Abstract

This program, a Regional Pool and Federal IVI Funded program led by California Department of Transportation, is a collaborative effort between multiple state departments of transportation and private industries with interest in advancement of IDS technologies. Work facilitated under this program will support the goals and objectives of the Intelligent Vehicles Initiative Request for Information and the Specialty Vehicles Platform Steering Group. Studies will be supported to develop potential in technologies for operational testing and demonstration over the next six years. Initial activity will be to convene stakeholders and identify research areas with the most valuable possibilities. Participants will work together, referring to technical experts when appropriate, to steer the topics of study. On an ongoing basis, studies will be funded following review of a proposal and discussion of user needs, benefits, and technical merits thereof.

Structure / Participants

Program Management: California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
        Role: Manage the IC-IDS Program
Technical Advisory Committee: Representative from each participating agency/company
        Role: Provide technical analysis of study proposals and recommendations for technical content of studies.

The program structure will be hierarchical only in that the California Department of Transportation will lead the efforts, coordinating participant collaborations and administering the studies according to Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) recommendations. Participation by other states and private entities will be vital to developing a comprehensive program. Minnesota & Virginia Department of Transportation will be a major partner in the collaborative efforts under this program. Participants from private industry, public safety agencies, and utilities will be sought.

Areas of Research

Projects under this program will be in the following areas (as recommended to the Infrastructure Consortium Technical Advisory Committee by the Working Group):

• Intersection Collision Warning and Avoidance

Project Selection

Selection of studies will occur via decision by Steering Board members. As its name suggests, the Steering Board, consisting of representatives from participating agencies/companies, will provide guidance on the identification of study needs, evaluation of proposals, and study progress. The Steering Board will ask such questions as "Is this study proposing work to meet the intent and needs of IVI research? Is it appropriate to fund this study at this time?"

Providing technical analysis of proposed studies will be the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Following the advice of the TAC members, the Steering Board will finalize the decision for the course of research under this program.

While some projects may be specifically requested by the participating partners, others may be proposed by outside parties. Though sole-source conditions may exist due to limited field of ITS research, project initiations will be subject to solicitation and competitive-bidding processes.

The specifics of selecting investigations and studies will be a periodic, collaborative process. The involvement of both public and private stakeholders allows for the consideration of many issues coming from differing perspectives. The pooled funding and cost sharing relationship between the partners encourages mutual consideration of special needs in developing solutions.

Program Interaction

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) staff will conduct proposal solicitations as needed and coordinate the federal funding of the approved projects. Caltrans will also monitor the contractual obligations of the researchers.

General Program direction and project selection will occur with consultation by the TAC.

The development of priority research areas and the selection of projects will be a semi-annual process, ongoing for the duration of this program. Coordination within the program will occur through periodic meetings to discuss necessary work, current activities, and demonstration efforts. Teleconference or email correspondence will occur as necessary; meetings will be organized semi-annually. Some discussions will be held in concurrence with popular meeting times, such as the ITS America Annual Meeting, while specific meetings will be called as well.

Meeting agendas will generally include these objectives:

• Develop or update prioritized list of activities.
• Develop plan to accomplish these activities including activity budgets and funding sources
• Review project proposals
• Review project status

Funding Plan

FHWA/IVI and participants of the pooled-funded program will fund this program, through annual contributions. Increased activity and demonstrations are planned through the program life. At the time of the IVI Infrastructure Consortium Program, participation is confirmed from California, Minnesota, and Virginia Departments of Transportation. When participation by private industry is achieved, cost sharing will be expected.

The program funding will be contracted and distributed through the California Department of the Transportation. Projects will be expected to specify appropriate tasks and deliverables (linked to the projects budget plan) at the time of proposal.