Showing category "For ITS Designers" (Show all posts)

Traffic Adaptive Systems in the US

Posted by Steve Fitzsimons on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, In : For ITS Designers 
Traffic adaptive systems are computer systems that coordinate traffic signals by continually monitoring traffic volumes and making updates to the coordination plan every few seconds.  The concept is intended to provide ideal traffic signal operations through a corridor with multiple traffic signals.  A dozen years ago there were very few adaptive systems deployed in the US, and these were mostly in large cities with very high volumes of traffic.  Now a large number of systems have been deploy...
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Pulling fiber optic cable over other cables

Posted by Steve Fitzsimons on Monday, November 8, 2010, In : For ITS Designers 
Question:  My City is replacing a fiber optic cable and a couple other cables, and because one cable is not going to be shipped to the site for some time, we are looking for options to pull most of the cables now and one later.  

Answer:  Pulling any cable into a conduit that already has cables can result in damage to the existing cables.  The probability of damage depends on the length of the conduit run, percent fill, number of existing cables and perhaps most importantly, the stiffness of t...
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CCTV pre-installation test

Posted by Steve Fitzsimons on Thursday, February 4, 2010, In : For ITS Designers 

Question:  How does a CCTV surveillance camera get tested before installation? 

Answer:  Republic ITS is an electrical contractor that installs closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, either through maintenance or installation contracts.  We perform a simple bench test before installing cameras.  The photos below show a recent test of Cohu cameras, using a simple wood support, a...


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Solar Roadways?

Posted by Steve Fitzsimons on Sunday, September 20, 2009, In : For ITS Designers 
Question:  I just saw an article about solar roadways, where the asphalt pavement is replaced by solar panels.  The inventor claims if every highway were repaved with solar panels, it would generate enough power for the entire country.  http://www.gizmag.com/solar-panel-roads/12780/

Answer:  This topic is a bit beyond the scope of this blog, but I'll post it because it is such an exciting sounding idea.  It appears there is a lot of materials science research to be done.  The article does not ...
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Small Fiber Optic Splice Closure

Posted by Steve Fitzsimons on Thursday, June 25, 2009, In : For ITS Designers 

Question:  We have a project where some existing pull boxes and conduit are set in structural concrete and are not easy to relocate or deepen or change.

The pull boxes have a solid concrete bottom as well as walls.  They are No. 6 in plan dimension (18x30 lid) but their depth varies from only 5 to about 12 inches (different boxes are different depths).  Three conduits enter each box in the bottom (not through sides).  We need to run a 24 strand trunk loose tube single mode fiber cable through...


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About Us


Steve Fitzsimons If you would like to ask a question about driving rules, traffic signals or street lights, send your questions to: SFitzsimons@W-Trans.com or call 650-314-8313. Steve Fitzsimons is a professional Civil Engineer and Traffic Engineer in California. He is a principal at W-Trans. Find out more about W-Trans at www.w-trans.com **** If you need a traffic signal design or review, W-Trans is available for hire. If you are an electrical contractor, W-Trans is available for hire to prepare timing plans or traffic control plans.

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