Research Paper Example on Intelligent Transportation Systems

Introduction

Intelligent Transportation Systems also known as ITS is an information and communication technology. The possibility of this technology is endless; to name some of the benefits, improved safety, efficient and sustainability transportation system, and others. ITS are already in use in our highway systems and rail intersections. This research paper will introduce history and background of Intelligent transportation systems and discuss the benefits and challenges of the technology.

1 History and Background

This section will discuss the history of ITS and introduce some of the functionalities of the technology that is in use today.

1.1 History

In the 1980s, safety and environmental concerns became the focus of transportation policy. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (2016), “There were 51,091 highway fatalities in 1980, and gas shortages in the 1970s led to a Congressional mandate that required new vehicles to get a minimum number of miles per gallon of fuel. In addition, widespread concern about air pollution and the environment led Congress to start regulating automobile emissions”. Government agencies saw the possibility to solve several of those issues through information, sensing, communication, and controls technologies. During this decade, universities started research and it was funded by USDOT. In 1984, the Los Angeles Automated Traffic Surveillance and Control Systems was installed. It integrated vehicle detectors, closed-circuit television, and coordinated signal timing. In 1990, the Intelligence Vehicle Highway Society of America (IVHS America) was formed. According to U.S. Department of Transportation Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (2016), “This crucial step established the foundation for the Federal-aid ITS program and the public-private partnerships that have continued to this day”. In 2012, President Obama signed MAP-21 into law. This program funds surface transportation programs that build on highway, transit, pedestrian, and bike. Programs like these has played a big role in advancing the technology.

1.2 Functions

Transportation intelligence systems (ITS) helps transportation and traffic systems by integrating technology to transportation infrastructure. Currently, ITS is used in closed circuit tv, vehicle detection, high speed fiber and wireless network, electronic toll collection (ETC) systems use overhead radars to increase operation efficiency. Automated incident detection use camera to detect crashes and report to emergency responders. This improves emergency response time. Transportation management and operations (tsmo) is used for traffic signal coordination. It improves the flow of traffic at different intersections. Scoop improves signal timing based on real-time changes in traffic volume. It is also used in transit signal priority by using sensors to improve transit performance.

Today, intelligent transportation system is used and accepted in several countries worldwide. One example is the combination between commuters and public transportation. public buses and transit, timings, current location of the vehicle, etc. We can see ITS being used as sensors, information processors, communication systems, roadside messages, GPS updates and automated traffic personization signals. There is a potential this technology to advance in the data collection, transmission, analysis, and traveler information areas. 

2 Benefits

“Safety is our top priority, and V2V technology represents the next great advance in saving lives. This technology could move us from helping people survive crashes to helping them avoid crashes altogether—saving lives, saving money, and even saving fuel thanks to the widespread benefits it offers” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx (2016).

2.1 Safety of the Nation’s Transportation Systems Improvement

Intelligent transportation systems can improve the safety of the nation’s transportation system. It will reduce collision and collision related fatalities. According to the United States Departments of Transportation, “Safety—In 2009, there were 5.5 million crashes and 2.2 million injuries. In 2010, the number of fatalities dropped by 3 percent but still accounted for 32,788 deaths, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA)”. Even though 3% may not seem a lot but those 3% account for 165,000 crashes that were avoided.

Additionally, ITS can also be used as a traffic calming devices making our streets safer. According to DOT, speeding vehicles reduced by 23.7% at highway work area when photo-radar enforcement van was used in northeast Portland. We also have seen red light photo enforcements reduce crashes and reduce red light crossers. Speed management systems also can reduce crashes and improve safety during winter season.  

2.2Energy Environmental Cost

Harmful emission and energy consumption would reduce with the advancement of ITS technology. According to U.S. Department of Transportation (2016), the benefits of electric screening are time savings at 1.5 to 4.5 minutes per bypass, fewer inspections, and weigh station traffic would reduce. When there is efficiency in the transportation system, people would get faster from point A to B using less energy. According to Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office, “the total amount of wasted fuel topped 3.9 billion gallons in 2009, according to the Texas Transportation Institute, equivalent to 130 days of flow in the Alaska Pipeline”. With the advancement of the technology, there is a potential to avoid the millions of gallons of wasted fuel.

2.3 Present and Future Productivity

Whether people are using public transit or driving personal vehicle, travel time can be reduced with ITS. According to DOT, “Mobility—Measured in constant 2009 dollars, the cost of congestion in urban areas rose from $24 billion in 1982 to $115 billion in 2009, according to the Texas Transportation Institute. U.S. highway users waste 4.8 billion hours a year stuck in traffic—nearly one full work week (or vacation week) for every urban traveler”. It is evident that when our streets are safer, crashes and fatalities reduce. Individuals and governmental agencies can save money and resources when there are less crashes. With the potential ITS advancements have, as a society we can benefit from the new technology as it can solve safety, travel time, and cost.

3 Challenges and Opportunities

This section will discuss the challenges ITS faces and opportunities for growth.

3.1 Protecting Privacy

We live in a time where most of our daily activities are recorded, or data is being collected with or without our knowledge. We also have seen instances where companies have abused data. Technology is advancing faster than law and policy makers. ITS technologies raise privacy concerns. According to Chowdhury (2012), “Each of these technologies might reveal individuals’ information by which the recognition of that individual becomes possible. In this regard, it is requisite for the responsible agencies to address these issues through techniques and/or policies to reduce the possibility of any abuse of data”. The world is not perfect, and humans continue to discriminate and target people based on their skin color, religion, gender, and other. If individual’s privacy is not appropriately protected, this technology has the potential to be dangerous.

3.2 Ethical and Social Implications

If every intersection has a camera with speed and red-light enforcement, it can cause some social implications. As a society we need to decide if it is acceptable to be monitored and watched of every move we make. In other industries we have seen the misuse of data or specific people being targeted. Algorithms do not have the ability to understand what is ethical and socially acceptable. We cannot solely rely on algorithms to make decisions on behave of us. The currently in place polices and laws are far behind compared to the advancement of technology we have reached. If policy makers are not going to be couple steeps ahead of technology, we will continue to see misuse and abuse of data. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, ITS have already proven that they have benefits and can solve the transportation issues we face and improved our experience. It is important that we continue to invest in research and public, government agencies, and universities continue to work together. With more data, the algorithm has higher accuracy predictions. With the advancement of car technology, ITS devices have the potential to prevent crashes and smooth our transportation system. Emergency response can improve if cameras are able to notice a car that is crashed and call for emergency. With the potential and benefits this technology brings, there is a concern with privacy and ethical implications. The technology rely on data and algorithms, therefore, if polices are not put in place to protect individual privacy’s, data can be abused and create other problems.