Overview
This guide is intended to introduce you to systems engineering and provide a basic understanding of how it can be applied to planning, designing, and implementing intelligent transportation systems (ITS) projects. The guide leads you step by step through the project life cycle and describes the systems engineering approach at each step. It describes how to begin implementing the systems engineering approach on your next ITS project and incorporate it more broadly into your organization's business processes and practices.
Reading this guide will make you conversant in systems engineering and familiar with the way that it is being applied to ITS projects today. It won't make you a systems engineering expert. Many excellent and comprehensive resources are available that describe every aspect of systems engineering in detail. These resources are identified throughout the guide in case you want more information.
This document is a resource and a learning tool on the topic of systems engineering. It is not formal guidance from US DOT on how to meet the systems engineering requirements in FHWA Rule 940 and the FTA National ITS Architecture Policy. Compliance with the Rule/Policy is actually established by each FHWA Division and FTA Regional Office. It is strongly recommended that you contact your federal representative for the specific requirements in your state.