Project.  I-81 video systems  Completed

Principal investigator. Aaron Schroeder, VTTI, 540-231-1500, aaron@ctr.vt.edu 

External contact. None 

Project objective. Design a video data collection system on a section of I-81, and deploy several cameras along the corridor. 

Project abstract. Working with VTTI's private sector partner SHENTEL Telecommunications (a company VTTI has partnered successfully with in the past on the Travel Shenandoah effort), VTTI will work to design a video data collection system on a portion of I-81 in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. Additionally, this project will work to deploy as many cameras as are affordable (probably 4 or 5) along the corridor. 

Tasks.  Technical design plan for video camera system on I-81, including: 

1.     Analysis of existing copper and fiber infrastructure in area of study, 

2.    Cost of linking to existing infrastructure, 

3.     Specification of camera technology with pan-tilt-zoom, environmental enclosure, and remote administration,

 4.    Specification of environmentally enclosed, remotely administered video web-server, 

5.     Analysis of existing environmentally enclosed structures that can be used for housing technologies along the test corridor. 

·    Partnership agreement with SHENTEL, VDOT, and other parties necessary to gain and maintain access to appropriate infrastructure hook-ons and right-of ways. 
·    Installation of 4-5 cameras with web-servers along the corridor, with data links back to the data management center at VTTI. 

Milestones. Project is scheduled to run July 1, 2000 - Dec. 31, 2001. Tasks will all be completed by Dec. 31, 2001.

Student involvement. One full-effort GRA. 

Budget.  $420,000

Relation to other research. Travel Shenandoah and Travel Virginia. 

Technology transfer. Leads to deployment of operational systems for the public sector and non-profit agencies. 

Potential benefits. Synthesis of real-time operational data (the video plus all other real-time data already collected by VTTI) for the I-81 corridor - can be used by operational agencies (VDOT, VSP) for management operations on the roadway.  The same synthesized data can be used for longitudinal research projects conducted by VTTI or other partner universities.  Direct dissemination of images to the traveling public for use in everyday transportation decision making 

TRB keywords. Video, I-81, ATIS.