A Synthesis of Wireless Communication Alternatives for Traffic Control and Management Application
Yan Zhou, Mashrur A. Chowdhury, Kuang‐Ching Wang, Glenn Hamilton Evans · 2009
On-line traffic control and management applications depend on communication infrastructures for sending and receiving data and operational instructions. Public agencies have been interested in wireless communication systems in recent years due to their suitability for deployment in rural areas and the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of system expansion. While cellular-based communication through commercial carriers has been used most widely for current online traffic management applications, other technologies, such as WiFi and WiMAX, have also been utilized by public agencies. However, most of these agencies are interested in additional information regarding the selection of suitable wireless options for different requirements in traffic control and management applications under various physical and environmental conditions. Performance and reliability are some of the important parameters to consider when examining wireless communication options for traffic control and management applications. This paper presents a synthesis of selected wireless communication alternatives, WiFi and WiMAX, and Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC), in terms of performance and other major characteristics. This type of information may provide the needed data on selecting an option for their particular applications for further detailed evaluation.