Atlanta Traveler Information Showcase 1996: Fact Sheets

Williams, David; Ericson, Nels · 1996 · ROSA P / United States. Joint Program Office for Intelligent Transportation Systems

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Summary

The Atlanta Traveler Information Showcase 1996 was a large-scale demonstration of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) designed to showcase how telecommunications and computer technologies could improve metropolitan travel. Motivated by significant congestion growth in Atlanta and the logistical demands of the 1996 Olympic Games, the project aimed to provide real-time traffic information to help travelers avoid incidents and optimize routes. The Showcase, initially planned for four months, was extended to February 1997 to serve as a template for future multi-jurisdictional public-private partnerships. The project utilized a centralized Transportation Management Center to collect data from over 350 video cameras, radar sites, and mobile spotters. This information was distributed to users through five distinct technologies: personal communication devices (hand-held computers), in-vehicle navigation systems, cable television, interactive television, and online services. Hand-held devices, such as the Motorola Envoy and HP200LX, received data via wireless networks and paging systems. In-vehicle systems, installed in rental cars and fleet vehicles, used GPS for positioning and received real-time updates via FM subcarrier broadcasts. Cable television provided automated, 24-hour traffic maps and live video feeds to hundreds of thousands of subscribers. Interactive television allowed hotel guests to request specific traffic and transit data via remote control. Additionally, an Internet website offered route planning and real-time incident maps to global users. User acceptance surveys involving over 700 respondents and hotline calls indicated strong enthusiasm for the technologies. Approximately 65% of in-vehicle navigation users reported altering their travel behavior based on the information received, and 75% found the devices easy to use. Cable television viewers viewed traffic conditions an average of once daily, with most finding the information accurate and beneficial. The Internet site received between 2,000 and 3,000 visits weekly, spiking to 10,000 during the Olympics, with 75% of users finding real-time traffic data particularly useful. Hand-held computer users reported high satisfaction with the presentation format, though some experienced wireless communication difficulties. Interactive television was accessed by roughly 25% of hotel guests, with traffic and transit information being the most popular services during the Olympic period. The Showcase demonstrated the viability of integrating diverse ITS technologies to provide comprehensive traveler information. It established a lasting legacy for Atlanta, which retained the hardware, software, and communication networks. The project served as a model for other regions, illustrating how public-private partnerships can deploy complex transportation systems. The findings confirmed that real-time information significantly influences travel behavior and that multiple delivery platforms can effectively serve diverse user groups, from commuters to tourists.

Key finding

About 65 percent of in-vehicle navigation system users altered their routing, timing, destination, or mode of travel as a result of the device information.

Methodology

mixed_methods

Sample size: 700

Provenance

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Topics

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• nav systems