SwRI: Worldwide Web Development: Internet and Intranet Applications for ITS and TMCs

Dynamic web-based intelligent transportation system (ITS) interfaces for use by the traveling public, as well as for use in traffic management centers (TMC) to monitor and control ITS equipment are developed at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). In addition to new and custom solutions, SwRI has the knowledge and experience to enhance existing traffic management systems by integrating web-based interface capabilities without requiring significant changes to existing software.

Public ITS Website Development

SwRI develops public websites for ITS and has extensive experience in presenting selected ITS data using simple, easy-to-understand interfaces. SwRI-designed websites provide the public with many types of information, such as:

• Freeway Maps with Real Time

  • Traffic speed

  • Incidents and lane closures

  • ITS equipment icons

• Current ITS Equipment Status

  • Dynamic message sign displays

  • CCTV snapshots

  • Calculated travel times for user-defined routes

• User-customized traffic alerts providing e-mail notification of incidents along daily commutes

SwRI is well aware of the demands placed on a website and the extra strain during periods of high demand caused by extraordinary conditions, such as major traffic events or significant weather events. SwRI designs ITS websites with this in mind, allowing websites to be easily switched to a streamlined low-bandwidth mode that makes the most efficient use of over-burdened resources in extreme conditions.

Traffic Management Interfaces

SwRI is pioneering the use of browser-based thin client interfaces for use in traffic management. These interfaces do not need to be installed on individual workstations, and can be accessed from a variety of devices. Using standard web protocols and languages, SwRI has developed innovative solutions including:

• Fully navigable maps that allow traffic management center operators to:

  • Monitor traffic conditions

  • View current equipment status

  • Send commands to field devices

  • Control CCTV cameras in real time

• Custom database interfaces with detailed data verification, which provides a simple, fault-tolerant method to add and update equipment information without requiring direct interaction with database software

• Enhanced graphical status display for field devices which otherwise provide only text-based data

• Access to traffic management data through remote devices such as wireless handheld computers

• Providing access to TMC operations outside the traffic management center itself

SwRI's experience with web design and development allows us to provide clients with sophisticated, robust interfaces that allow traffic management staff to perform their duties as well as provide up-to-the-minute traffic information to the traveling public.

For more information about the WWW development and internet and intranet application capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Steve Dellenback, Ph.D., PMP, at sdellenback@swri.org or (210) 522-3914.