This project developed a clear, concise, and fiscally sound plan to improve traveller information for the Michigan Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT has a long history of innovation in the field of ITS, including a robust traveller information program led by its on-line presence “MI Drive”. This on-line presence is supported at the roadside by the dense deployment of DMS in the southeast Detroit metro region, with an ever-growing number of DMSs in more rural regions of the State. This current research effort provided an opportunity to position the DOT for future growth and enhanced service to the Michigan travelling public. Currently, there are a variety of pre- and en route DOT traveller information resources, with more coming in the near future (such as the soon-to-be deployed capabilities to show travel speeds across the entire State on the “MI Drive” web site). There also are a number of traveller information resources and capabilities being explored by other states, such as the use of social media (i.e., Twitter) and hand-held mobile computing devices. This research project allowed the DOT to take a systematic view of the state of the practice of the ATIS, explore the capabilities of research currently being conducted, and provide a clear roadmap for the DOT as it grows and enhances its own ATIS capabilities. The project has three main tasks: 1) a literature search, 2) a survey of the travelling public, and 3) a scan of other significant statewide ATIS deployments. (Author/publisher)
Abstract