Dynamic work zone safety system and method

• US 20020175831A1
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Road Dynamics Incorporated (Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.))
• Original Assignee: International Road Dynamics Incorporated (Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.))
• Inventors: Bergan, Terry, Klashinsky, Rod
• Granted Patent: US 6,559,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/908.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/081 Plural intersections under common control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights

Abstract

A novel dynamic work zone safety system and method of traffic control for a construction work zone are provided herein. The system includes at least two traffic signalling device which are positioned along a roadside immediately upstream of a point where traffic is diverted to a single lane. The traffic signalling devices selectively flash a suitable warning, e.g., “DO NOT PASS” or “MERGE LEFT” or “MERGE RIGHT”, thereby to provide at least two “NO PASSING” or “MERGE LEFT” or “MERGE RIGHT” zones which is defined by the distance between the traffic signalling devices and the end of the work or construction zone. The “NO PASSING” or “MERGE LEFT” or “MERGE RIGHT” zones traffic signalling device and the end of the work or construction zone may thus be expanded or contracted. A plurality of spaced-apart sensors is disposed along the roadway both downstream of, and upstream of, the traffic signalling devices to detect and determine the length of traffic queues upstream of the traffic signalling devices, and provides signals which are representative of the length of the traffic queues. The processor receives the traffic queue signals and generates activation signals when the traffic queue reaches a predetermined length. It also generates a deactivation signal when the traffic queue is less than the predetermined length. This dynamically increases or decreases the “NO PASSING” or “MERGE LEFT” or “MERGE RIGHT” zone.

Claims

1. A dynamic work zone safety system comprising:

(a) a first traffic signalling device which is positioned along a roadside immediately upstream of a point where traffic is diverted to a single lane, said first traffic signalling device being defaulted to flash a suitable warning, “

DO NOT PASS”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

, thereby to provide a first “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone which is defined by the distance between said first traffic signalling device and the end of said work or construction zone;

(b) a second traffic signalling device which is positioned alongside a roadside a predetermined distance upstream of said first traffic signalling device, said second traffic signalling device being defaulted not to flash a suitable warning, “

DO NOT PASS”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

, but, when activated, flashes a suitable warning, “

DO NOT PASS”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

, thereby providing a second “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone which is contiguous to said first “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone, thereby to lengthen the “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone to between said second traffic signalling device and the end of said work or construction zone;

(c) a plurality of spaced-apart sensors along the roadway both downstream of, and upstream of, said second traffic signalling device, to detect and determine the length of a first traffic queue upstream of said first traffic signalling device between said first traffic signalling device and said second traffic signalling device, and to provide a first signal which is representative of the length of said first traffic queue; and

(d) a processor which are loaded with a suitable computer program for receiving said first traffic queue signal and for generating a first activation signal to activate said second traffic signalling device when said first traffic queue reaches a predetermined length, and for generating a first deactivation signal to deactivate said second traffic signal when said first traffic queue is less than said predetermined length;

thereby dynamically increasing or decreasing said “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone.

2. The dynamic work zone safety systems of claim 1, including:

(e) a third traffic signalling device, said third traffic signalling device being positioned alongside a roadside a predetermined distance upstream from said second traffic signalling device, and whereby;

(i) when said third traffic signalling device is activated, a third “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone is created which is contiguous to said second “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone, thereby to lengthen the said second “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone to a third “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone between said third traffic signalling device and the end of said work or construction zone;

wherein said plurality of spaced-apart sensors (c) further includes;

(ii) a first additional plurality of spaced-apart sensors along the roadway both upstream of, and downstream of, said third traffic signalling device to detect and determine the length of a second traffic queue upstream of said first traffic signalling device between said second traffic signalling device and said third traffic signalling device, and to provide a second traffic queue signal which is representative of said second traffic queue; and

wherein said processor (d) is also configured to;

(iii) generate a second activation signal to activate said third traffic signalling device when said second traffic queue reaches a predetermined length, and to generate a second deactivation signal to deactivate said third traffic signal when said second traffic queue is less than said predetermined length, thereby dynamically increasing or decreasing said third “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone.

3. The dynamic work zone safety systems of claim 2, including:

(e) an “

nth”

traffic signalling device, said “

nth”

traffic signalling device being positioned alongside a roadside a predetermined distance upstream from said third traffic signalling device, and whereby;

(i) when said “

nth”

traffic signalling device is activated, a fourth “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone is created which is contiguous to said third “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone, thereby to lengthen said “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone to a fourth “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone between said “

nth”

traffic signalling device and the end of said work or construction zone;

wherein said plurality of spaced-apart sensors (c) further includes;

(ii) a second additional plurality of spaced-apart sensors along the roadway both upstream of, and downstream of, said “

nth”

traffic signalling device to detect and determine the length of a third traffic queue upstream of said first traffic signalling device between said third traffic signalling device and said “

nth”

traffic signalling device, and to provide a fourth traffic queue signal which is representative of said fourth traffic queue; and

wherein said processor (d) is also configured to;

(iii) generate a third activation signal to activate said “

nth”

traffic signalling device when said third traffic queue reaches a predetermined length, and to generate a third deactivation signal to deactivate said “

nth”

traffic signal when said third traffic queue is less than said predetermined length, thereby dynamically increasing or decreasing said fourth “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone.

4. The dynamic work zone safety system of claim 1, wherein said sensors are integrated with said traffic signalling devices.

5. The dynamic work zone safety system of claim 2, wherein said sensors are integrated with said traffic signalling devices.

6. The dynamic work zone safety system of claim 3, wherein said sensors are integrated with said traffic signalling devices.

7. The dynamic work zone safety system of claim 1, wherein said sensors are non-intrusive.

8. The dynamic work zone safety system of claim 7, wherein said non-intrusive sensors are active radar sensors.

9. The dynamic work zone safety system of claim 8, wherein said non-intrusive sensors are passive acoustic sensors.

10. The dynamic work zone safety system of claim 8, wherein said non-intrusive sensors are ultrasonic sensors.

11. The dynamic work zone safety system of claim 1, wherein said sensors are intrusive.

12. The dynamic work zone safety system of claim 1, wherein said intrusive sensors comprises a sensor which is mounted onto the roadway and which is a pneumatic road hose, a tape switch, a piezoelectric sensor, a fiber optic sensor or a quartz sensor.

13. The dynamic work zone safety system of claim 1, wherein said intrusive sensors comprises a passive magnetic device, an active magnetic device or an inductive loop.

14. The dynamic work zone safety system of claim 11, wherein said intrusive sensors comprises an elongated elastomeric member having an elongated pressure sensor thereon, a coaxial piezoelectric cable, a flanged tube sensor with piezoelectric plates or a DYNAX™

sensor.

15. The dynamic work zone safety system of claim 1, wherein said processor is connected to said traffic signalling devices wirelessly.

16. The dynamic work zone safety system of claim 2, wherein said processor is connected to said traffic signalling devices wirelessly.

17. The dynamic work zone safety system of claim 3, wherein said processor is connected to said traffic signalling devices wirelessly.

18. The dynamic work zone safety system of claim 1, wherein said sensors are at least one of solar powered and battery powered.

19. A method of traffic control for a construction work zone that assists in the prevention of dangerous merging which occurs on the tapered approaches to work-zones which comprises:

(A) establishing a first “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone immediately upstream of said construction work zone;

(B) detecting and measuring traffic congestion at a plurality of locations approaching said first “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone as a first traffic queue; and

(C) determining, by means of software, the length of a “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone based on said detected traffic congestion, and based, on the length of said first traffic queue, automatically, by means of said software, expanding or shrinking said “

NO PASSING”

or “

MERGE LEFT”

or “

MERGE RIGHT”

zone upstream of said construction work zone appropriate for said measured level of traffic congestion.