MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. and KIRKLAND, Wash. – February 20, 2007) Inrix Inc., the leading provider of traffic information, and Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH®), a Midwest-based professional consulting services firm, today announced their selection by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to provide real-time traffic flow data for nearly 250 miles of US 41 and I-43. These main routes carry tens of thousands of cars and trucks each day between Milwaukee, Green Bay and several cities in between. WisDOT will use the information to provide real-time travel information – traffic flow, travel speeds, travel times, congestion, and incident reports – to commercial, commuter and leisure travelers to allow for more safe and efficient travel.
Currently, these routes lack a sufficient amount of traditional sensors, and as a result WisDOT is not able to provide real-time accurate travel information, which can cause increased congestion, travel delays, and inaccurate data to maintain safe roadways. In response to the situation, the Inrix’s Smart Dust Network will provide real-time traffic information by leveraging traffic-related data from more than 250 public and private sources, including traditional road sensors, the world’s largest network of GPS-probe network, and other data sources. Inrix’s unique Traffic Fusion Engine uses advanced, proprietary statistical analysis to aggregate, blend and enhance traffic-related information, ensuring highly accurate road speeds and the broadest market and road coverage available. With the near-absence of any sensor coverage on these two routes, the project will be primarily dependent upon GPS-enabled probe vehicles. Following data collection by Inrix, SEH will conduct system acceptance testing using ground truth testing as a follow-up measure to help ensure data accuracy.
The project, slated to be complete and operation in summer 2007, will provide WisDOT with the data necessary to provide accurate travel information as well provide information necessary to further develop intelligent transportation systems that will continue to improve Wisconsin’s transportation infrastructure..
Rick Schuman, Inrix vice president, Public Sector commented, “This is a groundbreaking venture for us. We look forward to working with SEH to provide WisDOT with real-time traffic flow data along this critical travel corridor and to demonstrate the value that quality intercity traffic flow monitoring provides.”
“We applaud WisDOT for the vision to conduct this innovative project and look forward to working with Inrix to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of data acquisition,” said Jim Hanson, PE, PTOE, principal, Transportation Services for SEH.
About SEH
Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH®) is a multidisciplined, professional services firm made up of 750 engineers, architects, planners and scientists. With more than 30 offices in 10 states, SEH provides a full range of transportation, civil, environmental and structural engineering services; urban design, community planning and architectural design; and technology and GIS services.
