Fort Worth - Pulse Magazine - Wavetronix

summer 2011 

Fort Worth 

Improving intersection safety and 

efficiency in one of the fastest growing 

cities in the U.S., p. 6 

CliCk ConneCtivity 

ITS networking and integration that’s 

both effective and simple to use, p. 11 

Battling BottleneCks 

An innovative system that mitigates 

backups and delays, p. 18 

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www.wavetronix.com 

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Vol 5 No 1 • Summer 2011 

Editorial 

PUBliSHEr 

David Arnold 

david.arnold@wavetronix.com 

Editor-iN-CHiEF 

Don Leavitt 

don.leavitt@wavetronix.com 

MaNaGiNG Editor 

Steven Baxter 

steve.baxter@wavetronix.com 

art & ProdUCtioN 

SENior art dirECtor 

Chris morgan 

chris.morgan@wavetronix.com 

GraPHiC dESiGNErS 

Dan Duckwitz, Andrew Porter, 

Chris morgan 

SUBSCriPtioNS 

SUBSCriPtioN MaNaGEr 

Dan Duckwitz 

daniel.duckwitz@wavetronix.com 

WEB SitE 

pulse.wavetronix.com 

PUBliSHEd By 

Wavetronix LLC 

78 e 1700 S 

Provo, uT 84606 

For more information about 

Wavetronix products: 

Web: www.wavetronix.com 

email: sales@wavetronix.com 

© 2011 Wavetronix llC. No 

part of this publication may 

be reproduced without the 

express permission of the 

publishers. 

Printed in the USA by Press 

media. 

Contents 

11,16 18 

Cover story 

Growing Pains 

6 DoN leaViTT 

Officials in Fort Worth, Texas, are 

using SmartSensors to improve 

safety and efficiency at intersections 

in a system that could be a 

model for other heavily congested 

cities. 

Departments 

News & Events 

4 See what’s happening in the 

traffic industry. 

22 

application Note 

Planning Applications Using 

Command Appliances. 

26 distributors 

Find a dealer in your area. 

Pulse Magazine • summer 2011 3 

6 

Feature artiCles 

Well Connected 

11 KalaNi Graham 

Since its inception, the Click product line has proven that ITS networking 

and integration can be both effective and simple to use. 

16 

10 Questions with david arnold 

In celebration of Wavetronix’ 10th anniversary, Pulse sits down 

with company founder David Arnold to discuss where the company 

has been, what it has accomplished, and where it’s going from here. 

18 

Battling Bottlenecks 

DoN leaViTT 

An innovative detection system in the Czech Republic uses SmartSensor 

HD to combat traffic bottlenecks caused by merging traffic. 

20 

Strategic Command 

KeViN BurTT 

How Illinois DOT District 8 uses Command to keep drivers informed of 

traffic conditions on both sides of the Mississippi River.

neWs & events 

Wavetronix names new 

north american sales 

Director 

Florida projects highlight 

Benefits of smartsensor 

Products from the SmartSensor 

line are playing major 

roles in two different Florida 

projects, and officials say 

drivers are reaping the benefits. 

In Charlotte County on 

Florida’s western coast, officials 

have recently installed 

SmartSensor Matrix at several 

intersections; while in Palm 

Beach County, the Florida 

Department of Transportation 

is installing SmartSensor 

HD along Interstate 95 as part 

of a comprehensive intelligent 

transportation system. 

At the beginning of 2011, 

Charlotte County officials installed 

SmartSensor Matrix 

at an intersection previously 

equipped with embedded loops 

that were no longer working. 

After a 30-day evaluation, the 

county was satisfied with the 

sensor’s performance and 

identified eight intersections 

for Matrix installation. So far, 

the sensor has been installed 

at six intersections, representing 

the first Matrix installations 

in Florida since the sensor was 

added to the state’s Approved 

Products List last December. 

Meanwhile, on Florida’s 

eastern coast, FDOT is implementing 

a system of sensors, 

cameras and variable message 

Wavetronix has hired Michael 

R. Kline to serve as director of 

North American sales. Kline 

has more than a decade of executive 

sales experience in the 

transportation market and will 

oversee Wavetronix’ sales operations 

throughout the United 

States and Canada. 

“We are very excited to have 

Michael on board,” says Mike 

Rose, vice president of sales 

at Wavetronix. “He brings a 

signs to better inform drivers 

of conditions and incidents 

on I-95. More than a hundred 

SmartSensor HD units 

will be installed in two phases 

to monitor vehicle speeds; 

FDOT is using the speed data 

to calculate trip times that are 

displayed on overhead VMS. 

Officials say the system is keeping 

traffic moving by keeping 

drivers informed of conditions. 

Phase one of the project is expected 

to be completed this 

summer; phase two should be 

completed in 2012. n 

Wavetronix sensors 

identified as outstanding 

products 

The radar traffic sensors designed 

and manufactured 

by Wavetronix were featured 

prominently in a recent survey 

of traffic engineers at 

public agencies. The survey 

asked traffic engineers at city, 

county and state departments 

of transportation to identify 

outstanding traffic engineering 

wealth of experience and we 

look forward to the opportunities 

he will create as he 

manages our growing presence 

in the domestic market.” 

As director of North American 

sales, Kline oversees the 

company’s North American 

sales channel and manages all 

domestic sales activities, including 

direct sales. Based at the 

Wavetronix regional sales office 

in Orlando, Florida, Kline will 

products, and SmartSensor 

Advance, SmartSensor HD and 

SmartSensor Matrix were all 

nominated. 

The survey was conducted 

by The Urban Transportation 

Monitor, a monthly publication 

devoted to current news 

on all modes and aspects related 

to urban transportation. 

Traffic engineers were specifically 

asked to name products 

that have proven to “either be 

a significant improvement over 

what was available previously or 

they should be totally new and 

have made significant inroads 

in solving existing problems.” 

A total of nine products 

were nominated. In naming 

the Wavetronix sensors, engineers 

noted HD’s ability 

to provide accurate vehicle 

and speed data and Matrix’s 

ability to accurately detect vehicles 

at the intersection stop 

bar. In nominating SmartSensor 

Advance, engineers said it 

“provides true dilemma zone 

protection by sensing vehicle 

speed, then adjusting the green 

time extension accordingly.” 

Results of the survey appeared 

in the March 2011 issue 

of The Urban Transportation 

Monitor. For more information 

about the publication, 

visit www.urban-transportation-monitor.com. 

n 

coordinate with the company’s 

regional sales managers to manage 

the relationship between 

Wavetronix and its network of 

authorized dealers. 

“I am thrilled to be a part of 

the Wavetronix family,” Kline 

says. “Wavetronix represents 

great products and great people, 

and my experience with 

Wavetronix has been nothing 

but positive.” n 

p a t e n t s 

new patents issued to 

Wavetronix 

The United States Patent and 

Trademark Office has granted 

three new patents to Wavetronix 

for technologies unique to 

SmartSensor Matrix. 

Patent numbers 7,889,097 

and 7,889,098 were issued February 

15, 2011; patent number 

7,924,170 was issued April 12, 

2011. The three patents protect 

Wavetronix’ method of 

detecting vehicles at the intersection 

stop bar and were 

originally filed as a single patent 

application. 

“We later divided them into 

three different applications, 

each addressing a different 

way of creating an aggregate 

sensor view,” says Thomas Karlinsey, 

director of engineering 

development at Wavetronix. 

An aggregate sensor view is 

fundamental to SmartSensor 

Matrix’s ability to create 

a highly consistent, two dimensional 

radar image of an 

intersection, technology that 

Wavetronix is marketing as 

Radar Vision. “Radar Vision 

is what sets Matrix apart from 

other intersection detectors 

and has made the sensor so 

successful,” Karlinsey says. n 

4 Pulse Magazine • summer 2011

study Finds advance ‘viable’ for video, loop replacement 

A study conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) 

has investigated a number of detectors used for signalized intersection 

control, and it has found SmartSensor Advance to be 

a viable option that Texas Department of Transportation and 

other agencies “can and should consider for replacement of video 

imaging systems and inductive loops.” 

Study 0-5845: Alternative Vehicle Detection Technologies for 

Traffic Signal Systems notes that TxDOT has used video imaging 

vehicle detection systems at signalized intersections for a number 

of years, “[e]ven though the accuracy of VIVDS for any presence 

detection is known to be inferior to inductive loops, and even 

more so during inclement weather, in changing light conditions, 

and during nighttime…” 

According to TTI, the purpose of this study was to identify 

detectors that would be viable candidates to replace both video 

and loops. After some initial research, TTI narrowed the field 

of study candidates down to three: magnetometers from Global 

Traffic Technologies and Sensys Networks; and the Wavetronix 

SmartSensor Advance. The study found the detection accuracy of 

all three to be “within a desirable range,” and indicated all three 

were viable options. “However,” the study notes, “a decision by 

TxDOT to remove all detection from the pavement would eliminate… 

magnetometers from further consideration.” 

In addressing SmartSensor Advance, the study correctly states 

that the radar unit only provides dilemma zone protection and is 

not intended for detection at the stop bar (for effective stop bar 

detection, Wavetronix offers the SmartSensor Matrix). “The radar 

detected gaps in traffic better than video and exhibited detection 

accuracy that was on par with video in good weather,” the study 

says. “It is not affected by weather or light, so its accuracy under 

adverse conditions would exceed video.” 

Although the study was conducted in 2008, the results are 

still very relevant today, according to Ian Lee of Twincrest Technologies, 

the authorized Wavetronix dealer in Texas. “TxDOT 

is recognized as a leader in the adoption of innovative traffic 

detection technology, and districts throughout the state are now 

utilizing radar detection,” Lee says. “Both SmartSensor Advance 

and SmartSensor Matrix have been added to TxDOT’s pre-qualified 

product list.” 

Inclusion on TxDOT’s pre-qualified product list means a product 

has been thoroughly evaluated and meets state specifications, 

and is not an endorsement of any product. n 

neWs & events 

technical news 

The following product updates have been approved 

for general release and are currently available online at 

www.wavetronix.com: 

smartsensor manager matrix 

1.2.0 

april 19, 2011 

New features include Counting 

and Pulsed Channel 

types; improved sensor 

discovery process; the ability 

to upgrade firmware on all 

sensors simultaneously; improved 

tracking algorithms; 

and an enhanced sensor 

failsafe mode. 

smartsensor manager hD 

1.4.3 

February 4, 2011 

This version contains 

new firmware to improve 

performance in heavy rain 

conditions and it supports 

three display sizes. Other improvements 

include: support 

for 15 languages; support 

for additional Click contact 

closure devices; the ability to 

save interval data log files 

in binary format to prevent 

tampering; and the ability to 

add password protection to 

the sensor. 

smartsensor manager advance 

3.0.2 

november 8, 2010 

New features include screen 

size magnification for easy 

July august september 


12 – 14 

imSa’s 2011 annual 

Conference, 

Bellevue, WA 

13 – 16 

iTe annual meeting 

and exhibit, 

St. louis, mo 

viewing; enhanced support 

for Click 112/114 rack cards; 

auto-discovery of sensors in 

a multi-drop network; and 

manual control to remove 

Z0 multi-drop prefixes. 

smartsensor manager matrix 

1.1.0 

october 27, 2010 

Features improved algorithms; 

increased number 

of user-definable zones and 

output channels; user-definable 

washout time; metric 

support; as well as “and/or” 

logic applied to zones. 

smartsensor manager advance 

3.0.1 

september 28, 2010 

Makes Simple Channel 

the default channel type; 

improves the alignment tool; 

and supports the new Smart- 

Sensor V hardware platform. 

smartsensor manager v 

september 9, 2010 

Available for new and previously 

installed versions of 

the SmartSensor V and 

SmartSensor 105. 

12 – 16 

Wavetronix Training 

14 – 16 

TexiTe Fall meeting, 

Garland, TX

Cover story 


Cover story 

growing pains 

by Don Leavitt 

Officials in Fort Worth, Texas, are using Smart- 

Sensors to improve safety and efficiency at 

intersections in a system that could be a model 

for other heavily congested cities. 

As the old saying goes, everything is bigger in 

Texas, and the city of Fort Worth certainly takes that 

sentiment to heart. With a population over 740,000, 

Fort Worth ranks as the 17th largest city in the United 

States and is recognized as one of the fastest growing 

cities in the country. 

Unfortunately, phenomenal growth means more vehicles on area 

roads, which has led to an increase in congestion that ranks among 

the worst in the nation. Today, Fort Worth deals with a broad range 

of traffic conditions on area freeways and arterials, with some of 

the greatest congestion occurring around intersections. 

Like many transportation agencies, the City of Fort Worth’s 

Transportation and Public Works Department recognizes the 

need to improve efficiency at intersections as a means of combating 

congestion. But officials say it can’t be done at the expense 

of safety. “As engineers, we are looking for a balance between 

safety and efficiency,” says J. Mark Mathis, P.E., the traffic services 

manager for Fort Worth. “We want our roadways to be safe for 

citizens, but we also know that the public’s frustration with excessive 

delay breeds disrespect.” 

For many years, Texas officials have led the nation in the 

adoption of traffic detection technologies, and as a result, Fort 

Worth has utilized a variety of technologies to detect vehicles at 

intersections. Recently, Fort Worth has started to install Smart- 

Sensor Advance and SmartSensor Matrix units at intersections, 

and the results have been surprising. According to Mathis, the 

city’s intersections have seen dramatic improvements in terms 

of both safety and efficiency, and so far, the sensors have worked 

well enough to become the detection standard for Fort Worth. 

growing pains 

Since 2000, Fort Worth’s population has grown by a stunning 

38.6 percent, a rate that outpaced any other Texas metropolitan 

area and places Fort Worth in the top five fastest growing cities in 

America. That population surge has resulted in a sharp increase 

in the number of vehicles on area roads, and today, Fort Worth 

is considered one of the most heavily congested regions for automobile 

traffic in the country. One study, conducted by Inrix, Inc., 

ranked Fort Worth at number 4 out of the top 10 worst traffic 

congested cities in the US; another study conducted by the Texas 

Transportation Institute found that Fort Worth residents waste 

Pulse Magazine • summer 2011 7

Cover story 

approximately 51 hours per year waiting in 

traffic, and based on that data, TTI ranked 

Fort Worth the 20th most congested city 

in the country. In 2010, the Texas Department 

of Transportation named several Fort 

Worth roads among the 100 worst in the 

state, including a stretch of Interstate 35 on 

Fort Worth’s north side that sees approximately 

340,000 hours of delay annually. 

“As a city, Fort Worth is very spread out, 

and historically, the automobile has been 

our most preferred method of transportation,” 

Mathis explains. “As a result, we are 

faced with a number of traffic conditions, 

from arterial streets that are over-saturated 

at peak travel demand periods, to urban 

street grids with short blocks, to rural 

roadways with higher posted speeds.” 

According to Mathis, a lot of that congestion 

gets concentrated at intersections, 

especially during peak demand times, and 

Fort Worth residents notice it. “When congestion 

gets bad, people get angry,” Mathis 

says. “If they are sitting at a light and traffic 

isn’t moving efficiently, they feel like we’ve 

failed them. And if the congestion around 

an intersection is unsafe, that increases 

their frustration.” 

Unfortunately, Fort Worth is limited 

in how it can solve its congestion problems. 

“Limited resources make it difficult 

and more expensive to build new roads, so 

it’s important we get better use out of the 

roads we have,” Mathis says. As a result, 

Fort Worth is looking more and more to 

technologies that can help them manage 

“Limited resources make 

it difficult and more 

expensive to build new 

roads, so it’s important 

we get better use 

out of the roads we 

have.” — Mark Mathis, P.E. 

existing roads more effectively. For example, 

TxDOT launched TransVISION 

in Fort Worth, a localized intelligent transportation 

system that serves as a link in 

the overall ITS program for the Dallas- 

Fort Worth Metroplex. TransVISION uses 

real-time information to address traffic 

problems on state roads and highways 

around the city, in an effort to give the 

driving public the ability to make more 

informed decisions. Many elements of 

the system are now operational and are 

managed from the TransVISION traffic 

operations center in southwest Fort Worth. 

“That system addresses problems at the 

state level, but we face the same kinds of 

problems locally,” says Mathis. “As a city, 

we are also using technology to make our 

intersections safer and more efficient.” 

intersection Detection 

Like most urban areas, Fort Worth’s local 

traffic system is a hybrid of many different 

methods and technologies that has evolved 

over the years. Mathis says most intersections 

are managed according to their size 

and location. “We have fixed-time systems 

in our downtown area where our city 

blocks are only 225 feet long,” he explains, 

“and time-based, coordinated systems on 

our major arterials. More isolated traffic 

signals are fully actuated.” 

In order for intersections to function 

properly, Mathis says it is critical that vehicles 

are accurately detected, and Fort 

Worth has utilized both embedded and 

non-intrusive technologies to generate 

the necessary data. “We still rely primarily 

on inductive loop detection, which has 

been an accurate and reliable technology 

through the years,” says Mathis. However, 

there have been drawbacks to using loops, 

including the cost and inconvenience to 

install and maintain them. “Loops do have 

high failure rates,” Mathis says. “We spend 

approximately $200,000 per year in contract 

loop replacement.” 

In an effort to reduce those costs, Fort 

Worth deployed non-intrusive video imaging 

vehicle detection systems (VIVDS), 

and the city still maintains video-based 

systems at about 12 percent of its signalized 

intersections. “Unfortunately, we 

have found VIVDS to be problematic in 


terms of detection during certain hours 

of the day and night,” Mathis says. “And 

the system can be expensive to maintain 

and replace as cameras and processors age.” 

In recent years, Texas officials have 

begun to deploy radar-based detection systems 

as a way to reduce costs and improve 

non-intrusive detection accuracy. Like video, 

radar sensors install above the ground, 

eliminating many of the costs associated 

with loops; but unlike video, radar continues 

to detect vehicles accurately despite 

changes in weather or lighting conditions. 

TxDOT has had success deploying radar 

detection on interstates and highways, and 

officials in Fort Worth have paid attention. 

“We are always open to new technology 

that can help us serve our citizens,” Mathis 

says. “Obviously, we do not have the fiscal 

resources to make a wholesale change from 

one detection technology to another, but as 

new, promising technology has developed, 

we have explored and tested it to see if it 

might fit our needs in our system.” 

shift to smartsensor 

That process of identifying a need and evaluating 

possible solutions led Fort Worth 

officials to SmartSensor Advance. “We 

were faced with a particular problem of 

needing reliable dilemma zone detection 

on a high-speed, rural roadway,” Mathis 

says. “We started looking at the market 

place for a detection system that could 

fulfill that need.” 

What they found was SmartSensor Advance, 

a device designed by Wavetronix 

specifically for dilemma zone detection. 

Advance detects vehicles from as far as 

500 feet away from the intersection, and 

“We were getting two or three 

phone calls a week from 

citizens frustrated at getting 

caught at the intersection. After 

we installed Advance, the calls 

stopped.” — Mark Mathis, P.E. 

continuously tracks the speed and range 

of individual vehicles to determine their 

estimated time of arrival at the intersection 

stop bar. If any vehicles are detected 

within the intersection’s dilemma zone, 

Advance alerts the controller to extend 

the green light to ensure that all detected 

vehicles pass safely through the intersection. 

Interest in Advance increased in 

2008, after another Texas Transportation 

Institute study identified the sensor as a 

viable option for loop and video replacement. 

Wavetronix is represented in Texas 

by Twincrest Technologies of Mansfield, 

an authorized Wavetronix dealer. 

Officials installed Advance at a number 

of intersections and were pleased with the 

results. “Once the SmartSensor was installed 

and set up, we closed the controller 

cabinet and did not go back for months,” 

Mathis says. “With loops and video systems, 

it was not unusual for us to visit 

controller cabinets on a monthly, sometimes 

even weekly basis, in order to tweak 

the system.” However, for Mathis, the real 

test was to see if Advance would reduce the 

number of driver complaints. “We were 

getting two or three phone calls a week 

from citizens frustrated at getting caught 

at the intersection,” Mathis says. “After we 

installed Advance, the calls stopped.” 

enter the matrix 

With the positive results the city saw from 

its Advance deployments, officials in Fort 

Worth were eager to try the stop bar presence 

detection offered by SmartSensor 

Matrix. “Stop bar presence detection has 

been shown to be one of the most effective 

methods for intersection management,” 

Mathis says. “We were very interested to see 

if radar could provide presence detection as 

well as loops, without the negative effects 

that weather and light can have on video.” 

SmartSensor Matrix is the first multilane 

radar device designed specifically for 

stop bar presence detection. It generates 

16 separate, high resolution radar beams 

to create a 90-degree field of view with a 

100-foot range. This view is used to create 

a high contrast, two-dimensional image 

of an approach that tracks vehicles, distinguishes 

lanes and accurately detects 

vehicle presence. 

Cover story 

“The sensors have worked 

so well, we are now looking 

for funding opportunities 

to install the radar systems 

throughout the city in 

place of loops and aging 

VIVDS.” — Mark Mathis, P.E. 

Mathis says the evaluation of Matrix 

went as well as the city’s test of Advance, 

and city officials have been happy with 

the results. “We found Matrix was just as 

reliable and just as easy to install and configure,” 

Mathis says. The city has started 

to install Matrix at all newly-built and reconstructed 

signalized intersections and 

is looking forward to expanding both Advance 

and Matrix deployments. “To date, 

we have one intersection operating with 

both Advance and Matrix, six operating 

with a combination of Advance and other 

technologies, and nine intersections that 

are operating just on Matrix,” he says. “The 

sensors have worked so well, we are now 

looking for funding opportunities to install 

the radar systems throughout the city in 

place of loops and aging VIVDS.” 

The city is also looking at the Matrix 

sensor for other applications as well. “Fort 

Worth is installing more and more dedicated 

bike lanes within our city core,” says 

Mathis, “and we are looking to retrofit 

those traffic signals along the lanes with 

Matrix to call up a longer green so that 

the cyclist can get through the intersection 

safely.” 

Mathis says Fort Worth’s use of Advance 

and Matrix has been very successful and 

can serve as a model for other cities dealing 

with similar problems of growth and 

congestion. “SmartSensor Advance and 

SmartSensor Matrix have made our work 

simpler and they have made our service to 

our citizens better,” he says. “This is now our 

standard for vehicle detection systems.” n 



Our customers have always known that SmartSensor HD is one of a kind. 

That’s because value isn’t measured just in dollars, but in performance. 

Our true high defi nition radar detections provide the most accurate tra� c 

data of any radar-based sensor. When accuracy counts, the world counts 

on SmartSensor HD. 

PREMIER PERFORMANCE

Well Connected 

By Kalani Graham 

Since its inception, the Click 

product line has proven that ITS 

networking and integration can be 

both effective and simple to use. 

When Wavetronix began to develop the original 

SmartSensor, it set out to create a more accurate and 

reliable way to detect traffic. The result was the first 

radar device designed specifically for traffic detection. 

Since 2002, the products in the SmartSensor 

family have consistently outperformed competitive devices in terms 

of accuracy and reliability, effectively changing the way transportation 

agencies around the world view the collection of traffic data. 

Similarly, the Wavetronix Click line has been a game changer 

in the way that traffic engineers think about network connectivity. 

Click devices provide power and communication solutions that 

connect the sensors installed at roadside with the traffic cabinets 

or traffic operations centers that use the data to positively impact 

commutes. From its beginning as a single contact closure device, 

the Click product line has evolved into an entire suite of solutions 

designed with one purpose in mind — to make network integration 

as simple and uncomplicated as possible. 

humble Beginnings 

Like many innovations, Click was born of necessity. “As the original 

SmartSensor was being developed, we identified a need to 

integrate our sensor’s data into traffic controllers,” says David 

Arnold, president and CEO at Wavetronix. Typical traffic controllers 

operate as contact closures and would not be able to 

communicate with SmartSensor. “We needed to develop a way 

to convert SmartSensor’s serial data into contact closures so that 

the data could be used by controllers,” Arnold says. 

The result of that early effort was the Click 100, a DIN railmounted 

module that installed easily into existing cabinets. It was 

followed closely by the Click 172 and 174, two- and four-channel 

cards that integrated seamlessly with a cabinet’s input file rack. 

Feature artiCle 

With these devices in place, SmartSensor suddenly became an 

attractive alternative to agencies that were reluctant to change 

existing systems. “Once we had a contact closure solution in 

place,” Arnold says, “DOTs saw that they could take advantage 

of SmartSensor’s accuracy without having to alter their existing 

system infrastructure.” 

Next, Wavetronix engineers turned their attention to electrical 

surges and the need to protect SmartSensor from potentially 

severe damage. “Roadside installations are notoriously hostile 

environments, and power surges are one of the most common 

reasons why traffic devices fail,” says Arnold. “We created the 

Click 200 to provide surge protection that met our specifications 

and allowed us to offer a full warranty on our sensors.” 

The Click 200 proved to be a valuable addition to the Click 

product family, and for the first time, Wavetronix began grouping 

Click products according to functions. “The 100 series was 

devoted to simple inputs and outputs, while the 200 series consisted 

of surge protection and power supplies,” Arnold says. “With 

those things in place, it was time to tackle our next biggest hurdle, 

which was the reliable delivery of SmartSensor data.” 

simple Connectivity 

The need for effective network communication became even 

more apparent as SmartSensor sales increased and Wavetronix 

expanded its presence in the ITS market. “We had developed a 

sensor that was superior in terms of data quality, and we found 

many agencies could not take full advantage of SmartSensor’s 

accuracy because of poor network communications,” says Arnold. 

Communication modules were nothing new, but Wavetronix 

found that many of the products available in the market 

were complicated to use and often unreliable. “We had certain 



specifications that weren’t met by existing 

products,” Arnold says. “So we set out to 

create our own and came up with a design 

that was easy to use, simple to configure 

and that offered a variety of communication 

options to our customers.” 

First, Click communication modules 

use a T-bus connector to eliminate most 

of the wiring required between devices. 

“Each Click unit receives power and communication 

through the T-bus,” Arnold 

explains. “If a device needs wiring work 

done, removable screw terminals make 

the initial wiring and any future device 

replacements very easy to complete.” 

Second, most Click devices mount to 

a DIN rail, and they all share a common 

configuration tool. “Having separate configuration 

software for each device would 

only add to the problem of traffic cabinets 

that are complicated and difficult to maintain,” 

Arnold says. “We spent a great deal of 

time developing the Click Supervisor configuration 

tool so that the entire product 

line could be installed quickly and configured 

or reconfigured in a matter of minutes.” 

That simple connectivity extends across 

the product line, which now includes a 

range of both wired and wireless communication 

options. “Cabled communications, 

such as serial, Ethernet or USB connections, 

are still very common in ITS and 

traffic control applications,” Arnold says. 

“But wireless connections are becoming 

more prevalent, so we’ve expanded Click 

to include a number of radio links as well.” 

Custom Cabinets 

Once communication devices were in 

place, Wavetronix turned its attention to 

the development of cabinet enclosures 

and back plates. “The goal was to create 

a cabinet that can accommodate as many 

Wavetronix and third-party devices as 

possible without becoming cluttered,” 

says Kevin Hurst, an electrical engineer 

at Wavetronix who helped developed Click 

Cabinet Systems. “Typical traffic cabinets 

are assembled by multiple contractors 

with no thought given to how the equipment 

in the cabinet should be organized, 

so we created Click Cabinet Systems to 

bring consistency and order to the cabinet 

design process.” 

Click Cabinet Systems are pre-assembled 

cabinets built to customer 

specifications and shipped ready to 

install. They utilize an innovative colorcoded 

wiring system that keeps the cabinet 

well-organized and helps eliminate wiring 

mistakes in the field. They also feature a 

software design tool that allows users to 

customize cabinets before they are built. 

“Click cabinets are a revolutionary concept,” 

Hurst says. “They allow customers to get 

what they need in a form that is consistent 

from cabinet to cabinet.” 

Wavetronix has taken cabinet customization 

one step further with a series of 

devices designed for custom cabinet-level 

applications. “The Click 500 series includes 

programmable modules that allow 

applications to be developed and rolled 

out quickly,” Arnold says. “To date, we’ve 

created applications that include a digital 

input/output repeater, several alerts that 

filter data from our SmartSensor HD, and 

an event logger.” 

Future Development 

Of course, Wavetronix 

won’t stop there. Engineers 

are already planning the 

next generation of Click 

products, with several 

improvements designed 

to make them even easier 

to use: an expanded Tbus 

pin count that will 

allow multiple power and 

communication lines 

to run simultaneously; 

technologies for remote 

diagnostics; and a redesigned, web-based 

configuration tool that will eliminate the 

need for frequent software updates. Despite 

these improvements, Arnold acknowledges 

that the future of Click lies not in individual 

devices, but in cabinet systems. 

“Traffic cabinets need to evolve beyond 

their current state, with numerous communication 

devices thrown together and 

haphazardly wired,” Arnold says. “Cabinets 

need to be better organized, easy to 

configure, and simple to maintain. As ITS 

networks get more complicated, Click 

Cabinet Systems will be well positioned 

to ensure that network communications 

continue uninterrupted, and that traffic systems 

remain technologically current.” n 

Kalani Graham is a software developer 

at Wavetronix and manager of the Click 

product line. 


Putting all the pieces together has never been so easy. 

Click Cabinet Systems 

• Pre-assembled and ready to install 

• Consistent cabinet design 

• Custom, color-coded terminal labels for easy wiring 

• Easy to maintain and troubleshoot 

• Full design and product documentation included 

• Built, tested and supported by Wavetronix 




Rise above 

Nonintrusive, Digital Wave Radar sensors from Wavetronix provide safe, accurate, and coste� 

ective vehicle detection for a variety of applications that leave the competition buried.

the road. 

www.wavetronix.com


10 Questions with 

David arnold 

In celebration of Wavetronix’ 10th 

anniversary, Pulse sits down with 

company founder David Arnold to 

discuss where the company has been, 

what it has accomplished, and where 

it’s going from here. 

Wavetronix isn’t just any company. In the past 

10 years, Wavetronix has grown from a virtual unknown 

to an internationally-respected leader in 

radar traffic detection, and it has done it without 

much fanfare. By combining a focus on solving customer 

problems with a desire to constantly be better, the company 

has quietly built a reputation for excellence that is manifest in a 

high level of employee and customer loyalty. 

Since founding the company in 2000, Wavetronix president 

and CEO David Arnold has seen a lot of growth in his employees, 

his customers, and in the way transportation agencies think 

about traffic detection. Quiet and unassuming, Arnold leads his 

company through that growth and is pleased with the success 

Wavetronix has achieved. Looking back over the past decade, 

Arnold talks about the goals his company has met, and the plans 

he has for the company’s future. 

Pulse: When you think about Wavetronix after 10 years, what 

stands out in your mind? 

David Arnold: The most notable thing is to see how far we’ve 

come. It doesn’t matter where I go in the United States, I see 

SmartSensors installed along major roads. It used to be that 

no one knew who we were, and now we are well-known, even 

internationally. It’s not just that people know us; it’s the reputation 

we’ve developed and maintained. I’m very pleased with the 

reputation we have, and it’s very rewarding to see the progress 

we’ve made as a company. 

Pulse: What accomplishments mean the most to you? 

DA: First, there is the effect we’ve had on customers. It’s not just 

seeing sensors on the road, but knowing how those sensors have 

impacted our customers. Then there is the effect that our business 

has had on our employees. Nothing makes me happier than to 

see the growth of employees. Watching our employees develop 

and knowing that we are solving customer problems, those are 

the things that have been most gratifying. 

Pulse: How has that attention to customer problems influenced 

the way Wavetronix conducts its business? 

DA: It’s about talking to customers and finding out how our 

sensors have improved traffic. We are a very customer-centric 

company. When I travel, I ask a lot of questions, not just about 

the products we are currently selling, but also about what the customer 

needs. Our responsibility is to understand the customer’s 

problem so that we can create effective solutions, so we listen and 

try to understand the problem completely so that we get the solution 

right. As a result, we’ve solved some really wicked problems, 

most notably at the intersection with SmartSensor Advance and 

Matrix. Those sensors were huge steps forward, and they 

are a result of our efforts to understand our customers’ 

problems, and our commitment to solving them. 


Pulse: How do these accomplishments 

match up with the goals you had when 

you started the company? 

DA: I had four main goals when I started 

the company, and I believe all of them 

have been met to some degree. The first 

goal was personal, to do something that 

challenged me. I truly was an engineer 

with limited business experience. Today, 

I have extensive business experience 

that extends globally. From 

a personal perspective, it has 

been very successful, in terms of 

achieving my goals for personal 

career development. 

Pulse: And the other goals? 

DA: From a business perspective, 

I wanted to create a company that 

allowed others to have the same 

opportunity for career development. 

I had been a university 

professor, where the focus is on 

the development of students. I wanted to 

bring that same environment into business 

and create a company that provided a lot 

of career growth for individual employees. 

I look at many of our employees and can 

see definite growth over the last 10 years. 

My next goal was to create a product 

that made a big impact on society, something 

that would solve customer problems 

and satisfy a public need. HD and Matrix 

are doing that, and both are recognized 

as the best products in their class. But my 

favorite product to date is SmartSensor 

Advance. I look at what we’ve done with 

Advance, and there is no question that it 

is saving lives and affecting traffic. 

My final goal was to make money. Most 

businessmen put that first, but I believe 

that if you do the other two things correctly, 

then you will make money. When 

you have good employees who feel challenged 

and valued; when you produce 

good products that solve customer problems, 

then you make more money, which 

allows you to invest more in research and 

development, which gives your employees 

more opportunities to grow, which 

creates new products to solve new problems, 

and so on. 

Pulse: How does that philosophy affect 

the future goals you have for Wavetronix? 

DA: Well, I’m very pleased with the way 

customers have adopted our products to 

solve problems. That has led to continuous 

revenue growth, which is enabling us to 

solve even more problems. To date, all of 

our profits have gone back into research 

and development. We have solved some 

big problems, but they’re nothing compared 

to the problems we anticipate being 

able to solve in the next 10 years. 

Pulse: It really is a very symbiotic relationship 

that Wavetronix has with its 

customers, isn’t it? 

DA: The customers who buy our products 

aren’t just purchasing a product; they are 

enabling us to invest in the development of 

even more solutions to even more problems. 

I am very grateful for the customers who 

recognize the quality of the products we 

sell, because they allow us to do even more. 

Pulse: So where do you see Wavetronix in 

another 10 years? 

DA: I see two things. First, I really do believe 

that the problems we solve in the next 

10 years will be greater than those we’ve 

solved to date. As our revenue continues to 

grow, and we continue to invest in research 

and development, there really is no limit to 

what we will be able to accomplish. Second, 

we will continue to take solutions we’ve 

created domestically to the international 

market, and I expect our international 


business to increase dramatically. We have 

become an international company, and it 

has been very rewarding to travel to other 

countries, like China and England, and see 

our sensors and know that we are solving 

problems, not just in our own country, but 

around the world. We will continue to expand 

globally. We have plans for additional 

regional offices, and use of our products 

worldwide will increase. 

“When I travel, I ask a lot of questions, not just about the products we 

are currently selling, but also about what the customer needs. Our 

responsibility is to understand the customer’s problem so that we 

can create effective solutions, so we listen and try to understand the 

problem completely so that we get the solution right.” — DaviD arnolD 

Pulse: How will that growth affect the 

other services that Wavetronix offers? 

DA: The most immediate effects will be on 

our training and service programs. Currently, 

we have more than 100 hours of 

extensive training on our products and 

how to use them to solve problems. That 

training will continue to develop. And our 

customer service and technical support 

program is one of the best in the industry, 

and it will continue to grow and become 

more global in nature as our overseas business 

expands. 

Pulse: What one thing do you believe 

drives the Wavetronix commitment to 

excellence? 

DA: We’ve tried to create a team of skilled, 

talented people, and we share the same 

desire to constantly improve. We aren’t 

content with the status quo. When we 

reach a certain level of performance, 

we’re not satisfied, but we’re constantly 

trying to find ways to be better than we 

are. As a result, I believe the future will 

see some very impressive solutions from 

Wavetronix. n 



Battling Bottlenecks 

by Don Leavitt 

are defined as a condition or situation 

that impedes or halts free movement and progress, 

and that certainly applies to traffic. Traffic bottlenecks 

are nothing new. As long as there has been traffic, there 

An innovative detection system in the Czech 

have been situations that have caused too many vehicles 

Republic uses SmartSensor HD to combat traffic to try and share too little road, bringing the normal flow of traffic 

bottlenecks caused by merging traffic.Bottlenecks 

to a standstill. 

Each day, major roads around the world become parking lots 

when accidents, stalled vehicles, construction zones and other 

traffic disruptions block lanes and constrict the free movement 

of vehicles. One common cause of bottlenecks is a traffic phenomenon 

known in some locations as zip merging, in which a 


lane of traffic ends and vehicles in that 

lane are forced to merge into the remaining 

lanes. During peak commute times, 

these roadway configurations can become 

heavily congested. Now, a unique detection 

system in the Czech Republic is using 

SmartSensor HD to monitor these zipmerge 

locations, in an effort to mitigate 

backups and keep traffic flowing. 

The CONGMAN system is the result 

of a partnership between Far Data Ltd., 

GLP, of Poland, and the Transport Research 

Centre, a company that operates 

as part of the Czech Republic’s Ministry 

of Transport. More than two years ago, 

the two companies joined forces to create 

an intelligent transportation system using 

high resolution radar to effectively manage 

traffic bottlenecks. The project’s main objective 

was to develop a system that could 

influence driver navigation at locations 

where drivers are forced to merge because 

their lane ends. 

“The system uses real time traffic flow 

and vehicle speed data to inform drivers,” 

says Hubert Nagorny, manager of Far Data’s 

sales office in Wroclaw. “Drivers know 

if they should remain in the ending lane, 

or if they should proceed to merge fluently 

without reducing speeds and interfering 

with drivers in the continuous lane.” 

This dynamic zip management system 

consists of two SmartSensor HDs on portable 

trailers. The first sensor is located at 

the merge point to measure flow rate and 

vehicle speeds; the other sensor is installed 

along with an LED display sign at a spot 

approximately 1000 meters ahead of the 

merge point. According to Nagorny, the 

system responds to a minimal speed of 50 

kilometres per hour (31.1 miles per hour) 

and updates its data inputs every 30 seconds. 

“Under optimal conditions, the system is 

able to control traffic flow without formation 

of queues longer than one kilometre, 

up to 2,000 vehicles per hour,” Nagorny 

says. “For full effectiveness, drivers must 

keep the capacity of both lanes up to the 

closure point.” 

The system can be controlled remotely 

and will operate in either automatic or 

manual modes, depending on conditions. 

Communication between devices 

“The system uses real time 

traffic flow and vehicle speed 

data to inform drivers. Drivers 

know if they should remain 

in the ending lane, or if they 

should proceed to merge 

fluently without reducing 

speeds and interfering with 

drivers in the continuous 

lane.” — hubErt nagorny 

is performed wirelessly, and IP cameras 

and weather stations provide additional 

information about road conditions, such 

as fog or snowfall. Based on the information 

provided by the sensors, LED signs 

display graphics that indicate to drivers 

the ideal place to merge. And because the 

stations are portable, they can respond 

quickly to almost any situation resulting 

in lane closures. 

“So far, we have been very pleased with the 

performance of this system,” Nagorny says. 

Far Data has made a name for itself in 

creating innovative detection systems like 

CONGMAN. The company also created 

the award-winning ENVIRO 151 system, 

a unique environmental monitoring station 

that consists of a variety of sensors 

continuously collecting noise levels, traffic 

volumes and environmental conditions, 

such as temperature, humidity, wind speed 

and air pollution levels. “ENVIRO 151 has 

been designed for constant and long-term 

registration of ongoing environmental 

conditions,” says Nagorny. “It features a 

modular design that enables a free configuration 

that can be adjusted to the individual 

needs of a particular customer.” To date, 

the ENVIRO 151 system has been successfully 

implemented at several locations 


throughout Poland, and in 2008, the system 

received a gold medal for innovation 

at the POLEKO International Trade Fair 

for Environmental Protection. 

Like CONGMAN, the ENVIRO 151 

system uses SmartSensor HD for traffic detection 

because it is non-intrusive, works 

in all weather conditions and is highly accurate. 

“With SmartSensor HD, we don’t 

need to install any instruments within the 

road itself, and the sensor’s resistance to 

difficult weather conditions like snow and 

fog gives it a considerable advantage over 

video systems,” Nagorny says. “It’s worth 

pointing out, too, that the sensor can 

measure 10 lanes of traffic simultaneously 

and provides accurate traffic parameter 

measurements, including classification of 

vehicles and vehicle speeds.” 

News of the CONGMAN system’s 

success is spreading beyond the Czech Republic 

and Poland. In fact, interest in the 

system is being generated in the United 

States. “We recently installed one CONG- 

MAN mobile station in the state of Rhode 

Island for testing,” Nagorny says. “As a 

potential partner in researching bottleneck 

management using ITS, the Rhode 

Island Department of Transportation is 

very interested in this project.” n 



strategic 

Command 

by Kevin Burtt 

How Illinois DOT District 8 

uses Command Collector 

and Translator to keep 

drivers informed of traffic 

conditions on both sides of 

the Mississippi River. 

t the martin luther king Bridge in st. louis, mo 

Collinsville, Illinois, is a small 

town with big city traffic. With a 

population just broaching 30,000, 

Collinsville is home to the headquarters 

of Illinois Department 

of Transportation’s District 8, which is 

responsible for the commuter traffic on 

Interstate 70/55 heading into and out of St. 

Louis, Missouri. Each day, this route can 

see over 140,000 vehicles (based on average 

annual daily traffic counts provided 

by IDOT in 2009), more than four times 

the town’s reported population. 

IDOT District 8 faces a number of 

challenges in managing this traffic. First, 

St. Louis lies in another state, just a few 

miles to the west on the other side of the 

Mississippi River. Much of the useful traffic 

data available from the Missouri side is 

handled by a different agency with a different 

system. How can District 8 manage 

disparate data sources, calculate accurate 

travel times, and inform daily commuters 

of current traffic conditions in a timely 

manner? Second, commuters have two 

options for crossing the river: the Poplar 

Street Bridge; or the Martin Luther King 

Bridge just a few miles to the north. How 

can District 8 detect sudden congestion on 

one or both of these routes? And how can 

it inform commuters of that congestion 

quickly enough so that drivers have the 

opportunity to change routes before they 

become snarled in congestion themselves? 

To keep drivers informed, District 8 

has implemented a traveler information 

system that incorporates variable message 

signs, radio and the Internet, and 

Wavetronix Command products feature 

prominently in that system. Command 

software has been designed to handle 

complicated data collection and management 

problems, and the Command 

Collector and Translator modules are 

playing an integral part in gathering 

data from multiple sources and making 

that information available to users in a 

variety of formats. 


Data Collection 

The first step in generating useful traveler 

information is to gather together as much 

real-time traffic data as possible. On the 

Illinois side of the river, traffic on I-70/55 

is monitored by three different types of 

detectors: Wavetronix SmartSensor HDs; 

3M microloops; and Autoscope SoloPro 

cameras. Each device delivers data in a 

different format, and this poses a data 

collection problem for District 8 — how 

can different data formats be gathered 

efficiently and then used effectively by a 

single system? 

The solution lies with Command 

Collector’s ability to manage data from 

multiple sources. Collector uses a unique 

driver system that connects to each device 

using its own protocol, allowing 

data collection by one system into one 

primary database. 

District 8’s data collection problem 

is complicated further because some of 

the information it needs comes from 

the other side of the river. The detection 

devices used by Missouri DOT are not 

directly accessible to IDOT, but MoDOT 

has made the data available to District 8 

in an XML file format that is posted to an 

FTP site and updated at regular intervals. 

The challenge for IDOT is to integrate 

this data with the traffic information from 

its own system. To accomplish this, District 

8 uses Command Translator, which 

manages and “translates” data inputs 

and outputs to bridge a variety of different 

systems. Working on an automated 

schedule, Translator downloads the most 

recent MoDOT data files from the FTP 

site and combines them with the existing 

traffic data in the Collector database. 

Format translation 

Once data is available for the entire 

commuter route, the Translator travel 

time engine queries current speeds for 

each segment of the two primary commuter 

routes, and estimates driving 

times. Then every 

minute, Translator 

automatically connects 

to each of five 

different roadside 

message signs, providing 

immediate 

updates for traffic 

conditions on 

both routes to St. 

Louis, so commuters 

can decide at a 

moment’s notice 

which route is more 

efficient to travel. 

Having a pool 

of accurate, realtime 

speed data is 

a valuable resource 

for any organization. 

Translator 

opens the door for 

this data to be used 

in a variety of ways, 

without any additional 

software 

required. In addition 

to District 


8’s VMS travel times, Translator also 

converts current traffic conditions into 

a Voice XML file, which is converted directly 

into an audio file and broadcast 

automatically over the local Highway Advisory 

Radio System; and it copies current 

speeds for each sensor location into the 

IDOT database, where it is automatically 

updated on the public Web map, so 

potential commuters can see at a glance 

what current traffic is like over the entire 

geographical area. These conversions take 

place simultaneously, so the information 

delivered to drivers via VMS is identical 

to the information available on the radio 

and the Web. 

Altogether, District 8 runs over 25 

processes through their Translator server, 

gathering data and processing it in a 

variety of outputs on regular 60-second 

schedules. In order to ensure that everything 

works as scheduled, both Collector 

and Translator contain a Web-based interface 

accessible through any browser. 

The Collector interface shows the status 

of all devices, whether they are communicating 

with Collector or not, and 

what their most recent data looks like; 

many sensor configuration options can 

also be set through the Web, without 

having to use separate software or visit 

the sensor’s physical location. Meanwhile, 

the Translator interface keeps track of 

all automated processes, whether they 

succeeded or failed, and when the next 

scheduled event will occur. Each process 

can be paused or disabled, or run manually 

as needed. 

Like many agencies, IDOT District 8 

in Collinsville utilizes data from many 

disparate sources, and is tasked with making 

everything work together. Command 

software is a big part of their solution, allowing 

data collection and management 

through a wide variety of automated 

inputs and outputs, all designed to get 

as much real-time information to daily 

commuters as possible. n 

Kevin Burtt is the Command product manager 

at Wavetronix. 


photo by brock roseberry

appliCation note 

AN-0007 

Command appliances are designed to meet the needs of planning departments 

that depend on consistent, accurate data and the ability to 

output data in properly organized reports for federal and state purposes. 

Command Collector supports: 

Custom driver System — Supports many of the most popular data 

collection devices in use today. 

Custom Collection interval — Allows devices to be queried according 

to need — three times a minute for real-time needs, or once a 

day for a daily download of recent data. 

‘Gap-free’ data — Necessary for planning departments that depend 

on reliable data without holes. 

Collector will keep track of any missing intervals during normal 

collection, and will attempt to fill in the gaps with older data while 

connected to the device. 

Existing Tra�c 

Database 

Radar 

Data Logger 

Figure 1. System Overview 

Translator 

Collector 

planning applications 

using Command appliances 

Command Translator provides the means to convert data from one 

form to another on an automated, scheduled basis. Sample translations 

may include moving data from Collector to a legacy database, 

or to flat file for other processing or reporting purposes. Translator 

can also take data that already exists in flat file form and convert it to 

Collector form, or branch it into the normal processing data flow, so 

that all incoming data is handled and exported consistently. 

DataView provides planners a manual tool for importing, cleaning and 

publishing data. DataView can import data from a number of common 

data formats such as TmG, Peek PrN and CSV, or import data directly 

from one or more Collectors. Data can be automatically flagged for 

invalid or abnormal values, and then manually checked and edited. 

Once cleaned, data can be published to a separate database from the 

original raw data, and then exported either to flat files or to a variety 

of template reports serving different purposes. 

Data Files 

DataView 

Reports 


planning using Command appliances 

In contrast to departments of traffic operations, who tend to look for 

real-time data that can be used immediately, planning departments 

look for consistent, accurate data that shows historical trends in order 

to create long-term growth projections. To meet the unique needs 

of planning groups, Wavetronix has introduced product features 

and functions for the Command data appliance product line that 

are targeted to this market area. This application note will present a 

generalized workflow and give each product’s intended use within 

this application. 

Data Collection 

Typically the first step in the process of managing planning data is 

to collect the data from the various data logging devices and field 

sensors. For planning departments, this is often a manual process 

whereby collected data from each field device is downloaded via 

a dedicated vendor software tool and stored in a local database. 

even SmartSensors being used for planning applications may have 

collected data managed manually via the SmartSensor manager 

software tool. For clients that operate in this manner, an application 

server offering automated data collection (such as Command Collector) 

may not be required at all. In this scenario, the retrieved data 

can be utilized in flat-file form, or directly out of an existing database 

without the need for automated collection. 

For planning systems that allow (or would benefit from) automated 

collection, the Command Collector is perfectly suited to provide 

the accurate, complete data sets sought after by planning. Collector 

manages complete sensor networks and stores information about 

each individual sensor in its database, including device type, specific 

communication properties, interval information and collection 

frequencies. With this information, Collector can retrieve data from 

each sensor whenever it is needed, from every 20 seconds to once a 

day at user-specified times. 

Collector uses a software driver system that enables it to communicate 

with practically any traffic detection device. If a driver for a given 

device doesn’t exist, then one can easily be created and added to 

the system. The current library includes the ability to retrieve data 

from popular data logging devices that have been employed for 

many years by planning departments around the world. Collector can 

communicate with sensors over dial-up or any TCP/IP network, and 

adjustments can be made to each sensor’s settings that will enable 

communication through difficult and complicated networks. 

When retrieving data directly from field sensors using polling methods, 

Collector places the highest priority on the most recent data in 

order to get information immediately to the applications that need 

it. however, it also provides gap-free data; if a sensor has onboard 

data buffers that can be accessed by its interface protocol, then once 

the latest interval is retrieved, Collector will query the sensor for any 

data it may not have been able to collect previously. As a result, any 

holes in the data are filled in over time to give planning groups the 

complete data sets they require. 


The raw data retrieved from each sensor, with full sensor interval-level 

data detail, is stored in a relational database for one week; Collector 

also processes this data into aggregated datasets providing 5-, 

15- and 60-minute aggregation bins where it can be stored for one 

year in a Collector Planning edition server, and for longer periods in 

networked archive servers. In addition to getting real-time data, any 

person or system with proper authorization can access the data they 

need at any time. The stored data includes traffic information as well 

as sensor configuration information. 

Data processing 

In applications where the sensor data is collected through means other 

than Collector (such as via a vendor-specific data processing software 

system) the result can be in a data file that will need to be translated 

or otherwise post-processed prior to use. To keep data flowing to and 

from relevant systems, Wavetronix offers the Command Translator 

appliance, which can be used to automatically move traffic data from 

third-party systems and also output translated data into the formats 

required by planning groups for traffic reporting and analysis systems. 

An example of this process would be the need to combine data from 

multiple data sources, each containing similar traffic information but 

in incompatible forms. In some cases, this data may be available as 

an ASCII text file that simply needs to be read into a database, or the 

traffic data may be encoded into a vendor-specific binary file that 

needs to be decoded prior to use. Translator provides a programmable, 

timed data conversion process that would input, translate and output 

each of these incompatible file formats into a single-source database 

for immediate data availability for all users. Translator’s functions are 

user-controlled and can be customized to meet the specific needs of 

any individual department or agency. 

Data integration & Workflow 

recently, Wavetronix added a new appliance to the Command line that 

was designed specifically for planning groups. Command DataView 

offers advanced data analysis and reporting, making it easy for planning 

engineers to load data from a variety of sources, such as Collector 

or PrN files, and then prepare that data for reporting and analysis. 

To allow for ease of integration, DataView has been designed with 

out-of-the-box support for multiple data formats, including TmG, Peek 

PrN and CSV; it also supports 5-, 15- and 60-minute data intervals. 

Traffic monitoring location definitions can be imported from existing 

systems, and the data for each location can be imported to DataView 

using one of the supported formats. DataView can also import data 

directly from Collector servers on the network, automatically retrieving 

details for all sensors set up in the Collector configuration database. 

Once data is in DataView, it can be shared, analyzed or reported in a 

variety of ways. DataView uses microsoft’s SQl server to store data, 

so organizations can access the database engine directly to retrieve 

their data. each DoT can control access to DataView with different 

permission levels that affect either activities or types of data. For 

example, a user may be given permission to access data in DataView, 



but might be restricted from changing any of the utility’s settings; 

another user might be given restricted access to only certain kinds 

of data. This allows for full availability of data across multiple departments 

within an agency using the same installed DataView without 

departmental interference. 

error analysis 

Despite the many advances in technology in recent years, data collecting 

equipment can still lose power, become misaligned or even 

become inoperable through lightning strikes or other events. These 

events can show up in the data as gaps or out-of-range values. These 

errors can often only be detected by closely examining the collected 

data. One of the primary features of DataView is its ability to automatically 

identify and tag data that may be bad. 

DataView’s filters can be used to tag a number of common problems 

(including missing data) and can also be set to auto-fix errors. Data- 

View also provides side-by-side comparison of multiple data sets. For 

example, the data from one count location can be compared to data 

from another site on the same or similar roadway. This allows you to 

identify trends in data as well as visually inspect it for consistency. 

Once the data has been checked for problems and updated, Data- 

View can publish it to a repository. DataView supports multiple data 

repositories, which can be used to organize collected and analyzed 

data. Published data can be exported to a variety of formats, providing 

easy access and compatibility with multiple external systems. 

reporting 

DataView supports federal reporting requirements through exportable 

TmG formats, and also includes templates of several other 

common reports. Additional reports can be added to DataView to 

support the unique needs of any department or organization, such 

as travel time index, buffer index and delays per traveler. 

To illustrate how a planning department might use DataView, the 

process of generating a current month peak hour report (a report 

that identifies which hours in the morning, midday and evening 

experience the greatest traffic flow each day) can be managed with 

the following workflow: First, the department would import data, 

perhaps via the Collector’s SQl database, or perhaps in the form of 

Peek PrN files available from most automatic traffic recorders; once 

the data is imported, the workbook can be opened to analyze the 

data and check for problem. To create the report, select the peak-hour 

report template and identify the locations and dates to include in the 

report. DataView processes the request, and the resulting report can 

be viewed online or downloaded in other common formats. 

Other reporting workflow examples, such as “vehicle counts by class” 

or “average delay per traveler” are also bundled with DataView, providing 

the most commonly used Federal or State DOT traffic reports. 

planning specific Features 

DataView can examine data from permanent vehicle count locations 

and will create factor groups of locations with similar seasonal characteristics. 

most organizations have already defined factor groups, 

but DataView can show whether these groupings are still valid or if 

they need to be changed through the use of cluster analysis statistical 

techniques; DataView utilizes the same method described in the 

Federal highway administration’s Traffic monitoring Guide. 

Conclusion 

The Command line from Wavetronix provides a complete solution for 

the needs of planning departments, including collection from traffic 

devices in a consistent, reliable manner, as well as the processing and 

cleaning requirements to output and publish data in forms required 

for federal and state reports. n 


Take Command of your tra� c data. 

Manage roadways e� ciently and cost-e� ectively with cutting-edge Command software. 

Collector 

Robust and scalable 

data collection 


Monitor 

System health 

monitoring with 

real-time alerts 

DataView 

Powerful tra� c 

data management 

and reporting 

Translator 

Multi-format, realtime 

data conversion 

Viewpoint 

Customizable web 

map for asset 

management

DistriButors 

north & south america 

Canada 

Fortran Traffi c Systems Limited 

470 Midwest Road 

Toronto, Ontario M1P 4Y5 

p (416) 288-1320 

www.fortrantraffi c.com 

New Brunswick, Newfoundland 

and Labrador, Nova Scotia, 

Ontario, Prince Edward Island 

Interprovincial Traffi c Services 

Unit #1, 2153-192nd Street 

Surrey, BC V35 3X2 

p (604) 542-8500 

www.interprovincial.com 

Alberta, British Columbia, 

Manitoba, Northwest Territories, 

Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Yukon 

Tassimco Technologies 

3100 Jacob Jordan 

Terrebonne, QC J6X 4J6 

p (450) 477-5262 

www.tassimco.com 

Quebec 

united states 

Advanced Traffi c Products 

909 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite 

B280 

Everett, WA 98208 

p (425) 347-6208 

www.advancedtraffi c.com 

Alaska, Arizona, California, 

Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, 

Washington, Wyoming 

Corporate Sales Offi ce 

p +1 (801) 734-7200 

e sales@wavetronix.com 

ASTI 

18 Blevins Drive 

New Castle, DE 19720 

p (302) 328-3220 

www.asti-trans.com 

Delaware 

Highway Tech 

6 Sabattus Road 

PO Box 1209 

Sabattus, ME 04280 

p (207) 375-8248 

Maine, Massachusetts, New 

Hampshire, Rhode Island, 

Vermont 

Iron Armour 

1290 Fox Lane 

Mogadore, OH 44260 

m (330) 608-5002 

e sales@ironarmour.com 

www.ironarmour.com 

Kentucky, Ohio, Western 

Pennsylvania, West Virginia 

Marbelite Co., Inc. 

PO Box 239 

Manasquan, NJ 08736 

p (732) 292-2100 

www.marbsignal.com 

New York 

Mid American Signal 

2429 S. Mill Street 

Kansas City, KS 66103 

p (913) 432-5002 

www.midamsignal.com 

Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Western 

Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma 

Quality Traffi c 

862 Visco Drive 

Nashville, TN 37210 

p (615) 772-7600 

e bsensing@qtraf.com 

www.qtraf.com 

Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee 

Florida Sales Offi ce 

p +1 (407) 388-0343 

e fl .sales@wavetronix.com 

Signal Control Products, Inc. 

199 Evans Way 

Branchburg, NJ 08876 

p (908) 231-1133 

www.signalcontrol.com 

New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania 

Signal Service, Inc. 

43 Franklin Street 

East Hartford, CT 06108 

p (860) 289-8033 

www.signalservice.net 

Connecticut 

Summit Traffi c Solutions 

11757 W Ken Caryl Avenue, 

Suite F-411 

Littleton, CO 80127 

p (303) 933-2843 

e info@summit-traffi c.com 

www.summit-traffi c.com 

Colorado, New Mexico, Utah 

Traffi c Control Corporation 

10435 Argonne Woods Drive 

Woodridge, IL 60517 

p (630) 543-1300 

www.traffi ccontrolcorp.com 

Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, 

Minnesota, Eastern Missouri, 

North Dakota, South Dakota, 

Wisconsin 

Transportation Equipment & 

Services 

55 Holstein Lane 

Youngsville, NC 27596 

p (919) 623-8952 

e mike.corbett01@gmail.com 

District of Columbia, Maryland, 

North Carolina, Virginia 

Transportation Control 

Systems 

1030 S 86th Street 

Tampa, FL 33619 

p (813) 630-2800 

www.tcstraffi c.com 

Florida (Intersection & Planning) 

Twincrest Technologies 

2411 FM 917 

PO Box 757 

Mansfi eld, TX 76063 

p (817) 539-2200 

e sales@twincresttech.com 

Louisiana, Texas 

Utilicom Supply Associates 

4400 Shackleford Road 

Norcross, GA 30093 

p (404) 298-7700 

www.utilicomsupply.com 

Georgia, South Carolina 

europe, africa & middle east 

europe 

Actime BV 

Heuveleindstraat 5 

5371 NL Ravenstein 

Th e Netherlands 

p +31 (0) 486 412846 

e info@actime.nl 

www.actime.nl 

Belgium, Luxembourg, 

Netherlands 

Far Data 

ul. Lipowa 3 

30-702 KrakÓw 

Poland 

p +48 (012) 255 99 99 

e biuro.wroclaw@fardata.pl 

www.fardata.pl 

Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia 

Northern Europe Sales Offi ce 

Wavetronix UK Ltd. 

p +44 (0) 7502 318 360 

e uk.sales@wavetronix.com 


Intetra 

Barajyolu Cad. Aral Sok. Özkanca 

Plaza No:4 K:8 

Ataşehir Kadıköy 

Istanbul 

Turkey 

p +90 (216) 456 86 40 

e info@intetra.com.tr 

www.intetra.com.tr 

Turkey 

Magsys 

1 Bis, rue Mazagran 

64200 Biarritz 

France 

p +33 (0) 5 24 33 00 16 

e info@magsys.net 

www.magsys.net 

France 

Olsen Engineering 

Navervej 30 

DK-4000 Roskilde 

Denmark 

p +45 4675 7227 

www.olsene.dk 

Denmark, Estonia, Finland, 

Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, 

Sweden 

Quadrex 

C/ Muntaner 262, 4º-1ª 

08021 Barcelona 

Spain 

p +34 93 202 29 24 

e info@quadrex.es 

www.quadrex.es 

Portugal, Spain 

Rennicks 

Kilbride, Mulhuddart 

Dublin 15 

Ireland 

p +353 1 885 9200 

www.rennicks.com 

Ireland 

africa 

Tollink 

Sovereign Drive, 

Route 21 Corporate Park, 

Irene, Pretoria, 0157 

South Africa 

p +27 (12) 450 4300 

e info@tollink.co.za 

www.tollink.co.za 

South Africa 

asia 

Southern Europe & Middle East Sales Offi ce 

p +33 68795 2471 

e fr.sales@wavetronix.com 

asia & australia 

CMS Traffi c Systems Ltd. 

70 Lake Road, Bhandup (W) 

Mumbai 400078 

India 

p +91 (022) 3078 0222/0333 

www.cms.com/cmstraffi c 

India 

ItraMAS Technology Sdn Bhd 

No. 1, Jalan PJU 8/5A, 

Damansara Perdana, 

47820 Petaling Jaya, 

Selangor Darul Ehsan 

Malaysia 

p +60 (3) 7727 0979 

e customerservice@itramas.com 

www.itramas.com 

Malaysia 

China Sales Offi ce 

p +86 (10) 6494 3046 

e wavetronix@163.com 

L&B Systems Co., Ltd. 

UNICON Building, 3rd fl oor, 

140-17, Samseong-dong, 

Gangnam-gu, 

Seoul 135-090 

South Korea 

p +82 070 8871 9471 

e info@thelnbsystems.com 

www.thelnbsystems.com 

South Korea 

Nam Yeong Information 

Technology 

Avenida do Dr Rodrigo Rodriquez, 

Nam Kwong Building 2/F 

Macau 

p +853 8391 1572 

e service@nymacau.com 

www.nymacau.com 

Macau 

NCS Communications 

Engineering Pte Ltd. 

5 Ang Mo Kio St 62, 

NCS Hub, 

Singapore 569141 

p +65 (6556) 7963 

e boonkian@ncs.com.sg 

www.ncs.com.sg 

Singapore 

PT Telehouse Engineering 

JL. A.H Nasution No.236 Ujung 

Berung 

Bandung 40614 

Indonesia 

p +62 (22) 780 2700 

e telehouse@telehouse-eng.com 

www.telehouse-eng.com 

Indonesia 

QTC Traffi c Technologies, Ltd. 

Unit C & D, 5/F. 

Candy Novelty House 

164 Wai Yip Street 

Kwun Tong, Kowloon 

Hong Kong 

p +852 2535 8112 

Hong Kong 

DistriButors 

TMS Engineering Co., Ltd. 

50/413 Moo 6 Tambol Banmai 

Amphur Pakkred, Nonthatburi 

11120 

Th ailand 

p +66 (2) 984 1192 

e tmsadmin@tmsengineering.co.th 

www.tmsengineering.co.th 

Th ailand 

australia & new Zealand 

Aldridge Electrical Industries 

Harvey Norman Business Park 

Unit 11 Cnr Bay & Atkinson 

Roads 

Taren Point NSW 2229 

Australia 

p +61 (02) 9540 9966 

e info@aldridge.com.au 

www.aldridge.com.au 

Australia 

HMI Technologies Limited 

PO Box 38164 

Howick 

Auckland 2145 

New Zealand 

p +64 9 572 0006 

e info@hmi.co.nz 

www.hmi.co.nz 

New Zealand 

Africa, Australia & Pacifi c Rim Sales Offi ce 

Wavetronix Pte., Ltd. 

p +65 9070 0520 

e sing.sales@wavetronix.com 


Leadership isn’t just about getting there fi rst, it’s about doing things better. 

SmartSensor Matrix isn’t the fi rst stop bar vehicle presence detector, 

but it is the fi rst intersection device to o� er the accuracy and reliability of 

high defi nition radar. Request a demonstration and see why SmartSensor 

Matrix was named a 2010 Best of ITS award winner for innovation. 

INTELLIGENT INTERSECTIONS 

www.wavetronix.com

Fort Worth - Pulse Magazine - Wavetronix

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