The Chicago Smart Mobility (CSM) Project, Phase 1, recently won the ITS Midwest 2018 Project of Year Award. The project supports the City of Chicago’s Smart City Initiative and includes the planning, design, and deployment of an integrated system that ties numerous diverse systems and technologies together. Parsons worked with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to meet the City’s goal of collecting and processing data from multiple sources across departments to optimize transportation planning, design, management, and maintenance activities.
As lead designer and program manager for the project, our team developed an integrated solution to replace antiquated standalone systems and evolved various City departments toward operating on the same platform. Our scope of work included CSM program management support, operations/requirements review and development, communications design, technology assessments, interface definition, and complete design and deployment of the new Smart Mobility Platform.
The system links CDOT Operations, Department of Electrical Operations, the Emergency Operations Management Center, Traffic Safety, Streets and Sanitation, Planning, and the Department of Information Technology with one integrated solution. The CSM System can be used to alert drivers, display messages on dynamic message signs, manage traffic operations, plan for special events, conduct transportation planning, respond to emergencies, manage transportation assets, and manage traffic signal operations.
The CSM platform has transformed the City’s legacy systems and processes into smart city solutions that leverage the latest technologies, improve efficiencies, and eliminate silos between agency departments, while leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) and other new technical opportunities.
The ITS Midwest Award Program, initiated in 2005, highlights major accomplishments of the public and private sector members, and the Project of the Year Award is based on the project’s merit and significance to the ITS community.