Internet opens all doors

Today, leaders of cities large and small across the U.S. realize they must change their business processes to improve citizen safety, increase the speed and accuracy of government services, drive economic development, improve public education and reduce operating costs. Many city managers already recognize that a single converged Internet-protocol (IP) network carrying voice, data and video communications for all departments can provide the technology that will enable them to implement these changes. In fact, many communities are already enjoying the advantages of IP networks.

IP-connected advanced traffic management systems (ATMS) providing wireless access to intersections for real-time, pre-emptive traffic management can reduce emergency response times, enhance safety and speed the flow of goods and services. Moreover, local governments can leverage the IP network infrastructure created with such a solution to improve citizen services and achieve their strategic vision of fully connected communities.

Unfortunately, for some local governments the investment required to upgrade existing network infrastructure often exceeds available IT budgets. The investment is especially great when they do not already have fiber-optic cable in place.

IP-connected ATMS solutions are based on foundation architecture and wireless networking solutions in conjunction with wireless IP controllers and other compatible products. They are already in operation in cities like Roseville, Calif., one of the fastest-growing communities in the state.

Roseville’s IP-connected ATMS was installed and is helping actively manage significant changes in traffic patterns. In turn, it has provided the platform needed to implement IP telephony and secure wireless access for all city departments.

This article explores the benefits of an IP-connected ATMS solution and shows how it can be implemented by linking the vision statements of a city to the solutions required to achieve those goals. It also outlines sources of federal funding and includes numerous examples of how local governments in the U.S. are already using their IP networks to transform their overall business practices and deliver better citizen service and increased safety.

The problem with tradition is . . .

Historically, local traffic management systems have been stand-alone, reactive solutions based on proprietary technologies. These are characterized by a number of limitations:

• Lack of integration: Traditional traffic management systems are separate, stand-alone networks that cannot be used for other purposes;
• Passive solutions: Traffic controllers at intersections are typically administered over a one-way serial connection. They provide no intelligence-gathering or remote-management and -monitoring capabilities;
• No centralized management and programming: These systems usually require costly and time-consuming field visits to program individual intersection controllers in response to changing conditions;
• Limited expansion capabilities: Unlike standards-based, IP-connected solutions, traditional traffic management systems cannot be expanded to incorporate new technologies, such as IP video surveillance cameras. Lack of expansion potential makes them poor investments; and
• Lack of support: Many of these legacy systems use hardware that is no longer manufactured, making them increasingly difficult and costly to maintain.

The solution is . . .

By upgrading their current systems to IP-connected ATMS solutions, local governments can create a smarter, more responsive system that provides greater intelligence-gathering capabilities and enhances both safety and local traffic management. These solutions enable cities to:

• Reduce emergency response times: By connecting first-responder global information system data into the ATMS, traffic flow can be actively managed and emergency teams can respond faster and increase vehicle and pedestrian safety;
• Speed flow of goods and people: With a web-enabled system that can be constantly monitored and controlled to optimize traffic flow, a city can enhance local business conditions;
• Ease traffic congestion with active, pre-emptive traffic management: Public transportation, first responder, utility/maintenance and other city functions can be tied directly into traffic management as an active, integrated system. Data can be fed directly into the ATMS to manage and control intersections based on bus schedules, traffic patterns, 9-1-1 dispatching, street repair and other factors;
• Integrate ATMS with other departments and services: Because ATMS is no longer managed on a stand-alone network, other city departments can access and leverage its capabilities to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently. For example, public works can use the wireless networking capabilities of the system to track assets in real-time; and
• Consolidate separate networks: Since an IP-connected ATMS runs on a standards-based city-wide area network, technical management can be consolidated to simplify network maintenance and eliminate the extra expense of administering an autonomous ATMS network.

Rosey picture

Faced with a rapidly expanding population and a major railroad hub in the center of town, Roseville was experiencing significant changes in traffic patterns. To cope, the city’s traffic operations center needed to expand its vehicle detection and counting capability to provide more comprehensive reports to the city council. As part of this requirement, the center had to find a cost-effective way to transmit video remotely from intersections to its central office. In addition, the city wanted to be able to provide current traffic information about congestion, accidents and construction for citizens on its public website.

Roseville’s IP-connected ATMS will enable the city to implement IP telephony and secure wireless access for all departments.

The city’s legacy traffic-control system was based on an expiring technology and did not provide sufficient bandwidth to support Ethernet communications, the universal protocol needed for the new applications planned by the traffic operations center. Without this nationally recognized, standards-based architecture, the city could not qualify for federal funding to help finance the project. However, Roseville found the cost of placing new fiber-optic cable citywide to be prohibitive, creating a classic catch-22.

Because Roseville did not have fiber-optic infrastructure, it leveraged the existing copper cable connections from its legacy traffic-control system to provide high-speed DSL bandwidth. The solution includes Ethernet-compatible intersection controllers in conjunction with Ethernet switches and wireless access points in each cabinet. For cabinets leveraging existing copper, Ethernet over Copper from Actelis Networks, Fremont, Calif., was used. The Ethernet switches manage bandwidth to the controllers, wireless access points and IP-based video cameras. Central monitoring and control software manage the entire system, including video cameras and Ethernet switches. Centralized management enables communications and programming to be accomplished remotely from the traffic operations center, eliminating the need to make field visits to the intersections.

Since its traffic signals reach every area of the city, Roseville’s traffic operations center recognized that the new traffic management system also provided a cost-effective platform for expanding the city’s local-area network across the entire community. By cooperating with the Roseville IT department, the center enabled the city to establish RoseNet, a convenient city-wide WiFi service for the public. Roseville also is considering IP telephones and secured wireless access for city personnel, including its police and fire departments. These applications will all run on the same upgraded network infrastructure now used by Roseville’s IP-connected ATMS solution. As a result, Roseville will soon be able to join the growing list of cities across the U.S. that are providing the benefits of IP networking to its citizens and employees.

New technology

Upgrading a traditional traffic management system to an IP-connected solution requires implementation of the following technologies:

• Replacement of current intersection traffic controllers with IP-enabled traffic controllers;
• Installation of wireless access points along with any other IP-enabled devices at each intersection, such as video surveillance cameras;
• A wireless mesh networking solution should be considered because it offers innovative technologies such as zero-touch configuration, self-healing, self-optimization and dynamic route capabilities. These features greatly simplify wireless network deployment, management and maintenance and enable cities to rapidly deploy new applications like traffic management and other IP-based solutions; and
• An upgrade of current network infrastructure with the appropriate Ethernet routers, switches, optical solutions and storage at the core of the network. Ethernet networking solutions can be configured for existing copper or fiber-optic connections.

Today, all local governments face the need to provide better service and safety for citizens and employees, manage economic development and foster educational excellence. Technology alone cannot achieve these objectives. However, it can be the catalyst that enables governments to re-engineer their business processes.

The Net Impact 2004 Study, conducted by Momentum Research, found that process re-engineering to take advantage of new technology significantly contributes to improvements in efficiency and cost reduction.

These include high-performance Ethernet networking, integrated security and wireless network solutions. The solution provides a clear and adaptable path for future DSRC and other public safety and commercial applications. The basis for all these solutions is the same copper infrastructure that provided the legacy services, now upgraded to provide the high-performance platform for an IP-connected ATMS. An IP-based system gives city planners the added confidence of knowing that both their traffic management and business process solutions will be fully compatible and built around a single standards-based architecture.

Using Ethernet over Copper, a government opens up the benefits of an Ethernet network. An Ethernet over Copper network has at its core Ethernet routers, switches, optical solutions and storage. With an Ethernet infrastructure, governments can expand their service reach to more locations and citizens, offer more services more quickly and facilitate interagency communications as recommended by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Ethernet-based IP communications—whether over copper wire or optical fiber—include:

• IP telephony, which means sending voice over the same network used for data;
• Unified communications, or receiving both e-mail and voicemail messages in one place (either the e-mail inbox or voicemail system);
• IP audio, video and web conferencing; and
• Customer contact center.

IP communications solutions help to promote interagency collaboration, improve organizational efficiency, boost overall productivity and enhance citizen satisfaction. The solutions help to deliver measurable return on investment and increase the attractiveness of the community for new residents and businesses.

Connected communities

In the past, threats to state and local governments from both internal and external sources moved slowly and were easy to defend against. In today’s environment, where Internet worms spread across the world in a matter of minutes, security systems—and the network itself—must react instantaneously. Integrated security solutions, made possible by an IP-connected network, enable state and local governments to implement comprehensive, end-to-end security that can be managed as a cohesive entity. Holistic security reduces costs while improving the ability of governments to continue to deliver vital services essential for citizen safety and employee effectiveness.

Elements of integrated security include a defense system to protect the network from threats, intrusions and disruption of service; secure connectivity to protect sensitive data and files against unauthorized access and to enable governments to comply with federal regulations that control data privacy; and an identity management system to enable government organizations to extend secure network access to citizens, contractors and mobile or home-based employees.

Wireless network solutions such as those provided by an Ethernet-based IP network provide the foundation of a connected community by enabling state and local governments to deploy a secure, scalable, broadband network that combines wired and wireless communications. With access to information from anywhere in the city or state, mobile employees—inspectors, emergency workers and others—can save time and make more-informed decisions. The results are improved public safety and increased service effectiveness, essential ingredients for economic development.

In an emergency, first responders such as police and fire need to communicate with each other seamlessly. Unfortunately, in many municipalities these departments still use incompatible devices and networks. The Ethernet-based IP Interoperability and Collaboration System (IPICS) transparently integrates disparate push-to-talk (PTT) networks, providing advanced features without requiring a change in existing operating procedures. It also protects investments in traditional PTT and land mobile radio systems. Ethernet IPICS overcomes network and organizational silos and enables the immediate interagency communication that is essential to effective incident management. It can easily leverage the wireless infrastructure created with the implementation of an IP-connected ATMS solution to reduce emergency response times and actively manage traffic flow.