The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) in the US is deploying Ciena’s converged packet optical and packet networking solutions to improve highway safety and traffic flow.

Ciena’s system will improve resiliency, capacity and manageability of CDOT’s private fiber-optic network that spans approximately 560 highway miles across the state.

Being executed through Colorado’s Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) programme, the upgrade will support an increased amount of intelligent communication devices that allow travelers and transportation agencies to make informed decisions.

CDOT’s ITS can provide transportation operations centres with detailed, real-time data on traffic volume, speeds, transit schedule status, evolving weather conditions, and other roadway conditions.

CDOT’s transportation agencies can also use the information to understand traffic patterns, and predict and alleviate traffic issues.

According to the US Department of Transportation, drivers across the US spent an average of 42 hours, more than a week of full-time work, in traffic in 2012.

"CDOT’s transportation agencies can also use the information to understand traffic patterns, and predict and alleviate traffic issues."

The latest network upgrade allows CDOT to connect more hardened and weatherproof devices – up to 20 devices per fiber – with complete diversity and resiliency, and without any shared or constrained bandwidth.

These devices will be linked by an underground network of fibre-optic cables to deliver the latest information on roadway conditions to travelers and transportation agencies.

Once completely deployed, the ITS will support nearly 1,500 devices, which include traffic cameras, traffic message signs, speed sensors and weather monitoring devices.

Among Ciena’s services that are being used by CDOT include the 6500 Packet-Optical Platform; 5100 and 3900 families of switches; OneControl Unified Management System, and specialist services portfolio.