ITS Projects Book January 2003


Project Title:   SEABROOK, TEXAS
     
Project Status:   In Progress
     
Project Type:   Deployment/Integration
     
Project Description:   This project is the FY 2001 ITS Integration Program earmark for Seabrook, Texas. Funding approval for the project was deferred to September 2002. The goal of this project is to facilitate access to closed circuit TV images by traffic management and emergency management agencies in small communities. The Greater Houston Transportation Management and Emergency Center, Houston TranStar, provides CCTV images offering great potential value to agencies in smaller cities surrounding the greater Houston metropolitan area. Access to CCTV for these communities is dependent on their ability to fund a T1 and fiber optic connection to Houston TranStar. These costs frequently exceed budget constraints.

This project will make Houston TranStar video accessible to a large number of users through the Internet. This will allow small cities and government agencies to access video without large capital outlays.

The project's implementing concept is to establish a distribution system for the images from the 300 CCTV cameras deployed on Houston's freeway system. The principal system components are:

- An encoder - a PC with video capture board and equipped with software to convert data into data packets.
- Video Gateway for video channel selection.
- Web Server to communicate the user's Web browser and initiate a connection to the video channel via the gateway.
- Video Player.
     
Project Location:   Harris County, Texas
     
Project Partner(s):   FHWA, Texas DOT, Cities of Seabrook and Webster, Bay Area Transportation Partnership (BATP)
     
Project Start Date:   October 2002
     
Project End Date:   June 2006
     
Estimated Total ITS Funds:   $952,337
     
Estimated Total Project Cost:   $1,904,674

Project Contacts:    
     
Mark Olson
FHWA Texas Division, HPC-TX
(512) 536-5972
Ext.
David Fink
Texas DOT
(713) 881-3063
Ext.



U.S. Department of Transportation, Intelligent Transportation Systems