VEHICLE INTELLIGENCE & TRANSPORATION ANALYSIS LABORATORY    
    University of California, Santa Barbara 

 

Workshop Objectives

 
Background At the Knoxville workshop, we identified a number of application areas in which the ITS Datum may be relevant and useful, e.g. EMS, ITS, GIS-T, transit, state/municipal planning. 

Areas of conflict were identified.  GIS-T, ITS and the NSDI coordination group had all expressed the need for a Datum, but had differing views on its structure and content.  There was extended discussion on matters such as node placement, precision and accuracy.  Although several useful ideas were floated, resolution was not achieved within the few hours of deliberation. 

Further details on Knoxville proceedings 

Objectives Research into the ITS Datum is already underway at VITAL, and a locally densified Datum prototype is being constructed.  We are developing experimental systems to determine the optimal placement of Datum nodes, and to study their impact on error and interoperability with particular regard to costs and benefits.  This experimental infrastructure will help determine the Datum design rules. 

The June workshop is intended to help crystallize the research agenda of the lab, to determine the design questions that need to be addressed over the coming months.  We are interested in participants' opinions on precision and accuracy requirements, current operational problems and potential benefits that a Datum could achieve through improved accuracy and standardization. 

Many participants are probably not familiar with ITS Datum concepts and technical issues.  That's ok, we do not expect such proficiency.  We hope that fairly early in the workshop, participants will start to relate the technical discussions to their everyday problems.  We expect that they will help us by expressing practical needs and concerns, so that future technical directions are rooted in reality and utility.

Format

 For the first half-day, we will present the conceptual and technical background on the Datum.  Then, participants will break out into discussion groups to address particular issues (e.g. state DOT concerns, municipal planning, ITS/incident management, technical issues).  The breakout groups will present their discussion summaries and findings at a final plenary session.