Author: Ryan Hall

OmniAir Consortium’s Cybersecurity Working Group Makes Strides

OmniAir Consortium®, the leading industry association promoting interoperability and certification for ITS, tolling, and connected vehicles, is developing cybersecurity test specifications for DSRC based Connected Vehicle devices.  OmniAir’s® Cybersecurity Working Group, launched in January of this year, has a goal of incorporating additional cybersecurity testing into OmniAir’s existing DSRC-V2X Certification Program.

Since October of 2017, OmniAir has offered independent, third-party testing and certification for DSRC-V2X devices, which include conformance and interoperability testing.  OmniAir’s Cybersecurity Working Group, chaired by Jimmy Upton, of INTEGRITY Security Solutions, is developing test cases, grounded in requirements of the existing standards development organizations.

It is important that a level of trust across all connected vehicles and the infrastructure be established and that trust is earned through OmniAir Certification. In fact, OmniAir Certification is expected to be the gateway through which all connect vehicle devices will ultimately obtain keying material from the Security Credential Management System (SCMS).”

Cybersecurity for Connected Vehicles and Connected Infrastructure has been the subject of much policy discussion.  Just last week, the Wilson Center for International Affairs in Washington, DC hosted a roundtable discussion on Security and the Connected Vehicle, illuminating industry and government efforts to address this issue through information sharing and best practices.  OmniAir’s Working Group provides a forum for industry to collaborate on addressing this problem at a technical level.

The Working Group’s efforts are aimed at extending the current conformance tests to include checks for various potential security failures and to add tests to confirm all security features have been properly included in the product.  Active participants in the Working Group include representatives from OmniAir member automotive OEMs, tier one suppliers, device manufacturers, and leading automotive cybersecurity experts; Major contributors are Aptiv, BlackBerry, DEKRA, ESCRYPT, GM, INTEGRITY Security Services, Marvell, OnBoard Security, Panasonic, Penta Security, Savari, TUV SUD and UL.

“Proper operation of the entire ecosystem requires that devices not only conform to communications protocols but also properly protect critical security information throughout the lifecycle of the device,” said Jimmy Upton, Senior Security Consultant for INTEGRITY Security Services.

The Working Group’s initial deliverable will be to produce a small suite of validations for testing at OmniAir’s upcoming Plugfest in October.  The security validations may take several forms – communications protocols, attestations by the vendors, and inspection of the device under testing.  This will allow OmniAir to incorporate feedback from test laboratories, test tool providers, and from vendors on the best ways to perform these validations.

If you are interested in learning more about OmniAir’s Cybersecurity Working Group, or in OmniAir Consortium membership, please contact Kate Oldham, OmniAir’s Director of Member Services.

About OmniAir

OmniAir Consortium is the leading industry association promoting interoperability and certification in ITS, tolling, IoT technologies and connected vehicles. OmniAir’s membership includes public agencies, private companies, research institutions and independent test laboratories. Learn more about OmniAir at www.omniair.org.

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The initial Tolling and Emerging Payment Technologies Working Group meeting took place last week and had a strong showing with representatives from E-Zpass, GeoToll, MET Labs, AECOM, Kapsch, TransCore, Spirent, and Carma. The meeting led by Ted Osinski of MET Labs, acting chair, focused on several goals established by the committee.

Goals

  • The development of strategies, testing and certification requirements and recommendations for facilitating conformance and interoperability among transportation agencies.
  • Provide inputs and guidance on OmniAir’s tolling certification program and begin promoting the benefits of tolling certification to the industry.
  • Evaluate and make recommendations on best tolling practices and new technologies.
  • Evaluate emerging payment technologies such as road user charging and blockchain technology.

The group also began looking at short and long-term objectives.

Short-term Objectives

  • Adopt CVCA Program Structure for RFID Tolling
  • Review CVCA support forms (application agreement, checklist, audit)
  • Enhance single protocol test plan, test cases, test procedures, report templates
  • Develop an industry multiprotocol certification criteria and procedures
  • Develop qualified test tools criteria
  • Develop authorized test laboratories criteria
  • Develop outreach promotion

Long-term Objectives

  • Investigate and evaluate Transportation Payment Technologies such as road user charging, blockchain, V2X and other applications

It is not too late to help shape the focus and direction of the working group and help develop answers to inquiries received concerning mutli-protocol reader certification and how does OmniAir assess? How does the reader prioritize the protocols and how can it be tested? Is there a standard way of testing, or do we have to rely on specific reader implementation? Should there be interference tests and if so, how do you test for it? These are just a few items this group will be working to solve. If you would like to contribute to this working group, contact Kate Oldham, OmniAir’s Director of Member Services at koldham@omniair.org.

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OmniAir Consortium the world’s leading industry association promoting national and global interoperability and certification for connected vehicles, tolling, and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) announces that the UL-Novi facility is now an OmniAir Authorized Test Laboratory (OATL) to conduct certification testing for dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) vehicle-to-everything (V2X) devices. UL helps manufacturers assess their V2X devices so they can interoperate seamlessly with each other and connected vehicles through DSRC wireless protocol.

For more than a century, UL has employed exacting scientific processes and the highest ethical principles to deliver increased trust in products. UL is using its in-depth safety knowledge and experience to focus on a new generation of safety challenges which now encompasses critical safety communications devices for connected vehicles of all types: manned, automated and autonomous.

“From smart devices and car sensors, interoperability between vehicles and devices is key to the success of connected cars,” said Kendra Pridemore, UL Automotive Business Manager. “By working with OmniAir, UL helps manufacturers validate that their Vehicle-to-Everything devices can wirelessly interact with vehicles, to help ensure a safe and an enjoyable driving experience.”

“In the United States, nearly everyone can recognize the ubiquitous UL mark emblazoned upon a wide array of products we use every day,” said Jason Conley, Executive Director for OmniAir Consortium. “Authorizing laboratories that are known at home and throughout the world, lends a layer of credibility and trust to OmniAir’s independent third-party certification process.”

UL supports the development and adoption of industry standards for the connected vehicle industry. It is an active member of the OmniAir Consortium. The UL-Novi facility is conveniently located in the Detroit area that has attracted more than a dozen Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to set up their headquarters, technical centers, and manufacturing facilities.

About UL
UL solves the safety, security and sustainability challenges of the 21st century. Around the world, UL employees share a common passion for UL’s public mission to promote safe working and living environments for all people. UL tests, inspects, audits, certifies, verifies claims, advises and trains, as well as provides software solutions. To learn more, please visit www.UL.com/ctech.
About OmniAir
OmniAir Consortium is the leading industry association promoting interoperability and certification in ITS, tolling, IoT technologies and connected vehicles. OmniAir’s membership includes public agencies, private companies, research institutions and independent test laboratories. Learn more
about OmniAir at www.omniair.org.

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OmniAir members, Carma and Toyota, recently partnered in a ridesharing program aimed at fighting traffic congestion and reducing carbon emissions by reducing commuters’ reliance on single occupancy vehicles.

“Our partnership with Carma, and their unique TDM solution,

 enables us to reduce our parking and carbon footprint

as well as help relieve congestion on our local roads.”

 – Jaycie Chitwood, Manager Strategic Partnerships, Toyota Motor North America

“There is nothing better than OmniAir members working together to solve a common problem,” said Ryan Hall, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications for OmniAir Consortium. “The implementation of vehicle-to-everything technology will make our roads safer, our commute times shorter, and our air cleaner.”

Carma provides a network of strategically-placed, high-end Toyota hybrid vehicles, which provide a high-occupancy commuter solution for the farthest reaches of a metro area – locations that public transit cannot serve. Employees can book a one-way seat, as either a rider or driver, in one of these high-occupancy vehicles to or from major work centers. The cars are also available to book for private errand trips during the day. The vehicle amenities, such as wifi and power outlets, make them a mobile work environment, while the comfortable leather seats allow others to relax on their commute.

To learn more about this program and how your company can participate, contact Paul Steinberg, CBO of Carma at paul.steinberg@gocarma.com or visit https://www.gocarma.com/corporate-rideshare

About Carma

Carma is a leader in technology for encouraging, rewarding and verifying high-occupancy commuting. For more than a decade, Carma has been a trusted partner of government and commercial organizations in fighting traffic congestion and reducing carbon emissions by reducing commuters’ reliance on single occupancy vehicles. www.gocarma.com

About OmniAir Consortium

OmniAir Consortium is the leading industry association promoting interoperability and certification for ITS, tolling, and Connected Vehicles. OmniAir’s membership includes public agencies, private companies, research institutions, and independent test laboratories. Learn more about OmniAir at www.omniair.org.

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OmniAir has seen tremendous growth in our connected vehicle and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) side of the house but has not lost sight of our original mission to provide certification for RFID-based tolling devices. OmniAir is committed to growing our V2X profile while still providing value to our tolling partners. GeoToll is the third tolling focused organization to join OmniAir this year!

“OmniAir Consortium is excited to add GeoToll, a transportation technology, and services company, to our membership ranks said, Jason Conley, Executive Director for OmniAir Consortium. “RFID-based tolling is in our DNA and adding a member with a mobile solution to pay tolls may be a game changer.”

GeoToll’s solution brings interoperability’s full benefits to the electronic tolling industry by leveraging the growing ubiquity of the most widespread electronic device on the planet – the smartphone – and merging it with the proven RFID-based tolling protocols that exist now.

About GeoToll
GeoToll intends to work with toll operators and their system integrators to offer an interoperable mobile payment solution that will be more dynamic, user-friendly and less costly than standard tag-based systems now in place. We anticipate helping toll agencies increase ETC penetration rates through integrating the GeoToll Mobile Payment Solution with their current electronic toll collection systems and together, offering an additional and complementary payment option to motorists – a win-win for everyone.

About OmniAir Consortium

OmniAir Consortium is the leading industry association promoting interoperability and certification for ITS, tolling, and Connected Vehicles. OmniAir’s membership includes public agencies, private companies, research institutions, and independent test laboratories. Learn more about OmniAir at www.omniair.org.

 

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