Tender Advertisement #1390345

Purpose:

The purpose of this project is to examine how government road agencies can use fibre optic detection technologies to support improved road agency services and functions.


Objective:

The objective of this project is to inform and guide agencies on the required business, information system and technologies and capabilities needed for the installation, application and operation of fibre optic detection technologies. This information and guidance needs to support improved agency services and functions such as road and transport management, road safety, asset management, and planning.


Scope:

This project will investigate, review and assess potential applications of fibre optic detection technologies through research into worldwide jurisdictions’ planned and actual uses, aims and objectives, outcomes, and benefits. The project will also provide guidance to agencies on how best to use the technology to support various agency services and functions including road and transport management, road safety, asset management, and planning.

Fibre optic detection technology uses micro strain in the fibre to measure very small changes in pressure, primarily from acoustic coupling with the environment. Strain can be measured at any point along the fibre which makes this technology a continuous detection medium with ranges of up to 50 to 70 km. The continuous nature of fibre optic cables makes this detection system unique. Together with its high resolution and sensitivity, it provides a rich data set with benefits across several transport applications such as incident detection, congestion detection, asset management (e.g. bridge structures), seismic activities (e.g. rock fall, slips earthquake etc.). Making better use of existing fibre optic cables has potential to provide additional insights at minimal costs with improved utilisation of assets. For example where fibre already exists there is no installation cost to the roadside.

There are several aspects that must be covered within the research to provide agencies with direction. This includes investigation of existing government and private road operator use of fibre optic detection technologies, and how they may be used to assist road and transport agencies.

It should be noted that there is an existing body of Austroads member knowledge on this topic and there is a need to understand lessons learned and outcomes achieved through previous work. As part of project scope, the project must investigate the successes, issues and challenges related to existing deployments of agencies worldwide, including how these issues could be solved and how challenges could be addressed.

A particular focus should also be placed on identifying the requirements of agencies to operate, integrate and maintain such technologies. The project must also review the existing technology’s constraints and limitations, and future/emerging capabilities expected. Additionally, the project must advise on improvements required, including vendor technology improvements and agency systems and practices to operate the technology.


Deliverables:

This project will produce two deliverables:

• Stage 1: Research report that includes literature review of international and local studies, trial reports, academic journals, review of manufacturer literature and stakeholder consultation.
• Stage 2: Research and Guidance report for Fibre Optic Detection Technologies, that includes the Stage 1 Research report content along with recommended actions and priorities for road agencies’ adoption and support of fibre optic detection technologies, and results of further consultation.



Also included as part of this tender are the following documents:

• Writing & Format Requirements for Austroads Publications which sets out the writing and formatting standards for research, technical and internal reports.
• Master Services Agreement outlining our Terms and Conditions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions are not negotiable.

All submissions are to be submitted as a PDF at a maximum size of 10MB.

All submissions are to include a completed Tender Proposal Coversheet.

The naming convention for submissions is: [your Company name] – [Project No.] – [any internal reference numbers].