Intelligent Roadway Information System (IRIS) is an Active Traffic Management System (ATMS) software currently deployed in multiple states and cities. It was developed internally at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) beginning in the late 1990s with Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) deployment capabilities and the ability to add functionality based on user needs. IRIS is currently being used to control DMS, Ramp Meters, Lane Control Signals, Camera viewing and control, Traffic Sensors, Gate Arms, Toll Readers, and Road Weather Information System (RWIS). IRIS is able to utilize algorithms for density adaptive ramp metering, variable speed limits, travel times, High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane pricing, and Automated Warning Systems (AWS). IRIS is also capable of using sign plans for scheduled DMS deployment, as well as auto-deploying Intelligent Lane Control Signs (ILCS) messages based on incident location data. The ability for other agencies to use IRIS and make enhancements as they see fit is an important part of the software. In the past, agencies have developed enhancements to IRIS that have made their versions incompatible with the versions used by other agencies. Multiple agencies making different enhancements in such a way that their systems become incompatible should be avoided.

The pooled-fund study is a consortium of public agencies focused on a collaborative research, evaluation, enhancements, and deployment of IRIS. The purpose of this pooled fund is to gain knowledge from other agencies and coordinate enhancements so they can continue to be used by the other partners and prevent multiple software versions of IRIS from emerging that are incompatible. A method of coordination between agencies will be developed along with a framework for an IRIS repository to bring IRIS back to a single version that is compatible with all enhancements developed by the agencies in the pooled fund. Agencies joining this pooled fund will be able to know about enhancements being developed by other agencies to avoid any duplication of efforts, and they will be able to take advantage of enhancements that have already been developed.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will be the lead agency for this group forming a Software Development Coordination Committee to ensure enhancements made can be integrated into IRIS for the benefit of other IRIS users, and that enhancements being made in parallel are compatible with each other. The group will hire a consultant to help with administration of the pooled fund study including the following tasks: 1. General Project Management tasks, including: organizing conference calls and meetings, taking minutes, and making travel arrangements for partners a. Coordinate annual consortium/meeting of IRIS users 2. Develop recommendations for the roles and responsibilities of the Software Development Coordination Committee a. Create executive committee of IRIS users and create pooled-fund charter b. Committee will set yearly goals for the ongoing IRIS project /effort 3. Develop a framework for a repository a. Documentation and tracking of all current and future enhancements being developed by different IRIS users b. Development of Inter-Agency Change Management System for IRIS (optional) c. Managing changes (commits, main branch) 4. Document and Summarize how agencies have deployed IRIS and how new agencies can join The consultant must have experience with open-source software development and ITS deployment.

Comments: The project schedule is expected to be three years for this initial phase. The pooled fund study is anticipated to be active indefinitely as long as IRIS is in use by multiple organizations. A minimum contribution of $5,000 per Organization per year for a 3-year period, or a total of $15,000 per Organization is suggested. In the future, this pooled fund study may consider pooling financial resources to co-fund IRIS enhancements