Abstract
Ensuring effective Ambient Intelligence based upon the wide range of static as well as real-time datasets required to manage a transport infrastructure such as a motorway, is a daunting task. This paper presents how this challenge has been faced through the development of a service-based networked infrastructure capable to make a wide range of Geographical Information (GI) available to the operators of a major Italian motorway. In doing so, the system has used open standards from ISO and Open Geospatial Consortium. Unlike current Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs), which address relatively static data in time slices, the work presented allows, similarly to traditional GIS, to manage true dynamic data available through geo-referenced sensors along the motorway. The main objective of the project described within this paper was to link existing systems and networks to deliver a comprehensive, coordinated and sustained intelligent infrastructure which can be used to improve management of the motorway as a system. This approach follows the vision of Ambient Spatial Intelligence, which explores how to better embed intelligent features to respond to spatio-temporal queries and to better monitor geographical events within built and natural environments. The combination of information available from different sources (GI, sensor networks, etc.) with information on traffic and vehicle situation is essential to provide context awareness to operators. The networked platform developed has extended the traditional concept of SDIs with an unprecedented volume of real-time geo-referenced sensor data, deployed along the motorway path, all characterized by high spatial and temporal resolution.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
AISCAT (2006) Position paper on European Commission’s Green Paper on a European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection
ASECAP (2006) An ASECAP reflection on the high level group report on the extension of the major trans-european axes to the neighbouring countries and regions. Bruxelles
Conti G, De Amicis R, Piffer S, Simões B (2010) Multi-level service infrastructure for geograhical visual analytics in the context of territorial management. In: Paradice D, Mora M (eds) IJITSA Int J Inform Tech Syst Approach, IGI Global. Jan-2010 issue
De Amicis R, Conti G (2011) Ambient Intelligence and immersive geospatial visual analytics. In: Mastrogiovanni F, Chong N-Y (eds) Handbook of research on Ambient Intelligence: trends and perspectives. IGI press (in press)
De Amicis R, Conti G, Simões B, Piffer S (2009) User-friendly interactive WPS programming. In: Proceedings of FOSS4G 2008 Open Source GIS: an option for Developing Nations. Sydney, Australia
El-Araby K (2007) Achievements and results of traffic management services. In: Proceedings of i2TERN conference, Aalborg
EU (2006) Energy and transport in figures—part 3: transport. Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, Brussels
European Space Agency (ESA) (2009). Navigation applications. http:\\www.esa.int/specials/navigation_applications/index.html 12 Jan 2009
Gould C, Raymond N, McCabe K, Schofield M, Herms F, Munro P, McDonald M, Sultan B, Papageorgiou M (2004) Ramp metering development in a UK context. In: 12th international conference on road traffic information and control, London
Keen M, Adinolfi O, Hemmings S, Humphreys A, Kanthi H, Nottingham A (2005) Patterns: SOA with an Enterprise Service Bus in Websphere Application server V6. BM Redbooks
Ochieng WY, Shardlow PJ, Johnston G (1999) Advanced transport telematics positioning requirements: An assessment of GPS performance in Greater London. J Navig 52(3):342–355
Simões B, Conti G, De Amicis R, Piffer S (2009) Enterprise-level architecture for interactive web-based 3D visualization of geo-referenced repositories. In: Proceedings of Web3D, Darmstadt
Tapia D, Abraham A, Corchado J, Alonso R (2010) Agents and ambient intelligence: case studies. J Ambient Intell Humaniz Comput. 1(2):85–93, Springer, Berlin
Trans-European Transport Networks (2007) http:\\ec.europa.eu/ten/transport/index_en.htm
Van Asperen P, Blanken W (2006). Geoinformation dissemination for the general public through multiple clients shaping the change. XXIII FIG Congress, Munich
Vigos G, Papageorgiou M, Wang Y (2008) Real-time estimation of vehicle-count within signalized links. Transp Res Part C 16:18–35
Xue W, Pung HP, Sen S, Zhu J, Zhang D (2010) Context gateway for physical spaces. J Ambient Intell Humaniz Comput. Springer, Berlin, pp 1-12
Acknowledgments
Parts of the achievements discussed in this paper as well as the data shown in the images are the result of a project commissioned by Autostrada del Brennero SpA. Some of the achievements presented have also been co-financed by the i-Tour project co-funded by the European Community Programme FP7 (grant agreement SCP8-GA-2009-234239) and NatureSDIPlus project co-funded by the Community Programme eContentplus (grant agreement ECP-2007-GEO-317007). Additionally part of the achievements presented within this paper have been achieved in the context of the project BRISEIDE, funded under the ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP) as part of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme by the European Community (http://ec.europa.eu/ict_psp). The work presented within this paper reflects only the author’s views and that the European Community is not liable for any use that might be made of the information contained therein.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
De Amicis, R., Conti, G., Piffer, S. et al. Service oriented computing for Ambient Intelligence to support management of transport infrastructures. J Ambient Intell Human Comput 2, 201–211 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12652-011-0057-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12652-011-0057-z