This paper discusses several aspects of the information and control networks, to be used in the advanced traffic management systems (ATMS), envisaged in the Intelligent Vehicle Highway System (IVHS) programme. The integration of an ATMS will probably occur at a traffic management centre, where input data from detectors and other sources are combined and processed to provide traffic control commands or instructions as outputs. Users and transport system operators will benefit from a completely integrated travel information system. They will also benefit from a connected system, with an `open' architecture that is achieved through published standards for communication protocols between vehicles, traffic between vehicles, traffic management centres, control and monitoring equipment, public transport operators, and value added service providers. Publishing these standards encourages vendors to develop state-of-the-art equipment at lower cost. The paper illustrates some of the logical interfaces and data flows, that will exist with an integrated traffic management centre in an open information and control network environment. It describes such a system's information and control bus and some of its network components.
Abstract