Fortel Traffic Enhances Safety with Smart Traffic Systems

Fortel Traffic, Inc. ensures the safety of our streets with state-of-the-art products such as VCalm®, a vehicle calming signage unit, and VSpeed™ Online Software for data collection and programming.

Challenges

Originally developed as an interactive speed limit sign designed to promote driver awareness, Fortel’s VCalm product line has expanded to display warning messages and measure critical traffic data. Fortel Traffic’s original VCalm board design had limited remote connectivity. In order to download captured speed data from the signs or change the display message, a field technician needed to be within close proximity to utilize a Wi-Fi enabled pocket PC. Not including travel time or additional parts checks and repairs, the process took upwards of 15 minutes per sign. While developing a next generation safe crossing solution, Fortel Traffic wanted to extend the functionality of its messaging board and ease its customers’ maintenance difficulties.

Solution

Fortel Traffic selected both AirLink PinPoint X and AirLink Raven XT 3G communications gateways to upgrade its solutions’ cellular connectivity and remote management capabilities. The PinPoint X is a powerful in-vehicle platform, differentiated by a high precision GPS receiver and rugged design for use in harsh environmental conditions. The Raven XT provides a serial interface and embedded machine protocols, making it ideal for industrial applications like intelligent traffic infrastructure. Both devices are powered by ALEOS™ intelligence, which works closely with AirLink device management software and Fortel’s VSpeed application to remotely check and view the health of each sign in order to quickly make remote fixes or acquire new parts.

According to Luke Faubion, formerly with Fortel Traffic, the AirLink devices have opened up a plethora of critical functionality, including GPS location capabilities, proactive sign maintenance scheduling and verification, instant critical messaging (e.g., Amber Alerts, DUI checkpoints, road closures) and pixel verification. The remote device management has also greatly reduced maintenance costs to Fortel’s customers.   

“The AirLink gateways are so fast, we would never have been able to communicate at such speeds had we not integrated then into our traffic solutions,” said Faubion. “We were forced to make our product faster so that it works better with all forms of connectivity – especially the advanced 3G communications offered through the AirLink products.”

Fortel’s traffic calming solutions using the AirLink PinPoint X and AirLink Raven XT 3G communications gateways produced the following benefits:  

·   Provided uninterrupted, reliable connectivity for critical mobile data applications through ALEOS intelligence

·   Reduced travel and time required for maintenance and content updates with easy configuration and remote management of field hardware through AirLink device management software

·   Built to rugged specifications for the harsh environmental conditions

·   Provided portability for re-deployment of traffic signs to new locations or replacement if taken out of service

For more information, or for sales inquiries, please contact Sierra Wireless or one of our distributors.