The implementation of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is based on the development of communication systems and the integrated operation of various automated and computerized services. Agencies should plan and design a system which will efficiently provide not only the transportation related services but also to stretch the taxpayers investment; the system should be expandable to other uses. In the city of Mission Viejo in the USA, the fiber optic system provided for ITS applications will also be shared with regional transportation information systems, city data services, telecommuting and teleconferencing, Internet access, library and city information services, and even a landscape irrigation monitoring system. The effort takes some additional planning to provide a system architecture (hardware and software) which is capable of managing all the various tasks and system demands. This local systems approach parallels the "open architecture" concept for all of ITS, however the development of multiple-use plans helps provide the early identification of issues and solutions that might even affect the future expansion of ITS services.
Abstract