the cost, requirements, and effectiveness of each simple solution. It also provided contact information and a scope that would help rural agencies implement the simple solutions in their own jurisdictions.

The ENTERPRISE Inform project followed the completion of this project.

Project Duration: 1995-1997

Mayday systems reduce the time it takes emergency service responders to reach crash victims via automated incident and accident reporting systems.

MJM successfully educated public agencies interested in the Mayday concept, and allowed vendors of Mayday products to receive feedback from such agencies. MJM allowed separate projects to benefit from collaboration with other emergency response systems. Most notably, the MJM group initiated a discussion with GM Onstar and Ford RESCU (Remote Emergency Satellite Cellular Unit) as their products were being developed. This discussion allowed for emergency response providers in Minnesota, New York, Colorado and Washington State, to interact with GM and Ford to share their needs from such systems. As a result of this, some states have formed relationships with Mayday responders.

The following tasks helped make the MJM project a success:

• Interacted and exchanged experience with Mayday activities through public-private
  partnerships;
• Influenced the scope and objectives of future Mayday activities, and raised the
  awareness of others through outreach;
• Contributed to the evolution of Mayday activities by providing input to standards and
  architecture development processes; and
• Shaped future private sector efforts based on public-initiated project experience.

The MJM activities were wrapped up in 1998. As a finale to the committee, a “roadshow” was conducted where the results of the group were presented to 9 different states in order to share the entire efforts of the group, and help initiate Mayday activities in the states.

Project Duration: 1996-1998

A key element of the success of Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) is the ability to exchange traveler information between in-vehicle systems, traffic, transit information providers, traffic control centers, police and fire departments, and transit authorities. The ability to exchange information is becoming increasingly important as fully integrated ITS systems are deployed.

Effective standards help promote compatible ATIS products and the rapid development of the ITS industry. When compatibility between vendors is encouraged by standards, more choices are available to the consumer. The traveler is able to buy products from a wide range of products that can communicate with other travelers who may be using a wide variety of products.

The ITIS efforts of the ENTERPRISE Program have been underway since the early 1990s. These efforts initially translated the similar standards that had been developed in Europe, where standardized data exchange had been used prior to its use in the United States. An ITIS Committee inside ENTERPRISE worked to translate these standards and develop draft standards for the American ITS industry by talking with member states to understand their needs. Early projects such as Trilogy in Minnesota benefited from these standards, and still use the ITIS codes today. Once developed, these standards were offered to the standards development agencies working on National standards within the United States. These have tremendously influenced what has now come out of the standards agencies.

ENTERPRISE ITIS efforts have translated towards supporting the ENTERPRISE states by representing their needs towards the National Standards development. The ITIS Eye project focused on this effort.

Project Duration: 1992-1996

Inform

The Inform Project followed the ENTERPRISE Simple Solutions project and focused on disseminating the cost effective, low tech solutions for rural transportation community through the development of a website. Through the Inform web site, local agencies could enter information either on the local characteristics or the recognized needs of their area. Based on user input, the Internet site recommended and offered information on those simple solutions most applicable to the local agency. The web site proved to be very popular, receiving thousands of hits and dozens of serious inquiries from rural transportation professionals. Through it, ENTERPRISE provided a much-needed link between the ITS community and rural transportation professionals.

Inform also promoted the simple solutions and ITS through the network of Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) / Technology Transfer (T2) centers. The centers in some ENTERPRISE states were used to provide feedback on the scope and the “look and feel” of the web site, and to disseminate the simple solutions to their constituents. In total, there were thousands of individual project descriptions and full Simple Solution reports distributed in the United States and Canada, and the Inform project was a major success story.

Inform Next Step

Now that rural communities had access to ITS solutions that they can implement, the logical next step was to make widespread rural ITS a reality. To facilitate that, the Inform Next Step project helped rural transportation professionals identify a wider range of potential applications, plan ITS strategies and utilize the national ITS architecture and the applicable standards by enhancing the Inform website. Strong, usable tools provided all rural planners with the ability to create cohesive plans that build strength by integrating different ITS elements and existing infrastructure. By ensuring architecture compliance, ENTERPRISE and the FHWA promoted system compatibility among various rural jurisdictions that might not have the time or money to work together to achieve it on their own.

Project Duration: 1997-2001

The Herald Field Operational Test (FOT) tested AM radio as a low-cost way to broadcast traveler information in rural areas. It tested the feasibility of broadcasting data on the inaudible portion of an existing AM broadcast. Two systems were tested, the Herald system developed during the FOT, and a system from Mikros Systems Corporation. Both systems proved it is technically feasibly to broadcast data over AM without degrading the audio programming. And both systems proved to be strong candidates for low-cost rural traveler information dissemination.

Project Duration: 1995-1997