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== Design ==
== Design ==
[[File:Components of an AFAD 1.png|thumb|The components of an Automated Flagger Assistance Device (AFAD)]]
[[File:Components of an AFAD 1.png|thumb|The components of an Automated Flagger Assistance Device (AFAD)]]
AFADs are These remotely operated temporary [[traffic control]] equipment is usually comprised of [[High visibility sign|high visibility signage]], 12 inch red signal heads, automated flags, and a remote control.<ref name=":1" /> <ref>{{Cite web |date=Fall 2017 |title=Automated Flagger Assistance Devices |url=https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop17042/fhwahop17042.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119151458/http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop17042/fhwahop17042.pdf |archive-date=19 January 2022 |access-date=25 March 2023 |publisher=Federal Highway Administration, US Department Transportation. |language=en}}</ref> Due to there usage on daily, [[short-term lane closure]] job sites, AFADs have to portable.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Ontario |first=Ministry of Economic Development |title=Government of Ontario, Canada |url=https://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=39427&language=en |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=www.ontariocanada.com}}</ref>While, traditional AFADs are equipped with high visibility signage, 12-inch red signal heads, an automated gate arm, and a remote control,<ref>{{Cite web |last=<!--Not stated--> |first=<!--Not stated--> |date=10 December 2021 |title=Comment & responses Automated Flagger Assistance Device |url=https://tcp.mto.gov.on.ca/sites/default/files/2022-07/Comment%20%26%20responses%20Automated%20Flagger%20Assistance%20Device.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207150218/https://tcp.mto.gov.on.ca/sites/default/files/2022-07/Comment%20%26%20responses%20Automated%20Flagger%20Assistance%20Device.pdf |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-format=PDF |publisher=Ontario Government |language=en |format=PDF}}</ref> newer AFAD technologies, also come equipped with 360 degree cameras and a tablet interface.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-22 |title=Automated Flagger Assistance Device (AFAD) - Site 20/20 |url=https://site2020.com/products/guardian-smartflagger-afad/,%20https://site2020.com/products/guardian-smartflagger-afad/ |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=site2020.com |language=en-US}}</ref>.
AFADs are These remotely operated temporary [[traffic control]] equipment is usually comprised of [[High visibility sign|high visibility signage]], 12 inch red signal heads, automated flags, and a remote control.<ref name=":1" /> <ref>{{Cite web |date=Fall 2017 |title=Automated Flagger Assistance Devices |url=https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop17042/fhwahop17042.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119151458/http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop17042/fhwahop17042.pdf |archive-date=19 January 2022 |access-date=25 March 2023 |publisher=Federal Highway Administration, US Department Transportation. |language=en}}</ref> Due to there usage on daily, [[short-term lane closure]] job sites, AFADs have to portable.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Ontario |first=Ministry of Economic Development |title=Government of Ontario, Canada |url=https://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=39427&language=en |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=www.ontariocanada.com}}</ref> While, traditional AFADs are equipped with high visibility signage, 12-inch red signal heads, an automated gate arm, and a remote control,<ref>{{Cite web |last=<!--Not stated--> |first=<!--Not stated--> |date=10 December 2021 |title=Comment & responses Automated Flagger Assistance Device |url=https://tcp.mto.gov.on.ca/sites/default/files/2022-07/Comment%20%26%20responses%20Automated%20Flagger%20Assistance%20Device.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207150218/https://tcp.mto.gov.on.ca/sites/default/files/2022-07/Comment%20%26%20responses%20Automated%20Flagger%20Assistance%20Device.pdf |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-format=PDF |publisher=Ontario Government |language=en |format=PDF}}</ref> newer AFAD technologies, also come equipped with 360 degree cameras and a tablet interface.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-22 |title=Automated Flagger Assistance Device (AFAD) - Site 20/20 |url=https://site2020.com/products/guardian-smartflagger-afad/,%20https://site2020.com/products/guardian-smartflagger-afad/ |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=site2020.com |language=en-US}}</ref>.


== Safety considerations ==
== Safety considerations ==

Revision as of 19:00, 11 September 2023

  • Comment: May also want to explain that AFADs originated and are popularized in North America. If it has reached other continents, please provide references of that. AngusW🐶🐶F (bark • sniff) 00:11, 25 March 2023 (UTC)
  • Comment: This is a bit like an essay in its presentation. It should not be trying to persuade folks of the benefits of newer AFADs. I also had to rewrite SmartFlagger since that was pushing a particular product. Since AFADs have been around for a while, it should cover a broader use than what Site20/20 is promoting. AngusW🐶🐶F (bark • sniff) 22:36, 24 March 2023 (UTC)


An Automated Flagger Assistance Device, The Guardian SmartFlagger.

Automated Flagger Assistance Device (AFAD) is a specialized piece of safety equipment used in the traffic control industry on roadway work zones.[1][2][3] AFADs were designed as an innovative solution to the dangers of traditional traffic control, aiming to increase the safely and efficiency of work zones.[4] [5] AFADs operate daily, short-term lane closure work zones and can work on a variety of job types including stationary jobs, intersections, mobile utility jobs, road construction jobs, among others.[1][6] AFADs are intended to allow a single worker to control the job site off the road and out of direct traffic flow.[7][1][8] However, it is important to note that AFADs are not a replacement for traditional traffic control flaggers. Due to widespread regulations against fully automated traffic control, AFADs must be used in conjunction with human flaggers to ensure safe and effective traffic management[1][6]. Improvements in AFAD technology has led to increased popularity in recent years. [9]

History

AFADs were first introduced in the early 1990s as a response to concerns about the safety of flaggers in roadwork zones.[10] The initial models of AFADs were unreliable and prone to malfunctions, and were considered too bulky and difficult to maneuver, requiring multiple people and creating safety hazards on job sites. This led to criticism from some within the traffic control industry.[2] However, the technology has improved over the years, and newer models are designed to be lighter, safer, and more efficient.[9][3][1]

Design

The components of an Automated Flagger Assistance Device (AFAD)

AFADs are These remotely operated temporary traffic control equipment is usually comprised of high visibility signage, 12 inch red signal heads, automated flags, and a remote control.[2] [11] Due to there usage on daily, short-term lane closure job sites, AFADs have to portable.[12] While, traditional AFADs are equipped with high visibility signage, 12-inch red signal heads, an automated gate arm, and a remote control,[13] newer AFAD technologies, also come equipped with 360 degree cameras and a tablet interface.[2][14].

Safety considerations

Standard AFAD setup—Two-lane, two-way road

In 2020, work zone fatalities hit a 16-year high in the United States, with an estimated 102,000 work zone crashes resulting in over 45,000 injuries and 857 fatalities, representing a 45% increase in work zone fatalities between 2013 and 2020.[15] Economic costs of work zone crashes have been estimated at over $17.5 billion annually. [16] These statistics make safety in the traffic control industry of paramount importance.[15][1] The AFAD has revolutionized traffic control safety by allowing the traffic control person to work outside of the direct flow of traffic.[1][3][7] This reduces the risk of accidents and injuries to both workers and drivers. [1]AFAD's high-visibility signage and a red signal head is visible from a distance, ensuring that drivers are aware of the work zone and can slow down accordingly.[3] The automated gate arm also provides an additional safety feature by stopping traffic in one direction while allowing traffic in the other direction to proceed.[1][6]

A 2018 study at the University of Missouri-Columbia concluded that the use of AFADs could significantly improve work zone safety.[4] A study by the Minnesota Department of Transportation concluded bthat AFADs may enhance safety over the human flagger based on a reduced vehicle approach speed, farther full stop location, and lower intervention rate.[3] The same study concluded that the public had a favourable impression of the AFAD and generally preferred it over the human flagger.[3]

Development

Modern AFADs allow operators to use a tablet to monitor and control traffic.[4][17] Some AFADs are equipped with Google/Waze technology, which allows them to access real-time traffic data and plan dynamic diversion routes. By analyzing traffic patterns, AFADs can intelligently redirect a portion of traffic, reducing congestion and enhancing safety within the construction zone.[17][18]

As AFADs continue to evolve and gain wider acceptance, they are likely to become an integral part of construction industry practices, helping to create safer work environments for construction personnel and smoother traffic flow for motorists in construction zones.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Guidance On The Use of Automated Flagger Assistance Devices" (PDF). American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA). July 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 April 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "AFADs: What is an Automated Flagging Assistance Device - Site 20/20". site2020.com. 2022-07-13. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Brown, Henry (February 2018). "Evaluation of Automated Flagger Assistance Devices" (PDF). Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). p. 71. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "Why Automated Flagger Assistance Devices (AFAD) are Here to Stay | TranBC". Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  5. ^ "AFADs: What is an Automated Flagging Assistance Device - Site 20/20". site2020.com. 2022-07-13. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  6. ^ a b c "FHWA - MUTCD - 2003 Edition Revision 1 AFAD Technical Provisions Revised 1/27/2005". mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  7. ^ a b "Optimizing Performance Mobility & Safety—Making Work Zones Work Better: Automated Flagger Assistance Devices - FHWA Office of Operations". ops.fhwa.dot.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  8. ^ "Virginia Work Area Protection Manual" (PDF). www.vdot.virginia.gov. 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  9. ^ a b "More automated flagger assistance devices coming to B.C. highways - Ashcroft Cache Creek Journal". www.ashcroftcachecreekjournal.com. 2023-03-15. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  10. ^ Pratt, Stephanie (April 2001). "Building Safer Highway Work Zones" (PDF). National Institute For Occupational Safety and Health. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Automated Flagger Assistance Devices" (PDF). Federal Highway Administration, US Department Transportation. Fall 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  12. ^ Government of Ontario, Ministry of Economic Development. "Government of Ontario, Canada". www.ontariocanada.com. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  13. ^ "Comment & responses Automated Flagger Assistance Device" (PDF). Ontario Government. 10 December 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 December 2022.
  14. ^ "Automated Flagger Assistance Device (AFAD) - Site 20/20". site2020.com. 2022-03-22. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  15. ^ a b "Work Zone Crashes, Injuries, & Fatalities - Facts & Data | Work Zone Barriers Guide". www.workzonebarriers.com. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  16. ^ Saha, Promothes (2020-08-31). "An Optimization Methodology to Improve Work Zone Safety within a Limited Budget in a Roadway Network". International Conference on Transportation and Development 2020. Seattle, Washington (Conference Cancelled): American Society of Civil Engineers: 204–211. doi:10.1061/9780784483145.018. ISBN 978-0-7844-8314-5.
  17. ^ a b https://www.yahoo.com/now/awp-safety-20-20-creating-124600818.html
  18. ^ https://www.ashcroftcachecreekjournal.com/news/more-automated-flagger-assistance-devices-coming-to-b-c-highways/
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