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| |  Project: TE-37Advanced Law Enforcement Response
Technology (ALERT) Vehicle
"Second Generation" Law Enforcement VehicleTo meet the needs of the public agencies involved in the collection, reduction and
analysis of traffic safely data, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has initiated a
project to develop and implement a second generation law enforcement vehicle that will
test and demonstrate emerging technologies and systems, and specifically (1) demonstrate
feasibility, (2) to showcase technologies, and (3) to provide system design
recommendations as well as prototype systems and technologies that could be quickly
transformed by industry into products. TTI Develops Integrated SolutionThe ALERT vehicle is being developed by Texas
Transportation Institute (TTI) under contract to FHWA. It is a police package vehicle
equipped with advanced communications systems which will provide access to multiple
sources of traffic enforcement and investigation information. An integrated architectural
system design allows the officer to use everything from hand-held computers with citation,
accident, and DWI arrest report forms, to global positioning system for precise location
information. Accident report records can now be collected more accurately and efficiently.
The entire vehicle and all its technologies, including overhead lights and siren, are
controlled by a single touch-screen in the vehicle's cockpit, reducing dangerous clutter
and improving the officer's safety. Active duty officers, from two Texas enforcement
agencies, help select, evaluate, and field test the technologies to ensure the vehicle and
technologies are efficient, practical, safe, and adaptable to the needs of any size
agency.
"Plug and Play" System ArchitechtureThe unique system architecture permits all components to interface into the control
module using common interface connections (Plug and Play Concept), this in turn allows all
the vehicles' technologies easy access to the overall control system using the same
protocols for interconnection. The ALERT vehicle platform for integration of both off-the-shelf and advanced
technologies will have the capability of being adapted to incident management vehicles,
commercial vehicle enforcement and basically any emergency vehicle used in efforts to
relieve traffic congestion and enhance traffic safety. Industry SupportThe ALERT vehicle project is endorsed by the International
Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the world's most highly respected association
of police executives, within the law enforcement community. Additionally the project is
endorsed by leading police equipment industry members. Industry members are assisting in
developing criteria for the unique architecture system used in the ALERT vehicle. System
integrators will use these criteria and standards to produce the architectural system in a
platform which can be marketed for use in police vehicles manufactured today and into the
future. Availability of ALERT VehicleThe ALERT vehicle developmental state is nearly completed and will be followed by a test and evaluation phase during the summer of 1996. The vehicle will then be displayed and demonstrated throughout the United States and Canada during 1997. 1996/1997 ALERT Vehicle Showcase Calendar
For More InformationFor more information about the ALERT Vehicle contact the FHWA Project Manager, David Smith at:
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U.S. Department of Transportation