Introduction
Today, road operators are faced with many challenges. Highway and urban road usage is often at capacity levels that can be better utilized to improve travel times, safety and greenhouse gas emissions. To help prevent or control road incidents, legacy copper ITS systems with bandwidth limits need to be upgraded with high data rate real-time network backbones that can provide crucial road condition information to control center managers who can react in a timely manner. Commuter, holiday, or event related (sporting, concerts, festivals) traffic flows need the same timely management to prevent traffic snarls.
These can not only cause travel delays that are uncomfortable but may also contribute to costly delivery delays and even dangerous accidents due to stationary vehicles, vehicle in close proximities or sometimes exasperated drivers. Weather changes, road construction, maintenance, and other possible conditions need a responsive system that can warn drivers or even close roadway access automatically to prevent dangerous situations from occurring.
Network Requirements
High Capacity Hierarchical IP Network that is Reliable
In order to interconnect the enormous amount of monitoring nodes that deliver traffic and road condition data and signaling to and from centralized controllers, an ATMS needs a multiple-layered network. Top layer full-Gigabit Ethernet switches can aggregate multiple lower level wayside cabinets 10/100 Fast Ethernet onto high capacity SDH or 10G links. The entire network needs to be resilient and redundant enough to continue data transmission despite network failures or unanticipated data bursts exceeding capacity. Further, the entire network needs to be easily managed and serviced using a straightforward management platform that can be remotely operated from a central control location.
Real-Time Advanced TrafficManagement System
Central controllers digest data from sensors monitoring current traffic and road conditions to operate variable message signs, roadway access controllers, traffic lights and emergency vehicle dispatching. Advanced sensors that are responsive means that drivers can be advised, using variable display message signs, of accidents, treacherous weather and heavy traffic resulting in higher safety and more efficient and comfortable travel. Over-utilization of roadways can be prevented using controlled roadway access which can also reduce stop and go traffic accidents.
Dense city traffic, which is often related to daily events or otherwise, can be real-time monitored and thus the heaviest used roadways can be alleviated more efficiently.
Efficient Video Surveillance System
Traffic engineers need a constant flow of video feed showing them current traffic levels, road incidents, and weather hazards. The constant video stream needs to use optimal video compression for efficient transmission over high capacity Gigabit Ethernet networks, with features such as IGMP snooping and multicast filtering.
Reliable Control and Monitoring of City Traffic
Rugged wide temperature range traffic controllers for city intersections need to provide constant remote traffic flow information and automated traffic signal control. They need to be cost-effective and also be able to work with network-cameras that can capture picture evidence of traffic infractions. Device servers can be installed to provide serial to Ethernet connectivity for controllers so that they can interact with control centers over an intelligent network.
Moxa Solutions
- Complete range of Edge-to-Core industrial Ethernet solutions -10/100M, 1G, and 10G copper/fiber
- Reliable real-time redundant technologies: Turbo Ring, Turbo Chain, GuaranLink (wireless)
- Software packages: open OS platform, IPSec encryption, Perl Library, BlueZ for comprehensive VMS architecture suite
- Versatile Ethernet or serial device connectivity over TCP/IP cellular networks
- Ruggedized to survive and operate in harsh conditions including -40 to 75 ̊C
