Nevada DOT deploys new statewide data network to improve road safety
The Nevada Department of Transportation is implementing a new data network foundation for its next-generation intelligent transportation system (ITS). The new network, which will use ruggedized Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE) Ethernet hardware, makes it easier to connect and manage a growing mesh of Internet of Things (IoT) devices on the state’s highways.
The network has been designed to future-proof the data infrastructure and prepare for disruptive technologies being developed in the transportation sector, including weather and road condition sensors, status notification systems and ultimately connected vehicle communication systems.
Gary Molnar, ITS network manager for the Nevada Department of Transportation, says, “The new solution makes it easier for us to provide the best services throughout the 25 billion miles traveled by our road users each year, providing them with the right information to travel safely and ultimately reduce the time they spend on the road. Everything about the new network allows us to be more dynamic and identify, troubleshoot and fix issues much quicker. The reliability of the hardware coupled with the excellent level of technical support from ALE is a crucial element, as it means we spend less time maintaining equipment and more time focused on delivering the services that impact people’s lives.”
According to ALE, intelligent transportation systems are at the forefront of the IoT revolution. The new deployment will support the growth in real-time data sent from various monitoring devices, including IP cameras, weather and road sensors, all connected to traffic operation centers that monitor vehicle congestion and road conditions. That information can then be shared with the public or used for signage and signaling to provide travelers with the latest traffic and safety updates—at the roadside, online and on mobile devices.
Charles Matthews, North America lead with ALE, says, “Intelligent transportation systems are going to play an increasingly important role in the safety and efficiency of road travel as traffic volumes continue to grow in the coming decades. As technology providers, we will need to consider every possible opportunity to help better manage transportation systems and infrastructure, as they become more integrated with other systems and new technologies—vehicle-to-vehicle communication, driver assistance systems and eventually autonomous vehicles—making their way on to our roads.”