Nevada DOT M2M Digital Signage Project

Nevada DOT’s M2M Digital Signage Project

The Great Depression Ushered In An Era of Innovation

Between 1931 and 1936, during the height of The Great Depression, a number of incredible infrastructure projects were undertaken across the country. From the construction of LaGuardia Airport in New York to the Blue Ridge Parkway that runs 469 miles from Virginia to North Carolina to the 711 State Parks that were created, the projects were a massive initiative and saw millions upon millions of men (and women) return to the workforce.

One of these projects was the Hoover Dam, a concrete arch-gravity dam running the expanse of the Colorado River in the Black Canyon and connecting the states of Nevada and Arizona.

Since the dam was opened in the 1930s until 2010, US93 - a heavily traveled, major highway - ran across the top of the bridge. However, as the dam’s popularity as a tourist attraction grew and as commerce, trade, and tourism in Las Vegas, NV, exploded, the traffic congestion atop the dam became unbearable. Thus, in 2001 the Federal Highway Administration issued an affirmative decision on building the Hoover Dam Bypass and an adjoining pedestrian bridge.

Construction on the bypass and bridge began in 2003 and took roughly seven years and cost $204 million to complete.

The Challenge

Maintaining Connectivity for NDOT’s Digital Signage

Like many infrastructure providers, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is continuously developing projects to increase the intelligence of its transportation systems. As part of its transition from analog to digital infrastructure just over a decade ago, NDOT enlisted Las Vegas Electric to expand Nevada’s network of road messaging signs and fiber optic connectivity.

The catalyst for the overall transportation project was a lane reduction bottleneck on the new Hoover Dam bypass bridge. After receiving federal funding for its proposal to widen US93 to accommodate two lanes in each direction, NDOT was able to extend Las Vegas’ current fiber optics network, as well as add digital signs and surveillance cameras along the stretch of the highway.

AirLink Communications Solutions for Nevada DOT

The initial proposal included installing digital signs to relay traffic information and motorist advisories; radar devices to collect drive time and usage information; video surveillance cameras to provide real-time traffic feeds to motorists and NDOT; solar panels to power the equipment; and new fiber-optic lines to provide the communication link.

However, the stretch of US93 included in the widening project ran short of connecting to the existing fiber network ring located in the surrounding Las Vegas area. With the high cost and effort to run new fiber, NDOT was forced to look for an alternative communications technology to execute the widening plan. After close consideration, NDOT chose AirLink intelligent gateways from Sierra Wireless to provide proven and reliable wireless connectivity surrounding Hoover Dam.

The Solution

AirLink Intelligent Gateways for M2M Digital Signage

Las Vegas Electric had previously worked with NDOT on an M2M digital signage project that implemented AirLink intelligent gateways, and both companies were pleased with the reliable wireless connectivity the gateways provided. As a result, NDOT specifically called out the AirLink Raven X gateways on a list of approved products provided to Las Vegas Electric for this US93 widening project. At the time the project was completed, 2G and 3G solutions were the norm. Now, however, solutions are available for 4G and 5G, and - as the AirLink Raven X is considered antiquated - the AirLink RV50X would be a more appropriate solution, or the even newer RX55 for projects with Wi-Fi applications.

“NDOT chose the AirLink devices, which was a decision that made me very happy,” said the project engineer at Las Vegas Electric at the time. “I had been working with Sierra Wireless products for years and years, so I was familiar with the units and their reliability.”

When the project manager received the original plans for the US93 widening project, he realized the requirement for using solar energy to power communications equipment was beyond his own experience. Therefore, he enlisted USAT, an M2M communications expert that specializes in improving the efficiency of wireless data acquisition. They had the capabilities to design and build the solar power assemblies required to run the AirLink gateways and other equipment. According to the project manager, USAT Corp. provided the design from beginning to end for the solar portion of the US93 widening project, including scoping batteries, solar panel sizing, and charge controllers.

Connectivity for Nevada DOT Digital Signage

“Not only did USAT make the solar part work, but they were also integral in deploying the wireless aspect of the project by analyzing location, coverage, and bandwidth requirements needed to support the video surveillance cameras and radar equipment, as well as providing the AirLink devices,” said the project manager.

“USAT has been building solutions based on Sierra Wireless intelligent modems since the late 1990s,” added Lisa Blake, regional sales manager for USAT Corp. “Working on such an innovative project with Las Vegas Electric and Sierra Wireless has been a truly collaborative experience.”

AirLink intelligent gateways are powerful, wireless networking devices designed to leverage today’s networks. With remote device management and easy-to-configure embedded software, data transfer is optimized, and overall operational costs are reduced. The rugged, compact design and best-in-class session persistence make the devices reliable in even the harshest environments. High-speed Ethernet ports make them ideal for a variety of enterprise applications, while the serial port and embedded machine protocols make it equally suited for industrial deployments. IPsec VPN provides security for the most sensitive data.

“AirLink devices are feature-rich and highly versatile, so they give us a lot of flexibility,” explained the project manager. He went on to describe the provisioning and configuration as “simple” and relied on the built-in tools for creating a VPN tunnel to accommodate multicasting over broadband. “I contacted Sierra Wireless’ technical support department while setting up the VPN, and these guys were super; some of the best tech support people I’ve ever worked with,” said the project manager. “They really cared about my problem and stuck with it; the follow-up was there, and I was really impressed with the level of service.”

The total M2M solution implemented during the US93 widening project involved: radar devices; surveillance cameras; digital messaging signs; and AirLink intelligent gateways powered by solar panels with extended antennas to handle all communication between field assets and the traffic management center. The AirLink RV50X or RX55 available today can also provide connectivity for License Plate Recognition cameras to help increase traffic safety, a solution that was not deployed during the original project phase.

The Results

Cellular Technology Provides Connectivity for Critical Functionality

The US93 widening project was required to pass a series of tests before being officially accepted by NDOT, and the project manager anticipates the AirLink deployment will expand as funding becomes available.

“Especially here in Nevada, there has been a large number of wireless deployments since we have so many Intelligent Traffic System (ITS) locations in the middle of nowhere, making cellular the obvious technology choice.”

The addition of solar-powered digital messaging signs and traffic cameras on Hoover Dam access roads and the by-pass bridge brings an amazing amount of critical functionality to NDOT. Traffic data is captured and transmitted back to the management center where the information is both analyzed for improvement planning and provided to the public for route planning and congestion avoidance. Motorists can access real-time video of specific road locations and be alerted to accidents, travel times, weather conditions, and police advisories on dynamic messaging signs located along the highway.

“We continue to expand out from urban centers into more rural areas, getting further away from the current fiber ring and relying more and more on cellular to support our infrastructure,” said the project manager. “The AirLink products make broadband deployments much easier. I’ve been really happy with those devices over the years, with no complaints at all.”

Our Team

Device Provisioning, Activation and Installation Services

USAT specializes in designing and deploying mobile wireless data connectivity solutions, for public and private healthcare organizations — complete with implementation, training, proof of concept (POC), system auditing, and on-site RF surveying services with optional engineering maintenance contracts. Our team not only helps you select, provision, and activate devices, we make sure they work in practical applications and real-life situations.

For over 25 years, USAT has provided mobile communications solutions for healthcare applications across the USA. With our extensive catalog of world-class routers, gateways, and software designed for remote monitoring and management in even the harshest environments — you can count on us to get and keep you connected.

Better mobile connectivity translates to less manual equipment maintenance, reduced downtime, and an overall increase in your business’s ROI. Contact the experts at USAT to learn how our wireless networking solutions can help meet your organizations’ exacting needs.

Editor’s Note: This article was initially published on October 25, 2013 and has been updated to reflect new available technologies and best practices.