A Decision-Oriented Framework for Evaluating Deployment Strategies for Intelligent Transportation Systems

Because Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) R&D is performed for the ultimate deployment in the real world, deployment issues may limit design options for ITS concepts and technologies and, hence, can be viewed as constraints on ITS R&D. Therefore, ITS deployment issues must be studied at the outset of the R&D process. This paper develops a framework to help recognize and organize such issues. The findings can be used by ITS researchers in developing deployable ITS concepts and technologies and by ITS promoters in deploying ITS technologies having been developed already. Based on a focus on decisions impacting the deployment of ITS user services, we attempt to "derive" such a framework. Faced with many transportation needs, solutions are sought; with the recent advances in information, communication, sensor, control, computer and other technologies, many opportunities for improving current surface transportation systems exist. The fact that a multitude of decisions are required for selecting, developing and implementing proper ITS user services as solutions to serve properly selected transportation needs necessitates a focus on decision.