Illumination outage application

The Fort Worth District developed an illumination outage application that uses remote voltage monitoring to detect low voltage or failures across TxDOT-managed roadway lighting systems. Real-time detection of outages in helped the district quickly dispatch crews with the correct equipment, reducing response times and improving efficiency and roadway illumination reliability. The solution enhances safety, reduces costs, and supports a more proactive maintenance approach.

Challenge

The district faced frequent roadway lighting outages, often caused by copper theft, creating significant safety risks and high replacement costs. Traditional methods for identifying outages relied on periodic nighttime inspections or public reporting, resulting in delayed detection and response. Traditional approaches to monitoring and outage detection required substantial time and made it difficult to maintain consistent lighting conditions. With no real-time visibility into system status, the district needed a cost-efficient solution to improve outage detection, response time, and lighting up-time.

Solution

The district implemented a remote monitoring system that improves safety, detection speed, and operational efficiency. The system measures voltage levels on illumination circuits to identify outages in real time, significantly reducing reliance on manual inspections. When voltage drops below a defined threshold, automated alerts are sent to maintenance crews. Alerts include details on whether individual LEDs or entire circuits are affected, enabling a faster, more targeted response. This approach reduces costs and resource demands while improving lighting up-time. Traffic management center camera verification to confirm root causes further enhances response accuracy and infrastructure oversight.