In the context of smart vehicles, rapid technological developments are occurring within two separate areas defied as Automated Vehicles (AVs) and Connected Vehicles (CVs). The development of CVs and AVs is occurring largely independently, although convergence of the two areas will be required for full automation of vehicles. In general, the term ‘Connected Vehicle’ is used to broadly identify any ‘smart vehicle’ with wireless connectivity to the Internet, local network or the Cloud, other vehicles, personal communication devices, roadside infrastructure or control centres for real-time communication or exchange of data. C-ITS (Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems) is more focussed on Vehicle-to Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) wireless communications that are used to share real-time information about the road environment (such as potential incidents, threats and hazards) with an increased time horizon and awareness distance, beyond current in-vehicle technologies (radars or cameras) and what the driver can visualise. C-ITS is considered a subset of CVs. This report is a companion report to ‘Automated Vehicles: Are we ready?’ and discusses the imminent availability of C-ITS enabled vehicles on Western Australian roads, and what Main Roads, as the state road agency, needs to do to enable successful operation of such vehicles on its road network. From a government perspective, the impetus for deploying C-ITS is to deliver applications with a road safety focus that will reduce the number of fatality and serious injury crashes on the road network. To do this effectively, C-ITS will need to function in urban and rural areas, particularly as rural Western Australia (WA) contributes to a significant number (58 percent) of fatal crashes (based on 2009—2014 crash data) each year. Main Roads’ primary interest would be to support applications that deliver significant safety, efficiency and environmental benefits for its customers. Emerging CV applications that are more commercially driven including infotainment, traveller information and navigation are being developed and deployed in vehicles by auto manufacturers and technology companies independently of road agencies. Although significant progress has been made under the leadership of Austroads and other agencies, there are still challenges to be resolved at a national level for C-ITS to be successfully deployed in Australia. In particular, spectrum management and device licensing, standards development and compliance, security and trust (Security Credential Management System), privacy, vehicle positioning, digital mapping, global harmonisation, and defining the roles and responsibilities for C-ITS need to be addressed. Successful C-ITS deployment will require a targeted list of non-complex day-one applications that deliver value to customers. These applications will need their own set of defied roles and responsibilities, roll-out plans, hot spot areas, investment plans and related business cases. While day-one applications are not directly linked to a specific communication technology, they will have different operational requirements such as latency that may require specific communication technologies to be used for successful operations. There are already several access technologies [such as FM/ DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting) radio, mobile broadband, 5.9 GHz DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication) and satellite] that could be used for C-ITS applications, and it is expected that new technologies will emerge on a regular basis. Good service provision will require access to multiple communications technologies for the best outcomes in relation to costs, reliability and safety, particularly in regional WA. It is also important that the C-ITS applications are based on standardised message sets and have been tested and validated in relevant field operation tests. What Main Roads may need to do to support these day-one applications and the initial C-ITS deployment is still emerging through the Austroads-led work being undertaken nationally. However, it appears Australia’s preferred approach would be to put in place the policy, legal and regulatory frameworks to support C-ITS by addressing key deployment challenges. These include spectrum management and device licensing, assurance and compliance with standards, and security and trust This will leave it largely to the competitive market to deploy C-ITS with supporting roadside infrastructure provided by the respective road agencies at jurisdiction level. As a road agency Main Roads, over the next two to three years, will need to ensure that data management and data access processes in relation to road agency data such as speed zones, SPaT (Signal Phasing and Timing), intersection geometry and road works, are improved and aligned to support and facilitate emerging C-ITS applications, in sync with other jurisdictions. Also, Main Roads ITS control systems such as STREAMS and SCATS need to be integrated and updated to support day-one C-ITS applications. Until what is expected of road agencies becomes clearer, there are two possible alternative positions for Main Roads to take regarding roadside infrastructure required for C-ITS. a) Do not deploy Road-side Units (RSUs) and wait for communication options such as 4G and 5G mobile communications, and satellite communications to emerge. b) Deploy limited RSUs in critical corridors and hot spots such as rail crossings with a poor safety record. Scenario (a) still provides access to the opportunities of CVs but it may take a longer to allow communications technology to mature. Scenario (b) involves deploying limited RSUs along selected critical corridors such as high-volume roads and hot spots. However, because technology requirements are not clear, a limited rather than network-wide deployment initiative may be of more benefit. A commitment to a test corridor and to install RSUs on new roads (eg. Perth Freight Link and NorthLink due to open in 2019) would also provide greater certainty to encourage private investment. It has been proposed that around AUD 15 million to install C-ITS at prioritised locations in WA would provide a modest investment in roadside infrastructure and adequately support traffic management control systems for the foreseeable future. In summary, the following action plan is recommended for the next two to three years, until what’s required in relation to C-ITS emerges and informs road agencies: 1. Continue participating in the current national Austroads’ led national policy and regulatory processes. 2. Identify and implement the changes required in STREAMS and SCATS to support day-one C-ITS applications. 3. Ensure data management and data access processes in relation to road agency data such as speed zone, SPaT, intersection geometry and roadworks, are improved and aligned to support and facilitate emerging C-ITS applications. 4. Identify and implement the communication changes required for existing and new ITS to future proof them for C-ITS applications. 5. Continue to facilitate the transition to the National ITS Architecture. 6. Develop in-house capabilities, particularly in ITS architecture and systems engineering, and exploit Big Data from CVs. 7. In partnership with academia and industry, establish a local test-bed to examine readiness of C-ITS applications, and undertake research and development activities for WA specific issues in the deployment of CVs and AVs. 8. Commit to deploying RSUs on new and upgraded roads due to open beyond 2017, such as Perth Freight Link and NorthLink, and hot spots such as rail crossings with poor safety records. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting