Lesson

Anticipate challenges with the ITS technology being tested, including problems with software modification and adaptation of previously developed technology.

A Washington State Department of Transportation’s experience with testing of new variable speed limit technology to reduce winter accidents on a mountain pass.

3/1/1999
United States

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Background (Show)

Lesson Learned

The findings from this experience indicate that a project that tests new ITS technology may experience a range of problems because of the very technology being evaluated. The lesson learned from this project centers around the challenges experienced regarding software modification, adapting previously developed technology, and the radio system:
  • Complete a functional specification for the project before beginning software modifications. Software modification is an integral part of the design and development of an ITS. Explicitly documenting the functions that a system requires will help to ensure fewer false starts and revisions.
  • Include a prototyping step as part of the software development and modification. Prototyping, which is a simulation of the systems operation, assured a way to communicate with the Travel Aid operators about how the system would look and operate.
  • Expect difficulties in retrofitting previously designed equipment with a new ITS. The Travel Aid project planned to use an available in-vehicle device. This did not work because of communication incompatibilities between the in-vehicle devices and the Travel Aid systems. These problems rendered the in-vehicle units inoperable.

These technical challenges delayed or prevented parts of the Travel Aid test from occurring. For example, the compatibility problem with the in-vehicle units would have required adding an estimated two full-time staff during the test period to test the in-vehicle units. Consequently, the in-vehicle units were never installed in the test vehicles.

This experience suggests that any test of new ITS technology that involves software modification should first develop functional specifications for the project and also include prototyping. The lesson also suggests that adaptation of previously designed equipment may present serious incompatibly problems.

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Source

Travel Aid: Lessons Learned and Recommendations

Author: Booz-Allen and Hamilton

Published By: U.S. Department of Transportation, Highway and Vehicle Technology Group

Source Date: 3/1/1999

Other Lessons From this Source

Lesson Contacts

Lesson Contact(s):

Edward McCormack
Washington State Transportation Center
206-543-3348
edm@u.washington.edu


Agency Contact(s):

Larry Senn
WSDOT
206-543-6741
larsenn@u.washington.edu

Lesson Analyst:

Firoz Kabir
Noblis
202-863-2987
firoz.kabir@noblis.org


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Lesson ID: 2005-00086