A SURVEY-BASED METHODOLOGY TO DETERMINE INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ADVANCED TRAVELER INFORMATION-SYSTEMS

This paper discusses three nationwide surveys designed to obtain user information requirements for an advanced traveler information system ( ATIS) and the ATIS portion of commercial vehicle operations (CVO). A d escription of the survey methodology for targeting the three populatio ns-private vehicle drivers, commercial vehicle drivers, and commercial vehicle operators-is provided, as well as the implications for the de sign of ATIS based on driving behavior and preference. Analysis of the data from the 1,610 returned surveys revealed that commercial drivers and private drivers valued road and traffic information as the most i mportant ATIS service, whereas commercial vehicle operators (or dispat chers) valued the ability to have two-way communication as most import ant. This study also revealed that dispatchers were willing to pay sig nificantly more for an ATIS than drivers. Finally, the data indicated that, of the four main nationwide geographical areas considered in the survey, no differences in response to the survey questions were obser ved. Implications of the results for the design of ATIS are discussed.