Texas Chapter American Public Works Association

Public Works Technical Innovation Award

City of Sugar Land Wireless Detection System

Each year, the Texas Chapter of American Public Works Association (APWA) acknowledges Texas Communities for use of technical innovation. The City of Sugar Land received the Technical Innovation Award for the City’s Wireless Detection System which is made up of wireless devices(PODs) embedded in the pavement that communicate back to the traffic signals. The PODs have now been deployed at 51 of the City’s 87 traffic signals which are helping address shortfalls of older forms of vehicle detection, providing real time traffic data back to Traffic Management Center (TMC), assisting in development of traffic signal optimization, storing historical data for planning/growth, and are the foundation for adaptive signal control capability.

The award, which was presented at the annual conference on June 16, recognizes an organization for development, management, and implementation of a creative idea, device, process, or system that enhances the goals of public works in serving the public and protecting the environment. The following criteria was used in the selection process:

•  Each nominated innovation is judged on its effect upon the provision of goods and services to the public. It can be an innovation in the process itself or in the materials, design, equipment, administration, management training, procurement of, etc., that improves, informs, or educates the delivery of public services and improves the quality of life. A project can be nominated for its innovative concepts or methods.
• The innovation must be a proven success. It must have had a positive and important effect on, improve the quality of, or reduce the cost of the delivery of public works goods and services. Innovation is the implementation of new methods and new technologies. It is not merely an idea that has merit and may be successful in the future.
• The innovation must be a significant advance, not just a natural evolution of existing methods, common sense or good practice.

Staff submitted an application for this annual recognition and is extremely pleased that the City of Sugar Land was selected to be recognized.