The “Smart city” concept, whereby urban areas are hooked with extensive sensor networks to promote wider connectivity and ease traffic flow, has been gaining a foothold in many cities worldwide. But “Smart city” technology is about to face a major challenge. Transition Networks, Inc., a provider of IoT and edge connectivity solutions, has announced the start of a significant intelligent transportation project with New York City’s transportation agency to connect, power and manage traffic data via its hardened TAA-compliant, Power-over-Ethernet (PoE+) switches.
Transition Networks is working with a major North American telecommunication services company on deploying the solution.
Today, intersections have more than traffic signals. As more transportation agencies look to use actionable intelligence to monitor trends and improve service, they are deploying technology to assess traffic congestion, safety and pedestrian counts. Transition Networks’ PoE solution will connect and power cameras and sensors at over 10,000 traffic intersections that collect this vital information. In addition, key features on the Transition Networks’ switches will save the agency time and costs associated with maintenance.
Currently, if a device stops working at an intersection, the agency must take multiple actions prior to deploying a repair technician. This includes scheduling a technician to evaluate the issue and deploying a bucket truck to reach the device. The on-site visits require lane closures that create stressful traffic delays for motorists. Often, the fix only requires a reboot of the device.
Transition Networks’ Auto Power Reset (APR) feature provides the ability to remotely reboot or manage Transition Networks’ equipment, fixing the issue within minutes, and eliminating lane closure requirements. This feature alone will save the agency the costs and disruptions by reducing the need to send a technician to inspect equipment.
Another feature is Transition Networks’ Device Management System (DMS) software, which creates an interactive map to see all connected devices, enabling the agency to pinpoint issues and quickly take action. DMS has been an important function for several smart city projects, including an installation at New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge.
“Transition Networks’ products are essential technology investments towards our transformation to a smart city where data collection and analytics will be used to improve safety, traffic management and transportation citywide,” said an administrator of the transportation agency. “The selection of Transition Networks as a key supplier is a testament to the quality of its products, attentiveness to our needs, and its ability to deliver products and services in a timely manner, making it an invaluable partner for this major smart city initiative.”