The Trilogy project was an Intelligent Transportation System (FTS) demonstration of the broadcast\ of freeway system traveler information to both commercial and commuter drivers over a 25-mile (40.3 km) radius of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. In this project, real-time freeway system operating conditions, particularly incidents and traffic congestion, were monitored at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) Traffic Management Center (TMC). This information was broadcast to a fleet of test vehicles with dashboard mounted display screens. Two different systems were used to broadcast traveler information. The first system, Dynaguide 2.0, utilized the Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS) - Traffic Message Channel; and the second system, Dynaguide 3.0, utilized the Seiko High Speed Data System (HSDS) to transmit messages to in-vehicle receivers. Dynaguide 2.0 provided the user with information on incidents, planned events, and traffic congestion via icons and text messages generated by operators at the TMC. In comparison, Dynaguide 3.0 provided real-time color coded freeway link speed data and ramp metering conditions generated from the traffic management system detection sensors in addition to the information generated by the TMC operators. Both devices also had the capability to display traffic condition test messages.
