This paper proposes that dynamic traffic databases are designed using the Geographical Data Files (GDF) European standard. A method for designing road traffic databases using GDF is presented. This is a "bottom up" approach. This approach is compared with the "top down" approach used by most traffic pilot projects. The paper also suggests that the GDF dynamic model should be able to handle different referencing techniques and have the concepts to convert one referencing system to another. An example given is the Bearer Independent Format (BIF) used in the ALERT C project. Both static and semi-real time and real time data systems would be accommodated.
Abstract