One.network has partnered with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) today to launch a statewide deployment of a Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) feed.
One.network will aggregate and deliver comprehensive workzone data, including lane closure and road disruption information, using the feed.
The programme is the result of a new Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) national initiative to standardise and share workzone data with multiple groups. The data will be available to navigation apps, connected and autonomous vehicles (C/AVs), and any company or regional authority seeking to integrate or aggregate real-time transportation information.
One.network’s chief product officer Adam Graham says: “We have been part of the conversation since the beginning, helping FHWA design the workzone data exchange. It’s still evolving and with our perspective, we can assure agencies that we’ll be able to integrate their data into the national exchange, seamlessly and cost effectively as WZDx continues to grow.”
Graham believes North Carolina is the perfect venue for One.network’s technology because NCDoT operates an unusually high proportion of the state’s roads.
“We are thrilled to be working with such a collaborative, forward-thinking traffic management group,” he continues.
“They are working hard for the residents of North Carolina, and through this project, their influence will extend well beyond state borders.”
One.network will deliver the data to North Carolina and its residents, through its platform.
The company says its software platform can ingest and display virtually limitless traffic data from multiple sources including existing 511 systems, work zone crews, utility companies and any authority involved in managing the free flow of traffic.
According to One.network, agency operations staff, traffic managers or anyone they designate can manage lane closures, create detours, communicate lower speed limits, add or change work zone or utility crew incursions and use traffic data streams that routinely sit unused on agency servers.
Traffic managers can access historical data to help them in their decision making, the company adds.
The platform also feeds GPS providers including Google, Waze and TomTom, assuring agencies that information will reach the public, even if drivers do not use NCDoT’s DriveNC.gov website or follow the agency’s social media channels.
One.network delivers the information in a dashboard that offers workzone and traffic flow data.
The company is ready to work with other agencies to deliver their data at no cost, which it describes as a massive potential saving over agencies designing and operating their own WZDx-compliant programmes.
Similarly, C/AV companies can access this information wherever the One.network platform is operational.
Kelly Wells, NCDoT’s traveller information engineer who oversees the department’s DriveNC.gov website says: “We are always looking for innovative ways we can improve how to communicate information to travellers. We appreciate the partnership we have with One.network to help us accomplish exactly that and become WZDx compliant without any cost to the taxpayer.”
Aside from this agreement, One.network has begun pilot programmes in other US states, aggregating data from 54 streams and 35 different agencies.
