Use a systems engineering approach for technical integration of ITS.

Nationwide experience with ITS integration.

Date Posted
03/24/2006
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Identifier
2006-L00196

Florida's ITS Integration Guidebook

Summary Information

Agencies are now discovering the tangible benefits of coordinating with each other to plan, deploy, and operate ITS components in an integrated manner. The key to a successful interoperable transportation system is to integrate ITS via a systems engineering approach into all stages of planning, design and deployment of transportation projects at the state, regional and local settings. The Florida Department of Transportation District Seven’s guidebook serves as an informational tool in defining the ITS integration context technically and institutionally and recommends an iterative process to achieve overall ITS integration that involves planning, institutional and technical integration processes. At the core of the suggested approach is the iterative process of developing, using and maintaining a Regional ITS Architecture (RIA) as part of an ITS strategic plan, considered the focal activity in planning and implementing ITS integration. Several case studies are presented to illustrate the lessons. Among the lessons learned are the importance of fostering the cooperation of the stakeholders and using an iterative approach when integrating ITS.

Lessons Learned

The key to a successful interoperable transportation system is to integrate ITS via a systems engineering approach into all stages of planning, designing and deployment of transportation projects at the state, regional and local settings. Systems engineering is a structured process for arriving at a final design of a system, both at the level of an ITS architecture and the level of project implementation. To demonstrate that the systems approach is consistently being taken, more than assertions may be needed. One way of demonstrating an ITS program based on a systems approach is to adopt a Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP) which describes the methodology and milestones in systems integration, and control system development and testing. SEMP also describes the processes to be used to integrate the software and hardware in the control system, and to integrate communications and field devices. It also identifies what systems will be integrated, and when and who is responsible for integration and testing. Both pre-existing and new systems would be described by the SEMP.



A systems engineering approach requires the project team to consider all phases of a system’s life-cycle from the moment of the system’s conception to its installation. This means taking into consideration the stages of planning, design, procurement, deployment, operations, maintenance, expansion, and retirement of the system or subsystems. This approach also requires the team to:

  • Identify alternatives at each step of building the system.
  • Evaluate each alternative based on costs, political and technical considerations, and customer needs.
  • Consider what risks exist throughout the process and plan for their management.



As discussed, the use of a systems engineering approach to all stages of planning, designing, and deployment of transportation projects is the key to a successful interoperable transportation system. By adopting a Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP), the methodology and milestones in systems integration, and control system development and testing will be further demonstrated.

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