Satellitic automated highway system: Visual modelling of the requirements using Rational Rose and UML

Today, advances in the fields of data communication and automated controls make the implementation of automated highway systems more possible. Automated highway systems (AHS) will likely improve the safety, efficiency, and convenience of land travel (Ease, 1999). However, the design of such an automated highway system is still a matter of much debate (Bement et al, 1998). Currently, substantial research effort is being spent on the design of intelligent transportation system (ITS) architectures in the United States, Japan, Europe and Australia.; The programs under research in the regions mentioned above, however, have major drawbacks inherent in the design methodology used. Firstly, most developers use a process-oriented methodology for the design of ITS architectures, which reduces the stability and the flexibility of the architecture to changes in the future. Secondly, none address the need for a backup communication system. This dissertation addresses the need to provide the Intelligent Transportation System of Canada (ITS) a Stable and flexible architecture based on an object-oriented (TOO) methodology and to integrate the backup communication concept with the new ITS architecture, which will enhance reliability and dependability of systems that will be developed based on the architecture. Partial developments of ITS models are performed according to the requirements of the Intelligent Transportation System of Canada (ITS) architecture to a level necessary to visualize the hidden communication problems within the architecture. To highlight communication problems, the dissertation utilizes the Unified Modeling Language and Rational Rose as a Case Tool.; Results show that the requirements of the proposed Canadian Intelligent Transportation System architecture will not be fulfilled in the case of communication malfunction, creating an urgent need for a backup communication system. The implementation of such a backup communication system will be achieved by using an Intelligent Digital Modem along with other components such as a Stratospheric Satellite. A three-type analysis (scientific, documental, and visual) is performed using an object-oriented methodology in order to prove the need of a backup communication system, our solution for backup communication is adequate, and object-oriented (TOO) based architecture provide stability and flexibility. Thus, the new Intelligent Transportation System of Canada (ITS) is provided a stable and flexible architecture based on an object-oriented (TOO) methodology and a backup communication concept with the new ITS architecture integrated, which will enhance reliability and dependability of systems that will be developed based on the architecture.*; *This dissertation is multimedia (contains text and other applications not available in printed format). The accompanying CD requires the following system requirements: Microsoft Office.