Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program
Photo collage: temporary lane closure, road marking installation, cone with mounted warning light, and drum separated work zones.
Office of Operations 21st Century Operations Using 21st Century Technologies

Text from 'Year-Round Nebraska Traveler Information' PowerPoint Presentation

Workshops > Work Zone Information

Slide 1

Year-Round Nebraska Traveler Information

Call 511

Provided by The Nebraska Department of Roads and the Nebraska State Patrol

Prepared for the "Making Work Zones Work Better" Workshop

by Paul M. Cammack, P.E.

Transportation Technology Engineer

Nebraska Department of Roads

Slide 2

Topics

  • Why 511 in Nebraska?
  • Steps to Deployment
  • 511 Operation & Statistics
  • Comments Received
  • Lessons Learned
  • Future

Slide 3

Why 511 in Nebraska?

Slide 4

The 511 Traveler Information System:

  • Is a rural Intelligent Transportation (ITS) deployment project and brings transportation technology to the rural environment...
  • Gathers weather and road condition information together using a variety of advanced technology systems...
  • Provides the traveling public easy access to information so they can make informed decisions...
  • Probably the most publicly "visible" ITS deployment...
  • Has the potential to bring together urban and statewide traveler information...

Slide 5

Photos of a winter storm (snow storm) and a summer storm (an approaching tornado)

Slide 6

Photos of highway work zones; one with a highway speed limit sign reading 55 and a display showing "Your Speed" at 47 and one in which the right lane is closed and all traffic must use the left lane.

Slide 7

Maintenance & Construction Operations

Photos: one of of a road plow, one of a highway work zone in which traffic is diverted with 'road closed' and 'detour' signs, and one of a traffic backup.

Slide 8

Tourism

Photos: the Nebraska State Capital in Lincoln, Nebraska and a tourist attraction in Nebraska

Slide 9

Homeland Defense

Things have changed

Photo of the World Trade Center on fire after the 9-11 attacks

Slide 10

Steps to Deployment

Slide 11

Advanced Transportation Weather Information System

Photos showing hazardous road conditions: snowstorm, fog, road closures, darkness

Slide 12

Data Acquisition System

Diagram: This diagram illustrates the 511 Data Acquisition System; how information is gathered from the National Lightning Detection Network, Doppler Weather Radar, NOAA GOES & TIROS NWS & WMO Satellite Data, the Road Sensor Network, the Agricultural Weather Network, International Weather Data, the World Wide Weather Database, and the Internet.

Slide 13

511

  • A partnership project between the Nebraska State Patrol and the Nebraska Department of Roads
  • Replaces the State Patrol's 1-800-906-9069 road report number, which will be phased out as users become comfortable calling 511
  • Provides Department reported road conditions in a timely and user-friendly venue

Slide 14

PSC Order

Image: Nebraska Public Service Commission, Welcome to our homepage. Enjoy your visit and come back soon!

  • Hearings and workshops conducted by the Public Service Commission
  • Order issued August 5, 2001

Slide 15

October 1, 2001

Nebraska was the first State to use the FCC designated 511 number for its entire highway system!

Image: Road sign that reads 'Traveler Info Call 511'

Slide 16

Look for New 511 Road Signs Along State Highways

Image: Graphic of a 511 road sign reading "Traveler Information, Call 511"

Slide 17

511 Operational Deployments

  • Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky
  • Nebraska
  • Utah
  • I-81 Corridor in Virginia
  • Arizona
  • Orlando
  • Minnesota
  • SE Florida
  • Washington State
  • Iowa
  • South Dakota
  • Kentucky Statewide
  • San Francisco
  • Montana
  • North Dakota
  • Maine
  • New Hampshire

Slide 18

511 Deployment Status as of April 24, 2003

Accessible by 13% of the population

Image: Map of U.S.A. showing the coverage of the 511 system.

  • Areas that are 511 operational or "live": areas in Virginia, Ohio, California, and Florida
  • States that require 511 assistance funding: Idaho, California, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, Mississippi, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware, Washington DC, Virginia, South Carolina, and Florida
  • States that are "live" and have funding assistance: Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Kentucky, Utah, and Arizona
  • States that will be operational in 2003: Washington, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico, Kansas, North Carolina, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island
  • States in which there is no 511 activity: Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Wyoming, Colorado, Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania

Slide 19

511 Operations & Statistics

Slide 20

Customer Access

A single switch

Four questions

Site-specific information

Photo: Various photos showing hazardous road conditions

Slide 21

System Architecture

Diagram: This diagram shows the system architecture for the 511 system when the traveler dials 511. Operational Data from NDOR RWIS and NDOR Road Conditions is transmitted to the #SAFE Operations Center which is responsible for data collection, integration, and mesoscale weather forecasting. The integrated Nowcast/Forecast and Road Condition Data is then transmitted to the computer telephony in Lincoln, Nebraska. Cellular/PCS providers and LEC/CLEC have access to the information via the nearest satellite tower that goes directly to the computer telephony in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Slide 22

What does the user hear when they call 511?

  • "Welcome to the Nebraska 511 Traveler Information System. If this is an emergency, hang up and dial 911."
  • "For NE roads, press 1; for SD roads, press 2; etc..."
  • "Enter your Interstate or highway number followed by the # sign"
  • "For Interstate 80 between Lincoln and Omaha, press 1; etc..."
  • SYSTEM PROVIDES ROAD/WEATHER CONDITIONS REPORT
  • "Press 1 to repeat last report; press 2 to request another road/weather conditions report; press 8 to leave a question, comment, recommendation for the system administrator"

Slide 23

What does the user hear when they 511?

Sound bites

  1. "Welcome to the Nebraska 511 Traveler Information System. If this is an emergency, hang up now and dial 911"
  2. "For Nebraska highways, press 1; for Kansas highways, press 2; for South Dakota highways, press 3; for road weather information in other neighboring states, press 4."
  3. "Enter the highway number, followed by the # sign"

Slide 24

What is the cost for 511?

  • Initial startup costs were $120,000.
  • First year operational costs were estimated to be $180,000.
  • Costs shared 50/50 between State Patrol and Department of Roads

Slide 25

Does it cost anything to call 511?

  • Cellular telephone users will incur the usual fees associated with any cellular call (e.g. roaming, air time).
  • Landline telephone users will incur no more than the cost of a local call (typically free).

Slide 26

World Wide Web Access to 511 Information
www.dor.state.ne.us or www.safetravelusa.com

Screen Capture of NDOR (Nebraska Department of Roads) home page

Slide 27

World Wide Web Access to 511 Information
www.dor.state.ne.us or www.safetravelusa.com

Screen Capture of Safe Travel USA home page

Slide 28

World Wide Web Access to 511 Information
www.dor.state.ne.us or www.safetravelusa.com

Screen Capture of Safe Travel USA page with routes highlighted on Nebraska map

Slide 29

511 Deployment Progress

Bar Graph: This chart illustrates the increase in calls from June 2001 through March 2003 due to increased 511 deployment. In June 2001, approximately 90,000 calls came in compared to March 2003 when approximately 820,000 calls came in.

Slide 30

Nebraska's 511 Calls

Total Nebraska 511 Calls per Quarter from October 2001 through March 2003

Bar Graph: Calls decreased from the fourth quarter of 2001 to the second quarter of 2002 and then increased from the third quarter of 2002 to the first quarter of 2003. Number of calls are shown in the table below.

empty cell 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter
2001 empty cell empty cell empty cell 70,447
2002 223,480 25,571 38,424 65,016

2003

 165,537 empty cell empty cell empty cell

Slide 31

Nebraska's 511 Web Hits

Total Nebraska 511 Web Hits per Quarter at www.safetravelusa.com

Bar Graph: Web hits increased from the fourth quarter of 2001 to the first quarter of 2002, fluctuated between the second and fourth quarters of 2002, and increased during the first quarter of 2003. Number of web hits are shown in the table below.

empty cell 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter
2001 empty cell empty cell empty cell 20,961
2002 95,049 18,964 40,351 39,007

2003

 112,960 empty cell empty cell empty cell

Slide 32

Comments Received

Slide 33

Nebraska 511 Comment Line Summary

Total number of Comments Analyzed: 163

Positive: 62

Negative: 17

Need Call Back: 68

Not Applicable: 16

Pie chart showing 38% were positive, 10% negative, 42% need to call back, and 10% not applicable.

Slide 34

Comments

Sound bites

  1. "Yes, I like your number very much because now my mom and I can check and make sure the roads are okay to go to McCook."
  2. "I just want to thank you for this service. It's very informative. As a truck driver, it is invaluable. Thank you."

Slide 35

Comments

"I just wanted to thank you for this service. I'm a newcomer to Nebraska and this is an invaluable gift to the people of the state. Thank you so very much."

Slide 36

Another Viewpoint

"I think this system is very helpful; however, I don't think very many people are that familiar with mile markers..."

Slide 37

The Other Side of the Coin

"...I asked for road conditions, and all you gave me was weather conditions."

Slide 38

Lessons Learned

Slide 39

Lessons Learned
  • Your road condition reporting system must be accurate, timely and reliable.

Slide 40

Highway Condition Reporting System (PioneerNet)

Map of Arizona with routes/highways highlighted

Slide 41

Lessons Learned

  • Your road condition reporting system must be accurate, timely and reliable.
  • Landmarks are more recognizable that mileposts—but there are disadvantages.

Slide 42

Photos of Nebraska highway 40 and a Nebraska tourist attraction

Slide 43

Lessons Learned

  • Your road condition reporting system must be accurate, timely and reliable.
  • Landmarks are more recognizable than mileposts—but there are disadvantages.
  • Tailor your system to fit yourneeds and expand it as your demand grows.

Slide 44

Conceptual Operational Structure in Nebraska "Pioneer Net"

Diagram: Conceptual Operational Structure in Nebraska "Pioneer Net"

The 511 system (including its basic and premium functions) falls into the public information category.

Slide 45

Lessons Learned

  • Your road condition reporting system must be accurate, timely and reliable.
  • Landmarks are more recognizable than mileposts—but there are disadvantages.
  • Tailor your system to fit yourneeds and expand it as your demand grows.
  • Deploy with time to debug.

Slide 46

Illustration reads ´Debug your world from Desktop to web´

Slide 47

Lessons Learned

  • Your road condition reporting system must be accurate, timely and reliable.
  • Landmarks are more recognizable that mileposts—but there are disadvantages.
  • Tailor your system to fit yourneeds and expand it as your demand grows.
  • Deploy with time to debug.
  • Address 24/7/365 operations and system support issues in advance (including staff time).

Slide 48

Various photos of the 511 call center

Slide 49

Lessons Learned

  • Your road condition reporting system must be accurate, timely and reliable.
  • Landmarks are more recognizable than mileposts—but there are disadvantages.
  • Tailor your system to fit yourneeds and expand it as your demand grows.
  • Deploy with time to debug.
  • Address 24/7/365 operations and system support issues in advance (including staff time).
  • Marketing is a four letter word to most DOT's—but a necessary evil.

Slide 50

www.deploy511.org

Promotional and Marketing Materials

Photo of a ´Build it and they will come´ poster.

Illustration depicting the process of discussing, developing, and distributing in the open source community.

Slide 51

What´s in the future for 511?

  • Multi-State Shared Telephony
  • Amber Alert
  • Voice Recognition
  • Language Choices
  • Road Construction and Detour Reports
  • Work Zones
  • Metropolitan Traffic Reports and Transit Information
  • Warnings of Crashes, Incidents, Closures, etc.
  • Tourist and Local Event Information
  • Premium Services and/or Yellow Pages
  • Commercial Vehicle Information

Slide 52

511 Organizational Chart: 511 is broken down into the following 7 areas:

  1. Travel and conditions—includes road conditions, weather conditions (current and forecast), current incidents and accidents, road construction information, road closures and lane restrictions, delay information, and detour routing
  2. Food and lodging
  3. Shopping and services
  4. Tourism and attractions—includes events
  5. Emergency services—includes alerts (both weather and Amber)
  6. Trip mapping
  7. Transit

Slide 53

Multi-State Shared Telephony

Nebraska's 511 utilizes a "shared telephony" system with the other #SAFE Advanced Traveler Weather Information System states (North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana). This concept was designed and developed by Meridian Environmental Technologies, Inc.

Map of Nebraska showing the dense coverage of the 511 system

Slide 54

Amber Alert

Photo of Amber Hagerman, a little girl who was kidnapped

Photos of ´Amber Alert´ road signs alerting motorists of possible vehicles involved in a child abduction, e.g., "Child Abduction 10-year-old girl, 82 Dodge Pickup" and "Amber Alert, 1-800-TELL-CHP, White Ford Bronco"

Slide 55

Sensory Software Voice Activation

Slide 56

Highway Condition Reporting System (PioneerNet)

Map of Arizona with routes/highways highlighted

Slide 57

For more Web sites

Slide 58

For more information
Office of Operations