Traffic monitoring and preemption systems can contribute substantially to the safety and efficiency of a community and recent innovations have dramatically increased the intelligence of traffic cabinet system. These systems are becoming increasingly more valuable as they get smarter.
A typical system might only monitor the traffic controller while newer, intelligent traffic control systems can monitor both the hardware and software components related to the entire cabinet. Here are seven traffic cabinet systems metrics that can now be remotely monitored:
1. Notification and Identification of Failure: An intelligent system communicates the type of failure and identifies the specific issue. This is especially helpful in determining whose jurisdiction the repair falls under, the utility company or traffic control. It also determines whether the resolution can be addressed remotely or if it requires a technician visit to the cabinet and helps prioritize repairs by identifying their urgency.
2. AC Voltage & Cabinet Flash: Intelligent systems monitor and report the strength of the signal at all times. They also monitor if the cabinet is in Flash. These are 2 critical issues that require immediate resolution.
3. Battery Back-up Systems: The voltages and the low battery alarms are important system metrics. When there is a power failure, the user is notified of the failure and that the unit is running in battery mode. When batteries are running low, there is also a notification system that alerts the user and notifies them of where the battery is in its life cycle.
4. Temperature & Humidity: A thermostat monitors and controls the internal fan that keeps the cabinet from overheating. Cabinet doors are typically designed with seals that do not allow water ingress. A rise in humidity within the cabinet could indicate a leak, flooding within the area, a broken seal, or the possibility that a cabinet door has been left open.
5. Cabinet Fan & Heater Status: When the cabinet temperature rises above a threshold the cabinet fan is supposed to turn on. Sometimes a small thermostat in the cabinet fails and the cabinet fan fails to turn on. This can cause cabinet temperature to rise to a level where equipment is damaged. The same occurs with a heater in cold eviroments. These alarms can save cabinets from simple cabinet faults.
6. Cabinet Door: Intelligent cabinets have a door switch that monitors the door activity. It sends a signal when the cabinet door has been opened, whether by unauthorized access or by the scheduled technician. It also provides valuable data in terms of average response and repair times.
7. Remote Power Cycling: Intelligent cabinets are equipped with a remote power cycling capability on the back of the unit. These outlet sockets can be remotely cycled when something malfunctions such as a network switch or CCTV camera getting stuck. This can be very convenient for technicians off site as they utilize this remote capability to try to rectify the issues in the field before they have to visit a site locally.
While standard systems simply monitor the traffic controller, an intelligent traffic system focuses on monitoring all of the components for greater efficiency, functionality, safety, and service. This technology allows for the diagnosis and, in many cases, the fix to be made remotely, removing the need for a technician visit to the traffic cabinet. The bottom line is the quality of the communication and the value it brings to your community makes a significant difference.
