Engineering Inc. - July/August 2007 - (Page 29)

MULTI-PROJECT FEATURE As the nation’s roadways grow increasingly congested—and, as a result, dangerous—ACEC member firms are working with local and state transportation officials to create solutions that promise to improve communications between motorists and transportation officials, decrease traffic and help emergency personnel respond quickly when disaster strikes. E mergency calls to 911 will not be the only notification about major accidents along Rhode Island’s streets and highways. A new computer-aided dispatch station also will alert staff at the state’s Transportation Management Center (TMC), who will warn motorists to avoid the area. Such “smart” transportation technology “[is improving] public safety for users of the Rhode Island roadways,” said Joana Conklin, senior ITS engineer for Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB), whose design firm is working with the state transportation department to develop a “video-sharing” system to help traffic officials more effectively monitor busy roadways and coordinate emergency response efforts. A myriad of technologies—from strategically placed surveillance cameras and electronic message boards, to highway radio systems—enable transportation officials at the TMC to track traffic patterns and monitor accidents and other potential disruptions from a central location. Transportation officials then can share that information with the public through a special traveler information system, which drivers can access for free by dialing 511 on cellular or local landline telephones. The video technology developed by VHB also lets officials broadcast live video feeds of heavily trafficked areas to dedicated local cable channels and even provides the capability to stream real-time video images across the Internet. The state-of-the-art system, recently nominated for an award from ITS America, also provides live video feeds to emergency 911 operators, staff members at the City of Providence Communications Department and the state’s transportation maintenance division, which repairs damaged roadways. As the project evolves, officials also will begin sharing video with the Rhode Island Em e r g e n c y Ma n a g e m e n t Agency—the department in charge during natural disasters and homeland security incidents. Such two-way communications between center operators and officials working in the region’s police, fire and emergency-response sectors “provides an invaluable resource for quicker detection and response to incidents,” Conklin said. Prior to the advent of videosharing technologies, emergency 911 operators had only one option when an incident occurred—they could pick up the phone and call the TMC, where centrally located officers could review the video feeds. But thanks to the emergence of video-sharing technologies, Conklin said, phone calls are no longer necessary. These days, 911 operators can pull the video themselves, assess the situation and dispatch the Joana Conklin appropriate equipment and manpower. “By creating the partnerships and making videosharing/data-sharing a reality, the public has a better chance of being well informed and can therefore make better choices for themselves in their daily travel,” noted Conklin. The TMC soon will have a computer-aided dispatch station. Programmed and staffed by 911 operators, the station will provide the center with real-time information on emergency calls related to the roads. JULy/AUGUsT 2007 ENGINEERING INC. 29

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Engineering Inc. - July/August 2007

Call for Entries
Contents
From ACEC to You
News & Notes
Market Watch
Legislative Action
The Big Dig
Risky Engineering
2007 Professional Liability Survey
Institute For Business Management Fall 2007 Course Catalog
Roadside Technology
2007 Convention Wrap-Up
2007-2008 Excom
2007 Fall Conference Primer
Business Insights
Technology
Members in the News
One on One

Engineering Inc. - July/August 2007

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