A Smart Corridor is a corridor in which multiple transportation networks are operationally coordinated, including intermodal connections and collaboration among the organizations that participate in the operation of the corridor. Technology is a key enabler through which coordination is achieved.
Technology, in the form of Intelligent Transportation Systems, enables services that provide decision makers with the information they need to make effective decisions. Examples include readily accessible current/predictive travel conditions information, electronic filing of commercial vehicle credentials/reporting, automated means of inspection/authentication, and electronic payments and reservations.
This Smart Corridor Concept of Operations defines the operation of transportation technology solutions for the corridor extending from Windsor to Québec City and south to the Canada/U.S. border. It is based on a common vision of co-ordinated operations and information flows, stakeholder needs and responsibilities, and current and future supporting systems applications. The resulting framework serves to guide future investment in the underlying technology applications.
The concept was developed through a participatory process involving the focussed efforts of the corridor stakeholder community. Stakeholders were selected through a comprehensive outreach effort that extended to a variety of different business activities and inherent interest groups. These included, for example:
- Commercial Vehicle Operators: Reflecting the drivers and dispatchers for carriers operating within the corridor and beyond;
- Provincial Commercial Vehicle Enforcement: Representing the commercial vehicle safety enforcement responsibilities of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and contrôle routier Québec;
- Shippers: Representing the end-to-end supply chain management process for shipments through the corridor, conceivably with origins and destinations beyond the corridor;
- Borders and Ports of Entry: Reflecting the perspective of border authorities; and
- Transportation Authorities: Representing the public and private sector agencies responsible for developing, operating and maintaining transportation infrastructure including roads, bridges, tunnels, rail and intermodal facilities.
The stakeholder engagement process entailed the following sequence of activities:
- Initial Outreach: Initial contact to raise awareness of the project, establish the stakeholder community, survey stakeholder needs and inventory existing transportation systems;
- Workshops: Two series of full day workshops, held in locations across the corridor, to generate active stakeholder dialogue, and develop consensus on operational scenarios and supporting systems applications; and
- Webinars: Two web-based seminars to support continued dialogue and review project deliverables.
Through the engagement process, corridor stakeholders identified priority needs which drove the development of the Concept of Operations. These needs included, for example:
- Comprehensive Traveller Information: Reliable and seamless across jurisdictions, and integral to the fleet management function;
- Shipment Tracking: Improved visibility, including location/status of shipments across all modes;
- Commercial Vehicle Information Systems Networks: Enforcement agencies need the means to focus their resources on selected or non-compliant vehicles; and
- Network Monitoring and Systems Integration: Traffic management and traveller information services need to be coordinated with border operations to improve the efficacy and uptake of FAST/NEXUS programs.
Transportation operators and authorities increasingly have real time information assets; the focus now shifts to comprehensive coverage and interoperability to meet the needs of travellers and industry. In developing the concept of operations, different scenarios were defined and diagrammed to reflect the current and potential future operations processes, from the viewpoint of each stakeholder group. Each of the scenarios envisaged for the future generally considers an environment of improved data sharing and processing to facilitate enhanced information services for transportation stakeholders. The different scenarios included, for example:
- Reservation and dynamic routing systems to support the efficient transfer of shipments at intermodal facilities and movement of commercial vehicles;
- Information systems integration to support and improve the effectiveness of commercial vehicle enforcement activities, while generating efficiencies and savings for operators;
- Integrated portals for shipment administration and tracking to improve supply chain visibility and reduce duplicative data entry tasks and errors; and
- Wider transportation network monitoring to support traveller information and reduce delays through improved response coordination.
The Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) industry has established a common framework that defines the systems ‘tools’ which are directly applicable to the Concept of Operations. This framework is known as the ITS Architecture for Canada. The different components of the architecture can be applied independently or in combination to address the transportation systems needs of a region. When applied to a specific region, the architecture:
- Identifies the stakeholders that influence the operation of the transportation network;
- Provides an inventory of the existing and planned systems;
- Suggests opportunities for information sharing;
- Describes a framework for connectivity and systems integration; and
- Supports a concept of operations.
The complete architecture for the Ontario-Québec Smart Corridor Concept of Operations can be found on the project website.
A variety of public and private sector stakeholder working groups, established by various standards development organizations, have defined ITS standards. These standards describe common data elements, structures and protocols, to ensure that any ITS systems that are implemented, can be appropriately integrated to maximize the potential benefits. The ITS Architecture for Canada refers to these standards in support of connectivity. The architecture which underlies the Smart Corridor Concept of Operations also presents a selection of these standards.
It is recommended that interagency agreements be developed to support systems integration and data sharing amongst key Smart Corridor stakeholders. These include agreements among, for example:
- Public sector commercial vehicle safety agencies for the exchange of commercial carrier, vehicle and driver credential and safety records;
- Public and private sector transportation agencies and service providers for coordination of traffic management and emergency management, and the sharing of traveller information; and
- Transportation agencies with international border agencies as well as major terminal operators for coordination of traffic management.
Eleven priority program initiatives have been identified as initial steps to building the Smart Corridor. These initiatives are not currently funded but have been selected to enable program streaming, and to facilitate the implementation of the Concept of Operations, with a given initiative building on elements of one or more previous initiatives.
Priority Program Initiatives
- Network Wide Monitoring
- Integrated Real-time Traveller Information
- Intermodal Terminal Traffic Management
- Management of Border Approaches
- Commercial Vehicle E-screening
- Commercial Vehicle Information Systems Network
- Dangerous Goods Tracking
- Supply Chain Data Exchange Network
- Pre-clearance of Shipments
- Commercial Connected Vehicles
- Automated Special Permits
Several of the initiatives, as developed, suggest a broad involvement of government agencies as the driving and coordinating element. Others suggest a more commercially-focused development with government taking a secondary role. Discrete program planning will be a future effort undertaken as follow-up to this Concept of Operations.
To request a copy of the Ontario-Québec Smart Corridor Concept of Operations please contact:
Julie Irvine
Program Policy Analyst
Transport Canada
West
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
Canada
E-mail: julie.irvine@tc.gc.ca