Equipment Package Descriptions

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Equipment Package Equipment Package Description
Basic Information Broadcast This equipment package disseminates traveler information including traffic and road conditions, incident information, maintenance and construction information, event information, transit information, parking information, and weather information. The same information is broadcast to all equipped traveler interface systems and vehicles.
Center Secure Area Alarm Support This equipment package receives traveler or transit vehicle operator alarm messages, notifies the system operator, and provides acknowledgement of alarm receipt back to the originator of the alarm. The alarms received can be generated by silent or audible alarm systems and may originate from public areas (e.g. transit stops, park and ride lots, transit stations, rest areas) or transit vehicles. The nature of the emergency may be determined based on the information in the alarm message as well as other inputs.
Center Secure Area Sensor Management This equipment package manages sensors that monitor secure areas in the transportation system, processes the collected data, performs threat analysis in which data is correlated with other sensor, surveillance, and advisory inputs, and then disseminates resultant threat information to emergency personnel and other agencies. In response to identified threats, the operator may request activation of barrier and safeguard systems to preclude an incident, control access during and after an incident or mitigate impact of an incident. The sensors may be in secure areas frequented by travelers (i.e., transit stops, transit stations, rest areas, park and ride lots, modal interchange facilities, on-board a transit vehicle, etc.) or around transportation infrastructure such as bridges, tunnels and transit railways or guideways. The types of sensors include acoustic, threat (e.g. chemical agent, toxic industrial chemical, biological, explosives, and radiological sensors), infrastructure condition and integrity, motion and object sensors.
Center Secure Area Surveillance This equipment package monitors surveillance inputs from secure areas in the transportation system. The surveillance may be of secure areas frequented by travelers (i.e., transit stops, transit stations, rest areas, park and ride lots, modal interchange facilities, on-board a transit vehicle, etc.) or around transportation infrastructure such as bridges, tunnels and transit railways or guideways. It provides both video and audio surveillance information to emergency personnel and automatically alerts emergency personnel of potential incidents.
Collect Traffic Surveillance This equipment package remotely monitors and controls traffic sensors and surveillance (e.g., CCTV) equipment, and collects, processes and stores the collected traffic data. Current traffic information and other real-time transportation information is also collected from other centers. The collected information is provided to traffic operations personnel and made available to other centers.
Emergency Call-Taking This equipment package supports the emergency call-taker, collecting available information about the caller and the reported emergency, and forwarding this information to other equipment packages that formulate and manage the emergency response. This equipment package receives 9-1-1, 7-digit local access, and motorist call-box calls and interfaces to other agencies to assist in the verification and assessment of the emergency and to forward the emergency information to the appropriate response agency.
Emergency Data Collection This equipment package collects and stores emergency information that is collected in the course of operations by the Emergency Management Subsystem. This data can be used directly by operations personnel or it can be made available to other data users and archives in the region.
Emergency Dispatch This equipment package tracks the location and status of emergency vehicles and dispatches these vehicles to incidents. Pertinent incident information is gathered from the public and other public safety agencies (see the Emergency Call-Taking equipment package) and relayed to the responding units. Incident status and the status of the responding units is tracked so that additional units can be dispatched and/or unit status can be returned to available when the incident is cleared and closed.
Emergency Early Warning System This equipment package monitors alerting and advisory systems, information collected by ITS surveillance and sensors, and reports from other agencies and uses this information to identify potential, imminent, or in-progress major incidents or disasters. Notification is provided to other equipment packages that provide the emergency response, including public notification using ITS traveler information systems, where appropriate.
Emergency Environmental Monitoring This equipment package collects current and forecast road conditions and surface weather information from a variety of sources. The collected environmental information is monitored and presented to the operator and used to more effectively manage incidents.
Emergency Evacuation Support This equipment package coordinates evacuation plans among allied agencies and manages evacuation and reentry of a population in the vicinity of a disaster or other emergency that poses a risk to public safety. Where appropriate, the affected population is evacuated in shifts, using more than one evacuation route, and including several evacuation destinations to spread demand and thereby expedite the evacuation. All affected jurisdictions (e.g., states and counties) at the evacuation origin, evacuation destination, and along the evacuation route are informed of the plan. The public is provided with real-time evacuation guidance including basic information to assist potential evacuees in determining whether evacuation is necessary. Resource requirements are forecast based on the evacuation plans, and the necessary resources are located, shared between agencies if necessary, and deployed at the right locations at the appropriate times. The evacuation and reentry status are monitored and used to refine the plan and resource allocations during the evacuation and subsequent reentry. This equipment package communicates with public health systems to develop evacuation plans and recommended strategies for disasters and evacuation scenarios involving biological or other medical hazards.
Emergency Response Management This equipment package provides the strategic emergency response capabilities and broad inter-agency interfaces that are implemented for extraordinary incidents and disasters that require response from outside the local community. It provides the functional capabilities and interfaces commonly associated with Emergency Operations Centers. This equipment package develops and stores emergency response plans and manages overall coordinated response to emergencies. It monitors real-time information on the state of the regional transportation system including current traffic and road conditions, weather conditions, special event and incident information. It tracks the availability of resources and assists in the appropriate allocation of these resources for a particular emergency response. This equipment package provides coordination between multiple allied agencies before and during emergencies to implement emergency response plans and track progress through the incident. It also coordinates with the public through the Emergency Telecommunication Systems (e.g., Reverse 911). This equipment package coordinates with public health systems to provide the most appropriate response for emergencies involving biological or other medical hazards.
Emergency Routing This equipment package supports routing of emergency vehicles and enlists support from the Traffic Management Subsystem to facilitate travel along these routes. Routes may be determined by this equipment package based on real-time traffic information and road conditions or routes may be provided by the Traffic Management Subsystem on request. Vehicles are tracked and routes are based on current vehicle location. This equipment package may coordinate with the Traffic Management Subsystem to provide preemption or otherwise adapt the traffic control strategy along the selected route.
Government Reporting Systems Support This equipment package selects and formats data residing in an ITS archive to facilitate local, state, and federal government data reporting requirements.
HRI Traffic Management This equipment package monitors and controls highway-rail intersection (HRI) equipment. Various levels of roadside equipment may be interfaced to this equipment package including standard speed active warning systems and high speed systems which provide additional information on approaching trains and detect and report obstructions in the HRI. This equipment package remotely monitors and reports the status of the HRI equipment and sends control plan updates to the HRI equipment.
Incident Command The equipment package provides tactical decision support, resource coordination, and communications integration for Incident Commands that are established by first responders at or near the incident scene to support local management of an incident. The equipment package supports communications with public safety, emergency management, transportation, and other allied response agency centers, tracks and maintains resource information, action plans, and the incident command organization itself. Information is shared with agency centers including resource deployment status, hazardous material information, traffic, road, and weather conditions, evacuation advice, and other information that enables emergency or maintenance personnel in the field to implement an effective, safe incident response. This equipment package supports the functions and interfaces commonly supported by a mobile command center.
Infrastructure Provided Trip Planning This equipment package provides pre-trip and en-route trip planning services for travelers. It receives origin, destination, constraints, and preferences and returns trip plan(s) that meet the supplied criteria. Trip plans may be based on current traffic and road conditions, transit schedule information, and other real-time traveler information. Candidate trip plans are multimodal and may include vehicle, transit, and alternate mode segments (e.g., rail, ferry, bicycle routes, and walkways) based on traveler preferences. This equipment package also confirms the trip plan for the traveler and supports reservations and advanced payment for portions of the trip. The trip plan includes specific routing information and instructions for each segment of the trip and may also include information and reservations for additional services (e.g., parking) along the route.
Interactive Infrastructure Information This equipment package disseminates personalized traveler information including traffic and road conditions, transit information, maintenance and construction information, multimodal information, event information, and weather information. Tailored information is provided based on the traveler's request in this interactive equipment package. The interactive service offered by this equipment package is available to the Vehicle, Remote Traveler Support, and Personal Information Access subsystems.
ISP Data Collection This equipment package collects and stores traveler information that is collected in the course of operation of the ISP subsystem. This data can be used directly by operations personnel or it can be made available to other data users and archives in the region.
ISP Emergency Traveler Information This equipment package provides emergency information to the public, including wide-area alerts and evacuation information. It provides emergency alerts, information on evacuation zones and evacuation requirements, evacuation destinations and shelter information, available transportation modes, and traffic and road conditions at the origin, destination, and along the evacuation routes. In addition to general evacuation information, personalized information including tailored evacuation routes, service information, and estimated travel times is also provided based on traveler specified origin, destination, and route parameters. Updated information is provided throughout the evacuation and subsequent reentry as status changes and plans are adapted.
ISP Operational Data Repository This equipment package processes, stores, and distributes real-time information on the state of the regional transportation system. This equipment package facilitates sharing of real-time transportation information among transportation system operators. It includes a central repository, data processing, and communication capabilities that provide real-time access to the collected information. Many different implementations are possible including: 1) a web application that provides a web-based interface to system operators, and 2) a networked enterprise database that provides a network interface to remote system applications. Although request and subscription flows are not explicitly included, interactive data services are supported by this equipment package. The data may be broadcast or customized based on the receiving center’s specified requests or subscriptions.
ISP Probe Information Collection This equipment package aggregates and processes traffic probe data collected from equipped vehicles, toll operators, and transit centers. It also collects, aggregates, and processes environmental probe data from equipped vehicles. Probe data may be collected through direct wide area wireless communications with vehicles or through short range communications equipment at the roadside. Aggregated probe data and derived route travel times and environmental conditions information are distributed to other centers and other equipment packages that use the information to support transportation operations and traveler information services.
ISP Short Range Communications Traveler Information Distribution In support of connected vehicle applications, this equipment package disseminates traveler information including traffic and road conditions, incident information, maintenance and construction information, event information, transit information, parking information, and weather information. Location-specific or situation-relevant traveler information is sent to short range communications transceivers at the roadside.
ISP Traveler Data Collection This equipment package collects traveler-related data from other centers, performs data quality checks on the collected data and then consolidates, verifies, and refines the data and makes it available in a consistent format to applications that deliver traveler information. A broad range of traveler-related data is collected including traffic and road conditions, transit data, emergency information and advisories, weather data, special event information, traveler services, parking, multimodal data, and toll/pricing data. This equipment package also shares data with other information service providers.
ITS Data Repository This equipment package collects data and data catalogs from one or more data sources and stores the data in a focused repository that is suited to a particular set of ITS data users. This equipment package includes capabilities for performing quality checks on the incoming data, error notification, and archive to archive coordination. This equipment package supports a broad range of implementations, ranging from simple data marts that collect a focused set of data and serve a particular user community to large-scale data warehouses that collect, integrate, and summarize transportation data from multiple sources and serve a broad array of users within a region.
MCM Data Collection This equipment package collects and stores maintenance and construction information that is collected in the course of operations by the Maintenance and Construction Management Subsystem. This data can be used directly by operations personnel or it can be made available to other data users and archives in the region.
MCM Environmental Information Collection This equipment package collects current road and weather conditions using data collected from environmental sensors deployed on and about the roadway. In addition to fixed sensor stations at the roadside, this equipment package also collects environmental information from sensor systems located on Maintenance and Construction Vehicles as well as the broader population of vehicle probes. It also collects current and forecast environmental conditions information that is made available by other systems. The equipment package aggregates the sensor system data and provides it, along with data attributes to meteorological systems.
MCM Environmental Information Processing This equipment package processes current and forecast weather data, road condition information, local environmental data, and uses internal models to develop specialized detailed forecasts of local weather and surface conditions. The processed environmental information products are presented to center personnel and disseminated to other centers.
MCM Incident Management This equipment package supports maintenance and construction participation in coordinated incident response. Incident notifications are shared, incident response resources are managed, and the overall incident situation and incident response status is coordinated among allied response organizations.
MCM Work Activity Coordination This equipment package disseminates work activity schedules and current asset restrictions to other agencies. Work schedules are coordinated with operating agencies, factoring in the needs and activities of other agencies and adjacent jurisdictions. Work schedules are also distributed to Information Service Providers for dissemination to the traveling public.
MCM Work Zone Safety Management This equipment package remotely monitors work zone safety systems that detect vehicle intrusions in work zones and warns crew workers and drivers of imminent encroachment. Crew movements are also monitored so that the crew can be warned of movement beyond the designated safe zone.
On-board EV En Route Support This on-board equipment package supports dispatch, routing, and tracking of an emergency vehicle. Dispatch and routing information are received and presented to the driver and vehicle location and status are tracked and provided back to the dispatcher. This equipment package supports traffic signal preemption via short range communication directly with signal control equipment and sends alert messages to surrounding vehicles. It also supports communications with care facilities, sharing patient status and care facility status between the en route emergency vehicle and the care facility.
On-board EV Incident Management Communication This on-board equipment package provides communications support to first responders. Information about the incident, information on dispatched resources, and ancillary information such as road and weather conditions are provided to emergency personnel. Emergency personnel transmit information about the incident such as identification of vehicles and people involved, the extent of injuries, hazardous material, resources on site, site management strategies in effect, and current clearance status. Emergency personnel may also send in-vehicle signing messages to approaching traffic using short range communications.
On-board Maintenance This on-board equipment package collects and processes transit vehicle maintenance data including mileage and vehicle operating conditions. This maintenance information is provided to the management center and used to schedule future vehicle maintenance and repair.
On-board Paratransit Operations This on-board equipment package forwards paratransit and flexible-route dispatch requests to the operator and forwards acknowledgements to the center. It coordinates with, and assists the operator in managing multi-stop runs associated with demand responsive transit services including paratransit. The equipment package collects transit vehicle passenger data and makes it available to the center.
On-board Passenger Counting This on-board equipment package collects transit vehicle loading data and makes it available to the center. It provides two-way communication between the transit vehicle and center.
On-board Schedule Management This on-board equipment package monitors schedule performance and identifies corrective actions when a deviation is detected. It provides two-way communication between the transit vehicle and center, enabling the center to communicate with the vehicle operator and monitor on-board systems.
On-board Transit Fare Management This on-board equipment package supports fare collection using a standard fare card or other non-monetary fare medium and detects payment violations. Collected fare data are made available to the center.
On-board Transit Information Services This equipment package furnishes en-route transit users with real-time travel-related information on-board a transit vehicle. Current information that can be provided to transit users includes transit routes, schedules, transfer options, fares, real-time schedule adherence, current incidents, weather conditions, non-motorized transportation services, and special events are provided. In addition to tailored information for individual transit users, this equipment package also supports general annunciation and/or display of general schedule information, imminent arrival information, and other information of general interest to transit users.
On-board Transit Security This equipment package provides security and safety functions on-board the transit vehicle. It includes surveillance and sensor systems that monitor the on-board environment, silent alarms that can be activated by transit user or vehicle operator, operator authentication, and a remote vehicle disable function. The surveillance equipment includes video (e.g. CCTV cameras), audio systems and/or event recorder systems. The sensor equipment includes threat sensors (e.g. chemical agent, toxic industrial chemical, biological, explosives, and radiological sensors) and object detection sensors (e.g. metal detectors).
On-board Transit Signal Priority This on-board equipment package provides the capability for transit vehicles to request signal priority at signalized intersections, ramps, and interchanges through short range communication directly with traffic control equipment at the roadside.
On-board Transit Trip Monitoring This on-board equipment package tracks vehicle location, monitors fuel usage, collects operational status (doors opened/closed, running times, etc.) and sends the collected, time stamped data to the Transit Management Subsystem.
On-Line Analysis and Mining This equipment package provides advanced data analysis, summarization, and mining features that facilitate discovery of information, patterns, and correlations in large data sets. Multidimensional analysis, selective summarization and expansion of data details, and many other advanced analysis services may be offered by various implementations of this equipment package.
Parking Coordination This equipment package supports communication and coordination between equipped parking facilities and also supports regional coordination between parking facilities and traffic and transit management systems. This equipment package also shares information with transit management systems and information service providers to support multimodal travel planning, including parking reservations capabilities. Information including current parking availability, system status, and operating strategies are shared through this equipment package to enable local parking facility management that supports regional transportation strategies.
Personal Basic Information Reception This equipment package receives formatted traffic advisories, road conditions, transit information, broadcast alerts, and other general traveler information broadcasts and presents the information to the traveler. The traveler information broadcasts are received by personal devices including personal computers and personal portable devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and pagers.
Personal Interactive Information Reception This equipment package provides traffic information, road conditions, transit information, yellow pages (traveler services) information, special event information, and other traveler information that is specifically tailored based on the traveler's request and/or previously submitted traveler profile information. The interactive traveler information capability is provided by personal devices including personal computers and personal portable devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs).
Remote Transit Fare Management This equipment package provides the capability for the traveler to use a common fare medium for transit fares, tolls, and/or parking lot charges. It accepts a service request and means of payment, verifies eligibility, calculates the amount due, collects payment, and identifies payment problems. This equipment package may be implemented using a traveler card reader in a kiosk that includes a communications interface to the financial infrastructure to support payment collection and reconciliation.
Remote Transit Information Services This equipment package furnishes transit users with real-time travel-related information at transit stops, multi-modal transfer points, and other public transportation areas. It provides transit users with information on transit routes, schedules, transfer options, available services, fares, and real-time schedule adherence. In addition to tailored information for individual transit users, this equipment package supports general annunciation and/or display of imminent arrival information and other information of general interest to transit users.
Remote Traveler Security This equipment package provides the capability to report an emergency or summon assistance from secure areas such as transit stops, transit stations, modal transfer facilities, rest stops and picnic areas, park-and-ride areas, tourism and travel information areas, and emergency pull off areas. This package includes interfaces that support initiation of an alarm and presentation of the returned alarm acknowledgement as well as a broadcast message to advise or warn the traveler.
Roadway Basic Surveillance This equipment package monitors traffic conditions using fixed equipment such as loop detectors and CCTV cameras.
Roadway Data Collection This equipment package collects traffic, road, and environmental conditions information for use in transportation planning, research, and other off-line applications where data quality and completeness take precedence over real-time performance. This equipment package includes the sensors, supporting roadside infrastructure, and communications equipment that collects and transfers information to a center for archival.
Roadway Dynamic Lane Management and Shoulder Use This equipment package includes the field equipment, physical overhead lane signs and associated control electronics that are used to manage and control specific lanes and/or the shoulders. This equipment can be centrally controlled by a traffic management center or it can autonomous and monitor traffic conditions and demand along the roadway and determine how to change the lane controls to respond to current conditions. Lane controls can be used to change the lane configuration of the roadway, reconfigure intersections and/or interchanges, allow use of shoulders as temporary travel lanes, designate lanes for use by special vehicles only, such as buses, high occupancy vehicles (HOVs), vehicles attending a special event, etc. and/or prohibit or restrict types of vehicles from using particular lanes. Guidance and information for drivers can be posted on dynamic message signs. This equipment also can automatically notify the enforcement agency of violators of the lane controls.
Roadway Environmental Monitoring This equipment package measures environmental conditions and communicates the collected information back to a center where it can be monitored and analyzed. A broad array of general weather and road surface information may be collected. Weather conditions that may be measured include temperature, wind, humidity, precipitation, and visibility. Surface and sub-surface sensors can measure road surface temperature, moisture, icing, salinity, and other measures.
Roadway Equipment Coordination This equipment package supports direct communications between field equipment. It includes field elements that control and send data to other field elements. This includes coordination between remote sensors and field devices (e.g., Dynamic Message Signs) and coordination between the field devices themselves (e.g., direct coordination between traffic controllers that are controlling adjacent intersections.).
Roadway Incident Detection This equipment package provides incident detection using traffic detectors and surveillance equipment. It monitors for unusual traffic conditions that may indicate an incident or processes surveillance images, watching for potential incidents. This equipment package provides potential incident information as well as traffic flow and images to the center for processing and presentation to traffic operations personnel.
Roadway Probe Data Communications This equipment package collects probe data from passing vehicles that are equipped with a short range communications device. The probe data collected by this equipment package may include link travel times, average speeds, road conditions, and any other data that can be measured and communicated by passing vehicles. This equipment package consists of field equipment that communicates with passing vehicles using short range communications, collects the provided information, and sends the collected information back to a center for processing and distribution.
Roadway Reversible Lanes This equipment package includes field elements that monitor and control reversible lane facilities. It includes the traffic sensors, surveillance equipment, lane control signals, physical lane access controls, and other field elements that manage traffic on these facilities. It provides current reversible lane facility status information and accepts requests and control commands from the controlling center.
Roadway Short Range Traveler Information Communications This equipment package includes field elements that distribute information to vehicles for in-vehicle display. The information may be provided by a center (e.g., variable information on traffic and road conditions in the vicinity of the field equipment) or it may be determined and output locally (e.g., static sign information and signal phase and timing information). This equipment package includes the interface to the center or field equipment that controls the information distribution and the short range communications equipment that provides information to passing vehicles.
Roadway Signal Controls This equipment package includes the field elements that monitor and control signalized intersections. It includes the traffic signal controllers, signal heads, detectors, and other ancillary equipment that supports traffic signal control. It also includes field masters, and equipment that supports communications with a central monitoring and/or control system, as applicable. The communications link supports upload and download of signal timings and other parameters and reporting of current intersection status. This equipment package represents the field equipment used in all levels of traffic signal control from basic actuated systems that operate on fixed timing plans through adaptive systems. It also supports all signalized intersection configurations, including those that accommodate pedestrians.
Roadway Signal Priority This equipment package includes the field elements that receive signal priority requests from transit vehicles approaching a signalized intersection. The request for priority may or may not be granted, based on the overall traffic situation at the intersection, adherence to the schedule of the transit vehicle, etc. If priority is granted, the operation of the traffic signal is adjusted to give an early green indication or hold a green indication that is already displaying
Roadway Speed Monitoring and Warning This equipment package includes the field elements that monitor vehicle speeds. If the speed is determined to be excessive, then roadside equipment can suggest a safe driving speed. Environmental conditions may be monitored and factored into the safe speed advisories that are provided to the motorist. The characteristics of individual vehicles may also be monitored and used to warn vehicles with specific limitations that reduce safe operating speeds, e.g., rollover risk for tall vehicles. The operational status (state of the device, configuration, and fault data) is provided to the center. This equipment package can also provide an enforcement function, reporting speed violations to an enforcement agency.
Roadway Traffic Information Dissemination This equipment package includes field elements that provides information to drivers, including dynamic message signs and highway advisory radio.
Roadway Traffic Metering This equipment package includes the field equipment used to meter traffic on ramps, through interchanges, and on the mainline roadway. The equipment includes dynamic messages signs to provide guidance and information to drivers at and approaching a meter, including information for any special bypass lanes.
Roadway Variable Speed Limits This equipment package includes the field equipment, physical overhead lane signs and associated control electronics that are used to manage and control variable speed limits systems. This equipment monitors traffic and environmental conditions along the roadway. The system can be centrally monitored and controlled by a traffic management center or it can be autonomous, calculating and setting suitable speed limits, usually by lane. This equipment located over and along the roadway displays the speed limits and additional information such as basic safety rules and current traffic information to drivers.
Roadway Warning This equipment package includes the field equipment used to warn drivers approaching hazards on a roadway. Warnings may be generated in response to roadway weather conditions, road surface conditions, traffic conditions including queues, obstacles or animals in the roadway, and any other transient events that can be sensed. The equipment monitors traffic and roadway conditions and may send data to a traffic management center for processing or may process it to determine when a warning should be issued. When it is determined that a warning should be issued, the equipment is used to alert approaching drivers via dynamic warning signs, flashing lights, in-vehicle messages, etc.
Roadway Work Zone Safety This equipment package includes field elements that detect vehicle intrusions in work zones and warns crew workers and drivers of imminent encroachment. Crew movements are also monitored so that the crew can be warned of movement beyond the designated safe zone.
Service Patrol Management This equipment package supports dispatch and communication with roadway service patrol vehicles that monitor roads to aid motorists, offering rapid response to minor incidents.
Standard Rail Crossing This equipment package manages highway traffic at highway-rail intersections (HRIs) where operational requirements do not dictate advanced features (e.g., where rail operational speeds are less than 80 miles per hour). Either passive (e.g., the crossbuck sign) or active warning systems (e.g., flashing lights and gates) are supported depending on the specific requirements for each intersection. These traditional HRI warning systems may also be augmented with other standard traffic management devices. The warning systems are activated on notification of an approaching train by interfaced wayside equipment. The equipment at the HRI may also be interconnected with adjacent signalized intersections so that local control can be adapted to highway-rail intersection activities. Health monitoring of the HRI equipment and interfaces is performed; detected abnormalities are reported through interfaces to the wayside interface equipment and the traffic management subsystem.
TMC Dynamic Lane Management and Shoulder Use This equipment package remotely monitors and controls the system that is used to dynamically manage travel lanes, including temporary use of shoulders as travel lanes. It monitors traffic conditions and demand measured in the field and determines when the lane configuration of the roadway should be changed, when intersections and/or interchanges should be reconfigured, when the shoulders should be used for travel (as a lane), when lanes should be designated for use by special vehicles only, such as buses, high occupancy vehicles (HOVs), vehicles attending a special event, etc. and/or when types of vehicles should be prohibited or restricted from using particular lanes. It controls the field equipment used to manage and control specific lanes and the shoulders. It also can automatically notify the enforcement agency of lane control violations.
TMC Environmental Monitoring This equipment package assimilates current and forecast road conditions and surface weather information using a combination of weather service provider information, information collected by other centers such as the Maintenance and Construction Management Subsystem, and data collected from environmental sensors deployed on and about the roadway. The collected environmental information is monitored and presented to the operator. This information can be used to issue general traveler advisories and support location specific warnings to drivers. Other equipment packages process the collected information and provide decision support.
TMC Incident Detection This equipment package identifies and reports incidents to Traffic Operations Personnel. It remotely monitors and controls traffic sensor and surveillance systems that support incident detection and verification. It analyzes and reduces the collected sensor and surveillance data, external alerting and advisory and incident reporting systems, anticipated demand information from intermodal freight depots, border crossings, special event information, and identifies and reports incidents and hazardous conditions
TMC Incident Dispatch Coordination/Communication This equipment package formulates and manages an incident response that takes into account the incident potential, incident impacts, and resources required for incident management. It supports dispatch of emergency response and service vehicles as well as coordination with other cooperating agencies. It provides access to traffic management resources that provide surveillance of the incident, traffic control in the surrounding area, and support for the incident response. It monitors the incident response and collects performance measures such as incident response and clearance times.
TMC Multimodal Coordination This equipment package supports center-to-center coordination between the Traffic Management and Transit Management Subsystems. It monitors transit operations and provides traffic signal priority for transit vehicles on request from the Transit Management Subsystem.
TMC Regional Traffic Management This equipment package supports coordination between traffic management centers in order to share traffic information between centers as well as control of traffic management field equipment. This coordination supports wide area optimization and regional coordination that spans jurisdictional boundaries; for example, coordinated signal control in a metropolitan area or coordination between freeway operations and arterial signal control within a corridor.
TMC Reversible Lane Management This equipment package remotely monitors and controls reversible lanes. It provides an interface to reversible lane field equipment (traffic sensors, surveillance equipment, lane control signals, physical lane access controls, etc.) and to traffic operations personnel to support central monitoring and control of these facilities.
TMC Roadway Warning This equipment package remotely monitors and controls the systems used to warn drivers approaching hazards on a roadway. It monitors data on roadway conditions from sensors in the field and generates warnings in response to roadway weather conditions, road surface conditions, traffic conditions including queues, obstacles or animals in the roadway, and any other transient events that can be sensed.
TMC Signal Control This equipment package provides the capability for traffic managers to monitor and manage the traffic flow at signalized intersections. This capability includes analyzing and reducing the collected data from traffic surveillance equipment and developing and implementing control plans for signalized intersections. Control plans may be developed and implemented that coordinate signals at many intersections under the domain of a single traffic management subsystem and are responsive to traffic conditions and adapt to support incidents, preemption and priority requests, pedestrian crossing calls, etc.
TMC Speed Monitoring and Warning This equipment package remotely monitors and controls speed monitoring and speed warning systems. It remotely monitors vehicle speeds and presents this information to traffic operations personnel. It configures and controls the speed monitoring and warning equipment that provides safe speed advisories to the motorist. This equipment package can also notify an enforcement agency if excessive speeds are identified.
TMC Traffic Information Dissemination This equipment package disseminates traffic and road conditions, closure and detour information, incident information, driver advisories, and other traffic-related data to other centers, the media, and driver information systems. It monitors and controls driver information system field equipment including dynamic message signs and highway advisory radio, managing dissemination of driver information through these systems.
TMC Traffic Metering This equipment package provides center monitoring and control of traffic metering systems including on ramps, through interchanges, and on the mainline roadway. All types of metering are covered including pre-timed/fixed time, time-based, dynamic and adaptive metering strategies and special bypasses. Metering rates can be calculated based upon historical data or current conditions including traffic, air quality, etc.
TMC Variable Speed Limits This equipment package provides center monitoring and control of variable speed limits systems. It monitors data on traffic and environmental conditions collected from sensors along the roadway. Based on the measured data, it calculates and sets suitable speed limits usually by lane. It controls equipment that posts the current speed limits and displays additional information such as basic safety rules and current traffic information to drivers.
TMC Work Zone Traffic Management This equipment package coordinates work plans with maintenance systems so that work zones are established that have minimum traffic impact. Traffic control strategies are implemented to further mitigate traffic impacts associated with work zones that are established, providing work zone information on driver information systems such as dynamic message signs.
Traffic and Roadside Data Archival This equipment package collects and archives traffic, roadway, and environmental information for use in off-line planning, research, and analysis. The equipment package controls and collects information directly from equipment at the roadside, reflecting the deployment of traffic detectors that are used primarily for traffic monitoring and planning purposes rather than for traffic management.
Traffic Data Collection This equipment package collects and stores traffic information that is collected in the course of traffic operations performed by the Traffic Management Subsystem. This data can be used directly by operations personnel or it can be made available to other data users and archives in the region.
Traffic Equipment Maintenance This equipment package monitors the operational status of field equipment and detects failures. It presents field equipment status to Traffic Operations Personnel and reports failures to the Maintenance and Construction Management Subsystem. The equipment package tracks the repair or replacement of the failed equipment. The entire range of ITS field equipment may be monitored by this equipment package including sensors (traffic, infrastructure, environmental, security, speed, etc.) and devices (highway advisory radio, dynamic message signs, automated roadway treatment systems, barrier and safeguard systems, cameras, traffic signals and override equipment, ramp meters, beacons, security surveillance equipment, etc.).
Transit Center Fare Management This equipment package manages fare collection and passenger load management at the transit center. It provides the back office functions that support transit fare collection, supporting payment reconciliation with links to financial institutions and enforcement agencies for fare violations. It collects data required to determine accurate ridership levels, establish fares, and distribute fare information. This equipment package loads fare data into the vehicle prior to the beginning of normal operations and unloads fare collection data from the vehicle at the close out of normal operations.
Transit Center Fixed-Route Operations This equipment package manages fixed route transit operations. It supports creation of schedules, blocks and runs for fixed and flexible route transit services. The package allows fixed-route and flexible-route transit services to disseminate schedules and automatically updates customer service operator systems with the most current schedule information. This equipment package also supports automated dispatch of transit vehicles. Current vehicle schedule adherence and optimum scenarios for schedule adjustment are also provided. This equipment package also receives and processes transit vehicle loading data.
Transit Center Information Services This equipment package collects the latest available information for a transit service and makes it available to transit customers and to Information Service Providers for further distribution. Customers are provided information at transit stops and other public transportation areas before they embark and on-board the transit vehicle once they are enroute. Information provided can include the latest available information on transit routes, schedules, transfer options, fares, real-time schedule adherence, current incidents, weather conditions, yellow pages, and special events. In addition to general service information, tailored information (e.g., itineraries) are provided to individual transit users.
Transit Center Multi-Modal Coordination The equipment package supports transit service coordination between transit properties and coordinates with other surface and air transportation modes. As part of service coordination, this equipment package shares schedule and trip information, as well as transit transfer cluster (a collection of stop points, stations, or terminals where transfers can be made conveniently) and transfer point information between Multimodal Transportation Service Providers, Transit Agencies, and ISPs. An interface to Traffic Management also supports demand management strategies.
Transit Center Paratransit Operations This equipment package manages demand responsive transit services, including paratransit services. It supports planning and scheduling of these services, allowing paratransit and other demand response transit services to plan efficient routes and better estimate arrival times. This equipment package also supports automated dispatch of paratransit vehicles and tracks passenger pick-ups and drop-offs. Customer service operator systems are updated with the most current schedule information.
Transit Center Passenger Counting This equipment package receives and processes transit vehicle loading data using two-way communications from equipped transit vehicles.
Transit Center Security This equipment package monitors transit vehicle operator or traveler activated alarms received from on-board a transit vehicle. It supports transit vehicle operator authentication and provides the capability to remotely disable a transit vehicle. This equipment package also includes the capability to alert operators and police to potential incidents identified by these security features.
Transit Center Signal Priority The equipment package monitors transit schedule performance and generates requests for transit priority on routes and at certain intersections. This equipment package may coordinate with the Traffic Management Subsystem to provide transit priority along the selected route. It also coordinates with the Transit Vehicle Subsystem to monitor and manage local transit signal priority requests at individual intersections.
Transit Center Vehicle Tracking This equipment package monitors transit vehicle location. The location information is collected via a data communication link between the transit vehicles and the transit center. The location information is presented to the transit operator on a digitized map of the transit service area. The location data may be used to determine real time schedule adherence and update the transit system’s schedule in real-time. The real-time schedule information is provided to Information Service Providers and the Transit Center Information Services equipment package, which furnish the information to travelers.
Transit Data Collection This equipment package collects and stores transit information that is collected in the course of transit operations performed by the Transit Management Subsystem. This data can be used directly by operations personnel or it can be made available to other data users and archives in the region.
Transit Environmental Monitoring This equipment package assimilates current and forecast road conditions and surface weather information from a variety of sources, including both weather service providers and vehicle probes. The collected environmental information is monitored and forwarded to other agencies to more effectively manage transit operations.
Transit Garage Maintenance This equipment package provides advanced maintenance functions for the transit property. It collects operational and maintenance data from transit vehicles, manages vehicle service histories, and monitors operators and vehicles. It collects vehicle mileage data and uses it to automatically generate preventative maintenance schedules for each vehicle by utilizing vehicle tracking data from a prerequisite vehicle tracking equipment package. In addition, it provides information to proper service personnel to support maintenance activities and records and verifies that maintenance work was performed.
Transit Vehicle Assignment This equipment package assigns individual transit vehicles to vehicle blocks and downloads this information to the transit vehicle. It also provides an exception handling process for the vehicle assignment function to generate new, supplemental vehicle assignments when required by changes during the operating day. It provides an inventory management function for the transit facility which stores functional attributes about each of the vehicles owned by the transit operator. These attributes permit the planning and assignment functions to match vehicles with routes based on suitability for the types of service required by the particular routes.
Transit Vehicle Operator Assignment This equipment package automates and supports the assignment of transit vehicle operators to runs. It assigns operators to runs in a fair manner while minimizing labor and overtime services, considering operator preferences and qualifications, and automatically tracking and validating the number of work hours performed by each individual operator. It also provides an exception handling process for the operator assignment function to generate supplemental operator assignments when required by changes during the operating day.
Traveler Secure Area Sensor Monitoring This equipment package includes sensors that monitor conditions of secure areas that are frequented by travelers (i.e., transit stops, transit stations, rest areas, park and ride lots, modal interchange facilities, etc.). The equipment package monitors areas for environmental threats (e.g., chemical agent, toxic industrial chemical, biological, explosives, and radiological sensors), intrusion and motion, and object detection.
Traveler Secure Area Surveillance This equipment package manages surveillance equipment that monitors secure areas in the transportation system that are frequented by travelers (i.e., transit stops, transit stations, rest areas, park and ride lots, modal interchange facilities, etc.). This package collects the images and audio inputs at the secure area and provides the surveillance information to the Emergency Management Subsystem. The equipment package also provides local processing of the video or audio information, providing processed or analyzed results to the Emergency Management Subsystem. This equipment package provides the same functions as the Field Secure Area Surveillance equipment package.
Traveler Telephone Information This equipment package services voice-based traveler requests for information that supports traveler telephone information systems like 511. The equipment package takes requests for traveler information, which could be voice-formatted traveler requests, dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF)-based requests, or a simple traveler information request, and returns the requested traveler information in the proper format. In addition to servicing requests for traveler information, this equipment package also collects and forwards alerts and advisories to traveler telephone information systems.
Vehicle Location Determination This equipment package receives current location of the vehicle from the Location Data Source terminator and provides this information to other equipment packages that use the location information to provide various ITS services.
Vehicle Traffic Probe Support This equipment package includes capabilities for the probe vehicle to identify its location, measure traffic conditions such as link travel time and speed, and transmit these data to a center or roadside equipment.

Last updated: 06-23-13