Lesson
Ensure initial and ongoing success of ITS deployments by providing sufficient start-up time, maintaining flexibility, and performing maintenance needs in-house.
New Mexico’s experience with planning, deployment and operating a work zone traffic and incident management system.
1/1/2004
Albuquerque,New Mexico,United States
Background (Show)
Lesson Learned
- Grant ample start up time when implementing new ITS technologies. Problems will arise, such as with sensor operation, communications (wireless or wireline), license applications, component calibration, hardware, or software. These issues will take time to address and need to be identified as soon as possible before going "live".
- The mobile traffic monitoring and management system used by NMSHTD for the Big I interchange ITS deployment in Albuquerque was designed to be portable and use wireless communication. Wireless communication links were tested prior to the installation of field elements to ensure adequate bandwidth availability.
- The complete mobile traffic monitoring and management system was brought on-line two weeks prior to the start of construction. This allowed for thorough pre-construction testing.
- Maintain flexibility throughout the implementation process. The ability to remain flexible allows agencies the ability to quickly reconfigure system components on an as needed basis. Based on experiences during the Big I interchange ITS deployment in Albuquerque NMSHTD realized that:
- ITS units deployed in the core of the work zone should be highly portable. Because work zone configurations are likely to change frequently, ITS units will need to be moved regularly.
- When making changes to roadway geometry, allow time for drivers to learn the new traffic pattern before reporting problem spots to the contractor based on observations from the system's cameras.
- Consider the future when planning and deploying a traveler information system. Because New Mexico's State Highway and Transportation Department planned for future use, the agency used a combination of equipment purchases and rentals for its project to rebuild the "Big I" interchange in Albuquerque. Once the project ended, NMSHTD was able to reuse the purchased equipment as part of a permanent freeway management system.
- Perform maintenance needs in-house with some initial vendor assistance. This allows agencies to reduce costs by not having to rely solely on a vendor for maintenance support. While experience varies from project to project on the subject of in-house vs. contracted maintenance, in this instance, in-house maintenance was the appropriate selection.
- For the Big I interchange NMSHTD coordinated extensively with the incident management community and obtained Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) assistance to help patrol the work zone area.
Application Areas
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Roadway Operations & Maintenance > Work Zone Management > Temporary Incident Management
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Freeway Management > Information Dissemination > Highway Advisory Radio
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Roadway Operations & Maintenance > Information Dissemination > Internet/Wireless/Phone
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traffic Incident Management > Surveillance & Detection > Imaging/Video
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traffic Incident Management > Information Dissemination > Dynamic Message Signs
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Freeway Management > Information Dissemination > Dynamic Message Signs
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Freeway Management > Surveillance > Traffic
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traveler Information > En Route Information > Radio
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traffic Incident Management > Mobilization & Response > Service Patrols
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Roadway Operations & Maintenance > Work Zone Management > Lane Control
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traveler Information > En Route Information > Wireless
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traffic Incident Management > Information Dissemination > Highway Advisory Radio
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traveler Information > Pre-Trip Information > TV/Radio
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traveler Information > Pre-Trip Information > Internet/Wireless
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Roadway Operations & Maintenance > Information Dissemination > Dynamic Message Signs
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Transportation Management Centers > Permanent TMCs > Freeway
States
Countries
Systems Engineering
Focus Areas
Major Initiatives > Mobility Services for All Americans
Major Initiatives > Nationwide Surface Transportation Weather Observing and Forecasting System - Clarus
Major Initiatives > Emergency Transportation Operations
Other Program Activities > Amber Alert
Other Program Activities > Public Safety
Other Program Activities > Real Time Traveler Information
Other Program Activities > Rural ITS Deployment
Other Program Activities > Work Zones
Goal Areas
Keywords
smart work zone systems, smart work zone, smart work zones, Smart work zones, workzone, WZ, HAR, CCTV, closed circuit television cameras, road monitoring, camera imaging, DMS, CMS, VMS, Changeable Message Signs, Variable Message Signs, sensors, vehicle detector, traffic detection, traffic monitoring, congestion monitoring, freeway service patrol, courtesy patrols, highway helpers, freeway service patrols, Dynamic Message Signs, construction warning signs, Portable Dynamic Message Signs, portable CMS, portable VMS, portable Changeable Message Signs, portable Variable Message Signs, Temporary Dynamic Message Signs, Temporary CMS, Temporary VMS, Temporary Changeable Message Signs, Temporary Variable Message Signs
Lesson Comments
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