List of Figures and List of Tables September 10, 2010
Assessment of Emerging Opportunities for Real-Time, Multimodal Decision Support Systems in Transportation Operations
Concept of Operations Final Draft
Contract Number: DTFH61-06-D-00005 Task Order T-10-007
Submitted to:
United States Department of Transportation
ITS Joint Program Office
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
RITA Report Number FHWA-JPO-10-058
Submitted by:
Science Applications International Corporation and Delcan Corporation
May 17, 2011
Quality Assurance StatementThe U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. USDOT periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvements.
Technical Report Documentation Page
TBD / 2. Government Accession No. / 3. Recipient’s Catalog No.
4. Title and Subtitle:
Assessment of Emerging Opportunities for Real-Time, Multimodal Decision Support Systems in Transportation Operations
Task 4 Concept of Operations / 5. Report Date
May 17, 2011
6. Performing Organization Code
7. Authors:
Dan Lukasik, Bruce Churchill, Jackie Golob, Teresa Malone, Elliot Hubbard / 8. Performing Organization Report No.
9. Performing Organization Name and Address
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)
8301 Greensboro Drive, Mailstop E-12-3
McLean, VA 22102-3608 / 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)
11. Contract or Grant No.
DTFH61-06-D-00005, Task No. T-10-007
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
United States Department of Transportation
ITS Joint Program Office
Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA)
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590-0001 / 13. Type of Report and Period Covered
14. Sponsoring Agency Code
HOIT-1
15. Supplementary Notes
Mr. Dale Thompson (COTM)
16. Abstract
Not Applicable
17. Key Words
Multimodal, Decision Support Systems, DSS, Real-time, Transportation Operations / 18. Distribution Statement
No restrictions.
19. Security Classif. (of this report)
Unclassified / 20. Security Classif. (of this page)
Unclassified / 21. No of Pages
63 / 22. Price
N/A
Table of Contents May 17, 2011
Contents
1 Section 1 – Scope 1-1
1.1 Identification 1-1
1.2 Document Overview 1-1
1.3 Real-Time Multimodal DSS Definition 1-2
1.4 System Overview 1-2
2 Section 2 – Referenced Documents 2-1
3 Section 3 – Current System or Situation 3-1
3.1 Background, Objectives and Scope 3-1
3.2 Operational Policies and Constraints 3-2
3.3 Description of the Current System or Situation 3-3
3.3.1 Existing RTMDSS Technologies and Methodologies 3-3
3.3.2 DSS Implementation 3-4
3.3.3 RTMDSS Capabilities 3-5
3.4 Classes and Other Involved Personnel 3-6
3.5 Support Environment 3-6
3.6 Conclusions Regarding the Current Situation 3-11
4 Justification For and Nature of Changes 4-1
4.1 Justification for Changes 4-1
4.2 Description of Desired Changes 4-2
4.3 Priorities among Changes 4-3
4.4 Changes Considered but not Included 4-4
4.5 System Needs 4-4
5 Concepts for the Proposed System 5-1
5.1 Background, Objectives and Scope 5-1
5.1.1 Background 5-1
5.1.2 Objectives 5-1
5.1.3 Scope 5-2
5.2 Operational Policies and Constraints 5-2
5.2.1 Policies 5-2
5.2.2 Constraints 5-2
5.3 Description of the Proposed System 5-2
5.3.1 GIS-Based Visualization Platform 5-6
5.3.2 Source(s) of Real-Time Data 5-6
5.3.3 Source(s) of Historical or Archived Data 5-6
5.3.4 Persistent Data Storage 5-6
5.3.5 Business Process Engine 5-6
5.3.6 Expert Systems or Other Rule-Based Systems 5-7
5.3.7 Traffic Responsive and Other Predictive Algorithms 5-7
5.3.8 Faster Than Real-Time Modeling 5-7
5.3.9 Off-Line Modeling 5-8
5.4 Modes of Operation 5-8
5.5 System User Groups and Other Involved Personnel 5-8
5.6 Support Environment 5-10
6 Operational Scenarios 6-1
6.1 Real-Time Multimodal DSS Assumptions 6-1
6.2 “Generic” Scenarios 6-1
6.3 Scenario Analysis 6-2
6.3.1 Scenario #1: Daily Operations 6-4
6.3.2 Scenario #2: Major Traffic Incident 6-6
6.3.3 Scenario #3: Major Evacuation 6-9
6.3.4 Scenario #4: Significant Winter Weather Event 6-11
6.3.5 Scenario #5: Special Event 6-13
7 Summary of Impacts 7-16
7.1 Operational Impacts 7-16
7.2 Organizational Impacts 7-16
7.3 Procurement/Development Impacts 7-16
7.3.1 Iterative Development 7-16
7.3.2 Communications 7-17
7.3.3 Data Management 7-18
7.3.4 Web Access 7-18
7.3.5 Interoperability 7-18
7.3.6 Logistical Support 7-18
8 Analysis of Proposed System 8-1
8.1 Summary of Improvements 8-1
8.2 Disadvantages and Limitations 8-1
8.2.1 Disadvantages 8-1
8.2.2 Limitations 8-1
8.3 Alternatives and Trade-Offs Considered 8-2
9 Appendices 9-1
Real-Time Multimodal DSS Concept of Operations (Final Draft) iii
List of Figures and List of Tables May 17, 2011
List of Figures
Figure 11: Conceptual View of an RTMDSS with Inputs, Processing, and Outputs 1-4
Figure 51: Notional RTMDSS 5-4
Figure 52: Response Plan Processing Hierarchy 5-4
Figure 53: Nominal High-Level Architecture for RTMDSS 5-5
Figure 54: Notional Example of a Freeway Management Business Process 5-7
Figure 61: Generic System Information Flow Diagram 6-3
Figure 62: Scenario 1 System Information Flow Diagram 6-4
Figure 63: Scenario 2 System Information Flow Diagram 6-6
Figure 64: Scenario 2 Phasing Diagram 6-8
Figure 65: Scenario 3 System Information Flow Diagram 6-9
Figure 66: Scenario 3 Phasing Diagram 6-10
Figure 67: Scenario 4 System Information Flow Diagram 6-11
Figure 68: Scenario 4 Phasing Diagram 6-12
Figure 69: Scenario 5 System Information Flow Diagram 6-13
Figure 610: Scenario 5 Phasing Diagram 6-15
Figure 71: Notional Data Architecture for a Regional Transportation Network 7-19
List of Tables
Table 11: A Taxonomy of Transportation Modes and Facilities. 1-2
Table 31: Generic Support Environment – Agency Roles and Responsibilities 3-7
Table 41: System Needs 4-4
Table 51: System User Groups 5-8
Table 71: Iterative Deployment Functions and Benefits 7-17
Real-Time Multimodal DSS Concept of Operations (Final Draft) iv
List of Abbreviations May 17, 2011
List of Abbreviations
AMS Arterial Management System
ATMS Advanced Transportation Management System
CAD Computer Aided Dispatch
CCTV Closed-Circuit Television
CMS Changeable Message Sign
CONOPS Concept of Operations
COP Common Operating Picture
COTS Commercial Off-the-Shelf
DMS Dynamic Message Sign
DOT Department of Transportation
DSS Decision Support System
EMS Emergency Medical Service
ESM Event Scenario Matrix
EOC Emergency Operations Center
FHWA Federal Highway Administration
FMS Freeway Management System
FOC Full Operational Capability
GIS Geographical Information System
GLIDE Green LInk DEtermination
GUI Graphical User Interface
HAR Highway Advisory Radio
HAT Highway Advisory Telephone
HOV High Occupancy Vehicle
HP Highway Patrol
ICM Integrated Corridor Management
ICMS Integrated Corridor Management System
IOC Initial Operational Capability
ISP Information Service Providers
ITS Intelligent Transportation Systems
IVR Interactive Voice Response
LCS Lane Closure System
MDSS Maintenance Decision Support System
MEO Medical Examiner’s Office
MMS Modal Management System
MPO Metropolitan Planning organization
NTCIP National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol
OBU On-Board Unit
OODA Observe-Orient-Decide-Act
PND Personal Navigation Device
PPP Public Private Partnership
RMS Road Management System
RSU Road Side Unit
RTMDSS Real-Time Multimodal Decision Support System
SMS Short Message Service
SOA Service Oriented Architecture
TIMS Traffic Incident Management System
TMC Transportation Management Center
TMS Transportation Management System
TMDD Transportation Management Data Dictionary
TMT Traffic Management Team
TOC Transportation or Traffic Operations Center
TODSS Transit Operations Decision Support System
TRB Transportation Research Board
TSCS Traffic Signal Control System
TSP Transit Signal Priority
USDOT United States Department of Transportation
VDOT Virginia Department of Transportation
XML Extensible Markup Language
Real-Time Multimodal DSS Concept of Operations (Final Draft) 5-8
Referenced Documents May 17, 2011
1 Section 1 – Scope
1.1 Identification
Through the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Connected Vehicle Research Program, the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO) is engaged in assessing the potential of the multi-source, active-acquisition data paradigm to enhance current operational practices and transform future surface transportation systems management. The Connected Vehicle Research Program is a collaborative initiative spanning the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Program objectives include:
· Enable systematic data capture from vehicles, mobile devices, and infrastructure;
· Develop data environments that enable the integration of data from multiple sources for use in transportation management and performance measurement; and
· Reduce costs of data management and eliminate technical and institutional barriers to the capture, management, and sharing of data.
One foundational element of the Connected Vehicle Research program is the investigation of how to transform the transportation management and operations archetype by utilizing Connected Vehicle data (i.e., real-time user data captured from personal mobile devices and vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications). One such initiative is the deployment of real-time, multimodal Decision Support Systems, the topic of this Concept of Operations document.
The USDOT is undertaking this project to assess the emerging opportunities for Real-time Multimodal Decision Support Systems (RTMDSS) in transportation operations. One of the first tasks of this project has been to conduct a scan of the current Decision Support System (DSS) practice and capabilities. That task has been completed and a RTMDSS Stakeholder Working Group has been formed to help identify user needs and expectations and help communicate those needs to a wider audience of potential developers and supporters of the RTMDSS concept. The current task, and the subject of this document, concerns a Concept of Operations (ConOps) developed with input from stakeholders obtained during an initial RTMDSS ConOps webinar and a two-day face-to-face ConOps meeting held on March 23-24, 2011. During this meeting it was agreed that the ConOps should be developed to represent a year 2020-2025 timeframe.
Once finalized, a set of functional systems and data requirements will be added to the study, and the first phase of the project will be completed with a Gap Analysis Assessment Report with recommended RTMDSS research activities.
1.2 Document Overview
This document is organized and will be presented following the guidelines of IEEE 1362-1998 - IEEE Guide for Information Technology - System Definition - Concept of Operations (ConOps) Document. The sections are as follows:
Section 1 - Scope
Section 2 - Referenced Documents
Section 3 - Current System or Situation
Section 4 - Justification for and Nature of Changes
Section 5 - Concept for Proposed System
Section 6 - Operational Scenarios
Section 7 - Summary of Impacts
Section 8 - Analysis of Proposed System
Section 9 - Appendices
1.3 Real-Time Multimodal DSS Definition
It is necessary to take as a starting point an agreed definition of Real-Time Multimodal DSS. With support from the various descriptions of transportation DSS in the current situation the following represents a working definition of Real-Time Multimodal DSS:
“Real-Time, Multimodal Decision Support Systems (RTMDSS) are information systems that support multimodal, transportation operational decision-making in real time. An RTMDSS is an interactive, software-intensive system that gathers data from multiple relevant real-time data sources and knowledge bases. It uses this data, along with models, processes or analyses to implement context-specific actions and recommendations to assist managers in the process of collaboratively managing a multimodal transportation network to increase system efficiency and improve individual mobility, providing safe, reliable, and secure movement of goods and people.”
RTMDSS actions are most often provided as a function (or functions) within modal management system software and are intended to influence traffic control devices, communications systems, traveler information devices and traveler information media (e.g., 511 systems).
1.4 System Overview
We begin with the modes applicable to this project. Table 11 lists commonly encountered modes in surface transportation and the facilities on which they typically operate. These are the modes applicable to this project.
Table 11: A Taxonomy of Transportation Modes and Facilities.
Mode / Facility /Privately owned vehicles / Freeways, toll roads, arterials, parking
Commercial vehicles (goods)
Commercial vehicles (passengers) / Freeways, toll roads, arterials
Freeways, toll roads, arterials, airport (ground side roadways)
Buses / Freeways, toll roads, arterials, busways
Public Safety vehicles / All roadways
Light rail / On-street tracks, dedicated rail right-of-way
Commuter rail / Dedicated rail right-of-way – used/owned
Heavy Rail / Dedicated rail right-of-way – used/owned; generally covers a larger geographic area than Commuter Rail
Freight rail / Dedicated rail right-of-way - owned
Inter-City rail (Amtrak) / Dedicated rail right-of-way - used
Ferry / Waterway
The RTMDSS is envisioned to consist of the following high level components and features:
· Existing agency single-mode management systems, including:
o Freeway Management Systems
o Arterial Management Systems
o Bus Transit Management Systems
o Rail Transit Management Systems
o Parking Management Systems
o Commercial Vehicle Systems
o Airport (Ground) Management Systems
o Ferry Systems
· External information and data sources that are necessary for the DSS process. Sources include weather data, special event data (e.g., major sports events impacting congestion), external congestion data, emergency/evacuation information, news/data feeds, etc.
· A common network interface that extracts information from both legacy and new modal management systems, facilitates communications among such systems, and provides useful outputs to other external systems (e.g., end users and user systems).
· A centralized DSS, seen as an interactive, software-based system that extracts useful information from a combination of modal data sources and knowledge bases (operational rules) and converts these into actions and/or recommendations that influence performance of the transportation network. Its purpose is to detect network anomalies and to produce recommended and/or automated decisions, based on accepted operational rules, targeted to system managers. Note the question of whether all RTMDSS recommendations must be implemented by an operator is subject to the requirements of the system(s) to be developed.
Figure 11 presents a conceptual view of the flow of RTMDSS inputs and outputs with respect to its users.
Figure 11: Conceptual View of an RTMDSS with Inputs, Processing, and Outputs
Note the difference between “active” RTMDSS outputs, which directly influence traffic control systems and devices, and “passive” outputs, which provide information to transportation system users and managers in human-understandable form (e.g., e-mail, text messages, web pages, integrated voice response, in-vehicle signing). System “users” are divided into commercial and fleet users vs. private users. “Managers” can be divided into single mode managers (freeway, arterial, transit, etc.) and multimodal managers. The latter are not yet commonly found but will become increasingly needed as RTMDSS systems mature.