A major benefit to using drones is being able to obtain a significantly better vantage point (i.e., “birds eye view”) while keeping employees away from dangerous conditions such as severe weather, flooded roads, slides, and confined spaces.
Incident Management
Regional Traffic Management Center (RTMC) and First Responders Streaming Using Microsoft Teams to Stream Video and Live Chat
Microsoft Teams provided a platform for streaming video with live chat between first responders and the RTMC staff who operate the cameras. Daily Microsoft Teams meetings were set up to provide situational awareness and an improved communication strategy for key parties during construction.
Freeway Closure Plans for Full Road Closures
MnDOT developed 525 freeway closures for the metro freeway system to be used during major incidents to help coordinate incident response by MnDOT and determine traffic control needs for a full road closure.
Incident Management Plans Accessible Online
Iowa DOT creates pre-planned alternate routes and maintains a web-based display of Traffic Incident Management Plans and Alternate Route plans used when major incidents require a freeway or highway closure.
Next-Generation Traffic Incident Management Situational Awareness For Emergency Response (SAFER) Platform
The City of Frisco, TX designed an in-house platform, called SAFER, to provide their local firefighters, EMTs, and police officers immediate access to real-time information while responding to emergencies.
Incident Response Unit Program (IRU) Program to Restore Traffic Flow Quickly and Safely
The ADOT IRU program provides a multi-jurisdictional and coordinated strategy to detect, respond to, and clear traffic incidents so that traffic flow can be restored quickly and safely. Since the inception of the IRU program, reduction of response time to incidents has led to less traffic delay, congestion, and air quality issues. The IRU program also saved overtime hours for maintenance crew staff, which resulted in cost savings that could be returned to highway maintenance programs.