Integrating the collection,fusion, and dissemination of traveler information in Edinburgh,Scotland

The Edinburgh traveler information system, currently being designed for the Edinburgh City Council (ECC), is notable both for its multifaceted approach to the challenges of traffic management in an urban setting and its ability to integrate past, present, and future elements. Integration plays a part in the system design in the following ways:

• •? integration of new and existing systems;
• •? linking together of several disparate systems and procedures;
• •? tight integration of response capabilities with the National Driver Information and Control System (NADICS) operated by the Scottish Office, covering interurban motorways;
• •? incorporation of modularity and flexibility to accommodate future integration.

In describing how the Edinburgh traveler information system is intended to operate, the paper refers to the different types of integration and shows how they are used to benefit the system.The paper begins with a Background outlining the physical, geographical, and institutional context for the system. The Council's environmentally aware policies are referred to, and existing and planned systems, both within and outside Edinburgh, which are relevant to Edinburgh traveler information are briefly described.Following the Background is an overview of the System Design, describing the value added by new elements of the Edinburgh traveler information system and the basic functions to be performed by the system. The Data Collection, Data Fusion, and Data Dissemination aspects of the system are then investigated individually. From the sections describing system structure and operations, it is apparent that the design aims to maximize the collection sources and dissemination mechanisms, but to consolidate the processing of all inputs and outputs in one central location. The system design can accommodate a number of diverse dissemination technologies to ensure that as many target audiences as possible will be exposed to the Information, e.g., variable message signs, remote display terminals, interactive telephone, electronic data exchange, etc.The System Benefits are then outlined and related to the Council policy objectives. The paper ends with a Conclusion and Outlook section which recaps the main points and looks ahead by identifying system enhancements which are anticipated to be integrated in the future.