The Client
The client is a major multi-national technology corporation working with a public agency to implement a smart city pilot project to develop connected infrastructure, hardware, and applications.
The Challenge
The initial site for the pilot deployment is a new development that did not have sufficient access to utility power or backend and wireless connectivity, but nevertheless is intended to serve as a proving ground for new applications and technology. While the new development offered a “blank slate,” implementation of the new systems required a full build out of front and backend infrastructure – including full radio frequency (RF) surveys and obtaining the appropriate FCC licenses for DSRC radio installation sites. Furthermore, the client’s timetable called for an exceedingly short turnaround while maintaining rigorous systems engineering standards.
The Solution
ITS Roads developed an end-to-end communication platform to enable wireless data exchange on the front end as well as robust monitoring and management capabilities on the back end. The first phase of implementation established a high-capacity fiber backbone and access to local utility power. The system design established a “ring architecture” for the fiber network to increase system availability and reliability.
During fiber installation, ITS Roads designed and built custom, pole-mounted electronics cabinets to house the power and connectivity interfaces between field equipment and backend systems. The cabinets integrated robust network equipment for advanced monitoring and remote access as well as environmental monitoring equipment tailored to the deployment environment. Each cabinet resides on the fiber ring and provides power and network connectivity to Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC) radios for wireless data exchange with test vehicles. The ITS Roads team conducted extensive RF surveys to determine the correct location for the DSRC radios and then went about obtaining the appropriate FCC licenses for the sites. The RF and geospatial data for the area collected as part of the surveys was visualized for the client using KML overlays with the Google Maps Engine.
Finally, the team implemented a tailored network monitoring application that provides metadata about devices on the fiber ring, including local temperature, link utilization, and any supported SNMP values. The new system establishes the foundation for implementation and testing of various safety, mobility, and environmental applications to improve transportation operations.