Digital Transportation Exchange (DTE) Initiative

Entrepreneurs, businesses and startups want to create quality technology solutions to major problems and create large profitable companies but have historically had a limited focus on transportation…

“I have created a tool that will help people make better decisions about where to buy homes considering the noise created by airplane flight paths, but I’m getting no traffic online.”

Using FAA and private sector data sources, James created a tool that puts flight paths and noise contours of aircraft on a map, helping home buyers and real estate agents to identify which neighborhoods are quiet and which ones have air traffic flying over their heads. While it received some initial buzz in the area, people quickly forgot about it.

James put his tool on the DTE and an investor quickly bought the code. The solution is now being licensed for use by nearly 15 real estate companies, 4 city websites and an app version has been downloaded 10,000 times. James is now working on his next project.

This use case is hypothetical and illustrative. This use case is intended to illustrate a potential use and impact of the Digital Transportation Exchange, if launched and operational, to a wide variety of stakeholder communities. Potential uses are not limited to these use cases and the DOT does not endorse these ideas in particular.

Experts and academics understand the complex problems and potential solutions in transportation but often lack access to the resources that can create solutions…

“For the past two years, my research lab has been working on algorithms to provide alternative routing using traffic management, arterial and historical data to Personal Traveler Devices. We have a lot of great work but need help getting that work to market.”

Todd assigned two of his best students to create algorithms for alternative traffic management that could be leveraged by a variety of mobile devices and GPS units. They had a great solution and were looking to start up a Boston firm to sell their solution to car and mobile device manufacturers. However, these markets were totally unfamiliar to them and they didn’t know how to get started.

On the DTE they were able to find a venture capitalist that would provide industry expertise and seed capital to get their business off the ground. They successfully took their research to deployment in 8 months thanks to their investor.

This use case is hypothetical and illustrative. This use case is intended to illustrate a potential use and impact of the Digital Transportation Exchange, if launched and operational, to a wide variety of stakeholder communities. Potential uses are not limited to these use cases and the DOT does not endorse these ideas in particular.

Federal, state and local governments want to create quality transportation solutions while creating jobs in a tight economy…

“We had heard about some of the cool real-time traffic signaling work other towns have done and we wanted to replicate it in our town, but I couldn’t find the technology and expertise I needed to customize it.”

Mark is a local mobility innovator that thinks about how all modes of transportation get people where they need to go—whether by bus, car, rail or airplane. Congestion is a notorious problem in downtown Tallahassee and it’s worsened by a lack of real time traffic signaling technology. On the DTE he was able to find some systems used for real time traffic signaling, open source code, points of contact in other towns, ratings from operators about how the program could be improved, and a list of vendors. He decided he’d sponsor a challenge for a complete customized solution for his town. Within 60 days, Mark had a very polished solution that was above and beyond what he expected.

This use case is hypothetical and illustrative. This use case is intended to illustrate a potential use and impact of the Digital Transportation Exchange, if launched and operational, to a wide variety of stakeholder communities. Potential uses are not limited to these use cases and the DOT does not endorse these ideas in particular.

Venture capitalists and strategic investors are keen on funding digital technology transportation solutions but see limited entrepreneur interests and business plans…

“I hear buzz around an emerging market for transportation solutions, but where do I find projects I might be interested in funding?”

Oliver’s firm has invested in some of the most promising social startups of the last decade—and they are looking to invest in other locally driven solutions that could scale their other investments. He went to DTE and was able to immediately see business plans, identify high potential locally driven solutions, and connect directly with developers. Within a few months, he purchased rights to two transportation solutions

This use case is hypothetical and illustrative. This use case is intended to illustrate a potential use and impact of the Digital Transportation Exchange, if launched and operational, to a wide variety of stakeholder communities. Potential uses are not limited to these use cases and the DOT does not endorse these ideas in particular.

Industry and Labor/Unions operate our Nation’s transportation systems every day, but not often exposed to the most innovative new tools and technologies to help them do their job.

“We have a bunch of empty cargo space in our weekly shipments and know there are local businesses that could use it, but we’re having a hard time finding them.”

Jean’s company had tried traditional advertising channels but just wasn’t finding local business to fill their empty cargo shipments. On the DTE, Jean found a tool that inventories shippers and businesses, creating a new way for shippers to find potential clients and businesses to find the best shippers to meet their needs. Through this tool Jean connected with Bob, the owner of a local yogurt producer, whose inventory had been spoiling in transit. After meeting, Bob switched to Jean’s company for shipping. His yogurt is no longer spoiling in transit as it’s leaving earlier on Jean’s former empty cargo slots.

This use case is hypothetical and illustrative. This use case is intended to illustrate a potential use and impact of the Digital Transportation Exchange, if launched and operational, to a wide variety of stakeholder communities. Potential uses are not limited to these use cases and the DOT does not endorse these ideas in particular.

Citizens and consumers want efficient and effective transportation and are waiting for new technology integration in traditional transportation solutions…

“I can never figure out who to call to get a ride to the hospital for my appointments.”

The government offers people with disabilities rides to places like hospitals, the grocery store and airports, but customers have to call a different agency depending on their destination. Information is scattered in many places and it’s hard for people to find the ride they need.

Megan’s son found a simple application through the DTE that aggregates all the ride information from multiple agencies and allows Megan to make a request for a ride based on her zip code and destination. The app does the work for her, notifying the appropriate agency representative she needs a ride. The app has been so useful that Megan has told all of her friends about it.

This use case is hypothetical and illustrative. This use case is intended to illustrate a potential use and impact of the Digital Transportation Exchange, if launched and operational, to a wide variety of stakeholder communities. Potential uses are not limited to these use cases and the DOT does not endorse these ideas in particular.

What:
The Digital Transportation Exchange (DTE) would connect citizens, businesses, state and local governments, industry, entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors like never before—creating a thriving marketplace for transportation solutions.

How:
Through a public-private partnership, DOT will leverage private sector resources and catalyze this innovative ecosystem at a low-cost to the Government.

Who:
The DOT Office of the Chief Information Officer, in partnership other DOT offices and Operating Administrations, and strategic external partners will work with external private and nonprofit institutions to stand-up and support DTE. Entrepreneurs, experts, investors, partners and citizens will bring the ecosystem to life and sustain the platform.

When:
A partnership may launch in late 2011 with a prototype deployed months after the managing partner has been identified.

Where:
The exchange will likely reside online with occasional physical events to highlight excellence and stimulate interactions and products across the nation as required.