Edward J Seymour

The National Transportation Communication for ITS Protocol (NTCIP) for transportation interoperability

Todays transportation networks are not interoperable and are not integrated to provide intermodal services as stipulated by the national transportation policy. The existing transportation infrastructure suffers from a lack of standards and protocols that are needed to tie together fragmented transportation subsystems. This lack of deployable standards and protocols has been a major problem for transportation management professionals for many years. However, public sector users, private sector manufacturers, and systems integrators in the transportation field have marshaled their resources to develop an open-standards based communications protocol. The paper describes the development efforts and the implications of the National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol (NTCIP) and resulting interoperability for transportation applications. It discusses the framework of the NTCIP family of protocols. This emerging communications protocol standard is based on the Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model (OSI-RM) of the International Standards Organization (ISO). The family of protocols are based on layering concepts to keep the protocols simple and, more importantly-open. The NTCIP family of protocols attempts to meet the varied communications needs of the existing low speed transportation infrastructure and prepares the transportation industry for evolving to interoperable intelligent transportation systems (ITS).

Critical Issues Facing Deployment of National Transportation Communications for Intelligent Transportation System Protocols

Critical issues facing the deployment of the National Transportation Communications for Intelligent Transportation System Protocols (NTCIP) are discussed. NTCIP has evolved into a common communications protocol platform from which various transportation devices such as traffic controllers, variable message signs, and environmental sensor stations can be deployed. However, like any new development, the emerging NTCIP standards are facing several critical issues that practitioners must discuss and understand. Today, many municipal and state transportation professionals are inquiring about specifying NTCIP in their procurement documents. They would like to ensure that the specified products are indeed NTCIP compliant. System integrators are focusing on the mechanics of the protocols. Vendors are working to implement products consistent with intelligent transportation system standards that can be integrated into systems and will meet the needs of users. Some critical issues that have been identified through limited deployment experience with NTCIP are discussed, and guidance is provided for dealing with them. The issues include understanding the limitations of NTCIP, procurement, testing, and product availability. Finally, some details on current deployments at a few project sites in the United States are given to illustrate the underlying issues and concerns faced by transportation practitioners.

Evolving Interoperability with National Transportation Communication for Intelligent Transportation Systems Protocols

One of the most exciting developments in the intelligent transportation systems (ITS) industry—one that holds so much promise for the future—is the National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocols (NTCIP). NTCIP will help lead the way to achieve a cost-effective deployment and management of ITS applications. It will also influence the design and manufacturing process and should cause changes in the way system integrators do their work. The resulting interoperability of core functionality between transportation devices will be an enabling service for ITS deployment. Developmental efforts, the implications of NTCIP, and the resulting interoperability for transportation applications are reported. The framework of the NTCIP is described and device level interoperability is discussed. NTCIP makes an effort to fulfill the initial needs for interoperable and interchangeable field devices. Current developments of the NTCIP effort are described and interoperability features are identified.