What You Need to Know About Connected Work Zones
We are currently in the middle of the construction season, and everybody is busy. Many contractors are beginning to hear about “Smart Work Zones” and new compliance requirements for “Connected” traffic control equipment in the work zones. From connected arrow boards, trucks, cones, and more, there’s a lot to take in. Why are we doing this? What does it all mean? What do we need to do? How much is this going to cost? What are my options? How fast is this going to happen?
iCone can explain how to create a competitive advantage for your company by staying ahead as an innovator in the Smart Work Zone arena.
Why be ”Connected”?
Connected technologies share the location and status of your work zone to the in-car environment that can break through the distraction and force drivers to pay attention! Having ‘the voice in the car’ tell the driver to pay attention because there are workers ahead makes everyone safer. By creating a network of smart devices that interface with all work zones & traffic control equipment, your work zone fits into the new world of high-tech cars. Connecting your work zone not only makes it compliant with new specs, but it also increases efficiency and safety through smarter logistics and navigation.
What does it mean?
In most cases, a contractor can upgrade their existing fleet. You add an iCone device to the equipment that you already own and traffic control plans that are already in use. The ‘upgrade’ monitors the location of your work zone or the display on your arrow board, and when you turn it on for a lane closure, that status is sent to navigation systems, traffic centers and car companies. This approach is often referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT). The Internet of Things is the interconnection of computing devices embedded in everyday objects via the internet, enabling them to send and receive data. At iCone®, we call this the IoR - Internet of Roadwork. We allow your existing equipment to deliver real-time status and location by creating a digitally connected set of traffic control and roadway infrastructure.
What do we need to do?
The Internet of Roadwork only operates correctly if it works within the day-to-day operations of contractors in today’s world. We will never get there if every contractor has to buy all new equipment. The industry has the tools; we just need to be able to monitor them as they are put to use.
iCone Products’ ConnectedTech can be integrated with your existing equipment (trucks, arrow boards, cones flagging batons, etc), eliminating the need to invest in additional expensive equipment. iCone’s ConnectedTech products can be installed in virtually any piece of equipment on your projects, including:
Arrow Board kits upgrade your existing fleet, whether you have one brand or five. The brand you purchase will not affect the kit’s ability to work.
Work truck kits monitor the hazard lights on the truck and tell the oncoming drivers that there are workers ahead before they can see the lights.
Flagging Batons make your flaggers ‘visible’ on navigation devices miles before they reach your crew.
iPin devices that slide right into your existing traffic cones.
Connecting any piece of equipment regardless of the brand in your fleet to work in complete synchronization.
Eliminate the need to purchase new equipment, drastically reduce costs and adoption to become an essential upgrade for any contractor wishing to give their business a competitive edge.
How much is this going to cost?
Fortunately, iCone’s family of ConnectedTech products can be installed for as little as a few hundred dollars per device depending on the application. Generally, most contractors can retro-fit an entire fleet of traffic control devices for a few thousand dollars without making a single purchase of new arrow boards or other traffic control devices. The Connected Tech products can be purchased through a number of certified distributors and can be installed and fully functional in less than an hour of shop time per device. With iCone, you can create a completely interconnected fleet of traffic control equipment with minimal investment of cost and time.
Are there other options?
There are a growing number of “Smart Work Zone” solutions emerging on the market, but most of them require you to purchase new traffic control equipment, and none of them offer a complete retro-fit option for all of your existing equipment. iCone has relationships with many of the major OEM traffic control equipment manufacturers, so if you are in the market for new equipment, you can purchase new arrow boards, TMAs and other equipment with iCone pre-installed or “iCone ready”. iCone is the only option that allows you to retro-fit your existing fleet as well as purchase new equipment with a fully integrated technology platform, saving you the inconvenience and cost of managing multiple technology systems. iCone understands that contractors prefer to do the work they do best, and not allow a confusing mix of technology to interfere with their day-to-day operations.
How fast is this going to happen?
Bigger navigation apps like Waze® and Google Maps® already use iCone data, and several others are in various stages of development . Car companies like Ford and GM are in the evaluation process, and it is anticipated that this technology could be standard in new cars as early as the 2022 model year. Iowa DOT and Nevada DOT are leading the way for smart work zone adoption requirements, and many other states are not far behind. Industry-leading contractors have already adopted the technology and have observed a dramatic increase in safety and smarter logistics for both their workers and oncoming motorists. Smart Work Zones are here to stay, and contractors will need to adopt some form of connected traffic control equipment to remain competitive in this rapidly changing market. Now is the time to consider iCone’s cost-effective solution to Smart Work Zone requirements.
-Ross Sheckler, CTO