2008 Workshop on Power Electronics and Intelligent Transportation System

Research on Intelligent Transportation System Technologies and Applications

Luo Qi 1,2
1
School of Computer Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology,
Wuhan, 430073, China
2
Information Engineering School, Zhongnan Branch of Wuhan University of Science and
Technology, Wuhan, 430223, Hubei, China

Abstract management systems; variable message signs; automatic

number plate recognition or speed cameras to monitoring
ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) has been applications, such as security CCTV systems; and to more
developed since the beginning of 1970s, which makes advanced applications that integrate live data and
human, vehicles, roads united and harmonic and feedback from a number of other sources, such as parking
establishes a wider range, fully efficient, real-time and guidance and information systems; weather information;
accurate information manage system. In the paper, bridge deicing systems; and the like. Additionally,
intelligent transportation technologies such as Wireless predictive techniques are being developed in order to
communications, Computational technologies, and allow advanced modeling and comparison with historical
Sensing technologies have been proposed. Intelligent baseline data. Some of the constituent technologies
transportation applications are also introduced. This is a typically implemented in ITS are described in the
belief abstract for an invited talk at the workshop on following sections.
power Electronics and Intelligent transportation system.
2. 1 Wireless communications
1. Introduction
Various forms of wireless communications
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is a broad technologies have been proposed for intelligent
range of diverse technologies applied to transportation to transportation systems. Short-range communications (less
make systems safer, more efficient, more reliable and than 500 yards) can be accomplished using IEEE 802.11
more environmentally friendly, without necessarily protocols, specifically WAVE or the Dedicated Short
having to physically alter existing infrastructure [1] . The Range Communications standard being promoted by the
range of technologies involved includes sensor and Intelligent Transportation Society of America and the
control technologies, communications, and computer United States Department of Transportation.
informatics and cuts across disciplines such as Theoretically, the range of these protocols can be
transportation, engineering, telecommunications, extended using Mobile ad-hoc networks or Mesh
computer science, finance, electronic commerce and networking.
automobile manufacturing [2]. ITS is an emerging global Longer range communications have been proposed
phenomenon benefiting public and private sectors alike. using infrastructure networks such as WiMAX (IEEE
For example, ITS makes it possible to implement a 802.16), Global System for Mobile Communications
number of government regulations and processes (e.g., (GSM), or 3G. Long-range communications using these
customs and immigration clearance, transportation safety methods are well established, but, unlike the short-range
compliance, road/bridge toll collection) more protocols, these methods require extensive and very
economically, and to improve corporate productivity expensive infrastructure deployment. There is lack of
through time savings, reduced operating costs and energy consensus as to what business model should support this
consumption, and enhanced reliability and safety [3][4] . infrastructure.

2. Intelligent transportation technologies 2. 2 Computational technologies

Recent advances in vehicle electronics have led to a
Intelligent transportation systems vary in technologies move toward fewer, more capable computer processors
applied, from basic management systems such as car on a vehicle. A typical vehicle in the early 2000s would
navigation; traffic signal control systems; container have between 20 and 100 individual networked

978-0-7695-3342-1/08 $25.00 © 2008 IEEE 529

DOI 10.1109/PEITS.2008.124
microcontroller/Programmable logic controller modules for vehicle safety by the Intelligent Transportation
with non-real-time operating systems. The current trend is Society of America, ERTICO and ITS Japan.
toward fewer, more costly microprocessor modules with While communication frequencies and standards do
hardware memory management and Real-Time Operating differ around the world, there has been a broad push
Systems. The new embedded system platforms allow for toward vehicle infrastructure integration around the 5.9
more sophisticated software applications to be GHz frequency (802.11.x WAVE).
implemented, including model-based process control, Via its National Electronic Tolling Committee
artificial intelligence, and ubiquitous computing. Perhaps representing all jurisdictions and toll road operators, ITS
the most important of these for Intelligent Transportation Australia also facilitated interoperability of toll tags in
Systems is artificial intelligence. Australia for the multi-lane free flow tolls roads.
Other systems that have been used include barcode
2. 3 Sensing technologies stickers, license plate recognition, infrared
Technological advances in telecommunications and communication systems, and Radio Frequency
information technology coupled with state-of-the-art Identification Tags (see M6 Toll tag). Figure 1 is
microchip, RFID, and inexpensive intelligent beacon Electronic toll collection at Costanera Norte Freeway.
sensing technologies have enhanced the technical
capabilities that will facilitate motorist safety benefits for
intelligent transportation systems globally. Sensing
systems for ITS are vehicle and infrastructure based
networked systems, e.g., Intelligent vehicle technologies.
Infrastructure sensors are indestructible (such as in-road
reflectors) devices that are installed or embedded on the
road, or surrounding the road (buildings, posts, and signs
for example) as required and may be manually
disseminated during preventive road construction
maintenance or by sensor injection machinery for rapid
deployment of the embedded radio frequency powered (or
RFID) in-ground road sensors. Vehicle-sensing systems
include deployment of infrastructure-to-vehicle and
vehicle-to-infrastructure electronic beacons for
identification communications and may also employ the Figure 1 Electronic toll collection at Costanera Norte
benefits of CCTV automatic number plate recognition Freeway
technology at desired intervals in order to increase
sustained monitoring of suspect vehicles operating in
critical zones.
3. 2 Automatic road enforcement
A traffic enforcement camera system, consisting of a
camera and a vehicle-monitoring device, is used to detect
3. Intelligent transportation applications and identify vehicles disobeying a speed limit or some
other road legal requirement and automatically ticket
3. 1 Electronic toll collection offenders based on the license plate number. Traffic
tickets are sent by mail. Applications include:
Electronic toll collection (ETC) makes it possible for Speed cameras that identify vehicles traveling over the
vehicles to drive through toll gates at traffic speed, legal speed limit. Many such devices use radar to detect a
reducing congestion at toll plazas and automating toll vehicle's speed or electromagnetic loops buried in each
collection. Originally ETC systems were used to automate lane of the road.
toll collection, but more recent innovations have used Red light cameras that detect vehicles that cross a stop
ETC to enforce congestion pricing through cordon zones line or designated stopping place while a red traffic light
in city centers and ETC lanes. is showing.
Until recent years, most ETC systems were based on Bus lane cameras that identify vehicles traveling in lanes
using radio devices in vehicles that would use proprietary reserved for buses. In some jurisdictions, bus lanes can
protocols to identify a vehicle as it passed under a gantry also be used by taxis or vehicles engaged in car pooling.
over the roadway. More recently there has been a move to Level crossing cameras that identify vehicles crossing
standardize ETC protocols around the Dedicated Short railways at grade illegally.
Range Communications protocol that has been promoted Double white line cameras that identify vehicles crossing
these lines.

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High-occupancy vehicle lane cameras for that identify
vehicles violating HOV requirements. 4. Conclusion
Turn cameras at intersections where specific turns are
prohibited on red. This type of camera is mostly used in Intelligent transportation system (ITS) is a foreland
cities or heavy populated areas. Figure 2 is Automatic research task which applied the electronics to the traffic
speed surveillance and enforcement equipment field in the world.

References
[1] Y. Zhao, Vehicle Location and Navigation Systems.
Norwood, MA: Artech House, 1997.
[2] FCC, “FCC acts to promote competition and public
safety in enhanced wireless 911 services,” Washington,
DC: WT Rep. 99-27, Sept. 15, 1999.
[3] Y. Zhao, “Vehicle navigation and information
systems,” in Encyclopedia of Electrical and Electronics
Engineering, J. G. Webster, Ed. New York: Wiley, 1999,
vol. 23, pp. 106–118.
[4] C. Drane and C. Rizons, Positioning Systems in
Intelligent Transportation Systems. Norwood, MA:
Figure 2 Automatic speed surveillance and Artech House, 1998.
enforcement equipment

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