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Research Description and Scope
The Dynamic Mobility Applications program seeks to identify, develop, and deploy applications that leverage the full potential of connected vehicles, travelers and infrastructure to enhance current operational practices and transform future surface transportation systems management. Program objectives include:
- Create applications exploiting frequently collected and rapidly disseminated multi-source data drawn from connected travelers, vehicles and infrastructure;
- Develop and assess applications showing potential to improve the nature, accuracy, precision and/or speed of dynamic decision making by both system managers and system users;
- Identify innovative forms of wireless connectivity linking travelers, vehicles and infrastructure supporting these new mobility applications; and
- Demonstrate promising applications predicted to significantly improve the capability of the transportation system to provide safe, reliable, and secure movement of goods and people. More>>
Research Goals
A successful Dynamic Mobility Applications program will lead to the more rapid and cost-effective deployment of interoperable technologies and applications that increase system efficiency and improve individual mobility. The Dynamic Mobility Applications program will act to promote the highest levels of collaboration and cooperation in the research and development of transformative mobility applications. Further, the program will seek to facilitate the highest level of free and open competition in the commercialization of mobility applications as well as their integration and maintenance. The Dynamic Mobility Applications program positions the federal government to take on an appropriate and influential role as a technology steward for the continually evolving integrated transportation system. More>>
Research Questions
The Dynamic Mobility Applications research program is structured around the following questions:
- Are cross-modal applications effective? Which are best for deployment?
- What minimum infrastructure is needed for maximum benefit?
- What public sector cross-modal applications can be developed using data available today and with future data and technologies?
- Which mobility applications require public and/or private sector investments?
Work Program Overview and Tracks
The Dynamic Mobility Applications program envisions a three-phase effort spanning five years. Phase I activity will focus on the identification of multiple promising applications. In Phase II, selected application concepts will be realized in a test environment. Data environments and applications that show promise in testing may be selected for pilot deployment in Phase III. More>>
Note that research, development, testing and deployment activities within the Dynamic Mobility Applications program must be integrated with applications development efforts in other programs as well as the Real-Time Data Capture and Management Program to achieve Dynamic Mobility Applications program goals.
Roadmap Tracks
The Dynamic Mobility Applications program is comprised of three phases over five years: Foundational Analysis (Phase 1); Tool Development (Phase 2); and Focused Deployment (Phase 3).
Six major tracks span the five-year program duration: (1) Stakeholder Engagement, (2) Mobility Application Development, (3) Proof-of-Concept Tests, (4) Demonstrations, (5) Evaluation and Performance Measures, and (6) Outreach and Technology Transfers. A Program Support track (0) is also included. Work activities in each track are identified in the following section.
Track 0 – Program Support
Program support activities include program planning, the maintenance of program roadmaps and other key documents, procurement planning and support, program coordination, and technical review.
Track 1 – Stakeholder Engagement
The Dynamic Mobility Applications program seeks to identify, develop and deploy transformative applications maximizing system productivity while enhancing traveler mobility. The program will rely on feedback from multiple stakeholders as mobility applications are identified, prioritized, developed and supported. Stakeholder engagement thus is paramount to the success of the program. The goal of this track is to engage stakeholders throughout the duration of the program. Stakeholder engagement may take many forms such as: workshops and meetings, audio and video conferences, document reviews, design reviews, etc.
Track 2 – Mobility Applications Research and Development
The goal of this track is to identify and develop high-value mobility applications serving mode-specific, multi-modal and cross-modal goals. In Phase 1, the goal is to conduct a state-of-the-practice assessment, coordinate application development across the Dynamic Mobility Applications program and other programs developing applications (e.g., AERIS or Active Traffic Management), establish an open source application development environment, and develop a prototype application that will serve as a model for applications to be developed in Phases 2 and 3. Work activities in this track will also establish plans for Policy and Institutional Issues implications for applications development and deployment. In addition, this track contains work activities of a similar nature regarding standards development.
Track 2 is further subdivided into the following sub tracks: Technical (2A); Institutional and Policy (2B); and Standards (2C). More>>
Track 3 – Proof of Concept Tests
The goal of this track is to develop and test promising mobility applications in real and/or simulated test beds. In Phase 1, candidate applications will be identified. Stakeholder input will be sought to map data environments to applications and to prioritize candidate application for Proof-of-Concept (POC) tests in Phase 2. Proof-of-Concept testing will be conducted during Phase 2 and will include testing of standards, procedures, tools, and institutional arrangements. Test results will be used to refine existing standards, procedures, and tools. Promising data environments (and associated applications) identified in Phase 2 will be considered for pilot deployment in Phase 3.
Track 4– Demonstrations
The goal of this track is to conduct pilot deployments to test and demonstrate the benefits of mobility applications in an operational environment. In Phase 1, one or more near-term demonstrations focused on system productivity and traveler mobility measurement will be conducted. Conducting these near-term demonstrations will sharpen program focus on performance measurement. Concepts of system productivity and mobility refined in Phase 1 will guide the prioritization of applications selected for testing in Phase 2. In Phase 2, the track will focus on deployment partnering for potential pilot deployments in Phase 3. In Phase 3, selected pilot deployments will be used to test and demonstrate mobility applications successfully tested in Phase 2. The pilot deployments will test and demonstrate applications supported by these data environments as well as specific data capture and management policies and procedures. Pilot Deployments offer an opportunity for stakeholders and partners to develop operational systems that exist well beyond the life of the program.
Track 5 – Evaluation and Performance Measures
The goal of this track is to evaluate the performance of mobility applications to maximize system productivity and enhance traveler mobility, including a benefits/costs analysis. In Phase 1, an evaluation framework will be developed and performance measures will be defined. A prototype application for system-wide productivity measurement and traveler mobility assessment will be developed under Track 2A. This prototype application will be integrated into the near-term mobility demonstrations planned for Phase 1 of the effort. The performance measurement framework will be utilized to prioritize candidate applications for further development and testing in Phase 2. The evaluation framework and performance measures will be refined based on the results of Phase 2. Applications considered for Phase 3 pilot deployment will be prioritized based on impacts quantified by the set of refined mobility performance measures.
Track 6 – Outreach and Technology Transfer
The goal of this track is to conduct outreach activities to inform the transportation community on the activities of the program, and share findings and procedures with stakeholders. In Phase 1, outreach activities will be conducted to publicize and communicate the open source mobility application development concept. This track is also intended to support key program goals in other tracks by encouraging participation from stakeholders, solicit mobility application concepts, encourage development of innovative mobility applications, and solicit partnership with USDOT on deployment efforts.
Open source mobility application algorithms, as well as tools and techniques developed throughout the program will be available to stakeholders. Applications developed using the near-term mobility demonstrations will also be available for stakeholders involved in the program. Demonstrations and sharing of results from the Proof of Concept Tests and Pilot Deployments will be used to expand interest in the program and ultimately lead to operational implementations of key mobility applications. Outreach materials will be developed throughout the program to keep the broader transportation community informed of program progress.
Resources
- Vehicle Information Exchange Needs for Mobility Applications:
Version 2.0 - Vision and Operational Concept for Enabling Advanced Traveler Information Services
- Vision and Operational Concept for Enabling Advanced Traveler Information Services: Market Readiness Assessment
- Vehicle Information Exchange Needs for Mobility Applications
- Dynamic Mobility Applications Fact Sheet
- Dynamic Mobility Applications Program Vision: Objectives, Core Concepts and Projected Outcomes
- Dynamic Mobility Applications High Level Roadmap Chart
- Dynamic Mobility Applications Template
- Dynamic Mobility Applications Candidate Application Ideas
- Mobility Workshop Participant Workbook
- Mobility Workshop Presentation Materials
- Mobility Applications Program: High-Priority Applications and Development Approach [PDF 288KB]
- Connected Vehicle Mobility and Environment Workshop (2010) Stakeholder Feedback Summary [PDF 141KB]
- Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting Presentations
Research Contacts
To learn more about this research, contact:
Katherine K. Hartman
Program Manager, Truck and Program Assessment
ITS Joint Program Office
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
(202) 366-2742
kate.hartman@dot.gov
Robert Rupert
Traveler Information Management Team
Office of Transportation Management
Federal Highway Administration
(202) 366-2194
robert.rupert@dot.gov
Steven Mortensen
Office of Mobility Innovation
Federal Transit Administration
(202) 493-0459
steven.mortensen@dot.gov
Randy Butler
Freight Technology Manager
Office of Freight Management and Operations
Federal Highway Administration
(202) 366-9215
randy.butler@dot.gov
Ben McKeever
Team Leader, Transportation Operations Applications
Office of Operations R&D
Federal Highway Administration
(202) 493-3270
ben.mckeever@dot.gov