CHAPTER 2: OVERVIEW OF THE ADVANCED TRAVELER INFORMATION SYSTEM (ATIS) SUBSYSTEMS AND FUNCTIONS

Capabilities Specific to CVO

CVO systems cover a broad spectrum of capabilities that have been identified to meet specific operational requirements. The scope of the present review has excluded crash avoidance systems, such as automatic clearance sensing. Following is a sample of CVO-specific system capabilities identified through interviews and a review of the literature.

Much of the technology being proposed for CVO-specific system development is currently available and implemented in limited degrees. This has allowed the transportation community an opportunity to become quite familiar with alternative capabilities. It has also resulted in a well-developed set of descriptions for these capabilities in the Strategic Plan for Intelligent Vehicle-Highway Systems in the United States (Intelligent Vehicle Highway Society of America, 1992). Because of the excellent, comprehensive nature of the strategic plan, it serves as the primary reference in the following discussion. Specific capabilities identified and described in that report are excerpted below:

• Electronic Credentials (EC) - would enable a motor carrier to electronically file for, obtain, and pay for all required licenses, registrations, and permits. An electronic record of the credential could be sent to the motor carrier's headquarters or other desired location.
• Hazardous Material Information Systems - could provide enforcement and incident management response teams with timely, accurate information on cargo contents, enabling them to react properly in emergency situations.
• Automatic Vehicle Classification (AVC) - employs EC technology to provide a readable, electronic record of vehicle type and contents.
• Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) - employs GPS, or other triangulation technologies, to provide real-time information regarding the location and status of vehicles.
• Driver/Vehicle Real-time Safety Monitoring - could include records of duty logs, medical qualifications data, and commercial driver's license information. Vehicle-related elements could include operational data and conditional information, such as status of brakes, lights, tires, and steering.
• Electronic Log Book - could replace the manual trip log typically prepared by the motor carrier. The fuel tax rates for each state and the number of vehicle-miles traveled within each state could be recorded electronically if electronic beacons were provided at all site boundaries.
• Automated Vehicle Classification/Identification (AVC/AVI) - would allow uninterrupted movement of the vehicle through inspection or weighing stations.
• Weigh in Motion (WIM) - allows motor carriers equipped with special transponders to proceed on the highway at normal speeds through instrumented weigh stations as their weight is electronically inspected by in-pavement scales and readers.
• Automated (Electronic) Toll Collection - would apply the same technologies as those used in automated credential checking.
• Two-Way Real-Time Communications (TWC) - would provide ATIS and ATMS information concerning congestion, incidents, and optimum routing to drivers or dispatchers.
• Advanced Fleet Management - uses advanced vehicle routing algorithms that collect real-time congestion information to balance routes and loads, and predict travel times.

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