Module 28 - A207a

A207a: Building an ITS Infrastructure Based on the Advanced Transportation Controller (ATC) 5201 Standard, Part 1 of 2

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A207a: Building an ITS Infrastructure Based on the ATC 5201 Standard Part 1 of 2

Table of Contents

Introduction/Purpose - 2

Traffic Concepts - 2

Glossary - 4

Reference to Other Standards - 8

References - 8

Study Questions - 8

1. Introduction/Purpose

A207a: Building an ITS Infrastructure Based on the ATC 5201 Standard Part 1 of 2 is the first of two modules of the Professional Capacity Building (PCB) program on using the Advanced Transportation Controller (ATC) 5201 Standard. A207a explains the purpose of the ATC family of standards and identifies the basic components and operation of transportation field cabinet systems (TFCSs). This module provides the background information necessary to understand A207b: Building an ITS Infrastructure Based on the ATC 5201 Standard Part 2 of 2.

2. Traffic Concepts

Intersection Actuation - The extent to which an intersection is equipped for vehicle detection.

This graphic consists of three graphics each representing a 4 way intersection. Please see the Extended Text Description below.

(Extended Text Description: This graphic consists of three graphics each representing a 4 way intersection. The intersection graphics are arranged such that two are evenly distributed across the page. The third intersection graphic is below the first two and aligned center on the page. Each graphic is depicted as two two-lane roads intersecting perpendicularly North/South and East/West in the shape of a cross (it is assumed that upward is north). There is a centerline on each road to differentiate the northbound lane from the southbound lane and the eastbound lane from the westbound lane. The area where the roads cross (center of the cross) is blank (no lines running through it). In the bottom graphic, the southbound, northbound, westbound, and eastbound approaches to the intersection contain rectangles extending across the width of the lane (total four lanes). The rectangles have one edge at the point where the blank center area begins and extends back into the lane about 1 ½ times their width. This graphic is labeled "Actuated." The graphic to the upper right has the rectangles on the southbound and northbound directions only. This graphic is labeled "Semi-Actuated." The graphic on the upper left does not contain any of the rectangles. This graphic is labeled "Non-Actuated.")

Figure 1

Cycle - The time required for one complete revolution of the timing dial (old definition). One complete sequence of signal indications.

Interval - Any one of the several divisions of the time cycle during which signal indications do not change. Examples:

Phase - Any combination of traffic movements receiving right-of-way simultaneously during one or more intervals

Overlap - A traffic movement timed concurrently with one or more phases (parent phases). Typically, the yellow and red clearance timing of the overlap is equal to that of the phase terminating the overlap.

Standard Quad or 8-Phase Intersection. The odd numbered phases represent left turn movements. The even numbered phases represent through movements. Overlaps are indicated by the plus signs and indicate that the right arrow would appear during the timing of the two phases indicated. Example: The overlap 08 + 01 would be allowed during the timing of 08 and 01. No U-turns on left arrow allowed.

This is a graphic representing of a 4 way intersection. Please see the Extended Text Description below.

(Extended Text Description: This is a graphic representing of a 4 way intersection. It is depicted as two four-lane roads intersecting perpendicularly North/South and East/West in the shape of a large cross (it is assumed that upward is north). There is a center median about the same width as the lanes on each road to differentiate the northbound lanes from the southbound lanes and the eastbound lanes from the westbound lanes. On each side of the median are parallel dotted lines to identify the two lanes on each side. The area where the roads cross (center of the cross) is blank (no lines running through it). For each of the southbound, northbound, westbound, and eastbound approaches to the intersection, the center medians narrow to provide an additional left turn lane for each approach (total 4). The straight through lanes and adjacent left turn lanes on each approach are separated by a dotted line. Each approach has its lanes identified as described below:

  1. Southbound approach – The westernmost lane has a curved arrow starting in the south direction but then pointing westward with label "Φ6 + Φ7" (Φ is the Greek letter phi). The center straight through lane has an arrow pointing southbound with label "Φ6." The left turn lane has a curved arrow starting in the south direction but then pointing eastward with label "Φ1."
  2. Westbound approach – The northernmost lane has a curved arrow starting in the west direction but then pointing northward with label "Φ8 + Φ1". The center straight through lane has an arrow pointing westbound with label "Φ8." The left turn lane has a curved arrow starting in the west direction but then pointing southward with label "Φ3."
  3. Northbound approach – The easternmost lane has a curved arrow starting in the north direction but then pointing eastward with label "Φ2 + Φ3". The center straight through lane has an arrow pointing northbound with label "Φ2." The left turn lane has a curved arrow starting in the north direction but then pointing eastward with label "Φ5."
  4. Eastbound approach – The southernmost lane has a curved arrow starting in the east direction but then pointing southward with label "Φ4 + Φ5". The center straight through lane has an arrow pointing northbound with label "Φ4." The left turn lane has a curved arrow starting in the east direction but then pointing northward with label "Φ7."

)

Figure 2

Ring - Consists of two or more sequentially timed and individually selected conflicting phases so arranged as to occur in an established order.

Barrier - A reference point in the preferred sequence of a multi-ring controller at which all rings are interlocked. Barriers assure there will be no concurrent selection and timing of conflicting phases for traffic movements are in different rings. All rings cross the barrier simultaneously to select and time phases on the other side.

Concurrent Groups - All of the phases between two barriers. Typically, they are the left turn and through movements on a single street.

Dual Ring Operation for a Standard Quad - See diagram below. There are two rings. The first consists of phases 1-4 and the second consists of phases 5-8. A phase in Ring 1 can time with a phase in Ring 2 provided they are a part of the same concurrent group.

This is a graphic representing the flow of service for each of the turning movements in a 4 way intersection. Please see the Extended Text Description below.

(Extended Text Description: This is a graphic representing the flow of service for each of the turning movements in a 4 way intersection. There are eight squares arranged in a two columns and four rows all evenly spaced. Above the left column of squares is a label "RING 1." Above the right column of squares is a label "RING 2." There is a dashed line extending vertically from between the labels to the bottom of the graphic. The dashed line is centered between the columns of squares. There is a horizontal dashed line extending across the graphic evenly between the second and third row of squares. The line is labeled "BARRIER." There is a second such dashed line and label extending across the graphic below the fourth row of squares. To the right of the graphic is a large right bracket highlighting the top four squares (above the first barrier line) with the label "CONCURRENT GROUP." To the right of the graphic is a large right bracket highlighting the bottom four squares (below the first barrier line) labeled "CONCURRENT GROUP."

Each square contains a number and an arrow. The left column of squares contains the following (top to bottom):

The right column of squares contains the following (top to bottom):

There are solid lines connecting the numbered squares as follows:

)

Figure 3

3. Glossary

Term Definition
AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
AC Alternating Current
AC- 120 VAC, 60 Hz neutral (grounded return to the power source)
AC+ 120 VAC, 60 Hz line source (ungrounded)
ANSI American National Standard Institute
ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange
Assembly A complete machine, structure, or unit of a machine that was manufactured by fitting together parts and/or modules
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
ATC Advanced Transportation Controller
AWG American Wire Gage
BSP Board Support Package
Cabinet An outdoor enclosure generally housing the controller unit and associated equipment
Caltrans California Department of Transportation
CD Carrier Detect
Component Any electrical or electronic device
CPU Central Processing Unit
CTS Clear to send (data)
CU Controller Unit, that portion of the controller assembly devoted to the operational control of the logic decisions programmed into the assembly
DAT Design Acceptance Testing
DC Direct Current
DCD Data Carrier Detect (receive line signal detector)
DRAM Dynamic Random Access Memory
EEPROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory
EG Equipment Ground
EIA Electronic Industries Association
EL Electro-luminescent
EMI Electromagnetic Interference
ENET Ethernet
EPROM Ultraviolet Erasable, Programmable, Read-Only Memory
Equal Connectors: comply to physical dimensions, contact material, plating and method of connection. Devices: comply to function, pin out, electrical and operating parameter requirements, access times and interface parameters of the specified device
ETL Electrical Testing Laboratories, Inc.
FCU Field Control Unit
Firmware A computer program or software stored permanently in PROM, EPROM, ROM, or semi-permanently in EEPROM
FLASH A form of EEPROM that allows multiple memory locations to be erased or written in one programming operation. It is solid-state, permanent, and non-volatile memory typically having fast access and read/write cycles
FPA Front Panel Assembly
FSK Frequency Shift Keying
HDLC High-level Data Link Control
I/O Input/Output
IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
IP Internet Protocol
ISO International Standards Organization
ITE Institute of Transportation Engineers
ITS Intelligent Transportation Systems
Jumper A means of connecting/disconnecting two or more conductors by soldering/desoldering a conductive wire or by PCB post jumper
Keyed Means by which like connectors can be physically altered to prevent improper insertion
LCD Liquid Crystal Display
LED Light Emitting Diode
LOGIC Negative logic convention (Ground True) state
logic-level HCT or equivalent TTL – compatible voltage interface levels
lsb Least Significant Bit
LSB Least Significant Byte
MIPS Million Instructions Per Second
Module A functional unit that plugs into an assembly
msb Most Significant Bit
MS Military Specification, Mil-Spec, or Mil-Standard
MSB Most Significant Byte
NA Presently Not Assigned. Cannot be used by the contractor for other purposes.
NEMA National Electrical Manufacturer's Association
NETA National Electrical Testing Association, Inc.
NLSB Next Least Significant Byte
NMSB Next Most Significant Byte
NTCIP National Transportation Communication for ITS Protocols
OST Operating System Time
NYSDOT New York State Department of Transportation
O/S Operating System
Open System Standardized hardware interfaces in a module
PCB Printed Circuit Board
PDA Personal Data Assistant (electronic)
RAM Random Access Memory
RF Radio Frequency
RMS Root mean square
ROM Read only memory
RTC Real Time Clock
RTS Request to send (data)
RX Abbreviation for “Receive” when used to describe communication signals. Typically a prefix for other character(s).
RXC Receive Clock
RXD Receive Data
SDLC Synchronous Data Link Control
SP Serial Port
SPI Serial Peripheral Interface
SRAM Static Random Access Memory
TEES Transportation Electrical Equipment Specifications
TMC Transportation Management Center
TOD Time Of Day Clock
TTL Transistor-Transistor Logic
TX Abbreviation for “Transmit” when used to describe communication signals. Typically a prefix for other character(s).
TXC Transmit Clock
TXD Transmit Data
UL Underwriter's Laboratories, Inc.
USB Universal Serial Bus
VAC Volts Alternating Current
VDC Volts Direct Current
WDT Watchdog Timer: A monitoring circuit, external to the device watched, which senses an Output Line from the device and reacts

4. Reference to Other Standards

5. References

6. Study Questions

Participant Questions Included in Presentation

  1. Which of the following is NOT an application area that has been identified for ATC controller units?
    1. Emergency Management
    2. Personal Computer Backup Systems
    3. Traffic Signal Control / Traffic Management
    4. Connected Vehicle Systems
  2. Which of the following is not in the ATC family of standards?
    1. Application Programming Interface Standard
    2. ITS Roadside Cabinet Standard
    3. Model 170 Standard
    4. Advanced Transportation Controller Standard
  3. Specifying an ATC 5202 Model 2070 controller unit guarantees conformance with the ATC 5201 Standard.
    1. True
    2. False
  4. Which element of a TFCS determines the sequence of traffic movements to provide service to a vehicle?
    1. Inputs
    2. Controller
    3. Outputs
    4. Monitoring