INRIX Delivers Industry’s First Operational Traffic Data Services Using GPS-Enabled Vehicle Probes

INRIX Delivers Industry’s First Operational Traffic Data Services Using GPS-Enabled Vehicle Probes to State DOT

Wisconsin Department of Transportation leverages INRIX-SEH team to deploy real time traffic flow data on major transportation corridors using GPS-enabled vehicles

(KIRKLAND, Wash. and MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – September 5, 2007) INRIX®, the leading provider of traffic flow information in the country, and Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH®), a Midwest-based professional consulting services firm, today announced the system acceptance  by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) for INRIX to provide real time traffic flow data for nearly 250 centerline miles of US 41, I-43, and WIS 172.  This milestone makes INRIX the first company to provide operational vehicle-probe based traffic data services to a government agency. Wisconsin DOT is now integrating INRIX data into its Traffic Management software and intends to demonstrate its expanded coverage for those that tour the new Statewide Traffic Operations Center (TOC) during the American Association of Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Annual Meeting beginning on September 27, 2007 in Milwaukee. 

These main routes carry tens of thousands of cars and trucks every day.  INRIX is providing three different types of traffic flow data for these key roadways between Milwaukee and Green Bay: traffic speeds by road segment; over 30 key route travel times; and congestion alerts that can be easily integrated into WisDOT’s future 511 service.

The process of procuring privately sourced GPS and/or cellular probe-based traffic data began approximately one year ago in order for the WisDOT to assess the utility and cost-effectiveness of such alternative traffic data sources in support, or in place of, traditional ITS data collection. INRIX was able to fully meet the strict project requirements regarding data quality, precision and availability which will allow the successful integration of this information within WisDOT’s TOC, allowing them to monitor and manage the Milwaukee to Green Bay corridor and provide them with complete flexibility to provide data to travelers with no restrictions. 

“We are proud that INRIX and SEH, working closely with Wisconsin DOT and its team, have been able to verify satisfaction of the requirements set forth in the original RFP,” said Rick Schuman, INRIX vice president, public sector.  “It is a testimony to the commitment and quality of our team, as well as that of WisDOT and its support resources, to move from kick-off to approval in roughly six months, which included nearly two months of extensive acceptance testing.  We are pleased to be the first company to provide operationally and under contract vehicle-probe based intercity traffic data services to a government agency, and the first to deliver a project of this scope within the original schedule.” 

Until now, these routes lacked traditional road sensors.  With the INRIX Smart Dust Network, traffic information is now available by leveraging data from more than 250 public and private sources, including the world’s largest network of GPS-enabled probe vehicles, 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.  For the first time, commuters in Wisconsin will have access to INRIX real time traffic information that, in addition to WisDOT resources, is available on over 75 models of portable and automotive navigation devices, mobile phones and smartphones.

Jim Hanson, PE, PTOE, principal, transportation services for SEH, said “Providing accurate travel information helps keep our roadways and our travelers safe, and INRIX has provided the means to achieve real time traffic data to help accomplish this goal.  The acceptance test results verified our strong belief from the initial proposal phase that INRIX data would satisfy the rigorous accuracy, timeliness and reliability requirements demanded by WisDOT, even outside of urban areas.  We will continue to work with WisDOT to assess opportunities to expand utilization of INRIX’s unique and cost-effective methods of gathering, fusing and providing decision quality traffic data.”

About INRIX
INRIX® is the leading provider of accurate real time, historical and predictive traffic information nationwide, providing over 40 industry partners and customers including Tom Tom, Microsoft, TeleNav, Clear Channel Radio’s Total Traffic Network, deCarta, Tele Atlas, TCS, Telmap and others with the highest quality data and broadest coverage available for personal navigation, mapping, and other location-based service applications in the car, online and on mobile devices.
INRIX Traffic Services leverage sophisticated statistical analysis techniques, originally developed by Microsoft Research, to aggregate and enhance traffic-related information from hundreds of public and private sources, going well beyond the limitations of static road sensor networks, historical-based models and cellular data aggregators, to offer customers the most sophisticated understanding of the unique system-wide traffic patterns in each metropolitan area. Additionally, INRIX offers real time for 100 markets and incident data for 122 markets across the country.  To experience the traffic technology revolution behind the next generation of navigation and location-based service applications, visit www.inrix.com.

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.