UPDATE: Monday, June 30th, 2014
Agencies across the west have deployed various ITS systems to address a number of different local safety and operational concerns. These systems are “self-contained,” existing solely to address a particular issue at a given site. Such systems are typically roadside-based, with all equipment and processing completed on-site. Historically, there has been a lack of documentation related to these deployments, specifically an inventory of what is presently deployed. Tracking down the requisite information related to such widespread deployments is a challenge that cannot be easily completed by an individual. The absence of such an inventory has prevented the opportunity for practitioners to learn about the deployments of a particular device in another location prior to pursuing their own. To address this need, the work completed by this project documented where deployments are located, what their function/purpose is, and other information of interest. It provides practitioners with information to use in learning about the benefits of available systems, as well as a starting point for making contact with practitioners in other jurisdictions to learn more about their experiences with a system.
The research documented systems in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska, obtaining information for a total of 86 systems. The deployment types and the problems targeted were quite diverse. The intent of the majority of these systems is to provide drivers with advanced warning of a hazardous condition, such as ice, high winds, etc. Most systems used basic detection components to provide data to field controllers, which activated warnings based on conditions via basic and advanced mechanisms ranging from flashing beacons on metal signs to electronically-activated signs. It is hoped that the information and lessons documented in the report will aid practitioners in developing and deploying new systems in the future while avoiding the pitfalls of the past.
To review the final project report click here, or go to the COATS project Documents page.