US-Japan Collaborative Research on Probe Data: Assessment Report

Vasudevan, Meenakshy; Jacobi, Amy; McHale, Gene; Thompson, Dale; Sakai, Koichi; Watanabe, Ryoichi; Tanaka, Yoshihiro · 2013 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office

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Summary

This assessment report documents the collaborative research efforts between the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) regarding probe data within Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Motivated by a 2010 Memorandum of Cooperation to enhance bilateral ITS development, the US-Japan ITS Task Force identified probe data as a high-priority area for joint research. The primary objective was to define the scope of probe data, share experiences regarding system deployment, and identify applications that leverage vehicle-generated data to improve roadway operations, planning, and maintenance. The research methodology involved jointly developing a high-level definition of probe data, characterized as data generated by vehicles regarding their position, motion, and timestamp, including additional elements like brake status or traction information. The report excludes derived data, such as aggregated travel times, and focuses on data from devices integrated with vehicles or nomadic devices brought into them. The study assessed the status of probe systems in both countries, comparing US connected vehicle systems—which utilize Basic Safety Messages (BSM) broadcast via Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) or cellular technologies—with Japan’s ITS Spot systems. The Task Force shared research findings, lessons learned, and data from public and private sector deployments to evaluate technical feasibility and identify gaps. Key findings include the identification of 19 candidate applications enabled by probe data, ranging from traffic management measures estimation to dynamic speed harmonization and enhanced maintenance decision support. The report details the current status of these applications in both nations and highlights challenges related to security, standards, and policy. Specifically, the collaboration prioritized three applications of mutual interest for future development: traffic management measures estimation, dynamic speed harmonization, and enhanced maintenance decision support. The assessment also noted that while BSM Part 1 supports safety applications, mobility and environmental applications require additional data elements found in BSM Part 2 or other sources, necessitating a mix of DSRC and non-DSRC technologies for comprehensive coverage. The significance of this work lies in its establishment of a framework for future bilateral and potentially trilateral (including the European Union) collaboration. By harmonizing definitions and identifying shared priorities, the report aims to reduce research and development costs, expedite the transferability of lessons learned, and enhance the global marketability of ITS products. The recommended next steps include conducting specific research on the three prioritized applications, addressing cross-cutting issues such as data ownership and intellectual property rights, and refining standards to ensure interoperability between US and Japanese systems. This effort supports the broader goal of making surface transportation safer, smarter, and more efficient through the effective use of cooperative systems.

Key finding

The US-Japan ITS Task Force jointly identified 19 applications that may be developed using probe data and prioritized three applications of mutual interest for future collaboration.

Methodology

review

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• v2x connected vehicle

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence
• Methodological Resource: dataset resource, tool software