What makes transportation systems intelligent? Information flow is the answer. And that sets an evident
yet often painful truth: ITS elements look a lot smarter when they speak the same language. That
language, whether it is a data format or a specification, is generally referred to as a standard.
The ITS industry hosts numerous standards, from the national architecture to specifications for traffic
controllers and changeable message signs. Some of those standards are relatively successful and others
are ignored, sometimes for competitive reasons and sometimes because they fail to capture practical
needs. Yet it is hard to deny the long"term value of standards to both ITS customers and service providers:
interoperability speeds up deployment, while its absence can stall projects indefinitely.
In this next workshop, we will hear from industry and government experts about recent development in
ITS standards, and what those mean to practitioners. As usual, our panel will be representative of the
multiple faces of ITS, and we will count on the audience to broaden the perspective even more. Sign up
now to join us in person or on the web!
Panel:
Edward Fok, FHWA Resource Center
Paul Lipkin, TeleAtlas North America
Cathal Hennessy, San Francisco MTA
Jeff McRae, ITS Projects and Standards Office, Caltrans
