Glossary of Terms
IBTTA’s transportation Glossary of Terms is an ever-changing list of terms used within the transportation and tolling industry. The Glossary was updated in August, 2018. If you have suggestions for future additions, please contact us.
Title![]() |
Description |
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O & M |
Operations and Maintenance (Department). |
OBU |
On-Board Unit. The in-vehicle device component of a DSRC (or ETC) system. A receiver or transceiver permitting the Operator’s Roadside Unit (RSU) to communicate with, identify, and conduct an electronic toll transaction; also called a ‘transponder’ or ‘tag.’ |
OBU Issuer |
Organization that issues On-Board Unit (OBU) on behalf of the Contract Issuers. |
Occupancy |
The portion of time where a point or short road section is occupied by one or more vehicles or persons. |
OCR |
Optical Character Recognition. Hardware and software system capable of recognizing alpha-numerical characters. |
OECD |
Organisation For Economic Co-Operation And Development. The OECD consists of 30 member countries that share a commitment to democratic government and the market economy. Best known for its publications and statistics, its work covers economic and social issues from macroeconomics to trade, education, development, science and innovation. |
OmniAir |
OmniAir Consortium - The OmniAir Consortium, Inc. advocates for the development and promotion of certification for the Intelligent Transportation [Systems (ITS)] industry. |
On-Board Transponder |
Also called a transponder,tag, and On-Board Unit. The in-vehicle device component of a DSRC (or ETC) system. A receiver or transceiver permitting the Operator's Roadside-Unit (RSU) to communicate with, identify, and conduct an electronic toll transaction. |
On-Board Unit |
OBU. The in-vehicle device component of a DSRC (or ETC) system. A receiver or transceiver permitting the Operator’s Roadside Unit (RSU) to communicate with, identify, and conduct an electronic toll transaction; also called a ‘transponder’ or ‘tag.’ |
Open Barrier Systems |
Differ throughout the industry but often are designed to have toll barriers across the mainline plazas, but do not have ramp toll barriers on all of the interchanges, typically allowing some local traffic movements toll-free. |
Open Protocol |
A communications technology where all requisite knowledge is made available to vendors, operators and users at no cost, license fees, etc. |
Open Source Procurement |
A process in which all qualified vendors are permitted and capable of bidding in the absence of requisite proprietary knowledge, hardware or software. |
Open Toll Section |
Section of a toll road where a fixed amount is paid, not depending on the distance traveled or on where the vehicle enters or exits the road. |
OPERA |
Outil Pour l’Exploitation d’un Reseau d’Autoroutes. A system which monitors traffic conditions, predicts the traffic flows, analyses the impacts, then selects appropriate messages and continues to update these messages as required. |
Operator |
An entity that manages the functions of a tolled facility, parking lot, etc. |
Organisation For Economic Co-Operation And Development |
The OECD groups 30 member countries sharing a commitment to democratic government and the market economy. Best known for its publications and statistics, its work covers economic and social issues from macroeconomics to trade, education, development, science and innovation. |
ORT |
Open Road Tolling System. An electronic Toll Collection System without toll plazas, where drivers will get charged the toll without having to stop, slow down or stay in a given lane. |
ORT |
Open Road Tolling: An electronic Toll Collection System without toll plazas, where drivers will get charged the toll without having to stop, slow down or stay in a given lane. |
Overpass |
Also known as Grade Separation. Where the traffic flows are separated by a bridge to carry one of the flows. |