ITS Architecture

The Metropolitan Washington Regional Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Architecture is a technical document that serves as a framework for integrated transportation systems technologies. It describes ITS operations of regional significance, ensures conformity with applicable federal law and guidance, and helps project engineers follow appropriate systems engineering practices. The architecture aims to ensure a common technical understanding of ITS operations across the region, encouraging appropriate systems integration and enhanced technical systems interoperability.

The Regional ITS Architecture is maintained by TPB staff under the guidance of the TPB's MOITS Regional ITS Architecture Working Group. The architecture is maintained as a resource document for technical users on COG/TPB's Web site.

The architecture can help identify what information technology projects might be needed, what proposed projects need to be coordinated or integrated, and develops a common language by which interrelated projects are described. Based upon the structure of the official U.S. Department of Transportation's National ITS Architecture, it is intended to be a "living document" that is updated as necessary under the advice of the technical experts on the regional working group.

Major features of the architecture include:

• Operational Concepts - identify the roles and responsibilities of participating agencies and other stakeholders in the operation and implementation of a system included in the regional ITS architecture.
• Functional Requirements - identify the purposes of existing or planned technological systems.
• Interface Requirements - describe how various systems need to be connected together to exchange information.
• Standards - in the context of data and information exchange (not in transportation policy or operations areas).

The Regional ITS Architecture is a source of input to the Regional Transportation Plan in that it provides the framework for potential future information technology components of the plan. ITS offers non-traditional solutions to transportation problems and provides an alternative to new infrastructure. Important topics include:

• Coordination of real-time information exchange among area stakeholders to facilitate freeway and arterial incident management practices. This is key component of Management and Operations and Emergency Preparedness aspects of the plan. Emergency vehicle priority at signalized intersections can also be addressed.
• Traveler information systems involve data collection, fusion, and dissemination aspects among multiple parties in both the public and private sectors. The regional architecture can provide the blueprint for how information can be exchanged.
• Bus vehicle priority at signalized intersections, intended to serve the policy goals of making transit more efficient and effective, depends upon interlinked technical systems among transit and traffic signal agencies in the architecture.
• Archiving transportation data, for use in transportation administration, policy evaluation, safety, planning, performance monitoring, program assessment, operations, research applications, and inputs into Federal, State, and local data reporting systems, comprises a vital part of the Congestion Management Process component of the plan.