Smart Work Zone Subgroup Charter (January 2022)

PURPOSE

The Smart Work Zone (SWZ) Subgroup will be the lead steward in proposing the means and necessary documentation/process for adding smart work zone device data as a new feed within the WZDx Specification. Specifically, the subgroup created a new feed which includes dynamic, real-time data, different data sources, and diverse devices from SWZs. This subgroup is open to all WZDWG members. During this cycle, the Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) SWZ Subgroup shall work with committee members to revise and update the smart work zone data feed in the WZDx Specification for the Work Zone Data Working Group (WZDWG).

AUTHORITIES

The Smart Work Zone Subgroup is chartered under the WZDWG, which itself is chartered under the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Transportation Subcommittee.

SCOPE

The last WZDx cycle concluded with the release of WZDx v4.0 on 12/16/2021 in GitHub. In addition to the existing WZDx feed for work zones and detours, the WZDx SWZ Subgroup developed a new feed type for smart work zone device data.

During this cycle, the WZDx SWZ Subgroup will continue to provide leadership and direction in the use and enhancement of smart work zone data. The subgroup will be accountable to and provide recommendations to the WZDWG. The subgroup will continue to evolve the new feed for SWZ device data. Smart device data includes - but is not limited to - field device information and traffic metric data. The implementation of smart device data is a new feed alongside the WZDx Specification. The subgroup will be primarily responsible for answering questions regarding the SWZ device feed and refining the smart data capabilities of this feed over time to include new features. This subgroup will work on a similar development timeline as the other WZDx Subgroups, offering incremental updates and refinements to the SWZ device specification on an iterative basis to enhance the WZDx specification.

The documentation, structure, and content of the smart data is presented publicly through the existing WZDx specification open-source repository on GitHub. The SWZ Device Feed contains information (location, status, live data) about field devices deployed on the roadway in work zones.

The next cycle of this subgroup may focus on back log items such as:

• Segment-type traffic sensors
• Provide lane-level traffic sensor data without having to link to a road event
• Represent cones, rumble strips, etc.
• Adding heavy vehicle percent
• Adding board heading/bearing angle
• Transport vs stowed for DMS
• Additional timestamp from GPS
• Direction or preset of camera
• Connected Vehicles
• Autonomous Vehicles

OBJECTIVES

The subgroup shall:

1. Refine the SWZ device feed to include additional device objects.
2. Discuss with subgroup members adding work zone road event level travel metrics to the feed.
3. Organize the defined, smart data in a new road event type, i.e., "smart-work-zone," which inherits the "work-zone" road event type already within the WZDx Specification.
4. Coordinate with the Worker Presence Subgroup on possible worker detection device feed.
5. Educate practitioners on the use of the SWZ device feed and facilitate working groups to help vendors implement compliant feeds. This may include engaging OEMs and Mapping/Travel Service providers to better understand their consumer needs.
6. Develop a presentation that can be used to educate practitioners on the SWZ device feed.
7. Explore CAV data needs for these systems to gain confidence in navigating through work zones.
8. Work with a volunteer State DOT and a SWZ vendor to pilot the SWZ device feed.
9. Revisit possible specification additions based on input from the last development cycle
10. Revise or extend the existing device objects. Create read me text that explains why something is optional.

ACTIVITIES AND MILESTONES

Item 1: Hold Kick-Off meeting for the WZDx Smart Work Zones Subgroup

(January 31, 2022)

• Introduce Subgroup Co-Chairs to members and review the Charter and proposed work activities.
• Review SWZ device feed released as a result of the previous cycle.
• Discuss overall scope of work and objectives for this cycle to gather feedback and concurrence on the direction for the next cycle.
• Review backlog of issues from previous cycle, add additional issues requested from subgroup members and complete a future survey to prioritize issues. Issues agreed upon will then be advanced during this cycle.

Item 2: Advance backlog issues

(February 28, 2022)

• Define new devices to be added to the SWZ device feed.
• Discuss adding work zone road event level travel metrics to the SWZ device feed, CAV needs, and understanding consumer needs.
• Begin advancing backlog issues agreed to during the kick-off meeting.
• Poll members for a volunteer SWZ vendor and state DOT to pilot the SWZ device feed.

Item 3: Create GitHub issues for new objects

(March 28, 2022)

• Use discussion from previous subgroup meetings, supplemented with co- chair internal discussion, to create GitHub issues and pull requests for new objects to be added to the feed based on the backlog of issues.
• Notify subgroup members once the issues are available and request comments via the issue discussion thread.
• Meet with subgroup members to review the issues and comments.
• Provide and update on progress made to date with Vendor Working Group, educating practitioners and educational presentation.

Item 4: Create pull requests (PRs) from issues and group discussion which implement the desired new features supporting SWZ device feed

(April 25, 2022)

• Meet with subgroup members to review the PRs.
• Demonstrate progress made with SWZ vendor and State DOT compliant SWZ device feed.
• Provide update on progress made to date on the objectives of this cycle.

Item 5: Finalize pull requests, perform QA/QC, and merge to the SWZ device feed

(May 23, 2022)

• Make any final changes to PRs based on previous subgroup discussions.
• Work with WZDx Spec Update Subgroup to perform comprehensive QA/QC on the new PRs.
• Present finalized PRs to subgroup members.

Item 6: Present all proposed changes related to smart work zones to WZDWG

(TBD by FHWA/Volpe)

• Draft presentation slides for review by SWZ Subgroup Co-Chairs.
• Clean up repository issues/discussion as needed.
• Present the status of the WZDx SWZ Subgroup’s SWZ device specification to full membership of the WZDWG at the Semi-Annual Meeting (tentatively scheduled for 3rd week of July 2022).

CO-CHAIRS

The WZDx Smart Work Zone Subgroup Co-Chairs shall be from organizations that are active in the development and application of policies related to the creation, publication, consumption, mapping, and analysis of data relevant to the mission of the WZDWG. The subgroup should have a minimum of two (2) and four (4) co-chairs that represent both data producers and users. Co-chairs will have administrative ("admin") rights on the WZDx GitHub repository to manage to pull requests and backlog grooming for the SWZ subgroup branch. MEMBERSHIP AND MEMBERS PROCEDURES

1. Subgroup meetings shall be held at the request of the subgroup co-chairs and conducted as frequently as needed to meet subgroup objectives.
2. Meetings will be held virtually.
3. Agenda items will be coordinated amongst co-chairs and subgroup members and will be available at least five days in advance of the proposed meeting dates.
4. This subgroup charter shall be reviewed and updated as deemed necessary by subgroup leadership.
5. Salient issues and conflicts that need to be resolved will be escalated to the WZDWG Co-Chairs, as well as other WZDx Subgroup Co-Chairs, for schedule and resolution.
6. The subgroup may establish additional rules and procedures for conducting business.

COORDINATION RESPONSIBILITIES

The subgroup will employ the tools best suited to meet its responsibilities, e.g., the use of teleconferences, GitHub, web meetings, and the like. Subgroup co-chairs will coordinate activities with other WZDx Subgroups, the larger WZDWG, the FGDC Coordination Group, and other appropriate parties that are necessary to accomplish key activities, effectively growing the geospatial community.

REPORTS

The subgroup shall develop an annual summary of goals, planned activities, and accomplishments that shall be presented to the WZDWG Co-Chairs.

The WZDWG Co-Chairs may request that the subgroup prepare special reports, white papers, technical papers, briefings, and other form factors to address pertinent issues, cross-cutting activities, and/or urgent matters consistent with larger FGDC community needs. These requests may come from one or several FGDC offices - the Office of the Secretariat, Coordination Group, or Member Agencies. The WZDx Smart Work Zone Subgroup, through the WZDWG Chair, will submit content for the FGDC Annual Report each year, as requested by the FGDC Secretariat.

The subgroup shall publish information about its activities on the WZDx Specification GitHub wiki page. References may need to be established between respective GitHub repositories, independent sites, and the FGDC Transportation Subcommittee site.

APPROVALS

This charter will remain in effect until amended, replaced, or terminated by the WZDWG Co-Chairs, the Transportation Subcommittee Chair, the FGDC Steering Committee, or the FGDC Coordination Group.

This charter shall be posted on the GeoPlatform Communities website as well as on the Work Zone Data Exchange GitHub wiki page.