Intelligent Cooperative Systems

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As with all ITS services, applications and deployment, the very introduction of the new approach means that the way in which we work has to also change. This remains one of the biggest challenges to operational systems and services.

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Security and resilience: High integrity data, attack proof certification systems, confidence and protection from interference.

Privacy: More important in some countries than others, confidential data, payment systems, integrity.

Navigable databases: High quality, attribute-rich up-to-date mapping, ownership issues.

Road operations: Dealing with implementation, sensor-friendly roads and infrastructure.

As with all ITS services, applications and deployment, the very introduction of the new approach means that the way in which we work has to also change. This remains one of the biggest challenges to operational systems and services. Simple examples of operational challenges faced by road operators include understanding the impact on non equipped vehicles, dealing with platoons of trucks (that may mask road signs from car drivers, or make joining or leaving a motorway a challenge). However, the added value for road operators includes greater ability to influence drivers and routeing; increased safety and smoother traffic flow; more and better quality traffic data and intelligence, road condition alerts, early notification of incidents and accidents, reduced signage costs, increased journey time reliability, improved enforcement (e.g. speeding, over-weight vehicles) and great public relations opportunities. To enable a debate on ICS between the motor industry and the road operators, a joint task force was established in 2008.

Piarc/Fisita Joint Task Force on Intelligent Cooperative Vehicles

The World Road Association (PIARC) is a non-political and non-profit making association. It was granted consultative status to the Economic and Social Council of United Nations in 1970. Current membership includes 118 Governments. PIARC is the world leader in the exchange of knowledge on roads and road transport policy and practices within an integrated sustainable transport context. The PIARC technical committee on network operations considers aspects of ITS among its area of remit.

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In the USA, the IntelliDrive programme focuses on safety technology for situational awareness around the vehicle, autonomous technology, vehicle to vehicle connectivity and services that will initially inform the driver and ultimately prevent crashes

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FISITA, the International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies is the World body for automotive engineers with a membership of over 155,000. In 2007, a Memorandum of Understanding between PIARC and FISITA was signed which committed both organisations to work closely together. This proved to be a breakthrough for communications between the road authorities and the automotive engineers. A joint task force (JTF) was established to consider the issues associated with ICS. The mandate was clear in that the JTF would not deal with technical or standardisation aspects which were already being addressed elsewhere. The role of the task force is to consider the softer issues, those dealing with operations, funding, deployment roll out and business cases. The objective is to inform stakeholders and to help accelerate deployment.

Conclusions

Road operators need evidence of benefits, a stable systems approach and access to data to understand liability and privacy issues, change how they operate and have control and understanding of the cost involved in operating and maintaining the systems.

The automotive sector needs to be able to engage with road operators, seek public investment, require road side equipment and rely on standards. It also needs to understand the liability and privacy aspects and secure the necessary investment.

Deployment of inter-connected cooperative systems will require:

• A commercial case for investment

• A public case for deployment, fitting in with current road network operations practice

• Proof of consumer and societal benefits

• A workable “connected vehicle” operations model

• The means to manage deployment challenges and above all,

• Political, financial and operational justification

The finding of the JTF will be published by mid 2011. Those involved from the road operations and automotive engineering sides are committed to accelerated deployment to unlock the potential of intelligent cooperative systems as they help us save lives, reduce accidents, improve information and unlock the community wide benefits of intelligent transport systems.

Richard Harris, Director

Intelligent Transport Systems, Logica

rich.harris@logica.com

(Acknowledgements: Members of the

PIARC/FISITA Joint Task Force)