The Application of Intelligent Transport System (ITS) in the Freeway Management in Taiwan

This paper, from the Fourth US-Taiwan Bridge Engineering Workshop, describes the use of intelligent transport systems (ITS) as part of freeway management in Taiwan. The Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau (TANFB) has spent 5 billion NT dollars ($165 million USD) to establish the traffic management system along the 12 west-east expressways in Taiwan (covering nearly 1,000 kilometers). This system includes Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) and Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS), and a Traffic Information Management, Coordination and Command Center (TIMCCC). The system also includes a network traffic simulation facility with which TANFB can predict the travel time and analyze the performance of various control strategies by simulation. This will enable road users to inquire about the predicted travel time before departure and receive the traffic information through various channels en route.