The Nevada Department of Transportation manages and maintains roads and freeways in Nevada. It collects data from hundreds of sensors and cameras to monitor traffic conditions. This data is stored in the Nevada Data Exchange and shared with agencies and a 511 traveler information system. NDOT uses this data for real-time traffic management and is building a fiber optic network to connect its devices. It is working to implement advanced technologies like connected vehicles to further share information and improve transportation.

1. The IoT Beneath Your
Feet: Building Smart Roads
and Networks
Presented by Israel Lopez for
Nevada DOT

2. All Problems Need Some Sort of Context
• Without knowing
the context of
something it is
often difficult to
truly understand
the problem or
the solution Reference: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/161707442844741481/
Reference: http://www.funcage.com/blog/18-amazing-examples-of-
optical-illusion-photography/optical-illusion-photo-04/

3. The State of Nevada
• Ranked 7th Largest State (110k square miles)
• Carson City, NV is the capital (population 54k)
• Ranked 35th in Population (2.89 Million)
• 42nd in Density (24.8/sq. mi)
• Median Elevation is 5500 ft.
• 4th largest producer of Gold in the World
• Ranked 15th in Median Household Income ($56k)
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada

4. IoT Topics
• What does a State DOT do?
• Data Collection
• Real-Time Traffic Management
• Backbone and Field Infrastructure
• Data Distribution
• Advanced Traveler Information Systems

5. What does a State DOT do?

6. What does a Department of Transportation Do?
• Manage and Maintain Freeways at a defined Level of Service during
the following:
– Normal Freeway Conditions
– Congested Freeway Conditions
– Adverse Weather Conditions (wind, flooding, fog)
– Severe Crashes and Crashes Related to Weather (Level of Service)
– Repair of Roads
– Inform the Public, News, and Media
So what does this
really mean?
What is the Context?

7. Normal Freeway Conditions
US-95/US-93/I-15, Las Vegas
I-10 at L 202 & SR 51, Phx, AZ
São Paulo, Brazil
Los Angeles (Unknown)

8. 8/26/201
6
Congested Freeway Conditions
I-405 Freeway in Bel Air, CA
Beijing, China
São Paulo, Brazil
Moscow, Russia

9. Phoenix, AZ
Porter Ranch, CA
Unknown
Minnesota
Adverse Weather Conditions

10. I-10 at Casa Grande, AZ
710 Freeway at Long Beach
I-10 at 35th Ave., Phoenix, AZ
I-78 at Bethel Township, PA
Severe Crashes and Weather

11. I-15 near Moapa, NE of Las Vegas
Repair Freeways
* Caution: Don’t ever drive through fast running water or drive over a compromised roadway.

12. Freeway Conditions and Crashes can make it feel like….

13. Data Collection
Roadway Sensor Types

14. Data Collection
• Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
are advanced applications and technology
that aim to provide information on
different modes of transport for travelers
by making the roads safer, coordinated,
and “smarter”
Reference (personal rating of 6 for reference): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_transportation_system

15. Data Collection
• The Nevada DOT (NDOT) collects the following
information from hundreds of these ITS devices types:
 Highway Advisory Radio (HAR)
 Dedicated Short Range
Communications (DSRC)
 Ramp Meters
 Link and Node Inventory
 Vehicle Detectors
 Dynamic Message Signs (DMS)
 Roadway Weather Information
System (RWIS)
 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)

16. CCTV Camera Cabinet80’ Camera Pole with Detector Full Sized DMS Sign Travel Time Sign (DMS) 30’ pole with Detector

17. Road Weather Information System
Variable Speed Limit Sign (DMS)
Highway Advisory Radio Beacon Sign 80’ pole with DSRCHAR Site

18. Data Collection
• The Nevada DOT (NDOT) collects the following
information from hundreds of these devices types:
– Vehicle Detectors: Detects the presence of vehicles by lane
– DMS: Informs the traveler of crashes or weather conditions
– RWIS: Detects the current ambient weather conditions and the
condition of the roadway pavement
– CCTV: Provides visual verification of any issues on the roadway
– HAR: Provides audio notification of issues using AM or FM (Radio)

19. Data Collection
• The Nevada DOT (NDOT) collects the following
information from hundreds of these devices types:
– DSRC: Communicates with Connected Vehicles or Autonomous
Vehicles to obtain speed, weather, traction, & other information
– Ramp Meter: A device use to reduce congestion by limiting the
number of simultaneous vehicles to a steady but constant flow
– Node and Link Data: Nodes are arbitrary points along a road and
links are arbitrary parts of a road between two nodes

20. Data Collection
• NDOT’s Freeway Management System
(FMS), a variant of an Advanced
Traffic Management System (ATMS):
– Collects all Device Data
– Displays the information visually
– The Operators in the Traffic Management
Center (TMC) make a decision based on
this information
CCTV
Node
Inventory
Link
Inventory
DMS
Ramp
Meter
RWIS
HAR
Events
CSS
Detectors

21. Real-Time Traffic Management
Sharing of data and video

22. Real-Time Traffic Management
• Operators enter information into an Advanced
Traveler Information System (ATIS) to provide
traveler information on:
Reference: http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/manag_demand_tis/travelinfo.htm
 Travel Times
 Emergency Alerts
 Alternate Routes
 Delays
 Crashes / Events
 Road Weather

23. Reference: http://www.its.dot.gov/infographs/index.htm
Integrated Corridor Management (Today)
A camera monitors and
detects congestion due
to a disabled vehicle
The Operations Centers
receive and exchange data
and inform the travelers
Travelers receive a message
about congestion ahead and
alternate travel routes or
travel modes
511 / ATIS

24. Real-Time Traffic Management
• Integrated Corridor Management Examples:
– NDOT & NHP – CCTV cameras and shared use of Spillman CAD
– FAST – Las Vegas Metropolitan Area
– I-15 Alliance – Utah, NDOT, ADOT and CalTrans (In Process)
– I-80 Coalition – Nebraska, Wyoming, UDOT, NDOT & Caltrans
– Western States Rural Transportation Technology
Implementers Forum (WSRTTIF) (All westerns states west of the Dakotas)
I-15 Alliance Reference: http://goo.gl/xxBRWc I-80 Coalition Reference: http://goo.gl/QHViX8 Western States Rural Transportation TIF: http://goo.gl/Bp4KrBFAST Reference: http://goo.gl/7WHPxA

25. Active Traffic Management and Demand Management (Tomorrow)
An Active Traffic Management (ATM)
structure will be installed every ½ mile
on I-15 in Las Vegas for 18 linear miles.
FHWA Reference: http://goo.gl/LKW8Eq
NDOT will implement a solution in Las Vegas within 8 months
ATM Pres.with BCR (Schilling, 2016): https://goo.gl/xHbma1
San Diego which implemented a similar
system has a Benefit Cost Ratio of 9.7:1
with a 20% crash rate and a 46% serious
crash reduction

26. Reference: http://www.its.dot.gov/infographs/index.htm
Queue Warning and Speed Harmonization (5 years)
Warns drivers of congestion ahead, as well as provides target speed advice

27. Backbone and Field Infrastructure
The growth of the ITS network

28. Backbone and Field Infrastructure
• ITS has Experienced Exponential growth:
– CCTV Cameras – 2 cameras in 2010 (Reno)
– CCTV Cameras – 63 cameras by 2016 (Reno)
– NDOT owned fiber in miles in 2010 – 0 miles (Reno)
– NDOT owned fiber in miles by 2016 – 55 miles (Reno)
• This is an addition to any provider dark fiber

29. Backbone and Field Infrastructure
• Organizational Members
– NDOT works with the Nevada
System of Higher Education
(NSHE) and the State
Enterprise IT Services (EITS) as
part of a TEAM
– No one entity has the staffing
or the personnel for the whole
system
Reference: NDOT Board Packet, Dated 11-13-2013, Page 17 – 19, Item # 3 https://goo.gl/l0ROcJ Partnership Reference: https://www.ntia.doc.gov/legacy/broadbandgrants/comments/61B6.docx
NDOT IT/ITS
NSHE
EITS

30. Backbone and Field Infrastructure
• NDOT has an extensive infrastructure that
uses the following:
– Fiber Optic Backbone (10 Gbps or higher)
• I-80 Fiber at Reno to I-80 at Utah Border (existing)
• I-580 Fiber at I-80 in Reno to California Border in CA
(90% complete)
• US-50 Fiber at I-580 in Carson City to Ely, NV (In design)

31. *I-80 = 400 miles (existing)
*US-50 = 321 miles (In design)
*US-95 = 435 miles (future)
*I-580 = 70 miles (90% complete)
I-15 = 28 miles existing
Lease Lines (redundancy)
*We have extensive agreements with L3, Praxis, and AT&T
NDOT Dark Fiber Map

32. We have hundreds of roadway sites along the freeway (CCTV, beacons, DMS, etc.)
Each red pyramid
represents a site
Each blue bubble
represents a
grouping of sites
that are in close
proximity
Not including
mountain top sites
we have over 416
sites

33. • L2 or L3 (existing)
single chassis
using MLT (ROC to
Fiber Hut)
• Shortest Path
Bridging Upgrade
(Shown/Future)
• Field devices must
be hardened to
withstand high
temperatures
SPB Reference: http://miercom.com/pdf/reports/20111027.pdf
Center-to Field (C2F) Communications
Fiber Hut Switch
(Enterprise)
Field Cabinet Switch (Hardened)
Video Encoder 
Field Hardened
Ethernet Switch
Field Cabinet 

Fiber Optic Branch Cable 

SPB (Future)

34. Backbone and Field Infrastructure
DOTs generally Use:
• Spanning tree for rings
• Multicast for video
• Hardened Ethernet Switch
=>164°F rating (must use)
• SMFO cable is 144 strands on
both sides of the freeway
• Journey Electricians as
network technicians (common)
Google Search for STP and DOTs https://goo.gl/hPLArv

35. Backbone and Field Infrastructure
• Due to our limited time we are unable to
discuss our other modes of communication:
– Point to Point (PtP)
– Point to Multi-Point (PTmP)
– 3G / 4G communications with Verizon Cloud

36. Data Distribution

37. Data Distribution
• Once collected the
expectation is to share
the information across
different transportation
verticals
• All NDOT ITS device data
is sent to the Nevada
Data Exchange (NDEX)
Data Exchange &
Data Warehouse
Reference: http://www.iteris.com/itsarch/html/appareas/ifclass1apparea12.htm

38. Data Distribution
• The Nevada Data Exchange (NDEX):
– The NDEX is the data warehouse for NDOT ITS
– The state is broken down into three districts
– Each district reports the status of every device
in its inventory
– Reporting frequency is every 2 minutes

39. Data Distribution
• NDEX (Continued):
– The system uses a three-tier security architecture
– The web service is available via HTTPS
– The NDEX uses Institute of Traffic Engineers (ITE)
Traffic Management Data Dictionary 3.01
– The NDEX is subscription and publication based
Reference – TMDD Standard: http://www.ite.org/standards/tmdd/3.01.asp

40. NDEX Network and Software ArchitectureNDEX:
• The External
Agency Interface
(EDEX) handles all
External agencies
• The Internal
Agency Interface
(IDEX) handles all
Internal agencies
• Data can be bi-
directional based
on a Subscription
and Publication
model

41. Nevada Data Exchange (NDEX) - General Concept

42. Data Distribution
• NDEX Publishers and Subscribers
– The 511 System subscribes to all device types dialogs
– The 511 System then posts the information to the 511
site
– Events are entered into the 511 system and are
published to the NDEX for other to subscribe
– We have multiple subscribers pulling NDOT
information Reference – TMDD Standard: http://www.ite.org/standards/tmdd/3.01.asp

43. Advanced Traveler Information
Systems (ATIS)
Public Facing Information Systems

44. Advanced Traveler Information Systems
• ATIS Systems
– Provides public information regarding road conditions
– Commonly done by a regional or local Traffic
Management Center (TMC)
– Coordinates with police, fire, & support services
– Responds to events & enters information in an ATIS
system

45. Reference 1: http://nvroads.com
Mobile Application
USDOT requires every state to have a 511 / ATIS system per SAFETEA-LU, 23 CFR 511
Reference 2: Section 1201 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
(SAFETEA-LU). 23 CFR 511: http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/1201/factsheet/
IVR System: dial 5-1-1 in any State
DMS Signs
Construction Road Conditions
CCTV Cameras
Crashes / Events

46. Video-to-Public (Las Vegas) – Live Streaming Video – H.264 Upgrade in June of 2016
V2P (Internet Explorer Only at this time – 247 streams are available for Las Vegas Area, 59 cameras for Reno, and 24 cameras for Elko: http://www.nevadadot.com/Traveler_Info/Traffic_Cameras/Traffic_Cameras.aspx

47. OSS Weather Share (Caltrans) has access to all the Forum Member’s Information
Reference: http://oss.weathershare.org/#
In comparison to other DOTs we have a rather limited
implementation of ITS in comparison to States like Colorado
(comparable Land Mass) and Utah (comparable Population)

48. Advanced Traveler Information Systems
• The Future of ATIS and ATMS
– The lines between these application types will
become blurred
– As the ATMS gathers information the system will
autonomously notify vehicles in the field
– Information will become bi-directional
– This is already happening with Connected Vehicles

49. High Level Concept – Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Communications

50. High Level Concept – Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) Communications

51. Examples of Autonomous Vehicles:
• Self Driving Cars HD 2015:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEpPww4AXMI
• BMW – Connected Vehicle (CV) – All Examples CV Features - 2013:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEpPww4AXMI
• *BMW – 100Km Test - 2012:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKqJccK_EkM
• Cadillac – Machine View example - 2013:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW5AnrtVor8
• Volvo – Slow Driving Features - 2011:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfOgwrhJG8A
• Volvo Trucking – Vehicle Diagnostics in Real-Time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KwCOCBAibLs

52. Advanced Traveler
Information Systems
Collision Avoidance /
Collision Detection
Connected Vehicles / Vehicle-
to-Vehicle Communications
Autonomous Vehicles /
Adaptive Cruise Control
ITS Work Zones
Notifications
Active Traffic Management / Travel
Times / Variable Speed Limit
Advanced Traveler
Information Systems
The ITS industry has many categories, disciplines, and specialties
Advanced Traveler
Information Systems
Reference: http://www.etsi.org/index.php/technologies-clusters/technologies/intelligent-transport

53. Any questions?
I want to thank all the NDOT Network and Server Guys for all their
help, we would not be a successful without them.
Contact Information Regarding the Presentation:
Israel Lopez: ilopez@dot.state.nv.us
Telephone: 775-888-7132