A COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE BENEFITS OF ADVANCED TRAVELER INFORMATION SYSTEM (ATIS) OPERATIONAL TESTS

Little "real" evidence of the benefits of Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) are available. Different technologies are being applied through operational tests in the United States, Europe and Japan. Only recently, and especially in the United States, has the focus of the evaluation of operational tests been shifted to understanding and quantifying the benefits of ATIS. This thesis examines ATIS applications from a public-sector perspective, focusing on three key questions: 1) does government sponsorship of ATIS result in a better transportation system? 2) Which concept among the emerging ATIS technologies has the best long-term potential? 3) What long-term challenges and opportunities will ATIS technology place on state and local governments? To gain insight on these questions the research utilizes five case studies of current operational tests, reviews evaluation practices and provides a summary of the early results of these efforts. These case studies focus on highway-related ATIS. An analytical framework is then developed by which the costs and benefits of the various tests and their associated architecture can be compared. The long-term challenges are included in this comparison. The framework is tested, using the case studies, to identify its strengths and weaknesses and determine how well the operational test program is answering questions regarding the cost-effectiveness of ATIS. Finally, key issues and areas for further research are discussed.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • New England University Transportation Center Project Number 72. Supported by a grant from the US Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Department of Civil Engineering, 77 Massachusetts Avenue
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02139
• Authors:
  • Bonsignore, R M
• Publication Date: 1994

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 139 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Advanced traveler information systems; Alternatives analysis; Benefits; Case studies; Cost effectiveness; Costs; Electric potential; Governments; Highways; Intelligent transportation systems; Local government; Operations; State government; Time duration
• Uncontrolled Terms: Comparative analysis; Long term; Operational test and evaluation; Potential; Sponsors
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Finance; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00744564
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 19 1998 12:00AM