Connected Vehicle Policy and Institutional Issues

Research Plan

The objective of the ITS Policy and Institutional Issues research program is to identify and analyze solutions for critical policy and institutional issues that may hinder or present challenges to successful deployment of new and emerging technologies, applications, and systems that are anticipated to be transformative for transportation and offer significant public benefits. An overarching focus of the program’s efforts is the creation of policy and institutional models associated with successful technology transfer, adoption, implementation, and use across critical areas of ITS research.

The current policy research agenda focuses on:

• Security policy for Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) systems
• Implementation analysis for V2V and V2I, including Dynamic Mobility Applications (DMA), Data Capture and Management (DCM), and Applications for the Environment: Real-Time Information Synthesis (AERIS)
• Communications analysis and spectrum policy
• Interoperability and standards policy
• Data access and use
• Automation
• Emerging capabilities
• Policy harmonization and exchange with international partners

Research Goals

The goal of the Policy and Institutional Issues research program is to enable successful and sustainable implementation of ITS research. Specific goals to enable connected vehicle systems and applications include those listed below:

• A robust security system that establishes a trust network among credentialed users and appropriately preserves personal privacy (inherent in this issue are the physical manifestation and structure of the security network — the hardware, software, facilities and organizational capabilities necessary for its operation); 
• A financially sustainable strategy for implementation, operations, and maintenance of a security system;
• Communications media to support different connected vehicle applications and security system communication needs; Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) Spectrum capability to support safety applications for imminent crash situations;
• Consumer acceptance of applications and processes;
• Interoperability through accepted standards and viable certification processes;
• Infrastructure implementation guidance and support through testing, guidance, sharing of best practices, training, and exploration of legal policy questions of interest to the stakeholder community.

Research Outcomes

Policy research outcomes include reports of analysis, internal recommendations for senior decision-makers, and guidance for practitioners. Once products are cleared for public release, they are posted on this site. Policy research results anticipated to be publically released in 2014 and 2015 include:

• NHTSA V2V Decision Report for Light Vehicles
• Implementation Vision for Connected Vehicle Deployment
• V2V Security System Institutional Analysis
• Analysis of Communications Options for V2V Security
• Benefit-Cost Analysis of V2V Systems
• Dynamic Mobility Applications Policy Analysis White Papers
• V2I Infrastructure Implementation (“Footprint”) Analysis conducted by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials for USDOT
• FHWA V2I Guidance
• Dedicated Short Range Communication Report to Congress
• A White Paper: Summary of Policy Analysis Using the Connected Vehicle Reference Implementation Architecture Tool
• For International Harmonization of Security Policy, products are anticipated to include:
  • A Comprehensive Cooperative ITS Architecture Framework
  • A Security Policy Framework and Recommended Candidate Policies for Harmonization
  • Policy Guidance to New Implementers of Cooperative ITS Security Systems
  • Technical Guidance to New Implementers and Solution Providers of C-ITS Security Systems: A Checklist
  • A Lessons Learned and Remaining Gaps Report
  • A White Paper on Policies and Topics Excluded from Policy Harmonization
  • A List of Frequently Asked Questions