2008 Smart Roadside Workshop - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are working together on an alternative model for future roadside operations which uses interoperable technology and improved data sharing to improve safety, security, and mobility on the nation's freight transportation system. This concept is called the Smart Roadside Initiative. On April 29-May 1, 2008, FMCSA and FHWA partnered with the Florida Department of Transportation to sponsor the 2008 Smart Roadside Workshop in Jacksonville, FL, which was designed to:

Educate a diverse group of stakeholders about the Smart Roadside Initiative;
Explore opportunities and initiate planning for additional applications of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technologies to improve commercial motor vehicle safety and freight operations;
Identify key issues/concerns related to implementation of the recommended Smart Roadside functionality and solicit recommendations to overcome the challenges; and
Build partnerships to support the future planning and implementation of Smart Roadside systems.

Below is a list of 2008 Smart Roadside Workshop presentations.

Welcome

Presenter (s)
Jeff Secrist, FMCSA; Mike Onder, FHWA

Event sponsors welcome participants and provide an overview of the workshop's objectives, desired outcomes, and agenda.

Kickoff Speakers

Presenter (s)
Mike Griffith, Director, Office of Analysis, Research, and Technology, FMCSA David Gibbs, Florida Division Administrator, FHWA

Presentations address the potential for roadside technologies and the Smart Roadside Initiative to improve safety, efficiency, security, and mobility of the nations freight transportation system. They provide details about how the Smart Roadside Initiative will support the achievement of the United States Department of Transportations (U.S. DOT) strategic safety objectives. The importance of stakeholder involvement in the Smart Roadside Initiative is also highlighted.

Smart Roadside 101

Presenter (s)
Mike Onder, FHWA; Jeff Secrist, FMCSA

Provides an overview of the Smart Roadside Initiative and includes a summary of the current and forecasted freight trends; an overview of the Initiatives objectives; examples of how the Smart Roadside Initiative could improve safety, security, operational effectiveness, and freight mobility; and an overview of the Guiding Principles that are at the foundation of the Initiative. The roles of Federal, state, and private-sector stakeholders also are discussed and potential Smart Roadside capabilities are identified.

Smart Roadside Building Block Sessions

Numerous existing technology-based programs could serve as building blocks for the realization of the Smart Roadside Vision. In support of the Day 2 discussions about the future of the Smart Roadside, two sessions provide overviews of these current programs and highlight how they could be integrated into more comprehensive roadside programs. The first building block session focuses on current safety and security programs. The second session focuses on mobility and operations programs that could be integrated with the Smart Roadside.

Smart Roadside Building Block #1 - Safety and Security Programs

Wireless Truck and Bus Inspections
This FMCSA-sponsored program focuses on developing and analyzing various concepts of operation that will link advanced onboard technologies together as a means of wirelessly communicating information to enforcement agencies to improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the North American Standard (NAS) roadside safety inspection program.

Truck Size and Weight Enforcement Technologies Project
This FHWA-funded project investigates how technologies can be combined and deployed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of states truck size and weight enforcement programs.

Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN)
This FMCSA-sponsored program focuses on developing and deploying integrated cost-effective information systems and communications networks that support commercial vehicle operations in three areas: electronic credentialing, safety information exchange, and electronic screening.

SmartPark
This FMCSA-sponsored program is designed to convey real-time information regarding truck parking availability to commercial vehicle operators.

Transportation Workers ID Credential (TWIC)
This Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program is designed to ensure that any individual with unescorted access to secure areas of port facilities and vessels has received a thorough background check and is not a security threat.

Hazardous Material Tracking
This Transportation Security Administration (TSA) project uses a set of protocols capable of interfacing with existing truck tracking systems, government intelligence centers, and first responders, to allow TSA to continuously track truck locations and HAZMAT load types in all 50 states and to receive exception-based event reports.

In-Bond Shipment Tracking
A United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program using transponders and digital imaging to support reconciliation of in-bond shipments.

Smart Roadside Building Block #2 - Operations Programs

Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII)
This cooperative program is designed to create an enabling communications infrastructure to save lives using intelligent warning systems, improve mobility/relieve congestion, enhance driving experience with new features, and enhance roadway maintenance and planning.

Clarus
The purpose of this FHWA-sponsored initiative is to 1) develop and demonstrate an integrated surface transportation weather observing, forecasting, and data management system; and 2) establish a partnership to create a Nationwide Surface Transportation Weather Observing and Forecasting System. The objective of Clarus is to provide road weather information to all transportation managers and users to alleviate the negative affects of adverse weather (e.g., fatalities, injuries, and delays).

Work Zone
This FHWA-sponsored program uses ITS in work zones to make travel through and around work zones safer and more efficient. ITS technology can be applied in work zones to monitor and manage traffic, provide traveler information, enhance safety of both the road user and worker, increase throughput, and improve incident management and work zone planning.

Free and Secure Trade (FAST)
The purpose of this joint initiative between US/Canada and US/Mexican border agencies is to expedite border clearance and reduce delays for pre-approved, low-risk truck drivers, carriers, and importers. The program promotes free and secure trade by using common risk-management principles, supply chain security, industry partnership, and advanced technology to improve the efficiency of screening and clearing commercial traffic at the shared border.

Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS)/511
ATIS uses traffic surveillance, communication and computational technologies to monitor traffic and environmental conditions and provide pre-trip and/or en route traveler information (e.g., traffic conditions, route guidance, and yellow page-type information). These systems are designed to reduce traffic congestion and improve the operational efficiency of the nation transportation system.

Pulling it All Together: Examples of Smart Roadside Vision Becoming a Reality

While the Smart Roadside Initiative is still an emerging concept, some states have begun to link their safety, security, and mobility building blocks into coordinated and comprehensive roadside programs. This session showcases leading examples from states that are developing integrated roadside programs. Presenters provide details on the functionality of their programs, discuss the motivation for their efforts, and share issues they faced, and lessons they learned to date. Programs described in this session include:

New York;
Florida; and
Washington.