What's New with the
National ITS Architecture Version 6

This is where you can find out about all of the latest changes to the National ITS Architecture.  You can view changes either by looking at the "Change" at a high-level along with all the areas affected by the change, or you can look at the "change" at a detailed-level sorted by the architecture area.  Some of the more visible enhancements are listed in the summary below:

link to the high level changes page link to the detailed change log page

    Summary of Version 6.0.0 Changes:

    VII Initiative
    One of the key aspects of the National ITS Architecture has always been the integration of intelligent vehicles and intelligent infrastructure using short range communications. In Version 6.0, this aspect of the Architecture was updated to increase consistency with the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) initiative. Version 6.0 of the National ITS Architecture provides the same services that are covered by the VII USDOT Day-1 Use Cases to support regional ITS architectures that may be addressing VII as a future service. The terminology used in many subsystem, terminator, equipment package, and architecture flow descriptions was updated to be consistent with VII terminology. Incorporation of VII applications resulted in several new market packages (ATIS10: VII Traveler Information, MC11: Environmental Probe Surveillance, and MC12: Infrastructure Monitoring). The existing in-vehicle signing capability in the architecture was revised, resulting in the removal of one market package (ATMS12: Virtual TMC and Smart Probe Data) and revision to ATIS09: In Vehicle Signing. See Detailed Changes for subsystems/terminators, architecture flows, equipment packages, and other market packages affected by the VII change.
    Clarus Initiative
    The Clarus Initiative was incorporated into Version 6.0 through a modification to the Weather Service terminator description (to indicate it performs the Clarus functions) and through changes in architecture flows to and from this terminator. Market Package MC03: Road Weather Data Collection was modified to emphasize the collection of environmental sensor data and provision of quality-checked sensor data from the Clarus function within the Weather Service terminator.
    EMO Initiative
    The Emergency Management Operations (EMO) Initiative developed a Conops for the use of traveler information and traffic information dissemination during No-Notice Disasters and how to respond to BioHazards. Version 6.0 of the National ITS Architecture incorporated appropriate aspects of the Conops, including addition of a new Public Health System terminator and new architecture flows.
    Architecture support for Additional DSRC Applications
    Safety-related messages from the new ITS DSRC Standard, SAE J2735, were added to the vehicle-to-other vehicle interfaces in the architecture. To reflect the new functionality, a new Market Package, AVSS12: Cooperative Vehicle Safety Systems and a new equipment package Vehicle Warning System were also added.
    Expanded CVISN
    Recently, the Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) program updated their system architecture. While the existing Architecture was already consistent with CVISN, the National ITS Architecture in Version 6.0 was updated to address these Expanded CVISN capabilities by adding a new Driver Identification Card terminator and new architecture flows to exchange commercial vehicle repair status, driver records, and driver credentials. New USRs addressed the functionality of Expanded CVISN smart roadside capability and new functionality was added for FMS Maintenance Management.
    Transit-Related Updates
    To better synchronize the National ITS Architecture with the most recent ITS TCIP2 standards, the transit vehicle assignment function was separated from the scheduling system function. Market Package APTS6: Transit Maintenance was renamed to APTS06: Transit Fleet Management to highlight the added functionality to support management of garage operational activities. The equipment package Transit Center Fare Management was revised to focus its functionality to fare management while creating two new equipment packages - Transit Center Passenger Counting and On-board Passenger Counting - to provide passenger counting functionality. Market Package APTS10: Transit Passenger Counting was created to provide the service. The definitions of the terms 'stop point', 'transfer point', and 'schedule' were also revised to better reflect the TCIP2 standards.
    Updated Standards / Architecture Relationship and Added Application Areas
    The ITS standards area was updated to reflect changes in standards document numbers and standards titles and several standards were added/removed to match current ITS standards activities. All architecture flows added due to version 6.0 updates were mapped either to ongoing standards development work or identified as future standards candidates. Interface-based Application Areas were added to the Standards area of the hypertext to identify the ITS Standards relevant to deployment of key applications.
    Border Information Flow Architecture (BIFA)
    A recent project with FHWA's Office of Freight Management and Transport Canada led to the definition of a Border Information Flow Architecture (BIFA). Version 6.0 of the National ITS Architecture incorporated the BIFA terminators and services that are connected with the existing scope of the National ITS Architecture. Border Inspection Administration replaces the Trade Regulatory Agencies terminator with the Border Inspection Administration terminator to represent the back-office systems of federal (US, Canada, or Mexico) agencies that address customers, immigration, and trade issues, and the Border Inspection Systems terminator to represent the field equipment of those agencies located at the border crossing. Market Package CVO05: International Border Electronic Clearance was significantly re-scoped to capture the processing and interfaces in the BIFA International Border Registration, Pre-Processing, and Inspection services. In addition, users should consult the BIFA website at FHWA for more information regarding how to include border specific interfaces and services in regional or project ITS architectures.
    Electrical Lighting & Management Systems (ELMS)
    Functionality was added to the architecture to manage electrical and lighting systems for transportation facilities and infrastructure based on a new user service requirement. This change included addition of a new Market Package ATMS12: Roadside Lighting System Control, new equipment packages, Roadside Lighting System Control and TMC Lighting System Control, and new architecture flows.
    Integrated Justice Information Systems (IJIS) Incident Management Standards Efforts
    To ensure consistency of the architecture with ITS Standard IEEE 1512 and IJIS, architecture flows were added between EM and TMS following review of the Information Exchange Package produced by the joint DOT/DOJ Public Safety/Transportation Data Exchange project.
    Hypertext Architecture Version 6.0.0 generated on 4/23/2007 from the following databases
    Physical Architecture dated 4/6/2007,
    Logical Architecture dated 4/23/2007,
    Market Packages dated 4/23/2007,
    Security dated 4/20/2007,
    User Services dated 4/9/2007,
    AppMap dated 4/23/2007 and the
    SDOMAP dated 4/23/2007