RITA | ITS | Lessons Learned: Extend the application of emergency integration best practices to further improve emergency operations.

Lesson

Extend the application of emergency integration best practices to further improve emergency operations.

Experience from 38 TMCs across the country.

2/28/2006
California,United States; Maryland,United States; Pennsylvania,United States; Florida,United States; Minnesota,United States; Texas,United States; Georgia,United States; New Jersey,United States; Utah,United States

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Lesson Learned

Transportation Management Centers are established around the country to integrate data, information, and systems in support of day-to-day traffic and emergency operations. Incomplete or inaccessible information, however, often impedes the ability of TMCs and related agencies to coordinate their efforts and efficiently manage transportation operations. This TMC Integration study concluded that the current application of information sharing and decision-making at TMCs could be improved. Additional concepts of emergency integration (some in the form of extensions of current concepts) were identified, including: Comprehensive Center Coordination, Operational Coordination and Training, and Optimized Emergency Information Integration. These concepts could be implemented using existing technologies, and they offer the opportunity to move the current state of the practice forward.

The study identified relevant methods for achieving each of the integration concepts. These methods are detailed below.

Comprehensive Center Coordination

Deploy redundant, survivable networks. This enables the operations centers of all organizations active throughout the emergency situations to be tied together through a network of voice and data connectivity to coordinate the actions of each.
Improve the exchange of recovery information. While TMCs have resources relevant to recovery (such as surveillance and public information capabilities), EOC operations are typically not structured to take advantage of these resources. The integration of emergency data during recovery phase is critical to improving the efficiency of the recovery effort.
Use multi-industry data interchange standards. FHWA has supported the development of standards that address efficient communication between centers for real-time, interagency management of transportation related events. However, additional adoption of the standards is required, as well as a broadening of the standard in order to reduce the costs of data exchange among agencies.
Foster champions for regional coordination. The centers that have accomplished extensive implementation and multi-agency multi jurisdictional integration have typically been led by champions. These champions have a regional vision for emergency transportation and are willing to push their vision forward.

Operational Coordination and Training

Participate in training classes from FEMA on the use of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident command System (ICS). The Department of Homeland Security has established NIMS to improve interagency cooperation based on an all-hazards approach. The fundamental command and management component of NIMS is ICS, which specifies the processes and command chain for incident response. Training of TMC operational staff on the use of NIMS and ICS provides a basis for cooperation and communication with all other agencies involved in an emergency incident
Foster champions for interdisciplinary coordination. Champions can serve a critical role in advocating for training and exercise programs that enhance the ability of multiple agencies to coordinate their response to an emergency incident.

Optimized Emergency Information Integration

Use regional ITS architecture in coordination. Given the unique integration context of each TMC, it is important to develop a regional ITS architecture that enhances the ability of TMCs to share data. The regional architecture provides a forum for transportation and related agencies to review the existing and planned network of systems related to transportation.
Develop standard optimization process. Through a standard optimization process, rational processes are introduced that can assess current operations, develop measurable goals and objectives, and track progress toward those goals. Through repetition of these steps, a continuous improvement process is established.
Develop Measures of Effectiveness. Measures of effectiveness are an important tool in tracking integration and provide a means for gauging performance.
Use a systems engineering approach. The systems engineering approach outlines the steps to be performed and the order of the steps, with each step building on the next. By linking the different steps and ensuring that each process is tied to previous as well as future processes, it is possible to optimize the overall process of integration.

This set of lessons learned can be utilized to enhance the current practice of TMC emergency information integration. Through advancing the concepts of Comprehensive Center Coordination, Operational Coordination and Training, and Optimized Emergency Information Integration, TMCs can significantly improve their operational effectiveness, resulting in increased public mobility, safety, and security.

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Source

Integration of Emergency and Weather Elements into Transportation Management Centers

Author: Chris Cluett, Fred Kitchener, Dwight Shank, Leon Osborne and Steve Conger

see notes above

Published By: Federal Highway Administration, HOTO

Source Date: 2/28/2006

EDL Number: 14247

Other Reference Number: FHWA-HOP-06-090

URL: http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/jpodocs/repts_te/14247.htm

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Lesson Contacts

Lesson Contact(s):

Chris Cluett
Battelle
206-528-3333
cluett@battelle.org

Agency Contact(s):

Dave Kinnecom
Utah DOT
801-887-3707
DKinnecom@utah.gov

Lesson Analyst:

Margaret Petrella
RITA/The Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
617.494.3582
petrella@volpe.dot.gov

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Lessons From This Source

Adopt best practices for integrating emergency information into Transportation Management Center (TMC) operations to improve performance and increase public mobility, safety and security.

Extend the application of emergency integration best practices to further improve emergency operations.

Integrate weather information into Transportation Management Center (TMC) operations to enhance the ability of operators to manage traffic in a more responsive and effective way during weather events.

Invest in research and development for emergency integration.

Lesson Categories

Management & Operations > Operations

Management & Operations > Maintenance

Leadership & Partnerships > Leaders & Champions

Leadership & Partnerships > Partnerships & Agreements

Leadership & Partnerships > Organizational Management & Structure

Technical Integration > Functional

Technical Integration > Jurisdictional

Technical Integration > Legacy Systems

Application Areas

Keywords

contra flow, contra flow lanes, managed lanes, DMS, CMS, VMS, Changeable Message Signs, Variable Message Signs, HAR, CCTV, closed circuit television cameras, road monitoring, camera imaging, freeway service patrol, courtesy patrols, highway helpers, freeway service patrols, automated gate closure

Lesson ID: 2007-00351

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Extend the application of emergency integration best practices to further improve emergency operations.

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