Smart Work Zone System

In the previous Safe-D project 04-104, a prototype wearable Personal Protective Equipment vest was developed and demonstrated that accurately localizes, monitors, and predicts potential collisions between work zone workers and passing motorists. The system also notifies the worker of when they’re about to depart safe geo-fenced safe areas within work zones. While the design supported a successful functional demonstration, additional design iteration is required to simplify, ruggedize, and reduce per unit costs to increase the likelihood of broader adoption. In addition, two new useful components were identified that would support a more effective deployment package. A base-station will be added that provides an edge computing environment for alert algorithm processing, consolidates communications of individual worker positions via a 4G link to a cloud computing environment, and can be coupled with a local RSU to support the broadcast of work zone information to connected vehicles. In a addition, a smart cone device will be added that can help automatically define safe area boundaries and improve communications reliability between workers and the base station. The entire package is being developed to support a broader scale deployment of the technology with the Virginia Department of Transportation.

• Record URL:
  https://safed.vtti.vt.edu/projects/smart-work-zone-system%e2%80%8b/

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $300000
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747115

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Safety through Disruption University Transportation Center (Safe-D)

  Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
  Blacksburg, VA  United States  24060
• Project Managers:

  Glenn, Eric

• Performing Organizations:

  Virginia Tech Transportation Institute

  3500 Transportation Research Plaza
  Blacksburg, Virginia  United States  24061
• Principal Investigators:

  Mollenhauer, Michael

• Start Date: 20210301
• Expected Completion Date: 20220830
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Clothing; Cloud computing; Construction and maintenance personnel; Occupational safety; Traffic cones; Wireless communication systems; Work zone safety
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01767107
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Safety through Disruption University Transportation Center (Safe-D)
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747115
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Mar 6 2021 9:37PM