AASHTO, ITE, And NEMA Release NTCIP 1202:2005, Object Definitions For Actuated Traffic Signal Controller (ASC) Units-Version 02


ROSSLYN, VA, February 13, 2007-The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) are pleased to announce the publication of NTCIP 1202:2005, Object Definitions for Actuated Traffic Signal Controller (ASC) Units-version 02. AASHTO, ITE, and NEMA have been jointly developing the National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol since 1996. The NTCIP is a family of communication protocols for traffic management devices.

The NTCIP 1202:2005, version 02, is a data dictionary standard that defines the data elements and conformance requirements for traffic signal controllers. The first version was published as NEMA TS 3.5-1996, which then became the Jointly Approved NTCIP 1202:1997, version 01.07. Version 02 was developed to add new features from lessons learned and to update the document format.

The NTCIP 1202:2005, version 02, is used for communicating between system nodes, such as between a traffic management center and the traffic signal controllers at a transportation agency's roadway intersections. The data in the standard is defined using specifications from the internet, and expresses a signal system's operating parameters, functional controls, and status information. Some of these functions include: signal phases, detectors, coordination, preemption, upload and download, and block object data for efficient device configuration.

The standard also includes an information profile, which provides a "checklist" for all of the data elements related to both the traffic-control and the communications functions and implementation needs.

The NTCIP 1202:2005, version 02, includes sections on consistency checking and the concept of operation. The consistency checking section defines how a controller unit checks to see if the data values in the various functions make sense when viewed from an overall perspective. The concept of operation defines how the sequence of information is exchanged between a management station and a controller unit.

The NTCIP 1202:2005, version 02, was developed by the NTCIP Joint Committee's ASC Working Group, which is co-chaired by Peter Ragsdale (U.S. Traffic of Quixote Traffic Corporation) and Elizabeth Ramirez (City of Dallas). The ASC Working Group has 26 members and contributors from both the public and private sectors.

A free complimentary copy of the standards' title page, table of contents, and scope are available by visiting NEMA's website at www.nema.org/stds/ntcip1202.cfm. An electronic copy may be downloaded, or a hard copy may be purchased for $157.00 by visiting NEMA's website, or by contacting IHS at (800) 854-7179 (within the U.S.), (303) 397-7956 (international), or (303) 397-2740 (fax).

Founded in 1914, AASHTO serves its member departments, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Congress, by providing leadership, technical services, information, and advice as well as by contributing to national policy on transportation issues. AASHTO is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

ITE is an international individual member educational and scientific association, and is one of the largest and fastest-growing multimodal professional transportation organizations in the world. Founded in 1930, the Institute is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

NEMA is the trade association of choice for the electrical manufacturing industry. Founded in 1926 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., its approximately 450 member companies manufacture products used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control, and end-use of electricity. These products are used in utility, medical imaging, industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential applications. Domestic production of electrical products sold worldwide exceeds $120 billion. In addition to its headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia, NEMA also has offices in Beijing, São Paulo, and Mexico City.

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