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IT Solutions – Connected Vehicle Technology
As transportation needs evolve, IT needs to evolve with it. At the Department of Transportation we are leading the way through the development of intelligent transportation systems (ITS). In partnership with the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) and other DOT Administrations, the Office of the Chief Information Officer is taking proactive steps to modernize transportation and response systems to keep up with the booming technology industry.
Right now I think the US has a unique opportunity to invest in ITS research and development. Across the country, entrepreneurs, private industries and government agencies are all looking for ways to make transportation safer and more sustainable. Many of these game-changing technology solutions have excellent potential for public-private partnerships. This is an area where there is a great deal of opportunity, which federal and private stakeholders should definitely explore in an effort to maintain agility in their business models.
A great example of innovative technologies under development is connected vehicle systems. This program is designed to leverage vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication devices in order to make driving safer by making cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles aware of the vehicles around them – even if the driver isn’t. Furthermore, the vehicle-to-infrastructure capability will allow vehicles to “talk” to local traffic controllers, work zones, school zones, parking meters and other locations, giving the driver enough functional information to streamline traffic and make roadways safer.
Connected vehicle systems represent a key research opportunity for DOT. This is going to be a very interesting mission, and several recent developments show that we are up to the task. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and RITA have partnered with major automakers to conduct cooperative research and to seek solutions to the challenges of implementing V2V and V2I systems, and the NHTSA is already planning to begin field testing on connected vehicle technology.
We are in an era of tight focus on economic sustainability, and we will need bold ideas and program models like those found in ITS programs. These are technology solutions that will save lives, give state DOTs new tools to manage congestion, and enable government and private IT providers to add value to their services. You can learn more at the ITS website, and if you would like to join the conversation on connected vehicle technology and other DOT projects, please visit us at Ideascale.
