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back to Services & Technology list  Traveler Information > Traveler Services Information
TYPES OF TRAVELER SERVICES INFORMATION Traveler Services Information refers to non-traffic related information describing characteristics and locations of traveler services. This information may be in a static database or a dynamic database, where information on rates and availability is constantly updated. Traveler services information is often provided in combination with information on congestion and delay. An on-line "yellow pages" where users can access information on local businesses is also sometimes available. See our Telecommunications Diagram on Internet-based Traveler Information for more information. Further information may include the location, operating hours, and availability of services such as parking, auto repair shops, hospitals and police facilities. It also encompasses useful information regarding recreational landmarks, restaurants, hotels and other relevant areas of tourist activity. In addition, information pertaining to various modes of transport available to the public can be provided. Currently there are many forms of implementation that are under review for the display of Traveler Services Information. The vast warehouse of data could be accessible from home, work, shopping centers, airports and other locations through a variety of ways including the Internet, interactive telephone, television, and other means. Major projects are currently underway to deliver Traveler Services Information through different mediums, such as airport kiosks and in-vehicle computers. Traveler Services Information provides additional
information on regional matters such as: The types of projects focusing on Traveler Services Information all involve disseminating information to travelers via different media, from in-vehicle computer systems to information databases accessed through kiosks, portable electronic devices, or a number of other means. The following are some representative projects in providing Advanced Traveler Services Information to travelers through a variety of means. GM OnStar General Motors has used ITS technology in many of its vehicles, offering personal safety and security as well as travel related services information. GM's OnStar service combines wireless communication and Global Positioning System (GPS) Satellite technology to offer a combination of services to users of the system. Initiated on 1997 model Cadillacs in September of 1996, the GM OnStar service has been offered on the majority of the GM fleet since the spring of 1998. Drivers may contact an OnStar Center "Advisor" using a voice-activated cellular phone for a variety of traveler services information, from locating the nearest gas station, to making hotel and restaurant reservations, to getting theater tickets in the destination city. OnStar capabilities extend beyond the normal safety and security services that similar companies offer, including amenities such as system diagnostics, remote door entry and alarm control (from anywhere in the continental United States), and immediate "mayday" service when an accident occurs. Although the OnStar service is currently offered only on select GM vehicles, its popularity among the driving public is such that Ford is working on its own version called the Remote Emergency Satellite Cellular Unit (RESCU). Yosemite Area Traveler Information System The Yosemite Area Traveler Information System (YATI) provides current information about facilities, activities, traffic and weather for the 11,000 square mile, five county region containing and surrounding Yosemite National Park. YATI utilizes a communications network consisting of a large database made available through in-vehicle computer systems, where tourists could obtain current information on traffic and weather conditions, as well as the status of transportation and recreational facilities throughout the entire Yosemite region. Orlando TravTek Project To determine the usefulness of advanced in-vehicle navigation and information systems for drivers, Orlando launched the TravTek (Traveler Technology) project. The test involved approximately 100 vehicles, mostly rental cars, equipped with electronic guidance systems. Some 4,000 drivers, the vast majority tourists, participated in the trial. The in-vehicle systems, loaded with databases, featured a navigation map showing all roads in a five-county, 1,200 square mile area as well as an American Automobile Association (AAA) Florida Tourbook and Orlando tourist information on hotels, restaurants, attractions and special events. Touch-screens allowed drivers to do everything from search for Italian restaurants to map the route from Orlando's airport to their hotels. Once a specific system was selected, the system automatically calculated the best and fastest route to that destination, factoring in real-time traffic conditions. During the yearlong trial period completed in 1993, the system was commended for it's extreme ease of use. Most test subjects were able to fully operate the system after just a brief orientation. Compared to control tests in which drivers used standard printed road maps to find their way, TravTek was shown to reduce travel time by 19%, and also to reduce the number of accidents involving tourists. Projects Utilizing Kiosks, Personal Electronic Devices, Cellular Technology, Telephone, etc. Atlanta In Atlanta, an Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) was implemented through the Federal Highway Administration's Traveler Information Showcase (TIS) project. This included a network of electronic information kiosks located in public places including 40 units at Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport. The kiosks provide real-time traffic and transit status reports and useful information for travel planning and other recreational purposes, such as transit alternatives, tourist attractions, and shopping malls. The project started in March of 1994, and the majority of the system was in place for TIS in February 1995. The project was put to the test during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games where Atlanta provided an ideal opportunity for worldwide exposure of the benefits of ITS. To supplement the work being done with the Traveler Services Information kiosks, the city of Atlanta and the FHA have provided a group of test subjects with small handheld computers, and in-vehicle navigation units to determine how local residents would utilize the system. The menu of information available to the test group includes real-time congestion reports, parking availability, transit bus and train schedules and routes, theater schedules and electronic yellow pages information. Further study of the Traveler Services Information Project may lead to additional breakthroughs in disseminating information via different mediums such as on-line computer information services, and interactive television. SmartTraveler SmartRoute Systems, a private firm specializing in ATIS technology, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Highway Department has developed SmartTraveler for the Boston Metropolitan Area. The SmartTraveler project, which began in 1992, delivers real-time, on-demand, location-specific traffic and transit information to anyone in the Boston region. Information is disseminated through the telephone using a toll-free number. The service area covers over 700 miles of highway and numerous transit services in the Boston region, encompassing 122 cities and towns. The SmartTraveler project has proven highly effective at modifying travel behavior, and attempts are underway to enhance the project so that information can be disseminated through other media, such as on-line services, television, and radio. Since the Summer of 1997, SmartTraveler projects have begun in Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Minneapolis. The system is also being expanded to include more tourist-oriented information, such as weather and special-event information. Seattle SWIFT The Seattle Wide Area Information for Travelers (SWIFT) Project delivers traveler information directly to the traveler wherever they are. The system is centered around a High Speed Data System (HSDS) FM subcarrier network developed by Seiko Communications Systems, Inc. The Seiko system piggybacks digital information onto a standard FM radio broadcast. Receivers can tune to any properly equipped station in the existing FM broadcast band, eliminating the need for special frequencies to deliver traveler information. Started in 1994, all devices were deployed by March of 1997 and operation began shortly after. The multi-modal traveler information is presented to test participants through three kinds of devices; a portable computer, a wrist watch pager, and a vehicle navigation system combined with a standard car radio. SWIFT delivers information about bus locations, traffic congestion, and traffic incidents. Information is collected through a variety of sources, from the county's automatic vehicle location system to the city's traffic control center. All information is received by the three devices through the use of Seiko receivers. 511 Traveler Information System The 511 Traffic Information Service is a telephone-based system that provides real-time information on road surface and weather conditions, accidents, road closures, work zones, public transportation scheduling and tourism. While 511 is not yet deployed nationwide, commuters have expressed an interest in the service. According to an ITS America Survey, 25% of respondents said they would be most likely to use 511 daily or weekly; 29% said they would use it a few times a month; and 45% said they would use it a few times a year. Overall, those making five or more long distance trips a year were most likely to use 511 (63%); 39% of commercial vehicle operators reported they would be extremely likely to use 511. Each state is designing its own 511 system and may choose to emphasize different types of traveler information (i.e. some may highlight tourist info while others focus on construction updates). Rather than having users press their telephone buttons to select their choice of information, 511 offers a voice-activated menu. Here is an example of how 511 works:
511 is currently at work in Nebraska, Utah, Arizona, Montana, North
and South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota and Kentucky as well as
in Miami and San Francisco. In July of 2002, Minnesota implemented
a 511 system, and since then daily calls have been ten times greater
than usual (i.e. averaging about 1,000 calls per day). Of these
calls, about 80% are for highway traffic reports; 10% for road weather
requests; and less than 5% are for transit info requests. The current
system reports only on traffic caused by incidents; in feedback
surveys, callers have suggested that weather and congestion information
would be useful additions to the system. Callers also suggested
that improved voice recognition and more accurate, timely, and reliable
information are needed. Since the launch of the 511 system, enhancements
such as abbreviated dialing, voice recognition, increased calling
capacity, and easier-to-navigate web pages have been implemented.
Link to info
about the 511 Service in Minnesota. A number of other locations throughout the world
are providing similar services in the area of Traveler Services
Information. Most notably, in Australia and China, projects
are underway with an emphasis being placed on Traveler Services
Information kiosks and the use of Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) to
disseminate real-time travel and tourism information. FUTURE OF TRAVELER SERVICES INFORMATION Although the kiosks in Atlanta, and similar systems in New Hampshire, and Cape Cod, have met with enthusiasm by both tourist and locals, there are some users who feel that the service is not as fast or complete as it could be. Future improvements and system modifications should enhance speed and coverage. Two drawbacks of current state-of-the-art traveler services information systems are cost and inaccuracy. The cost includes the initial cost of acquisition and installation as well as the recurring cost of maintenance and operations. Without further study, the cost for implementing a regional traveler services information network may be hard to justify. In addition to the costs, the accuracy and reliability of the system is also of concern. It has been difficult to achieve an integrated metropolitan area database which is both current and accurate. Data is of no benefit if it is inaccurate or outdated. Proper steps need to be taken in both of these areas to ensure a future for these types of systems. With these problems in mind, the advancement of traveler services information should proceed in the appropriate direction. Abernathy A, Advanced
Kiosk Technology For Improved Communications With Travelers
Pohlman J, Long P, Advanced
Traveler Information Kiosk Project "TraveLink" Yablanski A, Working
Paper on IVHS User Services and Functions, November 1992.
Author: Bryon Li. Last Updated: 03/02/00
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