When it comes to intelligent transportation systems, it’s all about data. Traffic data is the lifeblood of traffic operations, and many organizations invest a considerable portion of their often tight budgets, and a significant number of man-hours, to create a robust ITS network with advanced technology and fast communication, all to make sure that accurate traffic data can be collected.
The goal, of course, is to make the most of all available data in order to positively affect the commuting experiences of individual drivers. Once collected, traffic data can be used in a variety of ways — from traveler information applications and incident management to planning and reporting. Unfortunately, once the ITS infrastructure has been built, it is often difficult to access and utilize the data generated by the network.
Creating a sensor network and communication infrastructure is only half the battle. How can operators synthesize the traffic data they’ve spent so much money and effort to obtain so that it is actually helpful in comprehending traffic conditions and patterns? How can that data be provided to drivers on the road in an accessible format so that they can make meaningful driving decisions?
Wavetronix has developed its Command line with these questions in mind. Command software is the company’s back-end solution for data collection and management, and the purpose of the software suite is to make traffic data easier to manage and more accessible. Now Wavetronix is offering Command Online, a cloud-based version of the software that allows transportation agencies to view and manage traffic data online, making the data easier to access and even more manageable.
The Command collection system was originally conceived more than 10 years ago in response to legacy data management systems that were not capable of taking full advantage of SmartSensor’s advanced functionality.
“We knew our radar devices offered richer data than other available products, and third-party software wasn’t capable of using that data,” says Reggie Gardner, Command product engineer at Wavetronix.
Command was designed to communicate directly with an agency’s network of traffic devices in the field, even devices from different manufacturers. The software downloads data on a regular schedule and stores it in a common database, allowing users to access the data from a central location. Once collected, Command offers software modules that can translate the data into a variety of formats; generate custom reports; generate user-friendly speed maps for traveler information sites; and regularly monitor the entire network to identify potential problems before they become disruptive to the system.
Originally, Command customers purchased servers that were loaded with the software and installed onsite, but these systems could be expensive and created additional work for a department of transportation’s IT department. “Some transportation agencies aren’t equipped to manage their own server farms, and even those with an excellent IT staff can find it a challenge to manage yet another system,” Gardner says. “Our goal was to bring enterprise-level traffic management to even the smallest organizations at a very reasonable cost.”
To accomplish this, Wavetronix developed Command Online, which was officially released in September 2012. Command Online shares the same features and functionality available with Command Onsite, with one exception. “The big difference is that Wavetronix completely manages Command Online,” Gardner says. “This includes distributed data backups, security settings and system updates that ensure Command Online will always run the latest version of the software.”
Gardner says there are several benefits to an actively managed system. First, it takes away the burden of managing the IT elements of a typical software installation — hardware, firewalls, virus protection, etc. “Since these services are handled by Wavetronix, we are able to be proactive in addressing support issues,” Gardner says. “Command Online includes a subscription to Wavetronix updates, so the hosted software is automatically patched and updated whenever new versions are released.”
“In case of failure, services can be restored without the customer ever knowing there was a problem.”—REGGIE GARDNER, COMMAND PRODUCT ENGINEER AT WAVETRONIX
And, he adds, customers continue to have direct access to Wavetronix’ world-class support for any technical issues that may arise. “This includes a series of training sessions via online meetings that introduce the customer to the system and instruct them on how to add sensors, configure the system to meet their needs, and address any problems that might arise within their specific environment.”
Second, Command Online automatically monitors all Command services for “life signs,” and notifies Wavetronix Technical Support immediately if any service fails. “In case of failure, services can be restored without the customer ever knowing there was a problem,” Gardner says.
Finally, Gardner says Command Online is safe and secure. The system automatically backs up the entire installation, including data and sensor configurations, every 24 hours; in cases of major failures, the system can be restored with little downtime and minimal loss of data. In addition to standard virus and malware protection, Gardner says Command Online uses secure web connections and can be locked down to specific sets of IP addresses, “preventing any unauthorized access from unknown parties outside of the organization.”
Secure access to collected data is enabled through user-specific logins and individual privileges that can be tailored to operator job descriptions. But secure access does not mean “difficult to access.” Command Online’s interface can be accessed using any web browser, so organizations can view and manage traffic data from anywhere online.
Of course, data accessibility isn’t helpful unless the data can be transferred and distributed to the systems, applications or departments that can make effective use of it. Like Command Onsite, Command Online offers standard features and optional add-ons that provide system monitoring, data reporting and traveler information functionality to transportation agencies of all sizes, but particularly to smaller organizations whose budgets might preclude such investments.
ITS operators monitor traffic to identify congestion, accidents and other conditions that require a timely response, but manually monitoring incoming data can strain operator attention and resources, especially in large networks with hundreds of traffic sensors contributing to that data. Gardner says Command Online’ s monitoring system automatically checks incoming data for anomalies that may include missing or invalid data, and low speed/high occupancy conditions that indicate heavy congestion and may represent a possible accident.
“Users can be notified of any anomalous condition through email or a desktop pop-up that contains details about the alert,” Gardner says. “The monitoring system includes a numerical rating system that ranks alerts by severity and adjusts user notifications accordingly, so operators can avoid being distracted by incidents that are not severe enough to warrant attention.”
Command Online allows users to create charts, graphs and other reports using data organized by sensor, lane or approach, in text, XML or Excel spreadsheet formats that can be tailored to meet the reporting needs of planners and analysts. For organizations that require more extensive data reporting, Command offers a DataView add-on that filters questionable data entries and makes changes for more accurate reports. “Longer-term data storage and planning, including monthly and annual average daily traffic values, can be created with DataView,” Gardner says. “It can also create separate and distinct data pools apart from the raw data needed for state or federal reporting purposes.”
Command’s speed-based travel time system is one of the most effective ways to distribute traffic data to the most important user of all — the driver on the road. “Command Online provides up-to-the-minute updates about current travel conditions,” Gardner says, “and this allows drivers to be informed enough to make meaningful decisions in time to avoid congestion or accidents.”
“Command Online makes data accessible and manageable, giving transportation agencies the tools they need to distribute traffic data…”—REGGIE GARDNER
According to Gardner, the Command system is very accurate and responsive because it combines multiple types of traffic data. Point traffic detectors, or detectors installed at fixed locations, indicate what’s happening on a road at any given moment; probe traffic systems, or systems that utilize technologies like cell phones to track individual cars, indicate how long it takes tracked vehicles to travel from one location to another. “Probe systems can be quite accurate, but the data is often delayed, at least by a little bit,” Gardner says. “Command is able to intelligently incorporate both types of traffic data in order to calculate and distribute the best travel time information possible.”
Gardner says Command Online has the potential to change the ITS market, particularly for smaller agencies that may have avoided implementing ITS because of costs or the perceived scope of an effective system. “Imagine an organization just getting started with ITS who decides to install and test SmartSensor HD,” Gardner says. “They can sign up for Command Online and immediately have a fully functional system, and they can gather data and evaluate the whole system without needing to hire a consultant to evaluate it for them.”
Of course, the real benefit of traffic data is the ability to inform drivers so that the decisions they make on the road can have an immediate, positive effect on traffic. “In practice, data is just random numbers if there is no way to interpret and synthesize it into a useful form,” Gardner says. “Command Online makes data accessible and manageable, giving transportation agencies the tools they need to distribute traffic data so that traffic operators and individual drivers have a better understanding of current traffic conditions and can make better decisions.”
