Initiatives
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Vancouver Area Smart Trek
Initiative 1
Communications Infrastructure
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Communications infrastructure is the backbone for all ITS deployment. The Vancouver, Washington area has some unique characteristics with regard to telecommunications facility development. The region has recently begun deployment of high bandwidth communication media such as fiber optics, but does not have nearly the infrastructure necessary to support a regional ITS system. The lack of infrastructure can be a benefit however, because the VAST Program will have the option to deploy communications in a logical format that meets the specific needs of this program instead of having to modify an existing system that may not be appropriate. Although there is a significant amount of infrastructure still needed, it is anticipated that the system will quickly develop because of other projects outside of the VAST Program that will be installing fiber optics in the region for traffic communications (e.g. Light Lanes, Highway 99 ITS Project, Mill Plain Adaptive, Burton Road ITS).
Needs
The following needs have been identified for improving communications in the Vancouver area.
- Provide a communication network between each of the local agencies
- Expand the communications network for freeway and arterial control and surveillance devices
- Provide network connections to schools and other key traffic generators
Criteria
Communications infrastructure provides the backbone for integrating ITS elements and devices and for distributing information. However, communications infrastructure by itself does not provide measurable benefits. The following list presents possible qualitative measures that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of communications infrastructure.
- Supports full buildout of the VAST Program and future expansion
- Open architecture communications network
- Results in rapid deployment of ITS field devices
- Reliable and maintainable
- Makes use of compatible hardware available from many suppliers
- Accommodates seamless transition
- Cost effective
- Redundant and fault tolerant
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Strategies
- Deploy a communications network to connect all regional agencies involved in traffic and transportation management.
- Improve interjurisdictional coordination by operating and managing traffic in the region. Provide each agency with a direct communications link to all other agencies in the region for sharing video and data.
- Install communications infrastructure for freeway and arterial ITS field equipment.
- Design and install a communications backbone for all existing and future ITS equipment on the freeways and arterials. This backbone would be used to communicate to CCTV cameras, electronic changeable message signs, traffic signals, highway advisory radio transmitters and warning signs, vehicle detectors, weather data stations and any other ITS field devices that may be deployed.
- Coordinate communication infrastructure installation with key traffic generators.
- Install extra conduit or bandwidth to support communications between key traffic generators. Design the communications backbone to support ITS deployment at key traffic generators in the region.
- Provide communications to emergency management services, including 911, local police and fire departments, and towing companies.
- Provide a link to the communications backbone for each of the emergency management service agencies. In addition, deploy wireless communication systems for transmitting congestion and incident related information directly to the vehicles operated by each of these agencies.
- Initiate a consortium of stakeholders to define, design, manage and maintain an ITS network.
- Develop a consortium of key stakeholders to operate the combined telecommunications resources. The goal of such a consortium will be to make maximum use of the bandwidth purchased for any independent use, and to permit appropriate levels of redundancy, network survivability, and cost that are unattainable in separate endeavors.
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