Intelligent Transportation Systems

How one department of transportation upgraded its 3G modem connectivity for growing intelligent transportation needs

A U.S. state department of transportation needed to upgrade its 3G modem connectivity network for intelligent transportation applications, such as CCTV, signal management, digital signage, ramp metering, and more, and it did not have any existing fiber infrastructure in place. It also wanted to have the ability to access the FirstNet network where available.

FirstNet, built with AT&T, is the first high-speed nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety. Only FirstNet-certified devices may access the network, making it highly secure and less prone to network congestion.

The interoperable communications platform allows public safety agencies and first responders to get more information quickly. They are able to work faster and in turn are better equipped to make better working decisions.

The district had 17,000 miles of pavement to cover and 7,700 signals, signs, and sensors. The department found it would be too costly to add a new fiber system, and several of the locations were also quite remote where fiber connections would not have been ideal. To access the FirstNet LTE network, the district also had to consider FirstNet-certified LTE devices where needed.

The Solution

To solve the department’s connectivity upgrade, it decided to implement an LTE cellular network. Connectivity is more reliable over Wi-Fi and implementing the LTE network had less environmental impacts and installation challenges than adding a fiber network. To accomplish the LTE cellular network, the department utilized the SmartFlex IoT Gateway and ICR-3241 FirstNet-certified LTE Gateway from Advantech.

The district chose the SmartFlex because of its comprehensive I/O interface, low-power features, Power over Ethernet (PoE) options, and it meets NEMA TS2 environmental requirements. Using a private or public carrier network, such as Verizon or AT&T, the LTE network could then easily send data to the department’s traffic management center.

SmartFlex also offered secure open space for the user development in a Linux OS environment. Central management software options, on premise or cloud-based, were also major perks to the LTE upgrade with SmartFlex. Advantech WebAccess/DMP is a software package that provides remote device management and provisioning for Advantech routers, IoT gateways, and Wzzard wireless sensor nodes.

The FirstNet-certified ICR-3241 4G router and gateway offers secure, high-speed Internet access to first responders and others in critical agencies, such as law enforcement, fire departments, and traffic management. It also meets NEMA TS2 environmental requirements. The ICR-3241 is not only ideal for public safety and first responder applications, but also for critical infrastructure applications.

WebAccess/DMP device management and provisioning includes the following:

Remote application management and delivery
RESTful APIs
“No-Touch” provisioning for mass deployments
Remote device status monitoring
Remote device configuration
Multi-Tenancy options
Flexible delivery options
Emu-Edition for on-premises installations
Google Maps and GPS location integration
Cross-browser, cross-platform based on HTML5

Featured Product Solutions

BB-SR30510110-SWH, SmartFlex Modular LTE Router with WebAccess/DMP

SmartFlex cellular routers provide secure Internet connectivity for devices and LANs via cellular networks. They provide automatic wireless fail-over for wired networks, wireless connectivity for devices in remote locations where cable run are impractical, and wireless connectivity for mobile assets. With upload speeds of up to 50 Mbps and download speeds of up to 100 Mbps, SmartFlex provides ample bandwidth even for applications requiring video and surveillance devices.