Author

Adel W. Sadek
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Vermont
E-mail: asadek@emba.uvm.edu
Phone:(802) 656-4126 Fax:(802) 656-8446

Description

This course is focused on the current and potential applications of ITS as defined by the Advanced Rural Transportation Systems (ARTS) program. After a short introduction to the characteristics of rural areas, the course describes the program’s vision and goals. ARTS’ seven critical program areas (CPAs), which provide areas of common interest and focus within the overall program, are discussed next, along with the way in which they relate to the National ITS Architecture User Services. The material presented in the course is illustrated by examples of rural ITS implementations corresponding to the ARTS deployment tracks, and some of the “simple solutions” provided by the “Rural ITS Toolbox”. A “hands-on” problem, presented in the last lesson of the course, requires students to define the basic functions of an ARTIS, and to identify the steps and the technologies required to develop this system.

Objectives

After completing this module, the student should be able to:

• Define the attributes of rural areas
• Explain the five goals of the ARTS program
• Discuss potential rural applications as defined in the seven Critical Program Areas (CPAs) of the ARTS program
• Identify the development tracks corresponding to each CPA
• Provide examples of rural ITS projects
• List some of the "simple solutions” for transportation-related problems in rural areas
• Identify the steps and the technologies necessary to develop an ARTIS system

Audience

Public-sector Transportation Professionals including US DOT engineers, planners, project managers, and field staff, FTA Regional staff, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Specialists, and others as appropriate. Transportation professionals from state, regional, and local agencies would also benefit from participation in the course.

Length

Approximately four hours.

Prerequisites

Students taking this module are assumed to be familiar with the following subjects:

• ITS user services
• The National ITS Architecture and its market packages
• ITS communication principles

Outline

Numbers in parentheses refer to pages.

1. Introduction (3-9)
   1. Rural Transportation in Context
   2. Attributes of Rural Areas
   3. Challenges of Rural Transportation
2. The ARTS Program Background (10-19)
   1. ARTS Vision
   2. ARTS Goals
   3. Critical Program Areas
   4. Quiz
3. Rural ITS Development Tracks (20-42)
   1. Track 1. Emergency Services
   2. Track 2. Tourism and Travel Information
   3. Track 3. Traffic Management
   4. Track 4. Rural Transit and Mobility
   5. Track 5. Crash Prevention and Security
   6. Track 6. Operation and Maintenance
   7. Track 7. Surface Transportation and Weather
   8. Relationship between Development Tracks and User Services
   9. Quiz
4. Real-world Examples (43-56)
   1. Advanced Rural Traveler Information Systems (ARTIS): Travel Montana
   2. ARTIS: Travel Shenandoah
   3. Minnesota DOT Snow Plow Vehicle
   4. Advanced Rural Transportation Information and Co-ordination (ARTIC)
   5. The FORETELL Initiative
   6. Idaho Storm Warning System
   7. Quiz
5. Rural ITS Resources (57-65)
   1. The Simple Solutions Project
   2. The Rural ITS Toolbox
   3. Inform
   4. Quiz
6. Exercise: Build an ARTIS (66-68)
7. Course Completion (69)
8. Final Examination (70)