November 17, 1995

South Coast Air Quality

Management District Board

Background

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are a group of advanced or emerging technologies that can make the existing transportation system more efficient by relieving traffic congestion, reducing travel time, and/or minimizing vehicle miles traveled thereby reducing emissions. ITS technologies can include information processing, integrated vehicle/traffic control, and ground-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-vehicle communications.

On-road mobile sources are responsible for a large portion of Southern California's persistent air quality problem. In fact, the 1994 Air Quality Management Plan estimates that in 1990, this category was responsible for more than 50 percent of emissions of volatile organic compounds, 60 percent of oxides of nitrogen, and almost 80 percent of the carbon monoxide emissions in the South Coast Air Basin. ITS technologies can potentially reduce emissions from automobiles, trucks, and buses by providing drivers with up-to-the-minute information on traffic conditions and directing them to less congested alternate routes, thereby keeping them on the road for shorter periods of time.

Proposal

Amerigon Incorporated (Amerigon) has developed AudioNav, a proprietary in-vehicle driver navigation system capable of providing audible origin-to-destination instructions. Amerigon has proposed a multi-year, two-phase project to modify AudioNav to utilize traffic data, as well as navigational information, to generate audible trip instructions which take into account road conditions (e.g., congestion, accidents, road work). Amerigon has also proposed to modify AudioNav's navigational software to include the locations of alternative fuel refueling facilities and electric vehicle recharging stations in the Basin.

This effort shall focus largely on developing the hardware and software interfaces needed to allow AudioNav to access and utilize existing and potential traffic data sources (e.g., traffic database(s) stored on CD-ROM, real-time traffic data transmitted over cellular communication networks). In addition, Amerigon shall field test AudioNav and evaluate whether dynamic rerouting capabilities improve AudioNav's performance.

Sole-Source Justification

Section II, Step 3 (C) of the Consultant Selection Policy identifies four provisions under which a sole-source bid may be awarded: (1) cost to prepare documents exceeds the cost for consultant, (2) delay would result in the endangerment of public health, (3) services are only available from sole-source, (4) other circumstances exist identifying sole-source as in the best interest of the District. This request for sole-source award is being made under provisions (3) and (4).

Support of the proposed work by Amerigon is in the best interest of the AQMD for several reasons. First, AudioNav modified to incorporate real-time traffic data could reduce vehicle miles traveled, provide air quality benefits, and reduce roadway congestion in the Basin. These benefits could eventually extend to vehicles which, although operated in the Basin, are not registered locally and, as a result, are not subject to AQMD or state regulations (e.g., out-of-state tourist-owned vehicles and commercial heavy-duty trucks). The proposed project could also serve as the basis for an AQMD mobile source control strategy.

Second, Amerigon is currently the only producer of audio-interface navigational technology in the world. AudioNav is arguably the safest vehicle navigational technology available because it does not require drivers to move their eyes or attention away from the road when activating or interfacing with the system. All commands are verbal, as are all responses. Other available navigational systems require the manipulation of a keyboard or for the driver to obtain requested information from a monitor, increasing the potential for distraction and accidents. The use of AudioNav for this project, rather than a navigational system utilizing a visual interface, more adequately balances enhanced air quality and congestion management with vehicle operational safety.

Third, because its hardware is based largely on commercially available CD-ROM and speech recognition technology, AudioNav is far less expensive than other vehicle navigational systems developed to date which require global positioning system receivers, keyboards, and displays. In fact, the current version of AudioNav, which does not incorporate dynamic rerouting, is priced below $1,000. If developed under the proposed project, AudioNav with dynamic rerouting could become widely available, both in the Basin and nationally, at an affordable price within a relatively short time.

Fourth, modifications to AudioNav software to include Basin alternative fuel refueling and electric vehicle recharging facilities, proposed for this project, could provide a valuable source of information to drivers of these vehicles. In addition, this information could generate additional interest in alternative fuel and electric vehicles among users of AudioNav.

Fifth, Amerigon's headquarters and manufacturing facilities are in Monrovia, California. The proposed project could ultimately result in commercialization of AudioNav with dynamic rerouting, which would have a direct economic benefit in the Basin.

Financial Terms

Amerigon has prepared a work plan and cost schedule for Phase I. The total cost of this Phase I effort shall be approximately $924,790. Cofunders shall include the AQMD ($100,000), the California Energy Commission ($325,000) whose funding will be passed through the AQMD to Amerigon, and Amerigon ($499,790).

Staff recommends that the Board recognize and appropriate the $325,000 in California Energy Commission funding to the 1995-96 Technology Advancement budget and approve the use of these funds for this project. In compliance with Health and Safety Code Section 40720(j), the public has been provided with 30 days notice of the AQMD's intention to supplement its budget with California Energy Commission funds.

Sufficient funds are available in the Fiscal Year 1995-96 budget of Technology Advancement to fund this project. This project was approved by the Technology Committee October 11, 1995.

THEREFORE IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOUR BOARD

--Recognize $325,000 in revenue from the California Energy Commission.

--Appropriate $325,000 from the Undesignated Fund Balance to the Services and Supplies Major Object, Professional and Special Services Account of the Technology Advancement office.

--Authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with the California Energy Commission to co-sponsor a Phase I navigation system/traffic data field test in an amount not to exceed $325,000, to be passed through to Amerigon Incorporated.

--Authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Amerigon Incorporated to sponsor a Phase I navigation system/traffic data field test in an amount not to exceed $425,000.

Respectfully,

James M. Lents, Ph.D.

Executive Officer

ACL:MAN:CNA