Assessing The Benefits Of A National ITS Architecture

This paper describes the results of an assessment of benefits from an Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) architecture, based on the National ITS Architecture Development program. Benefits of the architecture include those typically attributed to systems engineering and integration. The architecture provides a common framework so that, in planning and implementing systems, state and local agencies can be assured that ITS products and services are compatible and inter-operable with other ITS products and services. More directly, three beneficial features of the national architecture can be identified: 1) a framework for system integration; 2) common data and functions; and, 3) open interface standards.