<title>Design of fiber optic communication systems for IVHS applications: problems and recommendations</title>

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to highlight recommendations made by fifteen experts from industry and State Departments of Transportation (DOT) regarding the design, implementation, operations, and maintenance of fiber optic communication links presently being used in their transportation management systems. This paper also brings forth the problems faced during the deployment of these systems. The procedure followed for this research was to review the specifications and design guidelines for various Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) projects which have implemented, or are in the process of implementing, fiber optic communication links for their traffic management systems. DOT officials and industry design consultants who were directly involved in the implementation of the FHWA projects were then interviewed on issues concerning system design, operations and management, bidding, and other institutional aspects. The result of these interviews is a set of recommendations ranging from increased use of the latest standards to suggestions for more efficient planning of the traffic management center. These problems and recommendations are presented in this paper. This paper thus offers valuable guidelines for the design and implementation of fiber optic communication systems for future IVHS and transportation management applications.