SwRI developing traffic data platform to support Dallas-Fort Worth area travelers

SAN ANTONIO — August 21, 2025 — Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), a leader in intelligent transportation systems, was awarded a contract with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) to develop a Transportation System Management and Operations (TSMO) data exchange solution to enhance mobility and infrastructure management in Dallas-Fort Worth, one of the country’s most rapidly growing regions.

SwRI’s data exchange technology manages high-volume and high-velocity data from various systems and infrastructure data sources. It enables transportation agencies to alert drivers and traffic managers to real-time road conditions and closures to improve safety, routing and emergency responses.

Through the NCTCOG contract, a data platform will serve as a regional clearinghouse for real-time transportation system data in Dallas-Fort Worth, a region with a population of more than 8.5 million that is projected to exceed 12 million by 2050. TSMO will support improved coordination among public agencies, faster incident response and future integration with connected vehicle technologies.

“The effort builds on SwRI’s nationally recognized work in developing intelligent mobility solutions and will be guided by best practices established in prior deployments,” said Dr. Kevin Miller, a staff engineer leading the project for SwRI’s Intelligent Systems Division. “The platform is expected to enhance operational readiness, interagency collaboration, and long-term transportation planning for the region.”

The project will begin with initiation, stakeholder engagement, state-of-the-practice assessment, concept of operations development, functional requirements definition and implementation planning. Scheduled to span eight months, this first phase will culminate in an implementation plan to provide a clear path forward for system deployment.

“This platform represents the next generation of regional traffic management and coordination,” said Natalie Bettger, senior program manager, NCTCOG. “By centralizing data and designing a scalable, standards-based system, Dallas-Fort Worth will have the tools to manage congestion, improve safety and prepare for future mobility innovations. Safety and mobility improvements are critical as our region grows, and this platform is an exciting step toward a more efficient transportation system.”

The NCTCOG project builds on SwRI’s work with the Florida Department of Transportation Vehicle-to-Everything Data Exchange Platform. The FDOT project helped standardize the collection, analysis and sharing of data across vehicles and transportation infrastructure, enhancing mobility while ensuring motorist safety and data cybersecurity. FDOT authorized SwRI to sublicense the platform to other government agencies.

“In the near future, the technology will allow for better coordination among regional mobility partners,” SwRI’s Miller said. “As connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies mature, North Texas drivers will have a proven CAV-integrated regional data exchange solution.”

SwRI’s data exchange research leverages decades of experience in intelligent transportation systems (ITS). SwRI-developed ITS technologies are deployed across several states, representing more than 25% of the United States population. Through SwRI’s unique licensing agreements, ITS clients can share the cost of software development.

“This model fosters innovation and cost savings when agencies in various states share knowledge and features across our software ecosystem,” said Josh Johnson, director of SwRI’s Intelligent Transportation Systems Department. “We are proud to deploy this technology in our home state of Texas.”

For more information, visit https://www.swri.org/markets/automotive-transportation/automotive/intelligent-transportation-systems.