Office of Operations
21st Century Operations Using 21st Century Technologies

Real-Time System Management Information Program Data Exchange Format Specification

Foreword

Notice

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.

The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names may appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.

Quality Assurance Statement

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes for continuous quality improvement.

Technical Report Documentation Page

1. Report No.

FHWA-HOP-13-047

2. Government Accession No.

3. Recipient’s Catalog No.

4. Title and Subtitle

Real-Time System Management Information Program Data Exchange Format Specification

5. Report Date

August 2013

6. Performing Organization Code

7. Author(s)

Consensus Systems Technologies (“ConSysTec”) and Cambridge Systematics, Inc.

8. Performing Organization Report No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

Consensus Systems Technologies
17 Miller Avenue / POB 517
Shenorock, NY 10587

Cambridge Systematics, Inc.
4800 Hampden Lane, Suite 800
Bethesda, MD 20814

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

11. Contract or Grant No.

DTFH61-06-D-00004

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Operations
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

HOP

15. Supplementary Notes

Mr. Robert Rupert, Federal Highway Administration, GTM

16. Abstract

Section 1201 of SAFETEA-LU, published in August 2005, instructed the Secretary of Transportation to establish a real-time system management information program to provide, in all states, the capability to monitor, in real-time, the traffic and travel conditions of the major highways of the United States and to share that information to improve the security of the surface transportation system, to address congestion problems, to support improved response to weather events and surface transportation incidents, and facilitate national and regional highway traveler information.

In response to these requirements, U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 23 Part 511 was developed. Title 23 CFR Part 511 requires each state to establish and operate a Real-Time System Management Information Program (RTSMIP) capable of gathering and making available the data for traffic and travel conditions. However, Title 23 CFR 511 does not require the dissemination of real-time information in any particular manner, only that the states make the information available. It also does not require states to apply any particular technology, technology-dependent application, or business model for collecting, processing and disseminating information. As a result, development of a Data Exchange Format Specification (DXFS) and implementation guidance was initiated to support the need of states for a specification that satisfies the essential elements of the rule.

In 2011, U.S. DOT began development of the Data Exchange Format Specification (DXFS) to facilitate the development of interoperable real-time traffic and travel information between public agencies, with other public agencies, and with private entities. The DXFS has been developed to assist users to specify and then develop an RTSMIP implementation.

17. Key Words

DXFS, RTSMIP, real-time information

18. Distribution Statement

No Restrictions.

19. Security Classif. (of this report)

Unclassified

20. Security Classif. (of this page)

Unclassified

21. No of Pages

132

22. Price

N/A

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72)                                                                      Reproduction of completed pages authorized