Technology has been a boon to the construction industry, but there’s no argument that tech’s greatest contribution in construction has been to safety. Tucker Paving has been in the concrete and asphalt paving industry for nearly 30 years, and we know the importance of safety in roadway work zones. See all the ways that technology keeps workers safe in Smart Work Zones.

What are Smart Work Zones?

According to the US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, Smart Work Zones (SWZs) are work zones that use innovative technologies and coordination strategies to create work zones that are safer and operate more efficiently.

The benefits of Smart Work Zones are numerous. First and foremost, SWZs improve safety for both the workers in the work zones and the people traveling in vehicles outside of the zones. SWZs also reduce the number and duration of slow-downs and travel delays that work zones can cause. Similarly, SWZs can also increase the efficiency of the work itself, leading to jobs that get done faster and with a smaller budget.

Technology in Smart Work Zones

Technology that is often implemented in Smart Work Zones include:

  • Speed Safety Cameras. Such cameras work as part of an automated enforcement system that detects speeders and takes pictures to be utilized for enforcement of work zone speed limits.
  • Variable Speed Limit. These systems measure vehicle speeds approaching and within a work zone and adjust speed limits to slow traffic when backups occur.
  • Real-Time Traveler Information. These systems provide drivers with information concerning work zones, such as traffic conditions surrounding the zones, alternative routes, speed zone changes, and more. This tech is aimed at reducing traffic around a work zone, especially when there are backups.
  • Performance Measurement. These systems take data from traffic conditions to be used in work zone considerations.
  • Queue Warning. A queue warning system will sense the formation of backups—or queues—that form as a result of a work zone.
  • Dynamic Lane Merge. These systems alert vehicles to merge at different points approaching a work zone with lane closures based on the conditions existing around the work zone.
  • Incident Management. When an incident occurs in a work zone, incident management systems detect it and alerts those who need to know, such as agencies, contractors and first responders. This allows for faster response—and clearance—times.
  • Entering/Exiting Vehicle Notification. These systems give drivers warnings of construction vehicles entering travel lanes from work zones.
  • Connected Vehicles (AV) and Automated Vehicles (AV) Operations in Work Zones. These systems are geared towards measuring data and delivering information for the control of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs).

Safety is always our leading priority on any Tucker Paving jobsite. We have been in the asphalt and concrete paving industry for nearly 30 years! Contact us online, or call us at (863) 299-2262, for your next asphalt or concrete paving job!