| Industry: | Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) |
| Application: | Smart Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) & Unmanned Toll Stations |
Introducción
To achieve a benchmark for “unmanned and low-manpower” highway operations, a key regional expressway project required a digital infrastructure upgrade. The goal was to transition from traditional manual toll collection to a fully automated, intelligent system.
Más supplied over 600 industrial Ethernet switches to create a robust, layered communication network. This solution ensures the seamless transmission of ETC transaction data, AI video analytics, and emergency command signals, operating 24/7 in harsh outdoor environments.
The Challenges
Transitioning to an unmanned system places immense pressure on the network infrastructure. The project faced three critical challenges:
1. High-Bandwidth & Redundancy for Critical Data
The network must connect high-bandwidth devices (AI cameras) and latency-sensitive devices (ETC antennas) simultaneously. The operator required a Ring Topology with millisecond-level self-healing capabilities. A single link failure cannot disrupt the toll transaction process, as downtime leads to immediate revenue loss and traffic congestion.
2. Harsh Outdoor Environment
The equipment is installed in roadside cabinets exposed to the elements. The region experiences significant temperature fluctuations. Therefore, the switches must be industrial-grade, capable of operating strictly between -40°C and 75°C without fans, and resistant to dust and electromagnetic interference.
3. Security and Traffic Isolation
The network carries different types of data: financial transactions (ETC), video surveillance, and general management data. To prevent cyber threats and data congestion, the system required strict VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) isolation to logically separate these services on the same physical infrastructure.
Solución Maisvch
Maisvch delivered a highly reliable, layered industrial network solution tailored for Smart ITS applications.
1. Layered Network Architecture
The solution utilized a hierarchical design involving over 600 managed switches.
- Access Layer: Installed in the toll islands, connecting lane controllers, ETC antennas, barrier gates, and IP cameras.
- Aggregation Layer: Aggregating data from multiple lanes and transmitting it to the toll station control center via fiber optics.
2. Uninterrupted Connectivity
The deployed Maisvch switches support G.8032 ERPS (Ethernet Ring Protection Switching). This open-standard redundancy protocol ensures that if a fiber cable is cut, the network recovers in less than 20ms, ensuring zero interruption to toll transactions or video recording.
3. Security and Future-Proofing
To meet security compliance, the network was configured with distinct VLANs, isolating toll business data from the surveillance network. Furthermore, the Gigabit bandwidth capacity ensures the infrastructure is ready for future expansions, such as V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) communication and autonomous driving support.
Related Products
To meet the specific needs of the toll lanes and aggregation points, the following Maisvch products were deployed:
Resultados
The implementation of the Maisvch industrial networking solution has successfully modernized the expressway’s toll operations:
- 24/7 Unmanned Operation: The high reliability of the network supports the “unmanned, low-manpower” operational model, significantly reducing labor costs and improving lane efficiency.
- Zero Data Loss: The redundant network architecture ensures the integrity of financial transaction data and video evidence, even during network maintenance or component failure.
- Environmental Resilience: The industrial-grade hardware has proven its durability in extreme outdoor temperatures, maintaining stable operation without the need for climate-controlled cabinets.
- Scalable Architecture: The Gigabit network backbone provides ample headroom for future ITS upgrades, protecting the operator’s long-term investment.
