SFI Electronics provides the interface between the North Carolina DOT cameras on I-77 in Charlotte, NC and several local television stations. These stations broadcast video from the 26 state cameras on their newscasts.
EYES ON THE HIGHWAY (reprinted from The Charlotte Observer)
Traffic cameras to gain air time
Views of I-77 conditions will help commuters plan their journeys _________ By Dianne Whitacre Staff Writer
		News directors say the live shots will let drivers see if the freeway is hopelessly clogged or if traffic is free flowing. If it looks bad, drivers can choose another route or delay their trip. "These are real-time pictures of real-time traffic conditions," said Vicki Montet, news director at WSOC. Her station took the lead in setting up a joint venture of stations to share the $50,000 cost of connecting to the state's traffic operations center, which operates the cameras. The images won't show details of a wreck or victims. Instead, drivers will see long views of cars, either moving or not. Even radio listeners will benefit. "We like to have the cameras so we can see what's going on out there," said Jim Huggins, operations director at Metro Networks, which supplies traffic reports to 20 radio stations. The I-77 cameras will see what Metro Networks' airborne traffic	reporter can't. The freeway is near the airport's flight path, so federal regulations severely limit how close the traffic-monitoring plane can fly to I-77. The live television shots are an offshoot of the state's $14 million project to monitor traffic on Charlotte's busiest interstate. Operators at the state's control center off Statesville Road use the cameras to look for wrecks or disabled vehicles, and to send help. They also put up a notice on electronic signs to warn drivers. "What we are trying to do is prevent a secondary accident," said Robbie Robertson, an operator. The state does not charge the TV stations to receive the freeway shots. "The more people who know about problems on I-77, the better," said Scott Cole, the state engineer in charge of the system. Views of I-77 traffic may be on a state Web site late this year. Dianne Whitacre, (7) 358-5099 dwhitacre@charlotteobserver.com
Starting as early as next month, rush hour on Interstate 77 goes live before a much larger television audience. Stations WBTV (Channel 3) and WCNC (Channel 36) will show feeds from the traffic-watching cameras that the state has mounted above 15 miles of freeway, from the S.C. line to north of I-85. Time Warner Cable which plans a local 24-hour news channel, also will participate. Viewers of WSOC-TV (Channel 9) have been checking how traffic's flowing since July. The stations can choose from images picked up by 26 cameras. If a wreck has slowed traffic near Arrowwood Road, for instance, newscasts would show viewers that stretch of highway.