During today’s session on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Siva R.K. Narla, Senior Director, Transportation Technology, ITE, facilitated a discussion, "Leveraging ITS Technology in the Connected Era." Panelists included Port Authority of NY and NJ ITS Strategic Plan, Theodore A. Bobowsky Jr., Traffic Engineer; Steven Demetropoulos, Staff Services Engineer, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; Edward Fok, Transportation Technologies Specialist, FHWA; Gary Duncan, CTO, Econolite Control Products, Inc., and Suzanne Sloan, Industry Analyst, USDOT.
Various elements of ITS were covered in this session including Smart Objectives for ITS, discussed by Bobowsky. He included the elements of safety (reducing crashes nationwide) and security (improving regional situational awareness) in these objectives. He also stated that these elements must be measured and reported in terms of their progress.
Demetropoulos focused on ITS issues around agency wide projects such as Traffic Signal System Integration and Dynamic Message Sign Replacement, a $12 million project that is being set in motion for the 2014 SuperBowl which New York/New Jersey will host.
Fok discussed infrastructure and cyber security. Fok says that cyber security needs serious attention as hackers have been getting into parking meters and signage on portable DMS signs. He says these signs need to be locked up and please don’t leave your passwords on the back of the panels! With passwords in general, he says to limit use of numbers as these are fairly easy for hackers to figure out.
Fok offered information about the CSET Assessment tool that agencies can use to look at problems they may be having. CSET is a self-applied tool that helps identify vulnerabilities. He also offered the Roadmap to Secure Control Systems in the Transportation Sector as another helpful resource.
When it comes to cyber security, Fok says that agencies have to have their employees “think like a hacker.” That this is the most basic and straightforward way to protect what is important within your agency. And as strange as it may sound, he says it is good idea to engage the hacker community; because the “good” hackers do want to help. Security is important, Folks reiterates, and don’t ever think it’s not something to be bothered with. Monitoring your cyber security ensures safe, efficient operations, and enables your agency to communicate clearly and with confidence to the public.
Duncan looked at leveraging ITS Technology in the connected era. Duncan discussed Intersection Related CV apps which consist of Intelligent traffic signal systems—(ISIG)—improvements in control algorithms (ISIG will require controller updates). ISIG helps reduce delay, reduce congestion and improve safety. Duncan also discussed transit signal priority—expanded availability , more efficient handling of multiple priority requests, reduce transit delay, improve transit delay variability; emergency vehicle preemption—improving efficiency and safety, more efficient and safe handling of requests; pedestrian mobility—cyclists, pedestrians, improved controller awareness of mobile travelers; and freight mobility—more efficient and safe service of heavy freight vehicles, improved controller awareness of approaching freight vehicles, and reduction of pavement damage.
Sloan’s focus on ITS offered resources such as free ITS training that will help increase knowledge of ITS technologies, advance the mission of your organization, and assist you in excelling at your career. Sloan offered valuable training resources available on the USDOT website such as seminars, events, publications, and news. Visit any of the following for more information: http://www.Its.dot.gov, https://www.facebook.com/DOTRITA, Twitter: @ITSJPODirector