Via USDOT press release

The USDOT has released four new reports highlighting its latest research initiatives and findings related to intelligent transportation systems (ITS):

• Coordination of Mobile Devices: Technology and Standards Scan (FHWA-JPO-15-224): This document presents the technology scan and standards assessment performed for the USDOT project on utilizing mobile devices in connected vehicle applications. This project seeks to develop personal safety and mobility messages that complement existing basic safety and vehicle situation data messages exchanged in the connected vehicle environment by utilizing mobile devices. The document describes terminology and the scenario development process, which identifies scenarios that will be utilized in the project's concept and design phases. The report provides an overview of relevant communication and connected vehicle technology, and identifies the most capable technologies for supporting these use cases. Finally, it summarizes domestic and international industry standards, and identifies the standards that are most applicable for incorporating mobile devices into the connected vehicle environment.

• U.S.-Japan Collaborative Research on Evaluation Tools and Methods: Comparison of Evaluation Tools and Methods Used in the United States and Japan (FHWA-JPO-16-326): The U.S. and Japan have similar transportation challenges, and share a common belief that cooperative systems can deliver significant societal benefits for road users, especially in terms of safer, more energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly surface transportation. The two regions recognize that coordinated research can reduce costs and accelerate the development, deployment, and adoption of cooperative systems. The report is an outcome of the U.S.-Japan bi-lateral collaborative research on evaluation tools and methods. The report includes case studies of cost-benefit evaluations, including performance indicators and measurement methods, of ITS and cooperative systems in the U.S. and Japan. It also has a comparison and assessment of existing evaluation methods used for evaluating ITS and cooperative systems; a consistent glossary of terms for evaluations; and consistent categorization and organization of performance indicators and measurement methods.

• Accessible Transportation Technologies Research Initiative (ATTRI) User Needs Assessment: Stakeholder Engagement Report (FHWA-JPO-16-354): ATTRI is a joint USDOT initiative that is co-led by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. ATTRI is also supported by the ITS Joint Program Office (JPO); the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research; and other Federal agencies. ATTRI is being conducted in three phases spanning over 6 years, the exploratory and user needs research phase (year 1), the innovation and prototype phase (years 2-4), and the demonstration phase (years 5-6). Within each phase, a number of activities are being conducted including extensive stakeholder outreach, communications, and technology scanning activities to identify the current state of the industry. This document provides a report on one such activity that was conducted to solicit feedback and information from stakeholders on user needs. Three different stakeholder engagement and outreach activities were conducted as part of this project, including a literature review, a webinar series, conference presentations with "listening sessions," and an in-person workshop. 

• Assessment Report of US-Japan-Europe Collaborative Research on Probe Data: International Probe Data Work Group Phase 2 (FHWA-JPO-16-356): The USDOT; Japan's Road Bureau of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism; and the European Union's European Commission Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content, and Technology have a long history of sharing information on ITS activities. A US-Japan-Europe ITS Task Force was established specifically to facilitate the exchange of information and identify areas for collaborative research for the development and deployment of ITS in the three nations. The task force identified the following four high-priority areas for conducting collaborative research: (1) international standards; (2) evaluation tools and methods; (3) probe data; and (4) automation in road transport. This report documents the work conducted from the fall of 2013 through the fall of 2015 to:
  • Add probe system and probe data inputs from the European team
  • Significantly expand on the initial assessment, providing an extensive expansion on assessing the three applications
  • Discuss cross-cutting issues that affect all three applications
  • Introduce the next steps for future collaboration.

To learn more about the ITS JPO's research, please visit: www.its.dot.gov.