WFI and ACS to Deploy Wireless Parking Meters for City of Houston
WFI, a global leader in the design, deployment, and management of wireless communication networks, information technology solutions and security systems, announced that it has been selected by Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (ACS) as the systems integrator to design and deploy a wireless network to support the installation of state-of-the-art wireless parking meter pay stations, called LUKE payment stations, throughout the City of Houston.
The City of Houston has ordered 750 multi-space solar powered on-street payment stations for a 1.9 mile area of downtown capable of accepting credit cards, coins and paper currency as well as providing maps of the surrounding areas. For its part, WFI will design and deploy the dedicated 802.11g WiFi network, the first of its kind, to support the parking meters.
This project represents the first municipal parking meter system in the U.S. that does not rely on a cellular network, but instead communicates exclusively using a dedicated 802.11g WiFi Network. The City of Houston will evaluate the performance of this WiFi network to determine if it can be expanded to assist public safety and public service employees to improve accuracy and timeliness of their duties.
"Understanding these are evolving technologies, we are glad to have a proven wireless design and deployment firm like WFI as part of the team. Using the Mesh Wi-Fi layer for Parking Meter connectivity, and the WiMAX overlay for connectivity to the network backbone, puts our City at the forefront in using evolving technologies to gain cost efficiencies in municipal services," said Janis Jefferson, Deputy Director and CTO, City of Houston.
"We are pleased to provide the cutting edge parking meters to our residents and visitors, and equally pleased to have the experience of WFI to design and deploy the Wi-Fi network these meters will require," said Liliana Rambo of the City of Houston Parking Management Division. "A primary goal of this project is to help make parking regulation, management and enforcement more efficient, and we are confident that the combined solution from ACS and WFI can help us meet this challenge."
"As the leading systems integrator for municipal wireless networks, WFI was the ideal choice to assist ACS in the installation of the wireless parking meters," said Norman Dong, Vice President of ACS Government Solutions Group. "The Houston project is a large and visible installation, and we needed an experienced systems integrator who understands 802.11 networks, who can think creatively about how to engineer a network to support the unique services our parking meters provide and who is familiar with deploying the Tropos product being used on this network. We look forward to working closely with WFI on this project."
"I am very pleased that WFI was selected as the lead systems integrator for this unique and strategic program," said Desmond Wheatley, President of WFI's Enterprise Division. "This is truly a revolutionary project and represents a valuable application of wireless technology to assist the City's transportation department while providing a convenient service to the community. This project also represents a good example of WFI's ability to apply its experience with 802.11 networks to emerging IT applications, and we hope to do more of this in the future. We are pleased to help our partner, ACS, and the City of Houston in deploying these leading-edge parking meters."
In addition to the wireless parking meter project with ACS, WFI was recently awarded a contract with the City of Houston Transit Authority to design and deploy a high-tech Wireless Mesh and IP Network for surveillance of 25 of Houston's Park & Ride lots to monitor activities and deter crime. The network being installed also has the capability of allowing Houston TranStar to remotely control 156 traffic signals in west Houston.
"This contract illustrates the unique nature of these municipal projects," added WFI's President and CEO Eric DeMarco. "We have been actively working with several communities across the country to design and deploy Wi-Fi networks that can deliver valuable services. For example, our work in Tucson with the ER-Link project to provide a 'virtual doctor' is another example of these next generation networks. We are proud to leverage our network expertise in this area and look forward to assisting other leading-edge cities such as Houston with their municipal Wi-Fi buildouts."
This project represents the first municipal parking meter system in the U.S. that does not rely on a cellular network, but instead communicates exclusively using a dedicated 802.11g WiFi Network. The City of Houston will evaluate the performance of this WiFi network to determine if it can be expanded to assist public safety and public service employees to improve accuracy and timeliness of their duties.
"Understanding these are evolving technologies, we are glad to have a proven wireless design and deployment firm like WFI as part of the team. Using the Mesh Wi-Fi layer for Parking Meter connectivity, and the WiMAX overlay for connectivity to the network backbone, puts our City at the forefront in using evolving technologies to gain cost efficiencies in municipal services," said Janis Jefferson, Deputy Director and CTO, City of Houston.
"We are pleased to provide the cutting edge parking meters to our residents and visitors, and equally pleased to have the experience of WFI to design and deploy the Wi-Fi network these meters will require," said Liliana Rambo of the City of Houston Parking Management Division. "A primary goal of this project is to help make parking regulation, management and enforcement more efficient, and we are confident that the combined solution from ACS and WFI can help us meet this challenge."
"As the leading systems integrator for municipal wireless networks, WFI was the ideal choice to assist ACS in the installation of the wireless parking meters," said Norman Dong, Vice President of ACS Government Solutions Group. "The Houston project is a large and visible installation, and we needed an experienced systems integrator who understands 802.11 networks, who can think creatively about how to engineer a network to support the unique services our parking meters provide and who is familiar with deploying the Tropos product being used on this network. We look forward to working closely with WFI on this project."
"I am very pleased that WFI was selected as the lead systems integrator for this unique and strategic program," said Desmond Wheatley, President of WFI's Enterprise Division. "This is truly a revolutionary project and represents a valuable application of wireless technology to assist the City's transportation department while providing a convenient service to the community. This project also represents a good example of WFI's ability to apply its experience with 802.11 networks to emerging IT applications, and we hope to do more of this in the future. We are pleased to help our partner, ACS, and the City of Houston in deploying these leading-edge parking meters."
In addition to the wireless parking meter project with ACS, WFI was recently awarded a contract with the City of Houston Transit Authority to design and deploy a high-tech Wireless Mesh and IP Network for surveillance of 25 of Houston's Park & Ride lots to monitor activities and deter crime. The network being installed also has the capability of allowing Houston TranStar to remotely control 156 traffic signals in west Houston.
"This contract illustrates the unique nature of these municipal projects," added WFI's President and CEO Eric DeMarco. "We have been actively working with several communities across the country to design and deploy Wi-Fi networks that can deliver valuable services. For example, our work in Tucson with the ER-Link project to provide a 'virtual doctor' is another example of these next generation networks. We are proud to leverage our network expertise in this area and look forward to assisting other leading-edge cities such as Houston with their municipal Wi-Fi buildouts."
About ACS
ACS, a global FORTUNE 500 company with more than 55,000 people supporting client operations reaching nearly 100 countries, provides business process outsourcing and information technology solutions to world-class commercial and government clients. The company's Class A common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ACS". ACS makes technology work. Visit ACS on the Internet at www.acs-inc.com. 
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