NSF/USDOTPartnership for Exploratory Research - ICSST: Timely and Effective Dissemination of Traveler Information in Rural Areas

交通事故和其他事件的比例高得不成比例，这突显了在农村地区及时和有效地传播旅客信息的必要性，而且这些地区的道路沿线路程较长，缺乏可靠和全面的通信基础设施，这加剧了这一情况。在大都市地区盛行的技术和结构方法在农村环境中根本不可行。这项研究探索了在农村地区有效传播旅行者信息的替代技术和结构方法。系统工程方法被用来整合来自不同学科的技术和方法。利用无线技术和特别网络协议的最新进展，探索车辆之间以及车辆与路边传感器之间的点对点通信，以替代广泛的固定通信和信息基础设施。人的因素以及私营和公共部门利益攸关方的投入被用来进一步形成系统设计。使用基于需求的标准和端到端系统设计对智能天线等新兴技术进行评估。建模和模拟技术用于进行性能评估和技术权衡研究。这项研究的结果将是设计一种可能部署在农村地区进行实地试验的原型。这项研究的结果将指导未来对通信和信息技术基础设施的投资，以适应农村和人口稀少地区的特殊需求。这种办法提供了很高的效益成本比，满足了该国大部分人口较少地区的结构要求。好处不仅仅是安全和效率的提高，因为基础设施还支持广泛的旅客信息服务，这些服务对依赖运输的企业有价值，如车队管理，以及更广泛的旅游业。该项目是高度多学科的，融合了电气和计算机工程以及交通部门的专业知识。参与这项工作的几个方面的学生从事的研究跨越了传统的部门界限。该项目为美洲原住民社区等少数群体提供的潜力非常大，因为他们所在地区缺乏足够的通信和信息基础设施将直接和积极地受到这项研究结果的影响。

The need for timely and effective dissemination of traveler information in rural areas is underscored by the disproportionately high percentage of traffic accidents and other incidents, exacerbated by the relatively long trip durations and lack of reliable and comprehensive communications infrastructure along the roadways in these areas. Technical and structural approaches that are prevalent in metropolitan areas simply are not feasible for rural settings. This research explores alternative technical and structural approaches to effectively disseminating traveler information in rural areas. A systems engineering approach is used to incorporate technologies and methodologies from diverse disciplines. Peer-to-peer communications between vehicles and between vehicles and roadside sensors, using recent advances in wireless technologies and ad hoc networking protocols are explored to serve as a surrogate for extensive fixed communication and information infrastructure. Human factors and inputs from private and public sector stakeholders are used to further shape the system design. Emerging technologies such as smart antennas are evaluated using requirements-based criteria and an end-to-end system design. Modeling and simulation techniques are used to conduct performance assessments and technology trade-off studies. An outcome of this research will be the design of a prototype that might be deployed in a rural area for a field trial.The results of this research will direct future investments in communications and information technology infrastructure that will suit the particular demand of rural and sparsely populated areas. The approach provides a high benefit to cost ratio that meets the structural requirements of large portions of the less populated regions of the country. The benefits go beyond improvements in safety and efficiency, as the infrastructure also supports a broad range of traveler information services that are of value to businesses that rely on transportation, such as fleet management, as well as the broader tourist industry. The project is highly multi-disciplinary, incorporating expertise from the electrical and computing engineering as well as the transportation sector. Students involved in several facets of the work engage in research that cuts across traditional departmental boundaries. The potential that this project provides to minorities such as Native American communities is extremely high, as the lack of adequate communications and information infrastructure in their areas will be directly and positively affected by the outcomes of this research.