Communications Protocol Testing for Electronic Toll Collection Interoperability Nationwide

The purpose of this proposed Cooperative Agreement is for the International Bridge, Tunnel, and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) to support the advanced ETC interoperability testing and the engagement of the toll community in the conduct, acceptance, and adoption of the testing results for ETC communications protocols that offers nationwide ETC interoperability. More advanced testing is needed to ensure the National Interoperability Protocol (NIOP) candidate protocols reliably provide communications for ETC in complex tolling situations; such as in the presence of other communications, at different vehicle speeds, among different vehicle types, various roadway configurations, and in different hardware configurations, and continue to meet the interoperability requirements. It is imperative that any protocol selected for nationwide implementation to provide ETC interoperability function very reliably in enabling accurate accounting for users and agencies. Tasks include: • Define ETC interoperability testing and data accuracy measurement standards and develop an overall evaluation plan; • Lab testing and validation of the lab testing methodology; • Field testing, including verification of performance under a variety of roadway and vehicle conditions, as well as under various protocol implementation configurations; • Provide and present report findings that document test results and conformance to national interoperability specifications; and • Develop an outreach plan and conduct outreach to toll agencies, equipment manufacturers, and others in the toll community related to the test results and implementation of nationwide ETC interoperability.