Final report of ITS Center project: Route 460 Wireless Network

A Research Project Report

For the Center for ITS Implementation Research

A U.S. DOT University Transportation Center

ROUTE 460 WIRELESS NETWORK

Principal Investigator

Dr. Aaron Schroeder

Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
3500 Transportation Research Plaza (0536)
Blacksburg VA 24061
Phone: 540-231-1505
Fax: 540-231-1555

May 2006

Disclaimer

The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the information presented herein. This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program, in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the contents or use thereof.

Final Report: ITS Implementation Center

Route 460 Wireless

Network

Dr. Aaron Schroeder

Principal Investigator

Introduction

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in cooperation with VDOT’s Christiansburg Residency deployed one of the first serial wireless networks in the country along Route 460 in Christiansburg and Blacksburg.

Figure 1. Schematic of Route 460 Wireless Video Network

This deployment provided the foundation for continuing research through the ITS Implementation Center. The Implementation Center project sought to investigate further the performance capabilities of wireless networks and the deployment issues that DOTs might face.

The Smart Road Reconfigurable Wireless Testbed

VTTI developed a reconfigurable wireless testbed on Virginia’s Smart Road due to the difficulty of researching on a live highway such as Route 460. The Smart Road testbed allows for easy setup of a variety of wireless components such as radios and antennas. In addition, the network topography can be manipulated to evaluate different configurations.