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This paper describes the industry-relevant basic research focus of the Michigan IVHS Program in the last two years, with an emphasis on the linkage among the various projects related to anticipatory route guidance. Future direction of this research focus will also be discussed. The critical test for Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) is whether an individual driver with an appropriately equipped vehicle will get intelligent and safe advice on traffic diversion from his originally chosen route after a congestion-causing incident is detected and verified. Such advice should take into account not only current traffic conditions but also anticipated delay that may occur before the driver reaches his destination. Therefore, the Michigan IVHS research on traffic modeling and route optimization has focused on anticipatory route guidance. The anticipatory guidance system routes the vehicles by minimizing time-dependent link costs incurred by the driver.

This paper describes the design and application of a business simulation to help train employees about the new business model and culture that for an automotive supplier company that designs connected vehicle and other advanced electronic products for the automotive industry. The simulation, called SIM-i-TRI, is a three to four day collaborative learning activity that simulates the executive, administrative, engineering, manufacturing, and marketing functions in three divisions of a manufacturer that supplies parts and systems to customers in industries similar to the automotive industry. It was originally designed to support the new employee orientation at the Tier 1 supplier and to provide the participants a safe environment to practice the lessons from the orientation. The simulation has been used several times a month in the US, England, and Germany for over four years.

Intelligent vehicle-highway systems (IVHS) offer the prospect for improving the effectiveness of the existing road transportation system through the application of advanced computer, electronics, and communications technology. Recent efforts within government, industry, and academia have been directed toward capitalizing on the opportunities promised by such systems. Public agencies see the potential for improvements in safety and better traffic management through more effective information dissemination to the traveler. Industry anticipates growing markets for products and services which make travel more efficient and enjoyable, or at least less of a bother. Academia is positioning to provide the fundamental and applied research necessary for the design and analysis of these systems. Educators also recognize the need for college and continuing education of professionals trained in disciplines relevant to the design and management of IVHS.

Recent advances in communications and electronics technologies promise to allow significant improvements in the overall efficiency. These advances promise to enable real-time adjustments of traffic to current and predicted travel conditions, more effective trip planning and real-time route selection and improvement in overall road safety. In developing and planning for these systems we need to make assessments about how each of these promises are actually going to pay off. [ILLEGIBLE] there markets for these systems? What are the likely barriers to adoption? What policies can be adopted to overcome these barriers? What are the likely impacts of these developments? How will social and institutional considerations impinge on these developments? This paper presents opinions on these questions regarding the future development of intelligent vehicle-highway systems (IVHS) in North America.