ELTEC and 511 Technologies announce strategic partnership to create internet connected traffic systems

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Thursday, ELTEC and 511 Technologies announced a strategic partnership to provide advanced cloud-connected products for the traffic and warning system industries.

The companies will collaborate to deliver an entire line of new IoTrafficTM products with a wide range of radio communication options that provide connectivity to the Internet as well as from sign-to-sign or “Machine to Machine” (or M2M).

IoTraffic products can be controlled or monitored via computers and mobile devices such as smartphones. The first product released under the IoTraffic partnership is the IoTraffic LED sign. The IoTraffic LED sign boosts visibility to save lives by improving intersection safety. End users can reduce unnecessary field visits by using IoTraffic connectivity to remotely make changes to products or monitor operation. IoTraffic products can also be configured to send various types of automated alerts.

“By partnering with 511 Technologies, ELTEC will provide our customers with the most advanced Internet-connected products available to meet the future needs of the traffic and warning system industries. We are excited to offer our ELTEC customers with the latest cloud based products” said April Spears, President and CEO, ELTEC. “Combining ELTEC’s industry experience and history of quality traffic devices with the advanced internet product engineering capabilities of 511 Technologies and its affiliate System Level Solutions (“SLS”) is the perfect plan to innovate products beyond the current marketplace capabilities.”

511 Technologies and SLS are known for their engineering, product development and intellectual property expertise, and have made the Internet of Things (“IoT”) a strategic focus of their operations.

“511 Technologies and SLS were seeking a strategic partner known for quality products and nationwide distribution, and we found an ideal partner in ELTEC,” said Alan Loudermilk, President of 511 Technologies and Vice President Business Development of SLS. “The IoTraffic strategic partnership with ELTEC demonstrates that we can deliver globally competitive, Internet-connected products right here in Marshall,” he added.

Paresh Patel, President of SLS agreed.

“We are extremely excited about combining ELTEC’s end-system expertise and distribution channel with the engineering and product development skills of SLS and 511 Technologies,” Patel said.

ELTEC is a world class provider of engineered traffic systems and solar powered solutions with an emphasis on programmable timing products and pedestrian safety.

ELTEC is sought out for exceptional quality, delivery, service, and customer support.

For almost 50 years ELTEC has been a premier manufacturer of time clocks/time switches used primarily in school zone flashing beacon systems. ELTEC is the preferred traffic industry supplier of warning systems and products for many municipalities, state Departments of Transportation and local contractors. For additional information on ELTEC, visit elteccorp.com.

511 Technologies provides product and business development services, with an emphasis on innovative technologies and business incubation. System Level Solutions provides engineering and product development services to companies throughout the world, and is now a leading product developer and manufacturer with a particular focus on hardware and software for lighting and energy management and also cloud messaging and control solutions.

Frenship High School in Wolfforth, TX installed a solar powered HAWK/hybrid pedestrian crosswalk. Early one morning before dawn a student using the un-signalized crosswalk from the parking lot across from the school was struck and killed by a truck. The school principle, city manager, and other city officials along with the local TxDOT district worked together to find a solution.

Since the pedestrian crossing is on a 5-lane (including a turn lane) state road (45 MPH), TxDOT determined a Hybrid Pedestrian Crosswalk to control traffic was the best solution, and was responsible for the installation. After weighing several factors, solar power was determined to be the best option to operate the system using a DC controller (Mikros EIC). The cost was considerably less by not using the electrical service or running traffic signal cable, and other combined factors saved approximately 2–3 weeks of construction time. The solar sizing report determined that two hybrid beacons faces (6 LEDs total) plus a pedestrian head and the DC controller with a built-in conflict monitor would be fully supported with one 140-watt solar panel and two 110 amp-hour batteries.

Wolfforth officials implemented a community educational campaign using local media outlets that a new crosswalk had been added and to inform motorists how to interpret the signals. Additionally, the principal initiated training with the students: teaching them how the system worked and how to use it correctly. During designated school periods and high traffic times, a Resource Officer is assigned to monitor the students to safeguard that they aren’t “trying to beat the pedestrian countdown timer.” The Resource Officer also ensures drivers are obeying the signals as well.

The public response has been “great.” There’s an understanding that vehicles and pedestrians both share the highway, and that pedestrians have the right-of-way when the lights are activated. The school principle adds “the students certainly appreciate the added safety feature, and have been trained very well to activate the system and wait. Sometimes teenagers are looked at as not listening, but when it comes to safety they are taking the proper steps.”

By Susan Marshall Electrotechnics Corporation (ELTEC)

On July 25, 2014 the FHWA approved a “new and improved” flash pattern for RRFB (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons) uncon-trolled pedestrian crossings. The new flash pattern is based on a flash cycle length of 800 milliseconds (ms) equaling 75 flash cycles per minute. It’s referenced as “WW+S” (Wig-Wag plus Simultaneous). The sequence is:

• Left beacon ON 50 ms Both beacons OFF 50 ms
• Right beacon ON 50 ms Both beacons OFF 50 ms
• Left beacon ON 50 ms Both beacons OFF 50 ms
• Right beacon ON 50 ms Both beacons OFF 50 ms
• Both beacons ON 50 ms Both beacons OFF 50 ms
• Both beacons ON 50 ms Both beacons OFF 250 ms

The interpretation was issued after the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) tested several flash patterns for their effectiveness. Two patterns were found to be equally effective, but to keep some “uniformity” the “simpler” WW+S flash sequence was approved. Additionally, the WW+S was chosen “because it has a greater percentage of dark time when both beacons of the RRFB are off and because the beacons are on for less total time.”

The FHWA continued “The greater percentage of dark time is important because this will make it easier for drivers to read the sign and to see the waiting pedestrian, especially under nighttime conditions.”

Any newly installed RRFB pedestrian crossings may use either the currently approved flash pattern (2/4-1) or the WW+S. Existing RRFB systems may continue to use the installed flash pattern, or can be converted to the WW+S flash pattern.

For more information on the published TTI study go to: TTI Website. Clarification of interpretations can be found here at MUTCD link.

New pedestrian, bike safety devices

By PHOEBE MUTHART | The Municipal
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Pedestrians who are crossing busy streets are often busy doing something else: listening to music, texting or talking on a phone. Those distracted walkers often fail to look both ways for traffic or follow other safety rules.

A study conducted during the summer in Seattle, Wash., may be the largest one yet to look at real-world pedestrians in this age of distraction. It found that more than 26 percent of the 1,000-plus walkers were using electronic devices as they navigated intersections where pedestrians had been hit in the past.

Louisville, Ky., installed a color pavement marking system on a number of bike lanes. (Photo courtesy of Transpo Industries)

Texters were nearly four times less likely than other pedestrians to follow safety rules, including looking both ways, staying in the cross-walk and obeying signals; and both texters and talkers took extra time to cross the street. Music-listeners walked faster but often failed to look for cars, according to researchers from the University of Wash-ington and Seattle Children’s Hospital.

The findings could help explain why pedestrian deaths are increas-ing nationwide even as other traffic-related deaths hit historic lows.

Walkers who text, just like drivers who text, may be most at risk, according to one of the researchers, Beth Ebel.

“Texting is pulling you out of where you are and putting your mind somewhere else. You’re on autopilot and that puts you on risk,” Ebel said.

During the study observed pedestrian behavior was generally in line with that collected by other researchers, including some who test pedestrian behavior in lab simulations.

“We are finding very clearly that it’s dangerous to be distracted when you cross the street,” said David Schwebel, a professor of psychology who runs a pedestrian behavior lab at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

In some of Schwebel’s experiments, people listening to music were more likely to be hit by virtual cars than those who were texting. He speculated that hearing cars may be at least as important as seeing them.

But Schwebel added that scientists also looked at talking on the phone, browsing the Internet, listening to music and talking to some-one next to you: All increased the risk for pedestrian injury.

Unpublished data from emergency room records shows injuries among pedestrians using cellphones increased steadily from 2005 to 2010, said Jack Nasar, a researcher at Ohio State University.

Some communities have considered fining distracted walkers. Schwebel said it may take that to change behavior.

Nasar favors taking steps such as posting “Put down your cellphone” signs at crosswalks and educating the public. “Parents should tell their children to put down their cellphones while walking,” he said.

Passive detection devices are a trend in pedestrian crossings designed to address the increased lack of attention that pedes-trians pay to nearby traffic. (Photo courtesy of Electrotechnics Corp.)

This pedestrian verification signal is acti-vated by a push button. (Photo courtesy of Electrotechnics Corp.)

Today’s technology provides additional solutions to the problem. New pedestrian crossing instruments include rectangular rapid flashing beacons, which have resulted in over 80 percent compliance. In some areas that level of compliance reached 98 percent, according to a study conducted by Electrotechnics Corp. of Marshall, Texas.

St. Petersburg, Fla., was one of the first cities to try the new approach. A study conducted at a crosswalk in St. Petersburg reported an injury rate of 49 people per 100,000 people before RRFB was installed. After, motorists’ compliance increased to an average of 82 percent.

“New RRFB technology is an affordable solution for rapidly increas-ing pedestrian safety and stimulating motorist compliance,” said Electrotechnics Corp. President Bill Marshall.

Certainly, RRFB are attention getters. The use of an optional indica-tor for pedestrians allows the pedestrian to see that the beacons are operating. Typical cost of material for a solar-powered operating. Typical cost of material for a solar-powered RRFB system consisting of two poles and signs is under $10,000.

“Texters and talkers took extra time to cross the street. Music-listeners walked faster but often failed to look for cars”

Color pavement marking is another effective bicycle and pedes-trian safety initiative. It can also be used for bus lanes, stops and other specifically designated areas.

“Color pavement marking increases safety by minimizing conflict between different road users. By making these special use lanes or areas — such as bicycle paths, crosswalks, pedestrian plazas and bus lanes — clearly marked with durable, highly visible color, the lanes are safer,” said Karen Dinitz, marketing and com-munications director for Transpo Indus-tries Inc. Materials for high friction surfacing and bridge overlays both increase preservation and sustainability as well as safety. Paint and other materials fade or delaminate, requiring regular maintenance. Long-lasting color makes maintaining safety features easier. Transpo also offers light pole and sign post breakaway sup-ports that are the standard for roadside safety.