Working Together for Smart Work Zone Success

SLIDE 1

Working Together for Smart Work Zone Success

October 11, 2007

SLIDE 2

Why care about Smart Work Zones?

  • Challenge is increasing: build / repair / and maintain infrastructure while also meeting user safety and mobility needs
  • Smart Work Zones are one tool to address this challenge
  • Use of Smart Work Zones in increasing rapidly in some areas
  • Project benefit or project headache?
SLIDE 3

What is a Smart Work Zone?

  • Use of technology
    • Gather data
    • Monitor traffic
    • Process information
    • Provide guidance and information
      • Travel time / delay
      • Route selection
      • Control / guidance – merge behavior
      • Advisories
        • Reduced speed, stopped traffic
SLIDE 4

Travel Information

Picture of a work zone on I-75 - Detroit, Michigan, with a portable changeable message sign displaying the message 10 MIN END OF WORK ZONE

I-75 - Detroit, Michigan

SLIDE 5

Marietta, Georgia

www.i-75georgia.com

A screen capture of the web site displaying I-75 GEORGIA REAL - TIME TRAFFIC INFORMATION

SLIDE 6

Dynamic Lane Merger Trailer

Picture of a Dynamic Lane Merger Trailer on the shoulder displaying the message RIGHT LANE DO NOT PASS WHEN FLASHING

SLIDE 7

Overview of A Dynamic Late Merge System

Picture of a Dynamic Late Merge System displaying the message USE BOTH LANES              Picture of a Dynamic Late Merge System displaying the message TO MERGE POINT

The traffic control plan shows the applications of Dynamic Late Merge Systems at various points of a highway.

SLIDE 8

Overview of A Dynamic Late Merge System

Picture of a Dynamic Late Merge System displaying the message TAKE YOUR TURN                   Picture of a Dynamic Late Merge System displaying the message MERGE HERE

A traffic control plan showing the applications of Dynamic Late Merge Systems at various points

SLIDE 9

Evolution of Smart Work Zone Deployment

Three horizonal bars showing the evolution of Smart Work Zone deployment from 1993 to 2007 through the stages of Experimentation and Development, Evaluation and polots, and Mainstream use.

SLIDE 10

Smart Work Zone Deployments

Map of USA with green stars indicating states with Smart Work Zone deployments

SLIDE 11Drawing of Smart Work Zone deployments

Mainstreaming of Smart Work Zones

  • North Carolina – approx 10 past deployments
  • Minnesota – QPL requirements and process for SWZ systems,
    deployment guidelines, designated “seed money”
    funding

 

 

 

SLIDE 12Map of Georgia with stars indicating areas where Smart Work Zones are deployed

Mainstreaming of Smart Work Zones

  • Michigan – standard specifications, large project
    with 180 sensor locations in 2007
  • Georgia – 6 projects deployed in 2007 alone
  • Oklahoma – central SWZ management system

 

 

 

 

SLIDE 13

Impact of Mainstreaming

  • No longer “special projects”
  • Often responsibility of prime contractor to include as line item
  • Decision making – vendor selection by prime contractor
  • Deliver and perform
    • Schedule impacts
    • Performance requirements and penalties
  • Increased integration with permanent systems
SLIDE 14

Contract arrangements

 

The chart on the left shows the hierarchical structure with Transportation Agency on the top and Construction Contractor and System Vendor on the next level. The chart on the right shows the flow from Transportation Agency to Construction Contractor, to Electrical Subcontractor, and then to System Vendor.

SLIDE 15

Working Together for Success

  • Relationship between prime and vendor is important for success
  • Importance and timing
    • 0.25 % to 2% of overall project price
    • Low priority in terms of $
    • Often required at start of construction
    • Provide as much time to vendors as possible to ensure smooth start up
      • Resolve questions
      • Mobilization
      • Acceptance testing
SLIDE 16

Working Together for Success

  • Roles and responsibilities
    • Equipment supply
      • Sensors and communication
      • Sign trailers
      • Cones / barrels / barricades
    • Support and operation
      • Day to day monitoring and operation
      • Maintenance and emergency repair
SLIDE 17

Working Together for Success

  • Facilitate communication with DOT
    • Layout and functionality
    • Technical questions
    • Performance requirements
    • Not typical asphalt and concrete questions
  • Coordination of activities
    • Advance notice of phase changes, traffic shifts, etc.
  • Performance data
    • Traffic volumes and delay times
    • Examine enlarged working windows
SLIDE 18

Summary

  • Smart Work Zones – keep traffic moving and improve safety
  • Tool to help facilitate major construction projects so they can go ahead
  • Increasing requirement on upcoming jobs
  • May provide feedback to expand construction window and improve efficiency
  • Three way relationship is important

    The image displays the three way relationship among Agency, Vendor, and Contractor.
SLIDE 19

THANK YOU

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