Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program
Peer-to-Peer Program for Work Zones > Work Zone ITS Peer Exchange

Work Zone ITS Peer Exchange - New Technologies and Systems for ITS

slide 1: Work Zone ITS Peer Exchange - New Technologies and Systems for ITS

W. D. Baldwin, P.E.
HDR

May 22, 2013
Bettendorf, Iowa



slide 2: Introduction

  • Why I'm here today.


slide 3: ATSSA

  • ATSSA
    • (American Traffic Safety Services Association)
    • Made up of: manufacturers; suppliers; federal, state, and local agencies; researchers, consultants and others
    • Information Exchange; Government Relations
    • Annual Trade Show – manufacturer and supplier displays, training sessions, committee meetings
    • Midyear Meeting
    • National Work Zone Memorial


slide 4: ATSSA

ATSSA'S core purpose is to advance roadway safety.  Road safety is our utmost commitment for all road users including teens, older drivers, pedestrians, work zone workers, and drivers on rural roads.



slide 5: ATSSA ITS Council

  • ITS Council is one of 9 Standing Groups
  • Currently made up of:
    • Manufacturers (7)
    • Suppliers (3)
    • Federal and State Agency Representatives (5)
    • Researchers (1)
    • Consultants (3)
    • Others


slide 6: ATSSA ITS Council

What have we done:

  • Provide input to FHWA and others on policy
  • Discuss implementation
  • Lobby for safety legislation and safety funding
  • Provide input on research
  • Exchange research findings
  • ITS Architecture
  • Review agency requirements and identify technologies to help meet these


slide 7: ATSSA ITS Council

Planning for:

  • Inform others about WZ ITS (why I'm here)
  • Website under development
    • Showcasing types of ITS technologies for various categories
      • Overview of System, Pictures, Typical Applications
    • Case Studies
    • FAQ's
    • Specification Samples


slide 8: WZ ITS Categories

  • Travel Time Systems
    • Bluetooth, Card Readers, Radar, Aggregate System
  • Incident Management Systems
    • Video, Smart Video systems
  • Queue Detection
    • Detection of slowdowns – post warnings to motorists and WZ operators
  • Speed Management / Variable Speed Limit Systems
    • Portable Speed Posting Systems


slide 9: WZ ITS Categories

  • Dynamic Merge Systems
    • Speed Detection combined with PCMS or Arrow Boards
  • Conflict Warning Systems
    • Presence Detection, PCMS
  • Ramp Metering
    • Automated Signals, Detection Systems
  • Data Collection and Reporting (I added this)
    • Speed and Volume Detection, Aggregation and Reporting Tools


slide 10: What is new?

  • Applications
    • Performance Measures
    • Dynamic Work Zones?
  • Technologies
    • Video comparison
  • Approaches
    • Texas – Consistent Methodology for Deployment of Queue Detection and Reporting
    • Utah – Reduce Work Zone Queues and Delays for Paving
    • OBDP


slide 11: OTIA III Statewide Bridge Program – "Keep Traffic Moving During Construction"

Image shows two cargo trucks on an overpass above a construction zone.



slide 12: OTIA III Statewide Bridge Program – "Keep Traffic Moving During Construction"

Image shows three heavy backhoes demolishing an overpass at night.



slide 13: OTIA III Statewide Bridge Program – "Keep Traffic Moving During Construction"

Image shows a crane lowering a pre-fabricated bridge section into place at night.



slide 14: "Impossible Job": 365 Bridges in 8 years

  • OTIA III Statewide Bridge Program
  • OTIA III Bridge Locations

Image shows Washington state map. The map highlights the corridors and bridge locations for the OTIA III Statewide Bridge Program.



slide 15: Safety and Mobility During Construction

  • Minimize delays
    • Keep Freight and Traffic Moving – Legislative Goal #3 out of 5 for the Program
  • Determine safe times for lane closures
    • Times when travel speeds are not significantly reduced
  • Little to no problems
  • Special cases
  • More data for better decisions
 Image shows heavy traffic at a work zone lane closure.


slide 16: Smart Work Zone Elements

  • Speed Detection (side–fire radar, detect select vehicles)
    • Monitor Queues
  • Traffic Volumes (side–fire radar, lane sensors)
    • Count Vehicles
  • Motorist Information
    • PCMS, Web, Smartphone
  • Alert Agency / Contractors
  • Observe (Video)


slide 17

Image shows a flowchart outlining the steps for planning, conducting, monitoring, and evaluating a work zone.


slide 18: Smart Work Zone Processes for Congestion Management

Image shows a flowchart outlining the process for work zone congestion management.


slide 19: Plan

  • Need to establish lane closures in planning/design process of project
  • ODOT data-robust process – Work Zone Traffic Analysis
 Image shows a sample table of traffic count data.


slide 20

Image shows a sample table of traffic count data.



slide 21

Image shows a sample table of traffic count data.



slide 22: Deploy and Verify

  • Potentially inaccurate staging based on flawed traffic volume assumptions
  • Time between staging design and construction could be several years
  • Hand counts and calculations vs. automated data
    • Near real-time traffic volumes (side fire, pucks)
    • Historic data
  • I–5 Salem preparation for overnight paving closure


slide 23: Deploy and Verify

Image shows workers configuring road side equipment in a work zone.



slide 24: Deploy and Verify

Image shows an overhead view of a cloverleaf interchange between two restricted access roadways.



slide 25: Web-Based Reporting

  • Turn–Key Service
  • GPS located on devices
  • Interactive Google maps interface
  • Color coded for quick verification of traffic flow
  • Download historic traffic data
    • User defined reporting period
    • CSV or Graph
 Image shows a map indicating the location of a traffic sensor device.


slide 26: Monitor and React

  • Real–Time & Near Real–Time
  • Automated notices to Agency / Contractor
  • Call Correct Start Time for Lane Closure
    • I-5 Three-Lane paving – Closure start times
    • Mother's Day? – who knew?
  • Construction activities often require adjustments to contractor work hours
    • Gain time for Contractor to increase production


slide 27: Compliance Report

  • Performance Specifications
    • Speeds
    • Volumes
    • For Design-Build Projects where Contractor is responsible to "Keep Traffic Moving"
  • Automate process to meet needs of Agency
  • Accelerate report development so Agency / Contractor can make adjustments to work zone processes


slide 28: Performance Assessment

  • Lessons learned in luxury
  • Thanksgivings – 3 spent watching traffic?
  • Test new work zone practices
  • Note how surrounding activities can affect project work zone


slide 29: Conclusions

  • Dynamic work zone projects often call for the dynamic ability to respond
    • Not for every project, but for the more complex, high risk projects
  • Data collection useful for making decisions during construction for comparison to original plans
  • Benefits
    • Congestion and Safety – Pick best start time
    • Potential Schedule Improvements for Contractor
    • Information for Better Decision-Making


slide 30: Where is WZ ITS going?

  • In-vehicle technology
  • Cell phone and other data sources
  • Data-rich to data smart
  • Little system handling – results only
  • Technology ages rapidly
  • Open platforms or those that meet national protocols
  • Portability / Flexibility
  • More collaboration – discussions on what you after, your challenges, then how to specify


slide 31

Questions?



slide 32: Questions for the Audience (YOU!)

  • Who is deploying your WZ ITS? You, contractor, ITS expert?
  • Do you want to own equipment or just want results?
  • QPL (Qualified Products List)?
  • Real time data for posting or for decisions?


slide 33: Questions for the Audience (YOU!)

  • Percentage of overall project cost?
  • What is most important WZ ITS category to you? Incident management, queue detection, etc.?
  • Where do you go to find information about systems? Is there something more or different you would like to see?
  • Battery life? Power Supplies?


slide 34

ATSSA Website:

www.atssa.com



slide 35

W. D. Baldwin, P.E.
Mobility Manager / NW Area Traffic Leader
HDR Engineering, Inc.
WD.Baldwin@hdrinc.com

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