2022

Study Description

This TPF project was a continuation of the TPF-5(231) ITS Pooled Fund Program (ENTERPRISE) that began in 1991. Members contributed funds in support of ITS research projects to address specific problems that advanced the transportation technology programs in the member agencies. Members were from eight state departments of transportation across the U.S. and one Canadian transportation agency.

The final report describes the activities of ENTERPRISE Phase II technical activities performed between 2018 and 2021. Members identified, prioritized, and oversaw the research activities of 20 individual projects that all contributed to the seven objectives of the program.

• Objective #1: Investigate and promote Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) approaches and technologies that are compatible with other national and international ITS initiatives.
• Objective #2: Support the individual ITS program plans of ENTERPRISE participants.
• Objective #3: Provide a mechanism to support multi-state and international project cooperation and technical information interchange.
• Objective #4: Facilitate the formation of public-private partnerships for appropriate program activities.
• Objective #5: Pursue emerging ITS project opportunities in areas of interest to the group.
• Objective #6: Provide test beds in a variety of environments and locations for emerging ITS technologies.
• Objective #7: Identify common needs within the group and proceed with appropriate technical activities.

Transportation agencies continue to deploy and operate emerging technologies and ITS assets in both urban and rural areas. These assets serve key roles in operations of the transportation system. Maintaining the ability of these ITS assets to continue to be of value in the future is referred to as “future proofing the asset.” The focus of this project was on researching best practices and overall approaches towards future proofing ITS assets. As part of this research, seven categories of threats have been identified that present possible risks to the future of ITS assets, including: natural, human interactions, functional performance, extended use, financial, license/policy/regulatory, and security threats. The research also identified multiple approaches for mitigating the future proofing risks to ITS assets. A business model suggesting roles for seven existing DOT activities was drafted and an overall four-step approach to mitigating risks to ITS assets was developed. State and local DOTs can implement this research by reviewing the recommended actions and considering which are appropriate for their organization to mitigate risks to the future use of ITS assets. Lastly, the project recommends future research activities to further assist agencies with streamlining activities for future proofing ITS assets.

ENTERPRISE initiated this project to review the current state of traveler information practice focused on reporting weather events and explore the concept of a traveler information community of practice (CoP). The CoP could enable information sharing among traveler information coordinators who manage state and local department of transportation (DOT) traveler information systems. To accomplish the project objectives an online survey was distributed to traveler information contact(s) in each U.S. state as well as the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. The goals of the survey were to gather information about traveler information road weather reporting processes and activities and understand the current needs that might be met through a CoP. Based on the interest in a CoP gathered through the survey results, initial discussions were held with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) about the potential to accomplish a traveler information CoP, either by creating an activity or leveraging one or more existing activities. AASHTO has included an activity to create a traveler information CoP within AASHTO’s Committee on Transportation System Operations (CTSO).