Trav Info Evaluation ( Technology Element ) Traveler Information Center ( TIC ) Study: Operator Interface Analysis - Phase III

TravInfo is a Field Operational Test of advanced traveler information systems for the San Francisco Bay Area, sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The project involves a public/private partnership which seeks to compile, integrate and broadly disseminate timely and accurate multi-modal traveler information through commercial products and services. The public sector component centers on the Traveler Information Center (TIC), which collects and integrates both static and dynamic traveler information. The TIC began operations in September 1996 and will operate as an FOT through September of 1998. The evaluation of the TIC consists of four components, system reliability, communications interface, response time, and operator interface. This report focuses on the operator interface element. The operator interface element investigates the human element by considering the role of the operator in the flow of information through the TIC, the operators' tasks and responsibilities and the operators' physical environment. This report focuses on the physical environment of the TIC operations including the TIC computer interface and the physical surroundings of the operators' workstation environment. The work was accomplished by analyzing the TIC operator interface design and by surveying operators. Key Words: TravInfo, Field Operational Test, evaluation, traveler information center, advanced traveler information systems, operator interface design, working environment, operator profile