Connected Construction Webinar
State DOTs Aligning Data Access and Uses for Safety, Digital Delivery & Advanced Mobility
State DOTs have invested in scaling work zone eTicketing and are integrating data streams from connected equipment to explore digital delivery, speed enforcement verification, V2X integration, and other connected construction capabilities. Pursuing Connected Construction deployments for multiple uses, at the regional and national levels, demands a standardized, shared, and interoperable playbook.
To address the challenge, this month The Ray hosted an August webinar on the “Connected Construction Data Alliance” Transportation Pooled Fund with pioneering state DOT leaders and technical experts, moderated by Allie Kelly, Executive Director. The session brought together updates from real-world, ongoing Connected Construction programs and perspectives on practical use cases and data access needs from Delaware, Maryland, and Iowa’s Departments of Transportation and Iowa State University. The webinar also explored aligned federal programs and available funding, including Every Day Counts, SP&R, and CMAQ, to help state DOTs move from fragmented pilots to standardized advanced work zone capabilities and programs.
A Unified Voice for Connected Construction
As highway corridors and work zones harness more data and “digitize,” state agencies face persistent data silos. Technology platforms, heavy equipment telematics, and field inspection tools often operate without data sharing protocols or data standards.
The webinar focused on the Connected Construction Data Alliance (CCDA) Transportation Pooled Fund, now open to state DOTs, tollways and turnpikes, OEMs, and other industry leaders. Unlike traditional work zone safety or digital delivery initiatives, the CCDA is uniquely structured to bridge these gaps by prioritizing contractor equipment telematics alongside e-Ticketing data, while building frameworks to integrate future inputs like wearable sensors, drones, and field IoT devices.
“The true power of the Connected Construction Data Alliance is a collective state DOT voice that establishes data requirements and standards based on practical use cases known today and envisioned for the future. The Alliance will guide national data specifications, enable data access, and set a direction for future use cases of work zone technologies and innovation.”
Proven Ground-Level Deployment
Panelists highlighted Connected Construction operating in their states, demonstrating how digital delivery improves worker safety and project efficiency:
Real-Time Worker Presence: Delaware DOT shared how work zone equipment telematics, unlocked by trusted relationships with OEMs and contractors, and normalized via e-ticketing platforms, generates automated, "active" work zone alerts. These alerts can be shared with roadway users across dynamic message boards, navigation apps (e.g., Waze, Google Maps, etc.), and V2X (vehicle-to-everything) platforms.
Definitive proof of worker presence is also fundamental functionality for automated work zone speed enforcement, protecting drivers and roadside crews.
Statewide e-Construction Workflows: Maryland DOT SHA detailed its administration of paperless construction platforms, demonstrating how automating project workflows reduces administrative burdens on field inspectors and enhances project reliability.
Digital Delivery & Aerial Inspection: Iowa DOT highlighted its ongoing deployment of e-Ticketing, AASHTO digital delivery standards, and construction of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to streamline asset tracking and field data collection.
Applied Research & Data Integration: Dr. Roy Sturgill of Iowa State University outlined how academic research is translating complex structural and utility data into practical geospatial models for public agencies.
All of these applications, alongside emerging capabilities like remote digital inspection, depend directly on establishing consistent data requirements, specifications, and standards across state lines.
Leveraging Federal Funding Pathways
A central theme of the webinar was how state DOTs can participate in the CCDA and strategically finance and scale deployments and programs through existing federal funding streams like SP&R, CMAQ, ADCMS, SHSO Formula Grants, and FAHP Reimbursements. Unlocking these funding hooks enables agencies to manage equipment telematics and eTicketing data streams into digital delivery and work zone safety tools aligned directly with the FHWA EDC-8 priorities like Digital Project Delivery, Nighttime Work Zone Safety, and Connected Corridors. Pooling resources through the CCDA gives participating DOTs the standardized specifications and data-backed business cases needed to secure competitive grants.
As The Ray and its state DOT partners continue building momentum around the CCDA, public- and private-sector input remains essential. Stakeholders are encouraged to participate in our brief post-webinar survey to help guide future discussion topics, technical priorities, and upcoming collaborative sessions.
