KC Scout Field ITS upgrades on the way

-

KC Scout's field ITS is always improving thanks to our team of ITS experts and consultants!

Over the winter, construction activity started across the KC Scout system on both the Kansas and Missouri sides of the state line.  The primary focus for these KDOT and MoDOT ITS construction projects is to upgrade the existing telecommunications cabinets throughout the region.  

"These telecom cabinets house sensitive Cisco equipment that powers Scout’s fiber optic network and enables the millisecond control of our ITS devices such as CCTV cameras, traffic sensors, and dynamic message sign boards," explains KC Scout Project Manager Mark Sommerhauser.

According to Sommerhauser, new emergency backup battery systems are being installed in these sensitive Cisco backbone cabinets. 


On the Missouri side, new air conditioner units are being installed so the cabinets can better handle the rigors of high summer temperatures.  

The KDOT ITS construction project also includes additional priority items, such as new KC Scout cameras along K-10 towards Desoto, new fiber optic cable along I-70 in Kansas City, Kansas (which replaces several high maintenance wireless radio links), loop controller upgrades, and a few DMS upgrades.  The first new color DMS boards on the Kansas side of the Scout system will be installed along K-7 late in the month of March.

The main scope of the project, though, is to replace 20 year old telecom equipment that Cisco no longer supports.  

"The new, modern Cisco ASR-903 units will not only keep the Scout fiber optic network operating for a long time, but it will also increase the total communications throughput enabling Scout staff to handle more and more high quality video streams from our highway cameras," said Sommerhauser.

The contractor’s telecom upgrades will require extensive lab testing and field testing before a seamless cutover is scheduled.  Those cutovers will occur mid to late summer and all construction work is expected to be completed towards the end of 2023.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The FIFA 2026 World Cup Update

-
Image
It’s never too early to start planning for a major event and the event coming to Kansas City in 2026 is just that. The FIFA World Cup will be coming to the area and local leadership throughout the KC metro are starting the conversation on how the community can be ready to accommodate visitors from all over the world. The official schedule has been released and Arrowhead Stadium will host six matches including four group fixtures and two knockout games. The transportation working group has been developed and met on March 15. This group includes organization’s like KDOT, MoDOT, KC Scout, KCMO, MARC, and more! They will continue to meet monthly to discuss ways to be proactive and ready to host. More updates are to come as we approach 2026. Visit fifa.com to learn more about the 2026 World Cup: Kansas City (fifa.com)
Read more

Scout Innovations for 2024

-
Image
  On December 13   KC Scout shared three separate Innovations Challenge Entries at the local showcase, including one from ER operators Hector Ortiz, Michael Maynard and Gregory Morgan in the equipment category. Their innovation was named “ C-3PO ” which is an acronym for “ C onfigurable C argo C ontrol & P rojection O ptimizer” a low-cost, easily installed cargo containment system for securing loose items in a truck bed. It has universal safety implications for every vehicle in MoDOT’s fleet.                                                                                    Figure 1  ER's C-3PO Scout also presented two productivity entries, each with “leveraging information sharing” for improved understanding of Scout functions. respectively named LOTUS ( L everaging O utreach T raining U sing S mall G roups) and EVOLVE ( E mbedded V ideo O ption L everaging V ital E ducation). LOTUS showed the effectiveness of small group, short duration training sessions, while EVOLVE was
Read more

Neil Kornis – Scout Senior TMC Operator and Eyes on the Road

-
Image
One April 25, KC Scout was hit with a cyberattack that shut down all cameras and communication to the roadways. Without their normal resources, the Scout team quickly pivoted to using alternative means to continue providing traffic incident management services. Without cameras, the TMC relied on getting accurate lane closure information from first responders including KHP MAV and MoDOT Emergency Response. After further coordination efforts, it was decided that KHP Scout Senior TMC Operator Neil Kornis would assist with KHP MAV in the field for the further facilitation between KC Scout and KHP. “The opportunity to sit alongside with a MAV and witness them doing their job while also discussing how we could do a better job as a team couldn’t be passed up,” Kornis said. During this time, not only did Kornis act as another point of communication between Scout and MAV, but he also used this time to evaluate ways the teams could improve.  “I used the time to put myself in the MAV’s shoes and
Read more