The Information Systems Network (ISN) is a project sponsored by the I-95 Corridor Coalition that will support real-time data sharing throughout the Corridor. Within the Coalition’s 16-State region, stretching from Maine to Florida, there are a wide range of urban and regional systems for collecting incident data; for supporting incident and emergency management; and for providing traveler information. While these systems cover well-defined geographic areas, they include highways that continue into the jurisdiction of other systems. Incidents just outside the boundaries of a particular system impact traffic flow or travelers within the coverage of that system. Additionally, major incidents or emergencies that close or severely limit throughput of major highways can have an impact across multiple jurisdictional boundaries with effective incident response requiring diversions several hundred miles from the occurrence. However, while a number of stakeholders are working to implement data sharing with neighboring systems or between multiple systems in the same region, this coordination is undertaken by individual groups and may not result in the same technical solution, nor fully address the need to communicate information for major incidents across a multi-state region.

The vision is that all related systems throughout the Corridor will connect to the ISN to provide information that is relevant to other systems, and to receive information that could impact its users. Through a single, standards-compliant ISN interface, any existing or new system will access appropriate real-time information throughout the Corridor. For example, traveler information systems, such as public sector 511 services, will access information about major events and incidents in adjacent regions, and those on principal routes several states away. Similarly, individual traffic management systems will have real-time access to information about major incidents, disasters, or emergencies up to several states away - supporting existing regional incident management efforts by prompting an operator to establish contact with other affected agencies to determine the impact on traffic throughout the area; and collaboratively developing appropriate public information, rerouting, and other response strategies.

The Coalition has funded individual projects to accomplish this project.  They include:

• 10-1F: ISN Phase I: Concept and Architecture
• 10-1S: ISN Outreach, Policies & Procedures
• 13-1F: ISN Phase II: Design and Operating Options 
• 14-1F, 14B-1F, 15-1F: ISN Phase III – Design and Initial Deployment

Procurement Agency: Maryland State Highway Administration
Project Contact (Interim): Karen Jehanian

The goal of the Information Systems Network (ISN) project is to develop an architecture that will support real-time data sharing throughout the Corridor. The vision is that all related systems throughout the Corridor will connect to the ISN to provide information that is relevant to other systems, and to receive information that could impact its users. It is anticipated that by provision of a single, standards-compliant interface, any existing or new system will be able to access appropriate real-time information throughout the Corridor.

 Phase 1 Objectives

The phase 1 objectives are:

• To develop detailed functional requirements for the ISN that describe what the ISN needs to do to enable the electronic sharing of relevant, appropriate real-time information to support long-distance traveler information systems and transportation management and operations during major incidents, emergencies and disasters.

• To assess options and recommend a funding and institutional approach to sustain the operation and maintenance of the ISN in the long term.

Phase 2 Objectives

The phase 2 objective is to design, develop and test the deployment option selected by the Coalition as a result of the Phase 1 work.

Phase 3 Objectives

The objectives of Phase 3 are:

• To develop detailed requirements, design, and build the initial ISN that will enable the electronic sharing of relevant, appropriate real-time information to support long-distance traveler information systems and transportation management and operations during major incidents, emergencies and disasters.
• To identify and select locations and systems for an initial ISN deployment.
• To determine the extent to which existing information sharing systems can be utilized in the initial ISN.
• To deploy and assess the initial ISN.

View PDF file of Scope of Project
View Word file of Scope of Project 14B-1F

No data.

13-1F: The results of this task flowed directly into ISN Phase 3 and supported the development of detailed requirements. This phase provided greater clarity on the specific needs of the Coalition member agencies for the ISN.

14-1F: The results of this task will flow into the development and implementation of an ISN proof of concept demonstration. This task demonstrated that a full, Corridor-wide implementation of the ISN was beyond the current financial resources of the Coalition.

9-1R: Information System Network (ISN) - $30,313

10-1S: ISN Outreach, Policies & Procedures - $50,937