A virtual common information platform for intelligent transportation systems

ITS applications are commonly composed of many subsystems that must work together but operate independently. To maximize the benefit of such ITS applications, it is paramount that these subsystems work in harmony with one another. The need for information sharing and integration between various ITS subsystems is calling for the development of advanced data sharing and integration technologies. We introduce a common information platform (CIP) called virtual common information platform (VCIP), used as a universal framework for cost-effective and efficient sharing and exchanging of ITS data. The system architecture is unique in that it combines centralized control with distributed processing. It can support data conversion and integration across an array of heterogeneous ITS subsystems, and control the access level of each subsystem according to its access authorization. The operational methods and key technologies of VCIP along with an application example are described in the paper. A prototype system is presented to further illustrate the key features and functionality of the proposed VCIP.