Case Study: Departments of Transportation improve real-time traffic management with Ciena

Ciena Helps Departments of Transportation Implement Intelligent Transportation Systems that Improve Motorist Experience

Departments of Transportation faced the challenge of connecting thousands of roadside sensors, video cameras, weather monitors, radar systems, and variable message signs across massive fiber networks while still enabling real-time traffic management. Legacy WAN and SONET-based infrastructures were struggling with latency, jitter, oversubscription, and limited bandwidth, making it difficult for operators to see road conditions clearly and notify motorists quickly. Ciena addressed these needs with its packet-optical networking portfolio, including the 6500 Packet-Optical Platform and 5000/3000 Packet Networking platforms.

Ciena implemented a carrier-grade IP network with the Manage, Control and Plan (MCP) domain controller to provide visibility, control, resilience, and scalable bandwidth for ITS applications. The result was a more flexible network that supports real-time remote video, faster incident response, improved motorist notifications, and better support for future transportation innovations. With Ciena, state DOTs can connect up to 20 devices per fiber channel and reduce congestion, latency, and jitter, helping improve safety, mobility, and operational efficiency.