Testing Programs for Transportation Management Systems: A Technical Handbook

The objective of this handbook is to provide direction, guidance, and recommended practices for test planning, test procedures, and test execution for the acquisition, operation, and maintenance of transportation management systems and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) devices. This handbook is intended for individuals that are responsible for or involved in the planning, design, implementation, operation, maintenance, and evaluation of the Transportation Management System (TMS) for public agencies. Targeted end users of the handbook are first-level supervisors (managers and supervisors) and technical staff that may include transportation planners, traffic engineers and technicians, construction and maintenance engineers, and traffic management center (TMC) staff. The guide is an introduction to the technical discipline of testing and provides a foundation for understanding the role, terminology, and technical issues that are encountered while managing a test program. Because it is an introductory guide, other testing resources are referenced for additional information. The guidance provided herein is best utilized early in the project development cycle, prior to preparing project and acquisition plans. Many important decisions are made early in the system engineering process that affect the testing program. The attention to detail when writing and reviewing the requirements or developing the plans and budgets for testing will see the greatest pay-off (or problems) as the project nears completion. Remember that a good testing program is a tool for both the agency and the integrator/supplier; it typically identifies the end of the development phase of the project, establishes the criteria for project acceptance, and establishes the start of the warranty period.\n