ITS: U.S. DOT addresses standards for ITS data at SmartAmerica conference

With the prevalence of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) growing rapidly in the U.S., U.S. DOT Chief Information Officer Richard McKinney acknowledged this week that standards will need to be developed for collecting and disseminating traffic data.

The announcement came during the SmartAmerica conference at the White House, where researchers from all over the country displayed the latest technological advancements across a wide variety of industries. Transportation was well represented, with featured technologies including dedicated short range communications (DSRC) for information-sharing between vehicles and a system — on-track for deployment in Southern California in the near future — that will regulate traffic flow by connecting traffic signals and freeway ramp lights.

Successfully implementing technologies such as these, however, will require consistency in how data is collected, measured and interpreted. During his statement, McKinney said that he’s unsure exactly how much U.S. DOT should be involved in creating these standards, but he indicated that discussions have begun and that industry officials need to join in.