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ARTIMIS

ARTIMIS LogoARTIMIS is a project to manage congestion, whether due to lack of capacity, accidents, disabled vehicles, etc., on 88 miles of freeway in the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky area using modern technologies and techniques. This is the first project of this type in Ohio and Kentucky.

Goals of ARTIMIS include:

  • Improving motorist safety
  • Improving travel times
  • Improving air quality

The ARTIMIS system includes 80+ cameras, 57 center-lane miles of fiber-optic cable, approximately 1100 detectors of various types, 40 fixed Changeable Message Signs, 3 portable Changeable Message Signs, 2 Highway Advisory Radio frequencies, 5 Freeway Service Patrol Vans, and a Control Center in Downtown Cincinnati.

It was started as a feasibility study in 1987 by the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Council of Governments (OKI) to determine if such a system could benefit the region's efforts to reduce ozone levels. With the signing of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) in 1991, a preliminary design effort was launched by OKI with the final document made available in early 1993. At that point, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), as contracting agency, along with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), with OKI, the Federal Highway Administration, and the City of Cincinnati as advisors, requested bids to complete the final design, develop and integrate the system software, oversee construction, and operate and maintain the system for two years with an option to extend operations and maintenance. A team led by TRW Inc. was the successful bidder. Subsequent contracts were awarded to other firms by ODOT for the design and construction of the Control Center and construction of the system infrastructure in Ohio and by KYTC for the construction of the infrastructure in Kentucky and the provision, installation, and integration of all of the system electronic components.

ARTIMIS officially begin limited operations in June of 1995 with the launch of its SmarTraveler® service. In March of 1997, operations begin from the Control Center. On January 8, 1998, the first 23 of the 40 Changeable Message Signs were placed into operation and the system was immediately put to the test when a tractor-trailer carrying hazardous material overturned and ruptured on I-75. The result was a total closure of the interstate for approximately 3 hours. Motorists followed the alternate routes that were posted and later analysis of the incident indicated that ARTIMIS conservatively saved approximately $100,000 in motorist use costs.

Some Other Facts:

  • Approximately 1150 updates are made each day to the SmarTraveler® service.
  • Approximately 480 updates are made each day to the web site.
  • An average of 30 calls per day are made to area dispatchers.
  • An average of 25 television traffic reports using ARTIMIS-supplied information are made each day.
  • Traffic conditions are e-mailed every 10 minutes to 10 radio stations.
  • An average of 10 calls per day are made to METRO bus dispatchers.
  • An average of 4 calls per day are made to TANK bus dispatchers and TANK maintains a presence in the Control Center during morning and afternoon rush hours.
  • ARTIMIS has a radio frequency that has improved area communications. Several police and fire agencies, the transit agencies, area dispatchers, an aircraft, and the Freeway Service Patrol vans all communicate on this frequency
  • A network of probes is maintained that call in traffic information on a regular basis.
  • Fax alerts for major incidents are sent to all media outlets or other traffic information providers as well as the rest areas just outside of the I-275 beltway.
  • Fax alerts are sent to area school bus transportation pools in the event of a major interstate incident which affects their bus route(s).
  • The Freeway Service Patrol vans have been loaned to other cities for major events (e.g. Thunder Over Louisville and the Kentucky Derby).
  • A Regional Incident Management Task Force was developed to develop common procedures for dealing with problems such as abandoned vehicles and to improve communications between various emergency response and law enforcement agencies.
  • ARTIMIS plays a key role in the management of traffic into the Coney Island/Riverbend/Riverdowns entertainment complex Traffic accidents during the several month season have been significantly reduced.
  • ARTIMIS serves as a road condition spotter for ODOT.
  • ARTIMIS has provided regional exposure nationwide and to other countries.
  • ARTIMIS has provided free training to over 100 law enforcement officers from 40 separate jurisdictions in the greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. This training has resulted in improving the quality of the investigation of vehicular crashes and reducing the amount of time needed for the investigations.

Visit the ARTIMIS Web Site
Mission Statement