Evaluation of Rapid Deployment Mesh Networking for Work Zones

Author/Presenter: Schrock, Steven D.; Wang, Weichao; See, Chen Fei; Chellamani, Deepak; Sarangapani, Mukund; Mulinazzi, Thomas E.
Abstract:

Communications between high-technology devices in work zones has long been a challenge. The problem is acute in rural areas where there is often little or no existing infrastructure to support wireless communication to the same extent as in urbanized areas. Despite this, there is often a desire to use real-time communications between new technologies to provide accurate work zone information to motorists or to remotely monitor work zone operations. An opportunity exists with new decentralized wireless communications technology known as mesh networks. Typically available in the license-free spectrums, a mesh network is by definition rapidly deployable and automatically configured, precisely what is needed to blanket a rural work zone.