UPDATE Volume 3, Number 1 - Winter Quarter 1999


Transportation Operations Communications Centers: Duluth Case Study

By: Lisa R. Dumke, ADDCO

With the Vikes finally down (it still hurts for this fan!), perhaps it's time to toot our own Minnesota horn about this state's recognized worldwide leadership in providing means for greater traffic safety and traveling efficiency through the use of ITS technologies, not only in the metro area, but in significant yet smaller urban areas like Duluth, St. Cloud, Rochester and Mankato.
Mn/DOT, with a team of private partners, has recognized and addressed the needs of these outstate areas through innovative solutions that bring the best of ITS and communication technologies together through a concept known as MARS (Minnesota Automated Regional Systems) and the development of transportation operations communications centers (TOCCs). Mn/DOT's recent contract with ADDCO for the Duluth and St. Cloud areas, is a unique public-private partnership that involves many key ITS Minnesota players (SRF, BRW, Castle Rock, Sufficient Systems, ISS, Westwood, to name a few) and integrates the following systems into one seamless solution:

  • ¨ Transportation Operations Communications Centers (TOCCs)
  • ¨ Sustainable Traveler Information System.
  • ¨ Centralized Traffic Signal Management.
  • ¨ Transit Support Services.
  • - Duluth's Transportation Needs
In the preliminary scoping study performed by BRW, priority transportation issues recognized Duluth's geographical and weather and its substantial tourism industry during summer months. BRW identified the following priority issues:
  • Incidents in tunnels and inefficiency in handling tunnel incidents. Selection of diversion routes and a way to inform the public of tunnel incidents and alternate routes are required.
  • Congestion due to seasonal/special events.
  • High crash rates on critical sections of roadway.

The MARS concept addresses these priority issues through the use of "plug and play" ITS technologies operated by a "virtual" TOC - or TOCC. The TOCC is at the heart of the system, addressing transportation efficiency and safety by combining traffic and transportation management functions on a single laptop computer - operated from anywhere in the state. The specific challenges of each urban area - whether solved by detection, improved transit operations, variable message signs, better signal systems, smart work zones, or surveillance - can be addressed by the appropriate field components and then networked to the TOCC. This allows ITS technologies to efficiently use resources while solving the area's transportation problems.
The field components are designed to be non-intrusive and can be installed with minimal infrastructure changes. Monitoring of data from these sensors is designed to be automatic without operator interaction until an alarm condition exists.
All field sensor and data collection modules incorporate on-board processing, allowing all devices on the system to have IP addresses and be part of a network. This enables easier system expansion, easier remote diagnosis of service problems, remote software upgrades to field devices, and full scaleable performance upgrades as bandwidth becomes available.
While the concept and approach is innovative, MARS integrates state-of-the-art technology with field-proven devices and systems, making this a truly deployable system that can be used by urban centers throughout the US. The systems are designed to minimize future operations and maintenance costs, and can be operated by current employees at existing facilities. All MARS deployments are designed in accordance with relevant national and state standards, with openness to inclusion of/migration to emerging and new technologies. All products and services are scaleable for statewide implementation and transferable to other cities. The approach provides the following distinguishing features:
  • Responsive - Local needs and concerns were addressed as part of the design and deployment processes.
  • Innovative - The MARS solutions utilize new and emerging technologies linked to field proven systems.
  • User friendly - The current staff, with training, can operate and maintain the systems.
  • Uses existing infrastructure - The new systems are designed to interface with existing systems and existing technology.
  • Fault tolerant - The MARS system in one region can provide backup for another region since the operator can be located virtually anywhere.
  • Transferable - The MARS concepts are readily transferable and usable state and nationwide.
  • Flexible - The systems are designed for flexibility and expansion in order to accommodate new products and technologies.

By using the TOCC with the appropriate field devices collecting real-time data, Duluth operators and/or other regional operators will have immediate access to incident information from any laptop computer. This will aid in timely, accurate incident detection and the related dispatch. Through the use of variable message signs, the TOCC will also enable operators to inform motorists of congestion or accidents and proposed alternate routes.
So Vikes - better luck next year - I'll look forward to another season. And in the meantime, hats off to Mn/DOT and its other private and public partners, who have shown their innovation and leadership by giving life to the MARS and TOCC concepts in Duluth and St. Cloud, and allowing smaller urban areas to benefit from the ITS technologies that have helped their larger urban counterparts.

Thank you! JAMES DENN.
For eight years you have been a proponent of Intelligent Transportation Systems from your commissioners position. Your leadership in this area has positioned Minnesota as a national leader going into the 21st century. Your steadfast support of University research and statewide operational tests has given us an ITS foundation that is an international envy. ITS Minnesota wishes you well in your future endeavors. Again, thank you.

ITS Minnesota Board Information from January Meeting

  • 1999 Officer ballot set: President, Bob Sands; Vice President, James Wright; Secretary, Bill Gardner; Treasurer, Marthand Nookala.
  • Three directors will be elected to two year terms from the following slate:
    • Gordon Melby, VP @ ADDCO, Inc.
    • Durga Panda, VP @ Image Sensing Systems, Inc.
    • Dave Warner, VP @ SEH, Inc.
    • Mike Roman, Manager @ 3M
    • Dave Ekern, Division Director @ Mn/DOT
    • Greg Finsted, Engineer @ City of Minneapolis
      The elections will be announced at the March 10th Forum
  • The FHWA has announced the ITS Electronic Document Library (EDL). This can be accessed at their website, www.fhwa.dot.gov to read documentation from numerous field operational tests in many areas of ITS.
  • If your firm didn't get a capabilities summary into the original itsmn.org web site that debuted in September, please send a paragraph or two and your own site link to the webmaster or the communications committee at itsmail@tc.umn.edu.