511DFW - Transportation Information Center Functionality
Subsystem Description
The 'Transportation Information Center' collects, processes, stores, and disseminates transportation information to system operators and the traveling public. The physical object can play several different roles in an integrated ITS. In one role, the TIC provides a data collection, fusing, and repackaging function, collecting information from transportation system operators and redistributing this information to other system operators in the region and other TICs. In this information redistribution role, the TIC provides a bridge between the various transportation systems that produce the information and the other TICs and their subscribers that use the information. The second role of a TIC is focused on delivery of traveler information to subscribers and the public at large. Information provided includes basic advisories, traffic and road conditions, transit schedule information, yellow pages information, ride matching information, and parking information. The TIC is commonly implemented as a website or a web–based application service, but it represents any traveler information distribution service.
Functional Object: TIC Connected Vehicle Traveler Info Distribution
In support of connected vehicle applications, 'TIC Connected Vehicle Traveler Info Distribution' disseminates traveler information including traffic and road conditions, incident information, maintenance and construction information, event information, transit information, parking information, and weather information. Location–specific or situation–relevant traveler information is sent to short range communications transceivers at the roadside.
Functional Object: TIC Data Collection
'TIC Data Collection' collects transportation–related data from other centers, performs data quality checks on the collected data and then consolidates, verifies, and refines the data and makes it available in a consistent format to applications that support operational data sharing between centers and deliver traveler information to end–users. A broad range of data is collected including traffic and road conditions, transit data, emergency information and advisories, weather data, special event information, traveler services, parking, multimodal data, and toll/pricing data. It also shares data with other transportation information centers.
Functional Object: TIC Emergency Traveler Information
'TIC Emergency Traveler Information' provides emergency information to the public, including wide–area alerts and evacuation information. It provides emergency alerts, information on evacuation zones and evacuation requirements, evacuation destinations and shelter information, available transportation modes, and traffic and road conditions at the origin, destination, and along the evacuation routes. In addition to general evacuation information, personalized information including tailored evacuation routes, service information, and estimated travel times is also provided based on traveler specified origin, destination, and route parameters. Updated information is provided throughout the evacuation and subsequent reentry as status changes and plans are adapted.
Functional Object: TIC Freight-Specific Travel Planning
'TIC Freight–Specific Travel Planning' provides traveler information and trip planning services for freight routes from source to destination, customized for freight users to indicate truck routes, truck stops, inspection stations, steep grades, etc.
Functional Object: TIC Interactive Traveler Information
'TIC Interactive Traveler Information' disseminates personalized traveler information including traffic and road conditions, transit information, parking information, maintenance and construction information, multimodal information, event information, and weather information. Tailored information is provided based on the traveler's request in this interactive service.
Functional Object: TIC Road Weather Advisories and Warnings
'TIC Road Weather Advisories and Warnings' collects, aggregates, and processes environmental situation data (aka environmental probe data) from connected vehicles. Environmental situation data may be collected through direct wide area wireless communications with vehicles or through short range communications equipment at the roadside. Aggregated environmental conditions information are distributed to other centers that use the information to support transportation operations and traveler information services.
Functional Object: TIC Situation Data Management
'TIC Situation Data Management' manages connected vehicle situation data collection, quality controls, filtering, aggregation, and storage. Through this process, raw data reported by connected vehicles are transformed into information products that can be accessed and used to support transportation operations and traveler information. The distribution of the connected vehicle–derived information products is handled by other functional objects.
Functional Object: TIC Traveler Information Broadcast
'TIC Traveler Information Broadcast' disseminates traveler information including traffic and road conditions, incident information, maintenance and construction information, event information, transit information, parking information, and weather information. The same information is broadcast to all equipped traveler interface systems and vehicles.
Functional Object: TIC Traveler Telephone Information
'TIC Traveler Telephone Information' services voice–based traveler requests for information that supports traveler telephone information systems like 511. It takes requests for traveler information, which could be voice–formatted traveler requests, dual–tone multi–frequency (DTMF)–based requests, or a simple traveler information request, and returns the requested traveler information in the proper format. In addition to servicing requests for traveler information, it also collects and forwards alerts and advisories to traveler telephone information systems.