1. ITS IN WORK ZONES IS smart business
F. Todd Foster, P.E.
VP of ITS Engineering
Ver-Mac, Inc.
September 28, 2016

2. AGENDA: agenda Smart Work Zone (SWZ) History
SWZ Goals – Improved Safety & Mobility
SWZ Basics – Overview, Equipment, Sensor Options (Pros/Cons), etc.
SWZ Warrants – When Do You Need a SWZ?, Solve Real Traffic Problems, C.O.’s
SWZ Applications – Queue Warning, Travel Time, Dynamic “Zipper” Merge, VSL, etc.
SWZ System Features – Development of Specifications = Easier to Use When Req’d
SWZ Data – 24/7 Access, Easy & Quick Custom Reports/Graphs/Exporting, Logging
SWZ Alerts – System & Equipment Alerts, Traffic Alerts
SWZ Traffic Performance Measures
SWZ System Integration – Push/Pull Data in XML or API with TMC/TOC’s & 511
agenda

3. SWZ history / life cycle

4. SMART WORK ZONE LIFE CYCLE/TIMELINE
Early Systems
Early Failures
System Evolution
Successful Systems
FHWA Guidance
FHWA Endorsement
SWZ’s are Mainstream
2009+
2014
2014+
Late Teens
SMART WORK ZONE LIFE CYCLE/TIMELINE
SWZ HISTORY

5. EDC-3 SWZ Focus Areas: SWZ Areas of Focus: SWZ encouraged by fhwa
Road Project Coordination
Technology Applications
SWZ Areas of Focus:
Queue Management Systems
Speed Management Systems
Dynamic Lane Merge Systems
SWZ encouraged by fhwa

6. SWZ Technology Application Goals:
Goal 1A
By December 2016, 35 State DOTs have implemented business processes for work zone ITS technologies as identified in the Work Zone ITS Implementation Guide
What does this mean?
– Well-documented agency policies and processes to streamline consideration and use of work zone ITS technologies to minimize traffic impacts
SWZ encouraged by fhwa

7. SWZ goals

8. GOALS: SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: SWZ APPLICATIONS: Swz goals
Provide real-time traffic information to motorists upstream of key decision points to help increase SAFETY and MOBILITY.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
Single Source (Turn-Key) Proven Systems
Portable & Real-Time
Automated
System Types
MOVING
SHORT TEM
LONG TERM
SWZ APPLICATIONS:
Queue Warnings
Travel/Delay Time
WZSL/PVSL
Dynamic Merge
Swz goals

9. SWZ basics - overview

10. SWZ basics - overview SWZ Software
COLLECT TRAFFIC DATA ANALYZE & COMPUTE AUTOMATE & OUTPUT
SWZ basics - overview

11. SWZ basics – equipment

12. Swz EQUIPMENT - PORTABLE MESSAGE SIGNS
X-LARGE
PCMS-1500
Full Matrix
NTCIP
LARGE
PCMS-1210
3 Lines x
8 Characters
NTCIP
SMALL
PCMS-548
Full Matrix
MEDIUM
PCMS-320
Full Matrix
New 16,000
COLORS
Full Matrix
Swz EQUIPMENT - PORTABLE MESSAGE SIGNS

13. Swz EQUIPMENT - Traffic sensors
Traffic Sensor Trailer
Swz EQUIPMENT - Traffic sensors

14. Swz EQUIPMENT - speed-MAC
FEATURES
Doppler, Radar, Modem & GPS
Attaches to Any Traffic Control Device
Quick & Easy Deployment (2-3 min.)
Integrate w/Message Sign (Q-Warnings)
Swz EQUIPMENT - speed-MAC

15. Swz EQUIPMENT - camera trailers

16. Swz EQUIPMENT - speed awareness trailers
GUARD-MAC
Swz EQUIPMENT - speed awareness trailers

17. SWZ sensors (pros/cons)

18. Most Common Traffic Sensor Inputs
Consider system with mixture of sensor types
Spot Detection (Queue Warning Systems)
Doppler Radars (Spot Detection)
PROS: Low Cost, Easy to Aim, Great for All Speeds
CONS: Occlusion, No Lane by Lane Data, Vol. Data ~ 80%
Microwave (side-fire) Radars (RTMS, Wavetronix, etc.)
PROS: Speed/Vol./Occ. Bi-Directional Data/Lane
CONS: Cost, Time to Configure, Shifting Traffic
Point-to-Point Detection (Travel Time Systems)
BlueTooth Sensors (BlueTOAD, BluFax, Acyclica, Iteris, etc.)
COLLECT TRAFFIC DATA
SWZ sensors - types

19. SWZ sensors – decision matrix

20. SWZ warrants – when to use a swz

21. SWZ – system warrants/criteria
FHWA Work Zone ITS Implementation Guide
Provide guidance on implementing ITS in work zones to assist public agencies, design and construction firms, and industry stakeholders
Presented through a 6-Step Systems Engineering Approach to WZ ITS implementation
pdf
SWZ – system warrants/criteria

22. SWZ – system warrants/criteria
Change Orders allow for quick and easy Queue Warning systems to be installed. Some DOT’s are letting service contracts and renting by the day or week when needed.
SWZ – system warrants/criteria

23. SWZ – applications Scalability & flexibility

24. SWZ Applications - QUEUE WARNING SYSTEMS

25. Swz Applications - queue warning SAFETY

26. Queue warning Effectiveness (texas dot)
Across approximately
200 deployment nights:
Total crashes reduced 18 to 45% when deployed
Crash cost reductions between $6,600 and
$10,000/night
Queue warning Effectiveness (texas dot)

27. Queue warning Effectiveness (texas dot)

28. Queue warning Effectiveness (ILLINOIS dot)
Compared 2010 and 2011 Construction Years for 5 projects along I-55
Only looked at rear-end accidents because that is what
system was setup to reduce
*Does not account for ADT using Alt Routes
Queue warning Effectiveness (ILLINOIS dot)

29. SWZ Applications – Travel time SYSTEMS
TRAVEL TIME / DELAY TIME / ALTERNATE ROUTE
Travel Time and Alternate Route applications are continuously updated automatically to provide current travel time or delay time between the driver’s location and a specific destination downstream. The benefit is the motoring public is informed and can make alternate route decisions. It also prevents long unexpected backups and potential rear-end collisions.
SWZ Applications – Travel time SYSTEMS

30. SWZ Applications – DYNAMIC MERGE SYSTEMS
Early Lane Merge
Late Lane Merge
(a.k.a. the Zipper merge)
Advises drivers to move out of closed lane well before the forced merge point
Works best when there is a low traffic volume combined with high average speeds
Benefits:
Less aggressive and unsafe merging
Advanced warning allows drivers adequate distance to merge
Gives positive instructions on lane usage
Advises drivers to use both lanes up to the merge point
Works better for high traffic volumes, where queueing upstream of is expected to occur.
Benefits:
Maximize available storage upstream of work zone for reducing total queue length.
Reduces confusion between drivers who think they should merge early vs. drivers that use open lanes as far as possible.
Clarifies right-of-way at merge point (“alternate merge”)
Actually allows 15% more traffic to pass through in a given time period
Source:
SWZ Applications – DYNAMIC MERGE SYSTEMS

31. NC DOT - ZIPPER MERGE LAYOUT
Miles Before Taper
3.5
2.5
2.0
1.0
0.5
0.33
0.2
0.1
Source: North Carolina DOT
NC DOT - ZIPPER MERGE LAYOUT

32. SWZ Applications – pvsl equipment
Goals:
Speed Harmonization (<15 mph of median speed)
Respect Times/Locations Where Speeds Can Be Raised
Lower Speeds When & Where Workers are Present
Ensure WZ Speed Limits are Correct without Driving Job
Electronic Record of Speeds w/Time/Date Stamps & Location
Easily Relocate Signs to Follow Work Progress
Modes:
Manual/Scheduled by T.O.D.
Semi or Fully Automated (based on speeds downstream)
SWZ Applications – pvsl equipment

33. SWZ Applications – typical pvsl system
Typical VSL
Signage
Source: FHWA EDC-3 Smart Work Zone Webinar & Utah DOT – Josh Van Jura
SWZ Applications – typical pvsl system

34. SWZ Applications – UDOT pvsl system
UDOT PVSL LAYOUT
Source: FHWA EDC-3 Smart Work Zone Webinar & Utah DOT – Josh Van Jura
Queue Warning Subsystem
VSL Subsystem
SWZ Applications – UDOT pvsl system

35. SWZ system features / Specs

36. SWZ Specification considerations
Performance Based Specifications
Proven & Experienced Providers
System Submittals
System Components
Signs (NTCIP), Sensors, Cameras, System (NTCIP), Communications
Malfunction Alerts & Remote Resets
Traffic Alerts (Condition Change Alerts, Speed Alerts, Travel/Delay Alerts)
Transparent Systems (24/7 Access to All Historical Data)
Public Web Site (Optional)
Central SWZ System
Security & Levels of Access
System Logic
System Logs (Messages, Data, Actions, etc.) 24/7 access
1:Many Control & Simultaneous Control
Mobile Access to All Current Status (Message, Video, Speeds) & Overrides
SWZ Specification considerations

37. SWZ Specification considerations
Central SWZ System (cont.)
System Data (Access, Graphing, Exporting) & Customization & Device Merging
Interactive List & Map Views
Common mapping program
GPS Icons for all field devices
Real-Time Device Status (NTCIP Sign Status & Logging)
Deployment & Operational Testing
On-site SWZ supervisor & Response Times/Penalties, Spare Equipment/Parts
Training
Measurement & Payment Terms
Mobilization
System (Monthly)
Equipment (Unit-Months)
Relocations/Recalibrations (Each)
SWZ Specification considerations

38. Customized Alerts
&
Custom Mail Lists
SWZ AUTOMATED ALERTS

39. HELPFUL ALERTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
Project Name
Roadway, Direction, Location (Mile Post), GPS
Device Name & Description
Alert Type (Comm., Power, GPS, Traffic, etc.)
Alert Status (Incident or Okay)
Good to know when things return to normal
Local Time Zone Date & Time Stamp
Automatic Delivery to or SMS (Text)
Multiple Customized Alerts with Variable Thresholds
Multiple Alert Deliver Lists (for System Users & Non-Users)
SWZ AUTOMATED ALERTS

40. SWZ AUTOMATED ALERTS (MALFUNCTION/FLEET)
Alarm Type Malfunction Alert Okay Alert
Communications: Communications Lost Communications OK
Low Power: Battery Voltage < 11.8 V Batteries OK
No Speed: Device X = No Speeds for Last XX Minutes
Device X = Speed Data Now Available
GeoFence: Device X moved more than 500 ft, Current GPS = X, Y
SWZ AUTOMATED ALERTS (MALFUNCTION/FLEET)

41. SWZ AUTOMATED ALERTS (TRAFFIC)
Alarm Type Alert Details____________________________
Low Speed: Sensor X < YY mph Sensor X > YY mph for past ZZ min.
Condition Change EB I-94 MM 123 Traffic = SLOW (Sensor 03 < 45 mph at MM 120)
EB I-94 MM 123 Traffic = STOP & GO (Sensor 04 < MM..)
EB I-94 MM 123 Traffic = FREE FLOW
PVSL Speed PVSL 01 Recommended Speed = 50 mph
Travel Time Route: NB I-35 (7.0 miles) > 25 minutes
Route: NB I-35 (7.0 miles) < 10 minutes
SWZ AUTOMATED ALERTS (TRAFFIC)

42. Interactive list & map views
Client server main VIEW
Interactive list & map views

43. Customized Public web sites

44. XML FEED EXAMPLE
XML FEEDS

45. SWZ system data

46. Message sign history

47. SPEED SENSOR DATA

48. Multiple sensors = travel time route
jam
Multiple sensors = travel time route

49. Contact: Questions? Todd Foster todd.foster@ver-mac.com
Phone: