Architecture Products
The National ITS Architecture is presented in three different types of products: documents, databases, and a website. Each contains a plethora of architecture information and depending on your needs you can choose them all or just one or two.
The documents are a complete set of architecture documentation as it exists in printed format. The databases provide developers direct access to the source material for the National ITS Architecture in several connected relational databases. The website is compressed into two fromats, a CD-ROM image and a ZIP file, each containing the same content as the National ITS Architecture website but can be available to you when you are not connected to the Internet. For more detailed information about each of these products, see the sections below.
Documents - "Everything About the Architecture - If You Know Where To Look"
The documents contain all the information for the National ITS Architecture in ready-to-print PDF format.
If you're looking for information pertaining to the origins of the National ITS Architecture, the processes used to develop the architecture, design objectives, implementation strategy, etc., this is what to use. Note that architecture definition can also be found in the documents, but this type of information is distributed throughout several different documents, so unless you are a seasoned user of the Architecture, it's best to start with the National ITS Architecture website for this.
The documents also contain a wealth of graphics and tables that you can copy and paste into your own documents. Be aware though, that these will be in bitmap format, which are not easily editable should you wish to modify them.
Databases - "Access to Raw Data in Relational Tables"
The databases give you access to all of the National ITS Architecture definition in the same form that the National ITS Architecture team uses to maintain the architecture and create all of the other products. With this data, you can develop your own architecture based upon a subset of the National ITS Architecture. A word of warning here! Before using the databases to sort information or build your own tables, be sure that you understand the data relationships in the database tables. It is recommended that only users accustomed to working with relational databases use this view to manipulate data. Databases are available for the user services, physical architecture, logical architecture, standards mapping, application areas, service packages, theory of operations, and security areas of the National ITS Architecture.
Website - "National ITS Architecture Website in a CD-ROM Image and a ZIP File"
The website archive files, CD-ROM image and ZIP file, contain all the information on the National ITS Architecture website including the documents and databases. Use the CD-ROM image to burn a CD-ROM or unzip the ZIP file to your hard drive to give you access to architecture data when you may have limited or no Internet access.
Architecture Assessment - "Architecture Assessment Tools and Guidance"
The architecture assessment page provides everything you need to measure the completeness and quality of a regional ITS architecture. It briefly describes the process the National ITS Architecture team uses to assess architectures and provides links to the key tools and guidance that can be used to perform a systematic architecture assessment, following this process.
