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- News
from ITS Canada
ITS Canada forms Promotions
Committee
Promoting members
- Regional
Updates – Information from Across Canada
on Intelligent Transport Systems Deployments
Yukon
Alberta
Ontario
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Environment Canada
- News
bITS
ITS Architecture Workshop
IBEC Launches Upgraded Website
New Tolling and Pricing Program Site
Courses:
Modeling
And Simulation Of Transportation Networks
Improving Highway Safety with Its
-
ITS Canada Welcomes New Members
- Upcoming
Events
NEWS
FROM ITS CANADA
ITS
Canada Forms Promotions Committee
The
recent formation of a Promotions Committee for ITS
Canada is expected to contribute to increasing membership
in the coming months. Over the past few weeks the
Committee’s Chair, Jeff Smart (Tacel Ltd.),
has been attending conferences and events across
Canada. During his travels he is actively promoting
the Society, sharing information about the benefits
of membership and the services provided, and encouraging
those he meets to participate in ITS Canada’s
Annual Conference being held in Montreal. Assisting
Jeff as Vice Chair of the Committee is Chris Philp
(iTrans Consulting Inc.)
Studies
show that a message must reach a new target several
times in order to influence their decisions. It
is the Promotions Committee’s goal to develop
an ongoing communication strategy that outlines
opportunities for repeated contacts, as well as
outreach to new market sectors not previously targeted.
As
a member, ITS Canada invites you to share any opportunities
you may know of that ITS Canada can use to increase
the Society’s visibility. With your assistance
and your support of strong industry membership,
the Society will continue to be credible and effective
as your industry association.
Promoting
Members
www.itscanada.ca/protected/search.php
One
of the many benefits available to members is ITS
Canada’s online, searchable Members Directory.
For Corporate and Sustaining Corporate members,
your 100-word profile represents your opportunity
to promote your organization to other members. It
can be updated at any time by emailing askus@itscanada.ca.
For
those considering purchasing ITS products or services,
the Members Directory is searchable by keyword or
by location. The Society often receives calls requesting
information about members’ ITS capabilities
and accomplishments. This tool has been well received
by those looking for ITS Canada members that provide
specific products or services.
Review
your profile today to ensure it continues to reflect
your participation and contributions to the industry.
REGIONAL UPDATES – Information from Across Canada
on Intelligent Transport Systems Deployments
YUKON
By Wally Hidinger, Government of Yukon
An
update on Yukon’s ITS projects.
A strategic plan for ITS development in Yukon has
been completed. The plan considered a wide range
of input from stakeholders, emerging issues and
technologies, and the existing state of ITS deployment
in Yukon. The result is a realistic and achievable
direction for the Yukon ITS program over the short,
medium and longer terms.
Following a successful test of satellite-based reporting
from four permanent traffic counter locations in
prior years, an additional eight sites were upgraded
in 2007. The twelve sites now report traffic counts
and, in some cases, subsurface temperatures through
a satellite uplink/downlink arrangement to a website
which can be monitored from any authorized desktop
PC.
Portable weigh-in-motion equipment previously acquired
was utilized on a test basis in 2007. Weigh station
and engineering staff were trained in the installation
and use of the equipment and a field trial was carried
out.
A road condition reporting system that can be easily
accessed by dialling 511 or navigating to a website
(www.511yukon.ca) was completed in 2007. The new
system is one of the first in Canada, and will deliver
more timely and more accurate road condition information
to Yukon road users.
An automated vehicle location system pilot project
is in progress. Two snowplough trucks have been
instrumented with cell phone and satellite communications
hardware as well as a number of equipment status/function
sensors. Monitoring software allows live tracking
of the units and archiving of the position/function
data produced. An evaluation of the data will be
carried out at the end of the winter maintenance
season.
ALBERTA
Submitted by Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation
Alberta
Infrastructure and Transportation is working on
an update to its ITS Strategic Plan that aims to
identify the many opportunities to further ITS in
the province. Recognizing the need to integrate
existing and future ITS initiatives in its repertoire,
the department’s ITS Strategic Plan update
embarks on strategies for the administration, research,
marketing and integration of ITS services to enhance
user experience and service performance. In addition
to its current services and deployments, the department
has been involved in several recent undertakings:
FHWA
Clarus Initiative – Alberta joined the Alaska-Canada
(ALCAN) group (Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon,
Alberta and Environment Canada) to submit a Concept
of Operations proposal to the U.S. Federal Highway
Administration in implementing cross-jurisdiction
sharing of RWIS and traveller information data.
The ALCAN proposal is one of three proposals submitted
to FHWA, and is the only one with Canadian participation.
The FHWA is now deliberating on developing protocols/models
for implementation. (See also Environment Canada
update, Page 7.)
Regional
Traffic Management Centre (TMC) concept –
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation is currently
engaged in a demonstration project with the City
of Calgary and its maintenance contractor to use
ITS technologies to monitor and manage traffic congestion
and incidents on the province-owned Deerfoot Trail
in Calgary. Traffic monitoring cameras, automated
incident detection software, portable dynamic message
signs, traveller information (radio advisory and
web), and real-time detour signal timing adjustments
are all channelled through Calgary's TMC for optimal
coordination. Project details and results will be
presented at ITS Canada’s upcoming Annual
Conference in Montreal.
Advanced
Traveller Information System (ATIS) and 511 –
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation is evaluating
the current telephone traveller information system
within Alberta, as well as the future partnership
opportunities presented by the Alberta Motor Association
(AMA) in its ATIS business case. In launching the
511 initiative in Alberta, the department will consider
operating and funding alternatives, as well as ensure
that Alberta’s deployment allows for integration
and interface with other 511 deployments in Canada
and the U.S.
Automated
Vehicle Identification (AVI) System – The
AVI project enables electronic bypass of low-risk
commercial vehicles using vehicle-mounted transponders
and AVI readers. This ITS solution will enhance
the productivity of commercial vehicle operations,
and offer time and fuel savings to carriers from
bypassing inspection stations. Alberta has installed,
tested and launched twelve vehicle inspection stations
for commercial vehicle pre-clearance, six of which
were cost-shared with Transport Canada. The department
will continue to expand and improve its AVI sites
to better service carriers under this program.
Remote
Control Weigh Station (RCWS) – Financed by
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation, Saskatchewan
Highways and Transportation and Transport Canada,
the Remote Control Weigh Station (RCWS) is a pilot
project employing existing and proven technologies
such as video cameras, variable message signs and
high-speed Internet to remotely operate unattended
weigh stations. An officer located in a distant
office will be able to operate and monitor the pilot
site. The RCWS pilot site is located at Macklin,
an existing unattended weigh scale situated east
of the Alberta-Saskatchewan border.
This
pilot project is to demonstrate an efficient and
less costly alternative for operating weigh stations,
thereby improving the productivity and efficiency
of enforcement personnel, and enhancing commercial
vehicle operations and traffic safety. All major
components of the RCWS have been installed and post-project
evaluations are being completed.
Road
Weather Information System (RWIS) – The RWIS
includes weather reporting stations with sensors
embedded in and below the pavement, and on nearby
towers to monitor air and pavement temperatures.
The real-time data obtained by the RWIS stations
can assist the department’s maintenance contractors
in making road treatment decisions during severe
weather conditions. The RWIS stations provide safety
benefits to Albertans through proactive and efficient
winter maintenance operations along the heavily
travelled corridors. The camera images collected
from RWIS stations are provided to the AMA Road
Report website for public viewing. The department
currently has 75 RWIS stations constructed and in-operation.
In the next few years, the department will examine
possible RWIS expansion needs to the new Edmonton
and Calgary ring roads, as well as other “hot
spot” bridge locations to address gaps in
the RWIS network.
Automated
Vehicle Location System (AVLS) – The AVLS
is a computerized system that utilizes global position
systems to graphically track the location and status
of snowplough trucks for effective fleet management.
The system will enable the department to better
manage the performance of the road maintenance contractors,
monitor work activities and audit payments. In the
near future, maintenance contractors may make use
of the real-time RWIS data, together with the AVLS
technology, to plan maintenance activities proactively
and allocate the appropriate amount of resources
at the proper time and location. The department
has outfitted over 600 snowploughs with AVLS. The
current goal is to have all highway maintenance
contractors use the automated billing system for
invoicing the department for snow and ice removal
work.
CALGARY
By Bart Rakoz, City of Calgary
The
following initiatives are underway in Calgary.
Parking
Calgary Parking Authority is rolling out their
advanced on-street pay parking system throughout
downtown Calgary. See the ParkPlus website: www.parkplus.ca.
Payment is zone-based instead of meter based,
ticketless, and customers can pay by credit card,
cash or through their cell phone.
Calgary
Transit
Calgary Transit is equipping 400 buses with DriveCam
(www.drivecam.com) technology. The cameras are
intended to enhance operator and customer safety.
Extra video cameras are also being added to Park
and Ride parking lots to increase customer safety.
Traffic
Management Centre
The Alberta government, City of Calgary, and maintenance
contractor Carmacks Enterprises are teaming up
to improve traffic flow and incident response
on Deerfoot Trail. A six-month Deerfoot Trail
Traffic and Incident Management Demonstration
Project began in mid-November that uses technologies
such as video monitoring cameras, portable variable
message signs and improved traffic signal coordination.
The demonstration project targets one of the busiest
portions of Deerfoot Trail between Memorial Drive
and Calf Robe Bridge, which has traffic volumes
up to 155,000 vehicles per day.
Calgary Advanced Traveller Information
System
An Instant Traffic Updates Pilot Project has been
launched, a five-month pilot that provides instant,
customized traffic information directly to subscribers'
cell phones using text messaging as well as via
email to a PDA or computer. Each subscriber enters
their personal travel times and route information
into the Instant Traffic Updates website page
by visiting the City's Advanced Traveller Information
System (ATIS) site (www.calgarytraffic.com) and
clicking on the link for "Email/Txtmsg Updates".
The Instant Traffic Updates system will then send
the subscriber relevant information about detours,
road closures and incidents that occur on the
subscriber's travel route. As soon as traffic
updates are entered into the City's ATIS, affected
subscribers will instantly receive the traffic
information. Adding a customized delivery service
for the traffic information that the City already
provides complements the ATIS website (http://65.104.36.247/
and the website portal http://calgary.ca/trafficinfo).
ONTARIO
TORONTO
By Steven Kemp, City of Toronto
A
Queue-end Warning System uses vehicle detection
technology to automatically locate and track traffic
queues. The system can then warn approaching motorists
of the location of the end-of-queue using changeable
message signs located along the roadway. The objective
of the system is to reduce the frequency of rear-end
collisions by alerting approaching motorists of
the presence of stopped traffic ahead. The City
of Toronto has implemented its first queue-end
warning system on a section of Allen Road between
Highway 401 and Eglinton Avenue.
The
system consists of 17 vehicle detection stations,
8 changeable message signs and 8 closed circuit
television camera sites. Approximately 5 kilometres
of fibre optic cable and two wireless radio frequency
(RF) links were installed for communications to
the central control centre. The total project
cost was approximately $4 million dollars.
DURHAM
By Bob Szwarz, Regional Municipality
of Durham
In
order to provide a means of disseminating traffic
delays or ongoing road works to drivers travelling
in and around Durham in an accurate and timely
manner, the Regional Municipality of Durham will
be launching a new Traffic Watch Website in mid-2008.
The primary goal of the public website will be
to provide real-time traveller information, alerting
drivers to congestion, road works, incidents,
etc., that have occurred on regional roads, in
order to reduce further delays and allow motorists
to make informed route decisions to arrive at
their destination more efficiently.
The
traveller information website was identified as
a “short-term” initiative in the Region’s
ITS Strategic Plan. It encompasses integration
of three existing applications: Event Manager,
Congestion Mapping and CCTV traffic cameras.
The
website information will be accessible by viewing
JPEG still images from approximately 20 CCTV cameras
currently updated every 60 seconds. Further CCTV
deployment will add another 20-30 cameras throughout
the Region with improved image processing.
Congestion
mapping or road operating conditions can also
be observed, designated by colour (green representing
‘moving well’, yellow ‘slow’
and red ‘very slow’). Operating speed
and road density conditions are monitored in real-time
by the Region’s Traffic Management Centre
via approximately 200 permanent vehicle detector
stations and translated to the website on a minute-by-minute
basis.
Active
and future planned road events, such as incidents,
closures, construction, weather and special events
such as parades and filming, are entered by staff
through the Region’s Event Manager System
and automatically transferred to the website.
Map icons will provide both ‘hover-text’
information and a detailed ‘pop-up’
window on status, duration and impact to the website
user.
Future
plans involving the website include: e-commerce
for traffic data requests, variable message signs,
road weather information systems and potential
transit applications. The Traffic Watch Website
will be linked to the Regional Municipality of
Durham’s website at www.region.durham.on.ca.
NEW
BRUNSWICK
By Katie Clowater, New Brunswick Department of
Transportation (NBDOT)
The
New Brunswick Department of Transportation is working
on two new projects under the Rural Intelligent
Transportation Systems Research Centre Agreement,
a contribution agreement for Research and Development
of Intelligent Transportation Systems between Transport
Canada and the New Brunswick Department of Transportation.
NBDOT has already completed eight projects under
this agreement.
Project
#9: Research Platform for Testing Spring Weight
Restriction Technology, which is being led by the
Rural ITS Research Centre at the University of New
Brunswick, involves the installation and monitoring
of sensors at three test locations near existing
RWIS installations, and establishing a road strength
research platform to test the validity of the algorithms
from the previous R&D project, ITS for Variable
Load Restrictions.
New
Brunswick, like many other jurisdictions, implements
weight restrictions for commercial vehicles travelling
on roads susceptible to weakening during the spring
thaw. Current methods of applying these restrictions
primarily rely on historical data, meaning decisions
on restrictions are being made with road strength
information that may not correspond to actual real-time
road strength. There are two main impacts associated
with the current process. First, commercial vehicle
operators using these roads must reduce their payload
for several weeks. It is possible that with real-time
strength data weight restrictions could be modified
as the road gains strength, reducing the economic
impact on carriers. Second, variations in temperature
and weather may result in the road thaw taking place
outside of the pre-determined time window, resulting
in accelerated damage to the roads as carriers operate
at normal weights. Improving the quality and availability
of real-time road strength information will provide
an important decision-making tool that will assist
in balancing economic interests and infrastructure
preservation.
Three
roads in different areas of the province that are
weight restricted in the spring have been instrumented
with technology to measure strain, temperature and
other road strength-determining attributes. The
result of this project will be a research platform
for assessing road strength during spring weight
restrictions.
Project
#10: Testing Use of In-Vehicle Wireless Devices
to Improve the Collection and Dissemination of Road
Condition Information will evaluate the feasibility
of using an in-vehicle device to record road condition
information and transfer it to the central data
system for immediate public dissemination.
New
Brunswick currently provides road users with information
about road conditions across the province. This
information is accessible by telephone, television
and the Internet. However, the current method of
collecting and disseminating the information involves
several processes resulting in significant delays
between the recording of and the actual dissemination
of road condition information to the public.
This
project will test and compare three different in-vehicle
devices: a laptop computer, a handheld device (e.g.,
Blackberry) and a tablet PC. The results of the
trial will be used to determine whether the use
of in-vehicle technology will expedite the collection
and dissemination of winter road condition information.
The findings may also identify other in-vehicle
data collection activities that may help the department
improve efficiency.
These
two projects will be completed by the end of September
2008. The New Brunswick Department of Transportation
is looking forward to continuing to be proactive
in the research, development, and deployment of
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology
in Canada.
NEWFOUNDLAND
AND LABRADOR
By Doug Shea, Government of Newfoundland &
Labrador
Highlights
for Newfoundland and Labrador include:
Continuation of the development of the Geographic
Information System (Data Warehousing/Asset Management)
project. The software development is complete and
data in support of the asset management of highway
infrastructure is ongoing. Preliminary work is ongoing
to populate the GIS with pavement, traffic and accident
information at a future date, following completion
of the infrastructure information.
The TWIS system has been up and running for a couple
of years and we have plans to expand our system
by additional sites in 2008 and 2009. Salt management
is ongoing.
ENVIRONMENT
CANADA
Submitted
By David Lahn, Meteorological Service of Canada
As noted on Page 2, a team from Environment Canada
has joined forces with colleagues from Alaska,
Yukon, British Columbia and Alberta transportation
departments to coordinate provision of road weather
information for the ALCAN Highway corridor. The
ALCAN Highway, its affiliated access routes and
major ferry routes, span both expansive rural
settings as well as maritime regions in both Canada
and the United States. Travel and commerce throughout
this network requires timely knowledge of road,
marine and rail weather conditions. The groups
are working under the umbrella of the Clarus Initiative,
a U.S. Federal Highways Administration project
to incorporate road weather information to serve
the greater community and enhance 21st century
transportation operations.
The
ultimate goal for the team will be a website,
the ALCAN Highway Road Weather Portal, through
which transportation managers and users can access
all of the information necessary to provide improved
safety, reliability and security for travellers.
This information is essential for winter road
maintenance, traffic and safety management, vehicle
dispatch and flood control, among other issues.
The
Canadian efforts were managed by the EC Road Weather
Information Network (RWIN) between August 2006
and January 2008. A major outcome of this project
is the full integration of the Canadian RWIN road
weather information from the member agencies into
the Clarus system. This project also provides
a blueprint for the inclusion of other Canadian
agencies in the future. The portal will simplify
the access of information from widely disparate
sources and consolidate information into resource
sets that users now have to track down from multiple
websites. More details on the Clarus Initiative
can be found at http://www.clarusinitiative.org/regional.htm.
Submitted
By Dan Huang, Environment Canada
In
February 2008, three Environment Canada Provincial
Road Weather Information System (RWIS) data sharing
agreements were signed on the federal side for
the provinces of Prince Edward Island, British
Columbia and the Yukon Territory. Formal data
sharing agreements now exist for seven provinces
and one territory. A data sharing agreement between
Environment Canada and Quebec is in the signature
phase and is expected to be completed soon. The
goal is to have a complete and nationally Integrated
Road Weather Information Network (RWIN), thereby
paving the way for inclusion of other sources
of road weather data.
NEWS
bITS
ITS Architecture Workshop
Don’t
miss the upcoming workshop to be held during ITS
Canada’s Annual Conference in Montreal on
Monday, June 2, to discuss Development of a Regional
ITS Architecture and Border Information Flow Architecture
(BIFA).
Themes
presented and offered for open discussion will include:
Transportation Planning Along the Border
Border Information Flow Architecture
Use of BIFA and Regional Architectures
Project Implementation and the Role of Systems
Engineering in Border ITS Projects
On-going Maintenance of Border ITS Architectures
Prioritizing ITS and Border Technology Projects.
Plan
to attend this workshop that is open to all.
IBEC
Launches Upgraded Website
ITS
Benefits, Evaluation and Costs
New Website: www.ibec-its.co.uk
IBEC
has recently unveiled its upgraded and redesigned
website. Several months in the making, the new and
improved website is a repository of state-of-the-art
knowledge about ITS evaluation methodology and results.
The website now contains an archive of IBEC newsletters,
trade press articles about IBEC, proceedings and
presentations from IBEC-sponsored events dating
back to 1999, a future events calendar; and the
IBEC library with a comprehensive listing of handbooks,
training materials and recommended books.
New
Tolling and Pricing Program Site
The
U.S. Federal Highway Administration Office of Operations
has recently launched a new Tolling and Pricing
Program website. In an effort to create a more user
friendly experience when searching for information
about federal pricing programs, the new site includes
valuable information that was once included on three
separate sites: the Tolling and Pricing Opportunities,
the Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP) and the VPPP
site on the Knowledge Exchange. This is just the
first step in streamlining information on one of
the critical FHWA programs. In the future, the site
will also feature a subject index that will help
the user find the subjects they are looking for
quickly instead of searching the entire site. To
view the new website, visit: www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/tolling_pricing/index.htm.
Courses
MODELING AND SIMULATION OF TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS
Modeling
and simulation methods are essential elements in
the design and operation of transportation systems.
Congestion problems in cities worldwide have prompted
a proliferation of interest in ITS that includes
advanced supply and demand management techniques
– real-time traffic control measures and traveller
information and guidance systems to assist travellers
in making departure time, mode and route choice
decisions. Transportation researchers have developed
models for use in the planning, design and operations
of such systems. This course draws heavily on the
results of recent research, and studies theories
and applications of transportation network demand,
supply models and simulation techniques. This program
is intended for analysts, engineers, managers and
planners, as well as industry, government and academic
researchers who seek to understand, analyze and
predict performance of transportation systems. Participants
with backgrounds in diverse areas such as traffic
engineering, systems engineering, transportation
planning, operations management, operations research
and control systems are welcome. The course runs
July 28 to August 1. Visit: http://web.mit.edu.
IMPROVING
HIGHWAY SAFETY WITH ITS
The
Consortium for ITS Training and Education (CITE)
and the FHWA Office of Safety have released an interactive,
web-based course on “Improving Highway Safety
with ITS”. This course aims to increase awareness
of the benefits to be gained through the deployment
of ITS for highway safety applications. Designed
to assist professionals in both the highway safety
and ITS communities, participants may be planners,
operators, designers or maintenance personnel. A
complete outline of the course can be found on the
CITE web site.
This
course begins on May 2 and continues through June
23, 2008. The fee for the course is $250 and students
can register by going to the CITE web site at http://www.citeconsortium.org.
ITS
CANADA WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS
CORPORATE
ACF Communications
IntelliOne Inc.
UPCOMING
EVENTS
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published by ITS Canada.
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or comments can be emailed to askus@itscanada.ca.
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