RTC pilots Nexar's connected vehicle platform to detect Las Vegas construction zones in real time, improve traffic and safety
Pilot will be on display at a special "Work Zone of the Future" event, April 10
02 Apr, 2019, 16:00 IDT
TEL AVIV, Israel, April 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In an ongoing effort to reduce traffic congestion and slowdowns caused by roadway construction zones, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) is testing various technologies to find, inspect and mitigate work zones in real time. These technologies will be on display at a "Work Zone of the Future" event, held in coordination with National Work Zone Awareness Week on Wed., April 10, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the RTC Traffic Management Center.
Temporary road construction zones, a result of the recent regional development surge, are managed by a network of contractors across multiple jurisdictions, government agencies, utility companies and private developers. Often changing on a daily basis, the RTC faces a challenge to obtain timely, accurate information about construction zones and how they are affecting traffic.
Since December 2018, the RTC has been using Nexar's CityStream™ platform and connected vehicle network to both access real-time updates on the location of construction zones and glean timely insights about their effects. In the three-square mile pilot area in and around downtown Las Vegas, Nexar has logged thousands of daily updates on the movements of hundreds of traffic cones and received critical insights on their effect on traffic.
The RTC is extending and expanding the scope of the Nexar pilot to further measure the effects of cones and lane closures on traffic, automate the flow of data into RTC databases, help determine permit compliance with lane closures, streamline construction permit management, and more.
"While they represent economic development, orange cones can be a big nuisance to drivers, so we are trying to minimize their effect on traffic," said RTC CEO Tina Quigley. "Our Seeing Orange campaign started as a resource for motorists to get information on road construction projects and resulting traffic impacts to better plan their commutes. As part of Seeing Orange, we are also facilitating greater project coordination and now leveraging advanced technology to improve traffic in and around construction zones."
"The first step is knowing in real-time where cones are and how they are affecting traffic. Then, we can look at what actions can be taken to improve traffic flows – whether its enforcement of permits, more public information, changes to traffic signal timing, or incorporating new traffic control and safety measures – all with the goal of improving commutes," added Quigley.
Nexar CityStream leverages artificial intelligence and delivers anonymous, aggregated network data from tens of thousands of connected vehicles to cities, transit authorities, and mobility and mapping companies to make roads safer and more efficient for drivers. CityStream can address specific needs including evaluating how construction zones impact traffic patterns, monitoring signage and infrastructure, and identifying causes of congestion and other dangerous road conditions.
"I'm thrilled that Nevada RTC is recognizing the power of the Nexar network to deliver the kind of intelligence that will make our roads better for everyone," says Nexar co-founder and CEO Eran Shir. "We hope that cities around the country will take note."
The media is invited to learn more about the Nexar technology along with other state-of-the-art work zone detection systems at the April 10 "Work Zone of the Future" from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the RTC Traffic Management Center (4615 W. Sunset Rd., Las Vegas, Nev., 89118).
About Nexar
Nexar® makes dash cameras smart by pairing them with the Nexar app to connect drivers to the world's first cellular based vehicle-to-vehicle network. That network collects real-time roadway data to help Nexar drivers get where they're going more safely and efficiently. The aggregated, anonymized data produced by this dash cam network helps municipalities worldwide make data-driven decisions to make roads better and safer. Those interested in working with Nexar CityStream can email [email protected]. Join Nexar's driving network by buying a Nexar-powered dash cam. Install the Nexar app, and follow the easy instructions to pair it with the new dash cam. Start driving with more peace of mind. For more information, visit https://getnexar.com
MEDIA CONTACT: Kate Preziosi, 203-722-2765, [email protected]
SOURCE Nexar