Wireless Services and Intelligent Vehicle

Transportation Systems
Chungen Hung

Abdulrahman Yarali

Telecommunication Systems Management

Murray State University
Murray, USA
chungenhung@gmail.com

Telecommunication Systems Management

Murray State University
Murray, USA
Abdul.yarali@murraystate.edu

Abstract-This paper examines the upcoming world of Wireless

Services and Intelligent Vehicle Transportation System (IVTS).
Recent advances in powerful and miniature computing, and
transceiver technology, is enabling more technology to be placed
inside a vehicle. The wireless sensors and transceivers onboard
individual cars can communicate with other cars, or with the
road. The information collected by individual vehicle, as well as
those distributed by a central transportation control
communication system can help to reduce accidents and time
wasted in traffic congestion. This paper describes what exactly an
intelligent vehicle highway system is. Furthermore, the pieces of
technology needed to make this intelligent vehicle transportation
system will be examined. The benefits of deploying this system,
such as reduced traffic congestion, increased driving efficiency,
and accident avoidance are discussed. Finally, the cost to deploy
such project is analyzed and compared to the potential savings
gained from reduced accidents, and fewer peoples time wasted in
traffic gridlock. The paper concludes with issues and challenges
that need to be resolved in order to have a fully functional IVTS.
Keywords- Intelligent Vehicle, Intelligent Vehicle Highway
System, Intelligent Traffic Control, Intelligent Transportation
System

I.

INTRODUCTION

With rapid advances in computing and communication

electronics, an Intelligent Vehicle Transportation System
(IVTS) is feasible in this 21st century. IVTS has become a
center of transportation control and increases safety, security
and efficiency of transport systems and decreases
environmental impacts. A broad range of applications in IVTS
require high speed data communication systems, therefore
advanced high-speed data rate wireless technologies such as
3G and 4G are important requirements. 4th generation cellular
network plays a vital role in unleashing the full potential of
IVTS. These cellular networks provide a significantly wider
coverage area than an IVTS tailored IEEE 802.11p 5.8GHz
network. The following presents two scenarios where the
3G/4G network will be utilized.
The 3G/4G cellular network allows the intelligent devices
on the vehicle to have an always-on connection. Road
condition, vehicle heading, vehicle speed, and other relevant
data, can be uploaded in real time to the Traffic Control Center
via the cellular network. In the reverse direction, the high

download speed of 3G/4G networks can allow the vehicle to

download up-to-date predicted traffic models, so the on-board
GPS device can provide the best route possible, by avoiding
congested roadways.
With an always-on connection, users can pay for value
added services while on the vehicle. For example, to price tolls
dynamically, the system need to know the number of vehicle
that is currently on the toll road, as well as the number of
vehicle that will be on it, in order to decide the direction of
movement for future toll price. By using the cellular network,
a driver can pay the toll before him/her approach the toll road.
The toll collection system will then have a better idea of how
many vehicles to expect, and then make the price adjustments
accordingly. In exchange for this vital information, the toll can
be discounted for those that are willing to pay in advance.
More and more traffic related applications will be
developed to take advantage of the 3G/4G network, the same
way that 3G has brought many new apps to the mobile phone.
Vehicles can be equipped with a multitude of sensors to
monitor its environment, and the collected data can be used to
send alerts to the driver or serve as input to the onboard
electronic system. Sensors installed on the roads can detect
traffic flow, congestion, among others, and use that
information to control the traffic lights, and also send the data
to a control room. When the vehicle system and the roadway
system are combined, then several other applications will
become possible. Communication is vital to the IVTS, which
allows the roads and the vehicles to share information. When
the road detects a slow traffic flow, it can send that
information to other vehicles to take another faster route. With
the vehicle and the road sensors working together, existing
roads can accommodate higher traffic volume and at the same
time lower congestion. The implementation of the entire
system will be very costly, and will take years to complete.
However, the amount of savings derived from this complete
system is tremendous. Time will be saved as road congestion
improves, gasoline burned will be reduced as cars spend less
time idling or constant acceleration/deceleration, cost derived
from accidents will be reduced significantly, and the list of
savings goes on.










IEEE CCECE 2011 - 000063

II.

COMMUNICATION

Communication is at the heart of the IVTS. Intelligent

vehicles and roads can function on their own, or they can be
connected to each other to harness the power of an
interconnected system. There are several communication
types, such as Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V), Vehicle to
Infrastructure (V2I) and vise versa, and infrastructure to
infrastructure (I2I).
A.
Vehicle to Vehicle Communication
Vehicle to Vehicle communication means the transfer of
information from one vehicle to the next within a small range,
typically less than 1000 meters. The connection is typically ad
hoc, and can utilize IEEE 802.11p standard. It is a dedicated
short-range communication (DSRC) allowing one or two way
communications. The IEEE 802.11p standard specifies a bit
rate of 3-27 Mb/s operating in the 5.86-5.92GHz band [1]. The
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United
States has allocated 75MHz of bandwidth in the 5.9GHz band
specifically for DSRC for use in IVTS. The European
Telecommunications Standards Institute allocated 30MHz in
the 5.9GHz band for IVTS. The 5.9GHz band is selected due
to its propagation characteristics. The high frequency allows
high bit rate for up to 1000m and is not affected by weather
conditions.
B.
Vehicle to Infrastructure Communication
Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) Communication refers to the
transfer of data between the vehicle and the intelligent boxes
placed on strategic points on the road. It can use IEEE 802.11p
DSRC or IEEE 802.11b/g/n when the vehicle approaches
intelligent road side boxes. If the vehicle is moving very slow,
such as in urban traffic, it can establish a connection with the
roadside intelligent box, transmit the data, and then
disconnect. However, if the vehicle is moving relatively fast,
such as on highways, there will not be enough time to
establish a connection first. In this situation, the data can be
exchanged via constant broadcasting to all devices in range.
The idea very much resembles the way FM radio operates.
Alternatively, the cellular network can be used, which
provides a significantly longer range. Data rate will initially
suffer if the cellular network is selected, but as 3G and 4G
networks are implemented, the data rate can be increased
dramatically. To ensure smooth operation, the vehicle needs
to be equipped with various cellular bands and standards, such
as General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Global System for
Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile
Telecommunications System (UMTS), among others. This is
necessary to guarantee seamless communication between the
vehicle and the infrastructure (the road) no matter where the
vehicle travels to, whether it is urban, rural, or even another
country.
C.
Infrastructure to Infrastructure Communication
Infrastructure to Infrastructure (I2I) Communication refers
to the transmission of data to and from the traffic boxes placed

on the road side. A traffic box can then communicate with

another traffic box further down the road, or to one outside the
city. Several networking techniques can make this I2I become
a reality. Since traffic boxes are fixed by the road side, it is
then possible to connect wires from the nationwide telephone
network which runs by just about every street. Traditional
Cable providers, electric companies, and the newer fiber optics
network all have their cables run by the roadside. Thus the
national roadways can be connected without further
investment in large scale network infrastructure, as the
network is already in place. For very rural areas, the traffic
boxes can be attached to a transceiver that can send/receive via
the cellular network. For areas without any wired or wireless
coverage, the satellite can be used. However, if the place
really lacks wired/wireless coverage, it probably also dont
need an intelligent traffic box, as there will hardly be any
traffic.
D.

Open Standard Communication System

Trying to connect the vehicles and roads will prove to
be a huge undertaking. It is highly recommended that
organizations such as the Department of Transportation
(DOT), the automotive companies, the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO), and others to be
involved to create an open standard for the communication
system. This ensures that any private or public institution can
invest and market products that will be compatible with each
other. Proprietary systems will be a disaster for this
nationwide and even international IVTS. The electronic toll
collection system (ETC) have witness such a disaster.
According to Sussman, the inability of public-sector
organizations to cooperate in developing technologies
continues to be a major barrier to compatible ETC systems
[2]. The trouble faced by the smaller Electronic Toll
Collection (ETC) system demonstrates the importance of
adopting an open standard system for IVTS.
III.

APPLICATION

When the vehicle and the infrastructure communication

system is in place, it will enable a vast number of applications
to solve traffic problems or enhance the driving experience.
The discussion of real world applications will be divided into
sections depending on the communication system required,
such as V2V, V2I, I2I, or a combination of the systems.
A.
Application Utilizing Vehicle to Vehicle
Communication
Without the communication link to the infrastructure, the
vehicle to vehicle communication system can operate on its
own and still bring forth a myriad of useful applications. The
following is a short list of scenarios where V2V can be
utilized:
1. When a vehicle detects a sudden stop of the vehicle in
front, it can relay that data to vehicles in the back, giving
the drivers in the following vehicles more time to react to
the sudden stop. This can significantly decrease the

IEEE CCECE 2011 - 000064

2.

3.

4.

5.

number of chain crashes on highways.

A vehicle detects slippery or icy road condition when it
crosses a bridge. That vehicle can relay the information
wirelessly to vehicles following, so the driver will be
prepared to slow down, thus decreasing the chance of
uncontrollable sliding.
When vehicles are equipped with GPS, the exact position
of the vehicle can be detected, and that positional data can
be shared with other vehicles in the proximity. When the
driver attempts to change lanes, the vehicles central
processor could check the positions of adjacent vehicles
and provide a warning if a blind spot accident looks
imminent. The warning could be audible or, with a more
complex system, the vehicle could commandeer the
brakes or steering wheel [3].
Driving at night on curvy mountain roads is a major cause
of accidents, due to the fact that the driver cannot see
when another vehicle approaches the curve. The current
solution is to illuminate the curves at all times. This
however, is a waste of energy. The Japanese intelligentroadway lighting technology called GuideLight Systems
increases car-to-car visibility in hazardous areas while
conserving energy. Acoustic sensors mounted on the road
detect cars entering a curve. Fluorescent or LED-based
lamps switch on 10m or more ahead of the vehicle,
effectively warning oncoming cars and pedestrians of the
potential hazard and giving them more time to respond
[4]. Yet another method is by utilizing V2V
communication system. The vehicle constantly sends out
its positional data retrieved from the on-board GPS
device. The positional data allows both vehicles to
become aware of each others presence when they
approach the dangerous curve, which can effectively
mitigate head-on collisions at dangerous curves.
The electronic control system (ECS) detects unacceptable
tire pressure level, engine temperature, or other mishaps
that requires immediate action. The ECS alerts the driver
that it must pull over to the road side as soon as possible.
The V2V communication module can send that alert to
the following vehicles, allowing drivers to anticipate the
pull over of the vehicle in front of them. In another
similar situation, if a trucks ECS detects potential brake
failure, the V2V system can alert those vehicles in front
so they can get out of harms way.

B.
Application Utilizing Vehicle to Infrastructure
Communication
Going towards V2I is significantly harder than V2V, as V2I
requires the roads to be equipped with sensors and
transceivers. As it is an ambitious project to implement such
intelligent system on all roads, it makes sense to start with the
major roads in major cities. The following is a brief list of
application that can be realized with V2I:
1. Presently, when an emergency vehicle approaches an
intersection, the infrared (IR) transmitter emits a signal

2.

3.

4.

to the traffic light, causing it to change to green. This is

a good start, but the infrared transmitter can only
change the traffic light of the upcoming intersection. If
the vehicle can talk with the road, then it will be
another story. The vehicles route to the destination site
can be transmitted to all the upcoming intersection
points, so the traffic lights can all be changed just
before the emergency vehicle approaches. This will
minimize the congestion and wait time for the
emergency vehicle, and at the same time reducing
traffic disruptions. The emergency signal can also be
transmitted to individual vehicles, so all cars can leave
an open lane for the emergency vehicle.
Today, consumer GPS device can receive real time
traffic data via FM radio channel or cellular network.
The driver will be notified of upcoming traffic jams,
and the GPS can change the route to avoid the traffic
jam. This traffic avoidance can become smarter if GPS
from the vehicle can talk to the infrastructure.
Presently, traffic jam data reports after the traffic jam
has already occurred. Say the GPS receives the slow
traffic flow data, but it does not necessarily mean that
the traffic will still be slow by the time the vehicle
approaches that particular road section. The jam could
have already cleared. In contrast, the road can be
normal at the present time, but become jammed in 30
minutes. Our present GPS traffic alert can be improved
by predicting future traffic conditions. With V2I, a
vehicle can transmit its GPS route data to the
infrastructure, where the data can be disseminated to
the appropriate traffic control centers. The collected
routes from individual vehicles can be used to predict
future traffic pattern. For example, if there is a lot of
vehicle approaching the same road section at
approximately the same time, then the infrastructure
can send out warning to vehicles regarding the sudden
increase in traffic in the next hour for a particular road
section. The driver or GPS can then pick another route
to avoid the predicted traffic jam.
Suppose the traffic light has just begun switching from
green to red, and a distracted driver is approaching the
intersection. The vehicle detects it will not be able to
stop in time, so it sends out an alert signal to the
roadside box. The roadside box then broadcasts the
warning signal to all the vehicles in that intersection.
This warning system can avoid accidents. Yet another
smarter way is to have the roadside box constantly
broadcasting the traffic light change that is about to
occur, so all the vehicle in the vicinity can be aware of
it. Those vehicles operated by a distracted driver can
automatically apply the brakes, so the vehicle will not
run a red light. Both solutions will surely mitigate the
number of accidents at intersections.
Chain crashes often occur when vehicles follow too
closely at high speeds, and a driver suddenly slams on

IEEE CCECE 2011 - 000065

the brake. This is especially true when coupled with

severe weather conditions. When the vehicle senses the
slam of the brake, it can send that information to the
roadside box. The roadside box can then distribute that
information to vehicles following behind. This can also
be accomplished with just the V2V alert system, but
with V2I, the alert range can be increased greatly.
Thus, it is more effective at avoiding multi-car crashes.
C.
Application Utilizing Infrastructure to Infrastructure
Communication
The last step towards the IVTS is the I2I communication
system. With I2I, the entire transportation communications
network will be complete. Any car can talk to any other car
on any road, any car can talk to any road at any point, and
any road can talk to any other road. The linking of all the
roadside boxes opens a myriad of new applications, such as:
1. Suppose a vehicle detects a slippery spot on the road.
Now it can warn not just the car behind it, but also send
that data to the roadside boxes, which can be relayed to
a central control room. Since all the roads are now
connected, the nearest road safety workers can be
alerted of the slippery road and do something about it.
The same warning data can be sent to all vehicles that
have a GPS route heading to the slippery area.
2. A vehicle collision is sensed by the vehicle or the
roadside box, and the data is submitted to the central
control room. The workers at the control room can
activate the camera to verify the severity of the accident.
Other vehicles heading that route can be warned, and to
take alternative routes. The accident data will be
forwarded to the nearest emergency responders via the
I2I connections. Since the control room can see the
accident scene remotely, that information can also be
communicated to the emergency responders, so they
know what to expect at the scene and be more prepared.
3. All the traffic lights can now work together as one
system thanks to I2I communication. The roadside
boxes can communicate directly with each other, and
determine the best way to control the traffic lights
around the area to achieve the most efficient traffic
flow. The ultimate goal is to predict traffic patterns, so
vehicle idling time can be minimized. Real time traffic
prediction requires massive computing power. With the
infrastructure now linked to central control rooms, the
computation can be performed on some supercomputer
anywhere in the country, and the results sent back to the
roadside boxes instructing it when to change lights.
IV.

2.

3.

THE IVTS ADVANTAGE

The IVTS will no doubt revolutionize the way we travel.

With a nationwide IVTS, many of the traffic problems faced
today can be resolved. Below are some advantages of using
the IVTS:
1. Precious time can be saved if travel time prediction can be
reliably predicted. The supercomputers can generate a
traffic flow prediction, and the information can be sold as

4.

a service to time conscious drivers. There will be a market

where people will be willing to pay for such information,
because time is money. Travel time prediction can be
used daily by anyone that commutes to work, which is
just about everybody in this country. The commute to
work might take thirty minutes today, but one hour on the
next day. The commuter would then need to leave the
house one hour early so as to arrive on time even if they
are caught in traffic. If the traffic turns out to be smooth,
the driver will arrive at the destination early, and thus
time will be wasted waiting to start their work or
appointment. A reliable prediction of travel time would be
of great value to the driver. With this service, the driver
will know how long it will take to go somewhere, and
time can be better utilized. This is especially useful to
trucking companies, as goods will be delivered on-time,
which means stores don't need to carry excessive
inventory or ran out of stock.
If buses are equipped with GPS systems, and bus stops are
equipped with dynamic message boards, the arrival time
of the next bus can be displayed on the board. The user
can then use that information and decide whether they
should just walk, bike, or take another bus with a shorter
wait time. Chicagos bus system allows users to send text
message to inquire the arrival time of the next bus. I used
the service during my visit to Chicago. Instead of waiting
for 26 minutes for the next bus, I decided to walk, which
took me 20 minutes to reach the destination. The
availability of real-time bus information via audio text or
videotext in homes, workplaces and commercial
enterprises should enable travelers to choose exactly when
to leave for the bus stop in order to catch the next bus.
This is particularly valuable on bus lines that have
infrequent service and in locations with climates that
make extended outdoor waits at bus stops burdensome
[5].
Toll roads can be priced on the fly with congestion
pricing system to ensure efficient use of the road. During
peak hours, the toll road can ask for a higher price. Some
wallet conscious drivers who need not drive during the
peak hours will change the time of their commute to avoid
the high tolls. By enabling drivers to choose whether to
pay a premium to travel on a particular highway at a
particular time, value pricing had the potential to reduce
peak traffic levels on congested highways [6].This
pricing model might look promising, but can face stiff
opponents if implemented. Some people will think that
having such a dynamic pricing system, only the wealthy
will be allowed on the road, and thus discriminating the
lower working class, as they cannot justify to pay a high
price to travel during certain times of the day. Thus,
pricing structure must be careful planned, so the majority
of the population can still afford it.
A significant number of accidents can be avoided with a
functional IVTS. According to estimates, some 40% of
traffic fatalities occur at intersections and 20% at curves,
primarily because opposing traffic is unaware of

IEEE CCECE 2011 - 000066

5.

6.

7.

8.

oncoming vehicles [7]. With IVTS, the vehicle can

communicate their location to each other, and thus be
aware of the presence of surrounding vehicles. This alone
can potentially reduce traffic fatalities by 60%. The cost
of accidents can be reduced significantly, and most
importantly, lives will be saved.
Using the IVTS, a variable speed limit system can be
implemented. Using weather data and road condition data
supplied by individual vehicles, the system can
dynamically determine and change the speed, and also
display warning messages to alert the driver. Drivers tend
to slow down and keep a longer distance when they are
aware of the potential dangers. This will reduce the
number of accidents resulting from poor weather and/or
road conditions.
Emergency personnel will be able to respond to accidents
quicker with the aid of IVTS. Data collected by the
roadside sensors along with video footage captured by the
CCD cameras can all be transmitted to a traffic control
room. When the system detects unusual traffic pattern, it
can be indicative of an accident. The system can then send
an alert to the traffic controller, who can then utilize the
footage captured by the CCD cameras to replay what
happened. If there is indeed an accident, the traffic
controller can remote control the CCD cameras to take a
better look at the scene, and relay that information to the
emergency responders. This information is very valuable
to emergency responders, as they can already see the
scene before they arrive, and began planning what needs
to be done first. The traffic controller can change the road
side variable message boards to inform drivers of the
accident. In addition, intersection and lane signals can be
modified on the fly to divert traffic away from the
accident site. In San Antonio, TX, one such system is
already in use. According to Vince Pearce of Allied
Signal (Columbia, MD), "Five years ago it took an
average of 20 minutes before the DOT knew about an
incident and law enforcement could dispatch an officer to
the scene. Now the DOT knows about it within 2 minutes
and can act on it within 15 seconds" [7].
Collisions happen because drivers tend to over-estimate
their following headway. By utilizing a forward collision
warning system installed on the vehicle, drivers can be
alerted when they are following too close. By exposing
the driver to such system, the driver will become better at
estimating headway distance, and thus avoiding chain
collisions.
Greenhouse emissions can be reduced with the aid of
IVTS. Live traffic data and predicted traffic patterns can
help individuals decide when is the best time to commute
to avoid long waits in traffic. A best route can be
calculated based on the current and future traffic patterns.
Greenhouse emissions can be reduced because fewer
vehicles will be idling. Fewer stop and go traffic will also
help reduce engine inefficiencies, as it takes significantly
less energy to maintain speed than to accelerate. The GPS
system and live traffic data can reduce navigational errors,

and thus reducing unproductive miles driven. According

to Shladover, gas savings in congested urban areas can be
10 30% [8]. This is significantly cheaper than building
hybrid vehicles that has two drivetrains (electric and gas)
to save the comparable amount of gas. Hybrid vehicles
are good, but they are still too expensive for most users.
When hybrids or electric vehicles become affordable, the
IVTS together with the cleaner vehicles will lower
greenhouse emissions even further.
V.

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

The implementation of IVTS can be a challenging project. In

this section, we look at cost and political issues as possible
roadblocks for the implementation of IVTS.
A.
Cost
IVTS seems to be a very promising technology to implement
with numerous advantages discussed above, but the system
also can cost a great deal of money to build. The
infrastructures along with the costs are as follows:
1. Road side intelligent boxes. These boxes need to be
placed on intersections and alongside long stretch of
roads. These roadside boxes are estimates to cost several
thousands of dollars [9], depending on the complexity
desired in each box.
2. Wired/Wireless networks. The road side boxes needs to
be connected in order to be useful. For roads that already
have network cable running alongside, the road side boxes
can tap into those ready built networks. Of course, this
requires agreements with the network carrier. For rural
areas, the cellular network is probably the most cost
effective way to connect, as most cellular carriers has
coverage on most roadways even in the most remote
areas. As for those places where nothing is available, one
can consider using satellite to provide the communication.
However, it would probably be too costly to implement.
These areas are most likely too remote with little or no
vehicles. The need for roadside boxes can be omitted for
such places.
3. Intelligent boxes on Vehicles. Vehicles need to be
equipped with radio transceivers and mobile computing
devices. Car manufacturers around the world would need
to agree on a standard set of applications and protocols to
use on these devices, to allow interoperability no matter
who made the vehicle. Standalone boxes must also be
available at retail stores for users with older vehicles to
buy and install it. These standalone boxes will provide
less functionality, as it can only do so much without
integrating with the vehicles Electronic Control System
(ECS). The cost for these boxes is estimated to be about
$50 to $100 a piece.
4. Data Centers. All the data collected by the vehicle and the
infrastructure needs to be sent to the data centers to be
processed. Software and hardware needs to be purchased
to house and process the data into useful form. The cost of
software and hardware is very hard to predict, as the
computing industry advances very quickly. The cost will

IEEE CCECE 2011 - 000067

also depend on the sophistication of the computer models

desired.
5. Traffic Control Centers. The data collected, and the
processed information needs to go to the traffic control
centers, where humans and machines can use that
information to better control the roads. The IVTS units
can be integrated into existing traffic control centers, or
new buildings can be built just for IVTS. The cost for this
is also very hard to predict at this time.
6. Workers. The IVTS system needs to be managed,
maintained, and repaired 24/7. Workers will be needed to
perform these functions. The cost of workers will depend
on the type of job to be performed and the location.
The above items are a short list of the important infrastructures
that will be required for IVTS to be fully functional.
B. Politics
The implementation of a nationwide IVTS will no doubt
face stiff barriers stemming from political issues. Historically,
the long-haul highways are under the supervision of the state,
while smaller roads (the arteries) are managed by the local
government. A traffic control center must be able to direct
traffic on all roads to make IVTS effective. For example, when
a highway becomes crowded, the traffic controllers must be
able to direct traffic to less congested local roads. To allow
this, the local and the state government need to work together
and grant power to each other. The nation as a whole must
also agree on a standard, so that all roads in all states will
implement the same system to ensure interoperability.
VI.

SAVINGS

While it costs several billion dollars to build IVTS, the amount

of savings to be realized by the society can even be greater.
The following lists some potential savings that can be realized
with IVTS:
1. Time Savings. A lot of time can be saved. Travel will be a
lot more efficient, thus citizens can save the time sitting in
traffic or waiting for the next bus. According to the annual
traffic congestion report issued by the Texas
Transportation Institute, traffic congestion costs the
nation $67.6 billion each year, or $430 per person [10].
2. Accident Savings. Accidents are very expensive when one
occurs. The costs come from property damages, hurt
citizens, hospital fees, emergency responders salary,
traffic congestion, and the litigations that follow the
incident. AAA, a company that offers roadside assistance,
stated that accidents cost $164.2 billion each year, which
based on the methodology used in the report comes to an
annual per person cost of $1,051 [10]. A spokeswomen
from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
said that the cost of accidents to society could be even
greater than what the AAA study is predicting [10]. The
reasoning is based on a study which concluded that the
cost to society was $230.6 billion in 2000 and the
likelihood is that it is even greater today" [10].
3. Life Savings. With sensors and remotely adjustable
cameras, accidents can be detected earlier, and can allow

4.

5.

emergency responders to gain knowledge of the accident

scene prior to arrival. This will allow the team more time
to prepare and plan the rescue mission, leading to better
execute of the planned mission.
Energy Savings. Vehicles use the most energy in stop and
go traffic. The output from the IVTS system will provide
a smoother traffic flow, which can save significant
amount of gas wasted in idling or stop and go traffic.
The above are the major areas where IVTS can provide
value to the society. The most significant savings can be
realized from reduced accidents on the road.
VII. CONCLUSION
st

In the 21 century, the technology and knowledge necessary to

build the IVTS is already here. Mobile computing chips are
small, efficient, and powerful enough to provide the
computations needs for intelligent boxes to be placed on
vehicles. Network communication, either wired or wireless,
provides coverage for most areas where there are roads. The
wireless transceivers are becoming smaller, and at the same
time higher generation of wireless access technologies are
providing ever increasing capacity. Sensors and CCD cameras
are also mature technologies. The datacenters needed to house
and process the immense traffic data is readily available. Just
about the only thing that is lacking is the funding. Policy
makers need to realize that the future savings from reduced
accidents and unproductive time wasted at traffic jams
significantly outweighs the cost of building the IVTS. The
IVTS will no doubt revolutionize the way people travel, and at
the same time bring the world one step closer to fully
automated vehicles.
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CNN Money.Retrieved from :
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/05/news/economy/AAA_study/.

IEEE CCECE 2011 - 000068