California AHMCT Program University of California at Davis California Department of Transportation LITERATURE REVIEW OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN ATMS AND OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE* Michael T. Darter, Kin S. Yen, Bahram Ravani, & Ty A. Lasky, Principal Investigator AHMCT Research Report UCD-ARR-06-12-08-01 Interim Report of Contract IA 65A0210 - Task Order 06-22 December 8, 2006 Affiliations: The authors are with the AHMCT Research Center, Department of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-5294 * This report has been prepared in cooperation with the State of California, Business and Transportation Agency, Department of Transportation and is based on work supported by Contract Number 65A0210 - Task Order 06-22 through the Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology Research Center at the University of California at Davis. Copyright 2011, AHMCT Research Center, UC Davis Copyright 2011, AHMCT Research Center, UC Davis Technical Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. F/CA/RI-2006/10 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Literature Review of National Developments in ATMS and Open- December 8, 2006 Source Software 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s): Michael T. Darter, Kin S. Yen, Bahram Ravani, and 8. Performing Organization Report No. Ty A. Lasky UCD-ARR-06-12-08-01 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) AHMCT Research Center UCD Dept of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering 11. Contract or Grant Davis, California 95616-5294 IA 65A0210 - Task Order 06-22 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered California Department of Transportation Interim Report Division of Research and Innovation December 2006 1127 O Street Sacramento, CA 94273-0001 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 15. Supplementary Notes 16. Abstract Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) have successfully and impressively improved roadway traffic safety, reduced congestion, and increased economic productivity. As ATMS build-out continues into lower-density population areas, ATMS cost can become a serious obstacle, slowing implementation and negatively affecting safety, congestion, and productivity. This report explores the feasibility of using open-source software and commodity computer hardware to lower ATMS implementation costs. The objectives of this report are to: • Summarize the history and current developments in ATMS software and hardware, and their relation to open-source software and commodity multi-source x86 hardware, • Summarize the history, strengths, and weaknesses of open-source software, and • Summarize relevant ATMS hardware and software projects that use open source, or are open-source projects themselves. In preparing this report, the authors surveyed and analyzed relevant articles in research journals, reports, and industry news sources. In addition, individuals were contacted from state DOTs and research institutions that were involved with open-source ATMS projects. Based on the information that was collected and analyzed for this report, the authors found that a number of ATMS and ITS applications have been developed and deployed using open-source software. These systems have a broad range of features, capabilities, and significant operational use. Potential benefits include low initial and recurring costs, customization ability, security, stability, and reduced lock-in. Benefits provided by OSS and its unique development model must be balanced with a consideration of concerns such as technical knowledge of personnel, compatibility with existing software, problems with multiple operating system distributions, and documentation. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Advanced Traffic Management Systems, Intelligent No restrictions. This document is available to the Transportation System, Open-source Software, Open Source public through the National Technical Information Software, commodity hardware, OSS, FOSS, ATMS, ITS Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161. 20. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 132 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized (PF V2.1, 6/30/92) i Copyright 2011, AHMCT Research Center, UC Davis Copyright 2011, AHMCT Research Center, UC Davis Literature Review of National Developments in ATMS and Open-Source Software ABSTRACT Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) have successfully and impressively improved roadway traffic safety, reduced congestion, and increased economic productivity. As ATMS build-out continues into lower-density population areas, ATMS cost can become a serious obstacle, slowing implementation and negatively affecting safety, congestion, and productivity. This report explores the feasibility of using open-source software and commodity computer hardware to lower ATMS implementation costs. The objectives of this report are to: • Summarize the history and current developments in ATMS software and hardware, and their relation to open-source software and commodity multi-source x86 hardware, • Summarize the history, strengths, and weaknesses of open-source software, and • Summarize relevant ATMS hardware and software projects that use open source, or are open-source projects themselves. In preparing this report, the authors surveyed and analyzed relevant articles in research journals, reports, and industry news sources. In addition, individuals were contacted from state DOTs and research institutions that were involved with open-source ATMS projects. Based on the information that was collected and analyzed for this report, the authors found that a number of ATMS and ITS applications have been developed and deployed using open-source software. These systems have a broad range of features, capabilities, and significant operational use. Potential benefits include low initial and recurring costs, customization ability, security, stability, and reduced lock-in. Benefits provided by OSS and its unique development model must be balanced with a consideration of concerns such as technical knowledge of personnel, compatibility with existing software, problems with multiple operating system distributions, and documentation. iii Copyright 2011, AHMCT Research Center, UC Davis Copyright 2011, AHMCT Research Center, UC Davis Literature Review of National Developments in ATMS and Open-Source Software TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract........................................................................................................................................................iii Table of Contents..........................................................................................................................................v List of Figures..............................................................................................................................................ix List of Tables ...............................................................................................................................................xi Disclaimer/Disclosure................................................................................................................................xiii List of Acronyms and Abbreviations..........................................................................................................xv Acknowledgements....................................................................................................................................xix Executive Summary...................................................................................................................................xxi Purpose ..................................................................................................................................................xxi What is Open-Source Software?............................................................................................................xxi Current Developments in Open-Source Software ................................................................................xxii How is Open-Source Software Different?............................................................................................xxii What are Open-Source Software Strengths? .......................................................................................xxiii What are Open-Source Software Concerns? ........................................................................................xxv What is ATMS?...................................................................................................................................xxvi ATMS History .....................................................................................................................................xxvi ITS Standards .....................................................................................................................................xxvii ATMS Trends.....................................................................................................................................xxvii Case Studies of ITS Software Projects Using Open-Source Software ...............................................xxvii Case Studies of ITS Open-Source Software Projects ...........................................................................xxx Case Studies of ITS Hardware Projects Using Open-Source Software...............................................xxxi Case Studies of ITS Open-Source Hardware Projects.........................................................................xxxi