Consider Compatibility Across Technology Systems To Achieve Integration.
Three Advanced Technologies Deployed During Construction on I-270 in Missouri To Predict and Respond to Incidents.
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
I-270 Predictive Layered Operations Initiative
Summary Information
The I-270 Predictive Layered Operations Initiative (PLOI) was an effort by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to improve traffic management and enhance roadway safety along the I-270 corridor, implemented as part of the broader I-270 North Design-Build Project. This major roadway reconstruction effort incorporated strategies intended to maintain safety and traffic operations during construction. The project covered an 8.6-mile segment of I-270 and was carried out between 2019 and 2023. Funded in part by an Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) grant, the PLOI included three advanced technologies: (1) Crash Risk Location Prediction and Incident Identification, to predict the location and timing of incidents using machine learning and data from connected vehicles, weather forecasts, and special events, among other sources, (2) Advanced Video Analytics, to identify and respond to incidents more quickly using analyzed CCTV camera feeds, and (3) Integrated Modeling for Road Condition Prediction (IMRCP), to refine weather and traffic forecasts to decrease weather related crashes.
MoDOT noted lessons learned throughout the four-year project, including the following:
- Consider compatibility across technology systems. Each system comes with unique specifications, data formats, and communication protocols. Achieving seamless integration may require extensive customization or even redevelopment of certain components.
- Anticipate project delays and mitigate them with clear and consistent communications. Delays ranging from contract execution to technology deployment impacted the agency’s ability to fully operationalize all three technologies simultaneously.
- Ensure transparency and clarity regarding project objectives and expectations between all parties involved. Confusion about the capabilities and limitations of technology led to unrealistic expectations.
- Use technology to help address staffing challenges and enhance productivity. MoDOT found that technologies such as advanced video analytics and incident identification enabled staff to automate routine tasks and concentrate on higher level operational activities. This shift improved both staff productivity and overall job satisfaction.
- Be flexible while incorporating new technologies into staff workflows. It was reported that, at the outset, it was challenging to find the best way to incorporate the new technologies into daily operator workflows. It proved important to ensure that staff understood how the technologies worked and their part in the process.
