The Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) pilot Interstate 17 wrong-way vehicle alert system being tested in Phoenix has been recognized with a Government Innovation Award from GCN, an information technology industry magazine.

The first-in-the-nation system being tested on 15 miles of I-17 uses thermal cameras to detect and track wrong-way vehicles while also immediately alerting ADOT and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. This can save troopers valuable time in responding to incidents rather than waiting for 911 calls from other motorists.

The system also allows ADOT to quickly warn other drivers about wrong-way vehicles via messages on electronic freeway signs. The pilot project is allowing ADOT to evaluate how technology can be used to reduce the risks associated with wrong-way drivers before expanding it to other freeways.

Thermal cameras have recorded more than 30 detections of wrong-way vehicles, mostly along I-17 off-ramps located within the project’s boundaries between the I-10 “Stack” interchange near downtown and the Loop 101 interchange in north Phoenix. Most the drivers in those incidents have turned around on an off-ramp without entering the mainline lanes of I-17.

The system’s 90 thermal cameras are positioned to detect wrong-way vehicles entering off-ramps or traveling along I-17. Through the computerized decision-support system, the pilot project also is designed to trigger new illuminated wrong-way signs with flashing red lights aimed at getting the attention of the wrong-way driver.

This technology cannot prevent all wrong-way crashes from happening. The primary goal is reducing the risk of serious crashes by alerting AZDPS and ADOT to wrong-way vehicles much faster than waiting for 911 calls from other motorists. While technology holds promise for reducing the risk of serious crashes, it can’t prevent impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel.

Visit ADOT Media Center for more information.

National Workshop 4: Operations – Mesa AZ | October 24-25, 2018

Focus Area – Operations: Addresses the range of operations questions with respect to automation, such as traffic incident management and system efficiency. Will initiate a discussion on further research needed to understand these types of challenges.

Registration for the National Dialogue on Highway Automation Workshop #4: Operations (October 24^th and 25^th) to be held at the Phoenix Marriott Mesa, 200 N Centennial Way, Mesa 85201 and is now open. The registration is free.

Day 1 (10/24): 1:00pm-5:30pm (with registration starting at 12:30pm)

Day 2 (10/25): 8:00am-3:00pm (with registration starting at 7:30am).

For those of you planning to attend the NRITS/ITS Arizona Annual Conference + Exhibit in Fort McDowell (October 21st – October 24^th), please note that there could potentially be some overlap on October 24^th as there are workshops and technical tours in the afternoon as part of the conference. If you have registered or plan to register to attend the conference and any of the workshops and/or technical tours scheduled for October 24^th, and you are planning to register for and attend the National Dialogue on Highway Automation Workshop, you may want to consider planning your schedule to determine what you will be attending and when. 

Please visit the FHWA Office of Operations National Dialogue on Highway Automation website for registration https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/automationdialogue/.

The NRITS/ITS Arizona Annual Conference agenda and registration can be viewed on the conference web page at http://www.nationalruralitsconference.org/.

For many years, ITS Arizona has sponsored an internship program to help provide on-the-job experience and mentoring to an aspiring professional in the transportation and technology disciplines.  For 2018, ITS Arizona is partnering with the City of Glendale and will administer the program, including assistance with the selection and placement of the intern.  Interested applicants who are currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s Degree program with an engineering emphasis and an interest in transportation/traffic engineering are encouraged to apply.  A complete description of the internship opportunity, requirements and application links are available on the City of Glendale’s website here: ITS Internship Program.  First review of applications will occur on September 25 and will continue until the position is filled. 

In addition to responsibilities at the City of Glendale, the selected intern will be expected to fulfill the following commitments on behalf of ITSAZ:

• Attend and observe ITSAZ monthly Board Meetings
• Prepare and deliver an industry relevant presentation at an ITS Arizona event. A presentation abstract will be submitted to the ITS Arizona Board of Directors for approval.

We would like to thank all of the sponsors and exhibitors who have already signed up for this year’s conference and encourage those who have not yet signed up to do so soon.  Please contact Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) for Sponsorship and Exhibiting opportunities.

Make sure you have this year’s National Rural ITS & ITS Arizona Annual Conference + Exhibit on your calendar for October 21-24, 2018 at the We-Ko-Pa Conference Center in Fort McDowell, AZ.

SPONSORS

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

EXHIBITORS

Adaptive Micro Systems LLC
Advanced Traffic Products
Advantech B+B SmartWorx
AM Signal
American Signal Company
Applied Information
Campbell Scientific Inc.
Clark Transportation Solutions
CohuHD Costar
Comtrol Corporation
Daktronics
Eberle Design, Inc.
Econolite Group, Inc.
EtherWAN Systems Inc
Fiber Shear by Cleveland Electric Labs
Genetec
GRIDSMART Technologies, Inc.
High Sierra Electronics
Horizon Signal Technologies
Image Sensing Systems
Interwest Safety Supply, LLC
INRIX
Iteris
JTB SUPPLY CO.
Kimley-Horn
L4 Technologies
Mauell Corporation
MicroTraffic
Miovision
MSI TEC, Inc.
Multilink, Inc.
Pelco Products
SES America
Siemens Industry, Inc./RUGGEDCOM
Sierra Transportation & Technologies
Simrex Corp
Southern Manufacturing
Southwest Traffic System
Summit Traffic Solutions
TrafficVision
Vaisala
Wanco, Inc.
Westward Sales, Inc.
Zetron

Graduate Student Researchers are invited to submit a research paper to be considered for the Best ITS Arizona Student Research Paper Award, which includes a $500 cash prize.

THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 14TH and full submission details are available online.

ITS Arizona is also sponsoring an awards program to honor outstanding achievement in the area of Intelligent Transportation Systems. Now in its 14th year, the ITS Arizona awards program will continue to recognize the best and brightest in the following three areas:

• Best ITS Planning Project in Arizona
• Best ITS Implementation Project in Arizona
• Best Use of an ITS Industry Product or Service in Arizona

THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 14TH and full details of the submission process are available online.

All award winners will be recognized at the ITS Arizona 25th Anniversary Celebration Plenary on Tuesday, October 23rd.

Dear Members,
As you know, we are proudly celebrating the 25th anniversary of ITS Arizona. ITS Arizona has been a great conduit for the collaboration of ideas, bringing together private industry, public agencies and academic research.

We would like to hear from you and ask that you share your feedback at the upcoming NRITS and ITS Arizona Annual Conference + Exhibit coming up October 21-24.

Please provide one or two short quotes describing how ITS Arizona has impacted you, your organization or the transportation profession over the years. Please limit each quote to one or two sentences. The quotes will be randomly selected for use during the 25th Anniversary celebration.

Please submit your quotes via email to itsazinfo@itsaz.org.

Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is hosting the annual DBE and Small Business Conference on September 26 and 27 in Scottsdale.

This is a great opportunity for new DBEs or companies considering becoming DBEs. The conference will include presentations from ADOT on best ways to benefit from certification, upcoming programs, hear the perspective from the prime contractors and consultants. The conference provides ample network opportunities to grow your business. 

For more information regarding the conference, venue and dates visit the ADOT and conference websites.

Graduate Student Researchers are invited to submit a research paper to be considered for the Best ITS Arizona Student Research Paper Award, which includes a $500 cash prize.

The submission deadline is September 14th and full submission details are available online.

ITS Arizona is also sponsoring an awards program to honor outstanding achievement in the area of Intelligent Transportation Systems. Now in its 14th year, the ITS Arizona awards program will continue to recognize the best and brightest in the following three areas:

• Best ITS Planning Project in Arizona
• Best ITS Implementation Project in Arizona
• Best Use of an ITS Industry Product or Service in Arizona

The deadline for submissions is September 14th and full details of the submission process are available online.

All award winners will be recognized at the ITS Arizona 25th Anniversary Celebration Plenary on Tuesday, October 23rd.