What is the overall CVISN plan?

The CVISN Statement of Direction summarizes the vision, scope, goals, guiding principles, management approach, and deployment strategy for CVISN.

How is the FHWA coordinating major initiatives?

A CVO Activities Roadmap and CVO Activities Description give an overview of the FHWA sponsored CVISN activities. These documents form a basis for coordinating all the CVO activities. Detailed plans for each activity are developed and maintained by each project.

How can we make sure we address real needs?

Years of effort have gone into gathering and analyzing ITS/CVO requirements by various projects and organizations. The ITS National Program Plan (available from ITS America Access) establishes the scope, goals, and top level requirements for ITS/CVO. The National Architecture program has published a Requirements Specification and Standards Requirements Packages (available at the ITS Architecture Browsing Site). The CVISN Requirements Specification provides a very detailed description of CVO information system requirements.

How will it all work from the user’s perspective?

The CVISN Operational Concept Document describes CVISN characteristics from an operational perspective for all stakeholders. It answers stakeholders’ basic questions about what is envisioned and what the impact on their operations will be.

How can we coordinate technical interfaces?

The CVISN Architecture Specification, CVISN EDI Interface Requirements, and Dedicated Short Range Communications Requirements documents define requirements. EDI and DSRC standards are being developed based on these requirements and other stakeholder inputs. All of these documents are available to download from the Documents page.

Will the planned concepts and technology really work?

FHWA is undertaking a CVISN Prototype Project in partnership with the states of Maryland and Virginia and other supporting organizations. The primary objective of the project is to test the technical feasibility of providing the ITS services through an integrated collection of commercial vehicle information systems and networks (CVISN). After successful completion of the first phase of the prototype, the effort will be expanded to a CVISN Pilot Program which will include up to seven, geographically-disbursed additional states.

How can we ensure compatible systems?

A CVISN Operational and Architectural Compatibility Handbook (COACH) is available to provide guidance to states on how to implement a statewide ITS/CVO program that is compatible with the recommended CVISN approach.

What guidance will be made available to states wanting to deploy ITS/CVO technology?

Documentation developed by the various states and vendors participating in FHWA operational tests, CVISN Prototype, and CVISN Pilot projects will be collected in a CVISN Deployment Tool Kit. This will be a personal computer based set of tools that can be easily distributed to and used by other states.

How will we know it worked?

A Pilot Evaluation Report will be prepared at the conclusion of the Pilot Program that documents lessons learned and project results. It will include an analysis of the benefits in terms of widely accepted measures of effectiveness.