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Get Engaged in Work Zone Data Exchange T
The Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) project is an opensource data framework that facilitates the gathering and distribution of work zone data in a common format. The goal is to offer drivers, mapping companies, navigation systems, and ultimately connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) universal access to work zone data to improve safety within work zones. It should come as no surprise that road construction companies are a core partner
in the WZDx initiative, alongside state and local departments of transportation, mapping companies, and vehicle and vehicle technology manufacturers. That’s why the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) launched its Put Work Zones on the Map campaign, which is designed to facilitate adoption of the WZDx framework through education of potential partners, raising awareness for pilot projects, increasing involvement in the Work Zone Data Working Group, and generating excitement for WZDx.
January 2021, FHWA awarded $2.4 million in WZDx demonstration grants to fund projects in 13 states. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) received a grant of $200,000 to extend the capacity of its Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) to produce a statewide data feed available for use by third parties, such as mapping companies. At a FHWA webinar held during National Work Zone Awareness Week in April, WisDOT staff shared details about their WZDx plans. “Our current lane closure system (LCS) was getting pretty outdated,” WisDOT’s Erin Schwark said. The system was launched in 2008 and currently manages requests for more than 10,000 lane closures annually and is used by more than 1,000 users, including WisDOT engineering staff, contractors, county maintenance crews and utilities. “The current LCS was a huge step forward for the state in 2008,” WisDOT’s Steven Parker said. “But as we look forward to the need for real time data for CAVs, we’re looking to improve our LCS’s capabilities.” For the past couple of years, WisDOT has been working on LCS 2.0 to streamline existing workflows and improve interoperability, and expects to launch LCS 2.0 March 2022. “The LCS 2.0 redesign was a perfect fit for Wisconsin to incorporate WZDx objectives,” Parker said. “Our goal with the Work Zone Data Exchange is to build upon existing investments to build a new WZDx-compliant feed,” Schwark said. “We plan to create a program template that other agencies can follow in establishing their own WZDx data feeds.”
WISDOT’S WZDX WORKFLOW
Currently, contractors enter into WisDOT’s LCS their planned construction schedule, which is monitored and approved by WisDOT’s regional traffic engineers. “Right
54 // September 2021
