TxDOT Austin District ITS Roadway Equipment

Status: Existing

Description

TxDOT Austin District ITS equipment that is distributed on and along on–system roadways that monitors and controls traffic and monitors and manages the roadways. Includes traffic detectors, environmental sensors, traffic signals, highway advisory radios, dynamic message signs, CCTV cameras, video image processing systems, grade crossing warning systems, lane management systems, and ramp metering systems.

Stakeholders

StakeholderRoleRole Status
TxDOT Austin DistrictOwnsExisting

Physical Objects

ITS Roadway Equipment

Functional Objects

Functional ObjectDescriptionUser Defined
Field System Executive'Field System Executive' includes the operating system kernel and executive functions that manage the overall device software configuration and operation and support configuration management, computer resource management, and govern software installation and upgrade.False
Field System Monitoring and Diagnostics'Field System Monitoring and Diagnostics' includes background self–tests, diagnostics, watchdog timers, and other hardware and software that monitors the operating condition of field equipment. The status of the equipment and diagnostic information is provided to local maintenance personnel and the operating center.False
Roadway Advanced Rail Crossing'Roadway Advanced Rail Crossing' manages highway traffic at highway–rail intersections (HRIs) where operational requirements demand advanced features (e.g., where rail operational speeds are greater than 80 miles per hour). The active warning systems supported by this application include positive barrier systems which preclude entrance into the intersection when the barriers are activated. This application is activated on notification by wayside interface equipment which detects, or communicates with the approaching train. In this application, additional information about the arriving train is also provided by the wayside interface equipment so that the train's direction of travel, its estimated time of arrival, and the estimated duration of closure may be derived. This enhanced information may be conveyed to the driver prior to, or in context with, warning system activation. This application also includes detection capabilities which enable it to detect an entrapped or otherwise immobilized vehicle on the grade crossing and provide an immediate notification to the wayside interface equipment and traffic management.False
Roadway Basic Surveillance'Roadway Basic Surveillance' monitors traffic conditions using fixed equipment such as loop detectors and CCTV cameras.False
Roadway Data Collection'Roadway Data Collection' collects traffic, road, and environmental conditions information for use in transportation planning, research, and other off–line applications where data quality and completeness take precedence over real–time performance. It includes the sensors, supporting roadside infrastructure, and communications equipment that collects and transfers information to a center for archival.False
Roadway Dynamic Lane Management and Shoulder Use'Roadway Dynamic Lane Management and Shoulder Use' includes the field equipment, physical overhead lane signs and associated control electronics that are used to manage and control specific lanes and/or the shoulders. This equipment can be centrally controlled by a Traffic Management Center or it can be autonomous and monitor traffic conditions and demand along the roadway and determine how to change the lane controls to respond to current conditions. Lane controls can be used to change the lane configuration of the roadway, reconfigure intersections and/or interchanges, allow use of shoulders as temporary travel lanes, designate lanes for use by special vehicles only, such as buses, high occupancy vehicles (HOVs), vehicles attending a special event, etc. and/or prohibit or restrict types of vehicles from using particular lanes. Guidance and information for drivers can be posted on dynamic message signs.False
Roadway Emissions Monitoring'Roadway Emissions Monitoring' monitors emissions and general air quality and communicates the collected information back to the Emissions Management Center where it can be monitored, analyzed, and used. This functional object supports point monitoring of individual vehicle emissions as well as general monitoring of standard air quality measures.False
Roadway Environmental Monitoring'Roadway Environmental Monitoring' measures environmental conditions and communicates the collected information back to a center where it can be monitored and analyzed or to other field devices to support communications to vehicles. A broad array of weather and road surface information may be collected. Weather conditions that may be measured include temperature, wind, humidity, precipitation, and visibility. Surface and sub–surface sensors can measure road surface temperature, moisture, icing, salinity, and other metrics.False
Roadway Field Device Support'Roadway Field Device Support' monitors the operational status of field devices and detects and reports fault conditions. Consolidated operational status (device status, configuration, and fault information) are reported for resolution and repair. A local interface is provided to field personnel for local monitoring and diagnostics, supporting field maintenance, upgrade, repair, and replacement of field devices.False
Roadway HOV Control'Roadway HOV Control' monitors and controls high occupancy vehicle (HOV) and high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes. It includes traffic sensors that monitor HOV lane usage and display equipment such as lane control signals that provide lane status to drivers.False
Roadway Incident Detection'Roadway Incident Detection' provides incident detection using traffic detectors and surveillance equipment. It monitors for unusual traffic conditions that may indicate an incident or processes surveillance images, watching for potential incidents. It provides potential incident information as well as traffic flow and images to the center for processing and presentation to traffic operations personnel.False
Roadway Infrastructure Monitoring'Roadway Infrastructure Monitoring' monitors the condition of pavement, bridges, tunnels, associated hardware, and other transportation–related infrastructure (e.g., culverts). It includes sensors that monitor the infrastructure and the communications necessary to report this data to a center or vehicle–based maintenance system.False
Roadway Lighting System Control'Roadway Lighting System Control' includes field equipment that controls lighting systems for transportation facilities and infrastructure. It includes the sensors, lighting controllers, and supporting field equipment that monitors and controls lighting systems. The equipment supports control based on sensed local conditions, stored timing plans, and remote commands from a center. It monitors lighting system status and reports status to the controlling center.False
Roadway Mixed Use Crossing Safety'Roadway Mixed Use Crossing Safety' is an advanced infrastructure application that detects pedestrians, cyclists, and other non–motorized users and provides active safety warnings to drivers when cross walks or other intersecting mixed use paths are occupied.False
Roadway Multimodal Crossing Control'Roadway Multimodal Crossing Control' monitors multimodal crossings and monitors and controls traffic control equipment in the vicinity of the crossing. Equipment controlled includes warning lights, gates, dynamic message signs, and other systems associated with multimodal crossings. It manages draw bridges and miscellaneous other crossings between highway traffic and other modes. Railroad grade crossings are covered by other functional objects.False
Roadway Passive Monitoring'Roadway Passive Monitoring' monitors passing vehicles for a signature that can be used to recognize the same vehicle at different points in the network and measure travel times. Depending on the implementation and the penetration rate of the technology that is monitored, other point traffic measures may also be inferred by monitoring the number of vehicles within range over time. Today this approach is implemented most commonly using a Bluetooth receiver that passively monitors Bluetooth devices on–board passing vehicles and license plate readers that record the vehicle license plate number, but any widely deployed vehicle communications technology or feature that can be passively monitored to uniquely identify a vehicle could be used.False
Roadway Restriction Monitoring and Warning'Roadway Restriction Monitoring and Warning' measures the size and weight of passing vehicles and displays warnings to vehicles if the size exceeds the current infrastructure restrictions. The measured vehicle dimensions are also made available to other applications.False
Roadway Reversible Lanes'Roadway Reversible Lanes' includes field elements that monitor and control reversible lane facilities. It includes the traffic sensors, surveillance equipment, lane control signals, physical lane access controls, and other field elements that manage traffic on these facilities. It provides current reversible lane facility status information and accepts requests and control commands from the controlling center.False
Roadway Signal Control'Roadway Signal Control' includes the field elements that monitor and control signalized intersections. It includes the traffic signal controllers, detectors, conflict monitors, signal heads, and other ancillary equipment that supports traffic signal control. It also includes field masters, and equipment that supports communications with a central monitoring and/or control system, as applicable. The communications link supports upload and download of signal timings and other parameters and reporting of current intersection status. It represents the field equipment used in all levels of traffic signal control from basic actuated systems that operate on fixed timing plans through adaptive systems. It also supports all signalized intersection configurations, including those that accommodate pedestrians. In advanced, future implementations, environmental data may be monitored and used to support dilemma zone processing and other aspects of signal control that are sensitive to local environmental conditions.False
Roadway Speed Monitoring and Warning'Roadway Speed Monitoring and Warning' includes the field elements that monitor vehicle speeds. If the speed is determined to be excessive, an advisory or warning is displayed. Current environmental conditions and other factors that may reduce safe operating speeds may also be taken into account. The operational status (state of the device, configuration, and fault data) is provided to the center. This application can also provide an enforcement function, reporting speed violations to an enforcement agency.False
Roadway Standard Rail Crossing'Roadway Standard Rail Crossing' manages highway traffic at highway–rail intersections (HRIs) where operational requirements do not dictate advanced features (e.g., where rail operational speeds are less than 80 miles per hour). Either passive (e.g., the crossbuck sign) or active warning systems (e.g., flashing lights and gates) are supported depending on the specific requirements for each intersection. These traditional HRI warning systems may also be augmented with other standard traffic management devices. The warning systems are activated on notification of an approaching train by interfaced wayside equipment. The equipment at the HRI may also be interconnected with adjacent signalized intersections so that local control can be adapted to highway–rail intersection activities. Health monitoring of the HRI equipment and interfaces is performed; detected abnormalities are reported through interfaces to the wayside interface equipment and the Traffic Management Center.False
Roadway Traffic Information Dissemination'Roadway Traffic Information Dissemination' includes field elements that provide information to drivers, including dynamic message signs and highway advisory radios.False
Roadway Variable Speed Limits'Roadway Variable Speed Limits' includes the field equipment, physical overhead lane signs and associated control electronics that are used to manage and control variable speed limits systems. This equipment monitors traffic and environmental conditions along the roadway. The system can be centrally monitored and controlled by a Traffic Management Center or it can be autonomous, calculating and setting suitable speed limits, usually by lane. This application displays the speed limits and additional information such as basic safety rules and current traffic information to drivers.False
Roadway Work Zone Safety'Roadway Work Zone Safety' includes field elements that detect vehicle intrusions in work zones and warns crew workers and drivers of imminent encroachment. Crew movements are also monitored so that the crew can be warned of movement beyond the designated safe zone.False
Roadway Work Zone Traffic Control'Roadway Work Zone Traffic Control' controls traffic in areas of the roadway where maintenance and construction activities are underway, monitoring and controlling traffic using field equipment such as CCTV cameras, dynamic messages signs, and gates/barriers. Work zone speeds and delays are provided to the motorist prior to the work zones.False
Roadway Wrong Way Vehicle Detection'Roadway Wrong Way Vehicle Detection' provides wrong way vehicle detection using traffic detectors and surveillance equipment. It provides potential wrong way vehicle notifications as well as supporting detector data and images to the center for processing and presentation to traffic operations personnel.False

Physical Standards

Document NumberTitleDescription
ITE ATC 5201Advanced Transportation ControllerThis standard defines the functionality and performance requirements for a modern ITS controller known as an ATC. It is similar to the NEMA TS–2 standard in that it defines basic capabilities but leaves hardware choices up to the manufacturer.
ITE ATC 5202Model 2070 Controller StandardThis standard specifies the hardware for a modern, open–architecture controller for ITS applications that can run Linux and is capable of executing advanced signal controller logic, among other things.
ITE ATC 5301Intelligent Transportation System Standard Specification for Roadside CabinetsThis standard specifies the characteristics of a modern controller cabinet for the ITS industry.
ITE ATC 5401Application Programming Interface Standard for the Advanced Transportation ControllerThis standard defines the application programmers' interface (API) that should be supported by an ATC, which is an open–architecture controller that can host multiple ITS applications.
NEMA TS 5Portable Traffic Signal Systems (PTSS) StandardThis standard specifies traffic signaling equipment used to enable and expedite the safe movement of vehicle traffic and the performance of work zone activities.
NEMA TS 8Cyber and Physical Security for Intelligent Transportation SystemsThis specification describes how agencies and other transportation infrastructure owner/operators should implement cyber– and physical–security for ITS.
NEMA TS2Traffic Controller Assemblies with NTCIP RequirementsThis specification covers traffic signaling equipment used to facilitate and expedite the safe movement of pedestrians and vehicular traffic.
NEMA TS4Hardware Standards for Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) With NTCIP RequirementsThis standard provides hardware specifications for safe, dependable, functional, and easily maintained Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) equipment.

Interfaces To

(View Context Diagram)

CAMPO Data Archive
Micro Mobility Vehicle User
Municipal/County Law Enforcement
National Weather Service
Pedestrian
Regional ITS Data Infrastructure
TxDOT Austin District Connected Vehicle Roadside Equipment
TxDOT Austin District Data Archive
TxDOT Austin District Maintenance and Construction Management Center
TxDOT Austin District Maintenance and Construction Vehicles
TxDOT Austin District TMC (CTECC)
TxDOT Austin District Wayside Equipment