About ITS Standards
ITS Standards and the U.S. DOT ITS Research Initiatives
The U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) program is launching a new generation of research initiatives aimed at bringing ITS to bear on real-life transportation problems by improving transportation safety, relieving congestion, and enhancing productivity. ITS standards play an important role in achieving these objectives.
Connected Vehicle Standards
The development of connected vehicle system standards is an effort that is informedby:
- The results of ongoing connected vehicle technical and policy research activities, findings from field testing, and other global technological developments
- Adaptation of existing standards, where relevant
- Harmonization through joint international efforts
- Connected Vehicle applications supported by ITS Standards.
- The following list of ITS standards are used to deploy Connected Vehicles:
- IEEE 802.11 - 2012 Standard for Information Technology - Telecommunications and Information Exchange Between Systems - Local and Metropolitan Area Networks - Specific Requirements - Part II: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specification
- IEEE 1609.2-2016 Standard for Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments - Security Services for Applications and Management Messages
- IEEE 1609.3-2016 Standard for Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (WAVE) - Networking Services
- IEEE 1609.4-2016 Standard for Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (WAVE) - Multi-Channel Operation
- IEEE 1609.12-2016 Standard for Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (WAVE) - Identifier Allocations
- SAE J2735 Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Message Set Dictionary
- SAE J2945/1 On-board Minimum Performance Requirements for V2V Safety Communications
Learn More…
- "Transportation Wireless Communications: Standards and Specifications Development Organizations Overview" presentation.
- International Harmonization of Connected Vehicle Standards
- Connected Vehicle Reference Implementation Architecture (CVRIA) - Project to identify key interfaces of the Connected Vehicle environment and develop a plan for connected vehicle standards
Short Term Intermodal Research
- Active Transportation Demand Management
- Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) Core and Expanded Deployment Program
- Intelligent and Efficient Border Crossings
Standards are planned but not yet developed for Short Term Intermodal Research applications.
Standards Associated with Earlier Research Programs
Past ITS research programs are bringing ITS to bear on real-life transportation problems by improving transportation safety, relieving congestion, and enhancing productivity. ITS standards play an important role in achieving these objectives. The USDOT Joint Programs Office has mapped standards to four past major research initiatives:
- Emergency Transportation Operations
- Integrated Corridor Management Systems
- Clarus (Nationwide Surface Transportation Weather Observing and Forecasting System)
- Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII)
Emergency Transportation Operations
The USDOT's ITS website provides the goals, background, approach, milestones, and contact information for this initiative (https://www.its.dot.gov/research_archives/eto/index.htm).
The following list of ITS standards creates a baseline for deployments in the Emergency Transportation Operations (ETO) initiative.
- IEEE Standard for Common Incident Management Message Sets for use by Emergency Management Centers (EMCs) - IEEE 1512-2006
- Standard for Traffic Incident Management Message Sets for Use by Emergency Management Centers (EMCs) - IEEE P1512.1-2006
- IEEE Standard for Public Safety Incident Management Message Sets for Use by EMCs - IEEE P1512.2-2004
- Standard for Hazardous Material Incident Management Message Sets for Use by Emergency Management Centers (EMCs) - 1512.3-2006
- IEEE Standard for Common Traffic Incident Management Message Sets for Use in Entities External to Centers - IEEE P1512.4
- Application Profile for XML Message Encoding and Transport in ITS Center-to-Center Communications (C2C XML) - NTCIP 2306
- Generic Reference Model for C2C Communications - NTCIP 1602
- Standard for Functional Level Traffic Management Data Dictionary (TMDD) - ITE TM 1.03
- Message Sets for External TMC Communication (MS/ETMCC) - ITE TM 2.01
- Application Profile for DATEX-ASN (AP-DATEX) - NTCIP 2304
- Application Profile for Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) - NTCIP 2305
- ITIS (International Traveler Information Systems) Phrase Lists - SAE J2540/2
- Message Sets for Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) - SAE 2354
- Location Referencing Message Specification (LRMS) — SAE J2266
- Data Element Definitions for Transportation Sensor Systems (TSS) - NTCIP 1209
- Profiles: These are a series of communications profiles that provide the rules for how messages are transmitted. Only a subset of the entire list of profiles is needed when deploying, and it is based on the type of communications system being used. Potential profiles needed for the ITS standards in Tier One ETO are:
- Profiles when using wireless communications
- Profiles for Ethernet/internet
- Profiles for dedicated phone lines
- Profiles for generic telephone lines
Integrated Corridor Management Systems
The USDOT's ITS website provides the goals, background, approach, milestones, and contact information for this initiative (https://www.its.dot.gov/research_archives/icms/index.htm).
The following list of ITS standards creates a baseline for the management and control of the interfaces for technologies and systems within Integrated Corridor Management Systems (ICMS initiative).
- Object Definitions for Actuated Traffic Signal Controller (ASC) Units - NTCIP 1202
- The Advanced Transportation Controller (ATC) - ITE 9603-3
- The ATC Cabinet - ITE 9603-2
- Field Management Stations (FMS) - Part 1: Object Definitions for Signal System Masters - NTCIP 1210
- The ATC Application Programming Interface (API) - ITE 9603-1
- Object Definitions for Signal Control and Prioritization (SCP) - NTCIP 1211
- Application Profile for XML Message Encoding and Transport in ITS Center-to-Center Communications (C2C XML) - NTCIP 2306
- Transportation Management Interface Standard for Center-to-Center Communications - NTCIP 1601
- Standard for Functional Level Traffic Management Data Dictionary (TMDD) - ITE TM 1.03
- Message Sets for External TMC Communication (MS/ETMCC) - ITE TM 2.01.
- Application Profile for DATEX-ASN (AP-DATEX) - NTCIP 2304
- Application Profile for Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) - NTCIP 2305
- ITIS (International Traveler Information Systems) Phrase Lists - SAE J2540/2
- Message Sets for Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) - SAE 2354
- Location Referencing Message Specification (LRMS) - SAE J2266
- Object Definitions for Transportation Sensor System (TSS) - AASHTO 1209
- Object Definitions for Ramp Meter Control (RMC) Units - NTCIP 1207
- Object Definitions for Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Camera Control - NTCIP 1205
- Object Definitions for Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Switching - NTCIP 1208
- Object Definitions for Network Camera Operation - NTCIP 1212
- Object Definitions for Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) - NTCIP 1203
- Transit Communications Interface Protocols (TCIP) Dialogs - APTA, including:
- The TCIP framework
- Common Public Transportation Objects
- On-Board Objects
- Fare Collection
- Incident Management
- Scheduling/Runcutting
- Passenger Information
- Spatial Representation
- Transit Signal Priority (must be coordinated with NTCIP 1211)
- Profiles: These are a series of communications profiles that provide the rules for how messages are transmitted. Only a subset of the entire list of profiles is needed when deploying, and it is based on the type of communications system being used. Potential profiles needed for the ITS standards in Tier One ICMS are:
- Profiles when using wireless communications
- Profiles for Ethernet/internet
- Profiles for dedicated phone lines
- Profiles for generic telephone lines
National Surface Transportation Weather Observing and Forecasting System - Clarus
The USDOT's ITS website provides the goals, background, approach, milestones, and contact information for this initiative (https://www.its.dot.gov/research_archives/clarus/index.htm).
The following list of ITS standards creates a baseline for deployments in the Clarus initiative.
- Object Definitions for Environmental Sensor Stations (ESS) - NTCIP 1204
- Weather Report Message Set for ESS - NTCIP 1301
- Application Profile for XML Message Encoding and Transport in ITS Center-to-Center Communications (C2C XML) - NTCIP 2306
- Generic Reference Model for C2C Communications - NTCIP 1602
- Standard for Functional Level Traffic Management Data Dictionary (TMDD) - ITE TM 1.03
- Message Sets for External TMC Communication (MS/ETMCC) - ITE TM 2.01
- Application Profile for DATEX-ASN (AP-DATEX) - NTCIP 2304
- Application Profile for Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) - NTCIP 2305
- Message Sets for Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) - SAE 2354
- ASTM, IEEE, SAE Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) standards
- Standard Specification for Telecommunications and Information Exchange Between Roadside and Vehicle Systems - 5 GHz Band Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications - ASTM E2213-03
- Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Message Set Dictionary - SAE J2735
- Standard for Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (WAVE) - Architecture - IEEE 1609.0-2013
- Standard for Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (WAVE) - Over-the-Air Electronic Payment Data Exchange Protocol for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) - IEEE 1609.11 - 2010
- Standard for Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments - Security Services for Applications and Management Messages - IEEE 1609.2-2016
- IEEE 1609.4-2016 Standard for Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (WAVE) - Multi-Channel Operation
- Profiles: These are a series of communications profiles that provide the rules for how messages are transmitted. Only a subset of the entire list of profiles is needed when deploying, and it is based on the type of communications system being used. Potential profiles needed for the ITS standards in Tier One Clarus are:
- Profiles for wireless communications
- Profiles for Ethernet/Internet
- Profiles for dedicated phone lines
- Profiles for generic telephone lines
Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII)
The USDOT's ITS website provides the goals, background, approach, milestones, and contact information for this initiative (https://www.its.dot.gov/research_archives/vii/index.htm).
The following list of ITS standards creates a baseline for deployments in the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) initiative.
- ASTM PS 105-99: Standard Provisional Specification for Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) Data Link Layer
- ASTM E2158-01: Standard Specification for Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) Physical Layer using Microwave in the 902 to 928 MHz Band
- Standard for Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (WAVE) - Resource Manager - IEEE 1609.1-2006
- Standard for Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments - Security Services for Applications and Management Messages - IEEE 1609.2-2016
- Standard for Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (WAVE) - Networking Services - IEEE 1609.3
- Standard for Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (WAVE) - Multi-Channel Operation - IEEE 1609.4
- Standard for Data Dictionary and Message Sets for Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) - SAE J2735
- IEEE Standard for Message Sets for Vehicle/Roadside Communications - IEEE 1455-1999
Contact your local FHWA ITS division specialist or an ITS Standards Program Field Support Team contact for additional help.