Graffiti on highways isn’t just an eyesore - it’s a real danger. It puts maintenance crews at risk, disrupts traffic, and drains millions in taxpayer money. In 2021 alone, work zone crashes caused over 42,000 injuries, and fatalities in these zones have surged by 50% over the past decade. Meanwhile, the U.S. spends $12 billion annually on graffiti cleanup, with some incidents costing tens of thousands of dollars to fix.
The problem? Current methods are reactive, slow, and dangerous for workers. Crews face hazardous conditions near speeding traffic, while delays in addressing graffiti lead to repeat vandalism and higher costs. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), for example, spent $1.4 million over two years on cleanup, often requiring lane closures and exposing workers to further risks.
A smarter solution is needed. Omnisight’s FusionSensor technology offers real-time detection of vandalism using AI-powered video and radar. By alerting teams instantly, it prevents graffiti before it happens, reduces worker exposure to danger, and slashes cleanup costs. This shift from reactive to proactive management not only improves safety but also saves resources.
Graffiti isn’t just a nuisance - it’s a safety and financial burden. With tools like FusionSensor, transportation departments can protect workers, cut costs, and keep highways safer for everyone.
Graffiti vandalism isn't just an eyesore - it creates dangerous situations for the maintenance crews tasked with removing it. These workers often face hazardous conditions, making graffiti cleanup one of the riskiest jobs in highway maintenance.
Graffiti removal often places maintenance crews in precarious situations. Working in narrow roadside areas, just feet away from high-speed traffic, puts them at constant risk of severe injury or worse.
When graffiti is located on overpasses or high walls, crews must rely on ladders, scaffolding, or aerial lifts, often while traffic continues to flow nearby. This setup adds another layer of danger to an already risky task.
On top of that, the chemicals used for graffiti removal can pose serious health risks. Prolonged exposure to these substances, combined with the repetitive nature of cleaning the same vandalized spots, increases the likelihood of accidents or long-term health issues.
Weather also plays a role. Rain, snow, or extreme heat can make surfaces slippery or create other hazardous conditions, further complicating the job for workers.
These ongoing risks don’t just endanger lives - they also lead to higher operational costs, as teams are repeatedly sent back to the same high-risk locations.
The dangers faced by maintenance crews come with a hefty price tag. Lane closures, often necessary for safety during graffiti removal, disrupt traffic flow and come with significant costs.
Take the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) as an example. Over two years, their teams spent $1.4 million on graffiti removal alone.
Beyond the direct costs, the reactive nature of graffiti cleanup creates inefficiencies. Crews are frequently sent out at inconvenient times, leading to unnecessary trips and wasted resources. Add in the logistical challenges of managing lane closures, and the ripple effects extend to productivity losses and the economic burden of pulling skilled workers away from other essential tasks.
Transportation departments often rely on outdated, reactive strategies that treat graffiti as an unavoidable issue. These approaches not only strain budgets but also put workers in hazardous situations.
Many current systems depend on delayed reports or routine inspections, leaving a significant gap between when graffiti appears and when it's addressed.
"People are deterred from reporting graffiti because they don't know who to call. Or they believe that if they call the council they will be on the phone for a long time, giving details, or will be passed around from department to department."
This lack of streamlined reporting creates a major hurdle. Research shows that graffiti left unaddressed for more than 24 to 48 hours is far more likely to lead to repeat vandalism. By the time crews learn about and respond to graffiti - whether through complaints or routine checks - the situation often requires more extensive action.
While basic surveillance cameras can capture incidents, they lack the intelligence to alert teams in real time. Instead, someone has to manually monitor footage or review recordings after the fact, which delays intervention.
Crews dispatched to remove graffiti often arrive days or even weeks after the damage was done. This delay not only increases the effort required for cleaning but also exposes workers to prolonged risks in hazardous roadside environments. These inefficiencies highlight the pressing need for a system that detects and addresses graffiti proactively.
Beyond safety concerns, delays in addressing graffiti significantly drive up costs. U.S. cities collectively spend around $12 billion annually on graffiti removal, with cities like Los Angeles shouldering particularly high per-capita expenses.
Traditional removal methods are both time-consuming and expensive. Techniques like pressure washing or chemical applications can damage infrastructure while increasing labor and material costs.
"Graffiti removal comes down to three things: The type of surface affected, the type of graffiti medium used and the removal solution you are going to apply."
Anti-graffiti coatings offer some relief but come with their own financial challenges. Sacrificial coatings, while cheaper upfront, need reapplication after every cleaning, whereas more durable non-sacrificial coatings have higher initial costs. Either way, these solutions address the symptoms rather than the root cause, leaving departments with recurring expenses.
The inefficiencies don’t stop there. Crews are often sent repeatedly to high-risk locations, requiring lane closures, traffic control measures, and setup of safety equipment each time. This repetitive cycle not only inflates labor costs but also increases the risks for workers operating in dangerous roadside conditions.
Another major issue is the misallocation of resources. Crews might be sent to areas where graffiti hasn’t been a problem recently, while locations with active vandalism remain unattended. This lack of prioritization wastes time and money while missing opportunities for more effective prevention. Addressing these inefficiencies and delays is essential for improving how graffiti is managed.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has taken a proactive step in addressing graffiti prevention by implementing Omnisight's FusionSensor technology. This cutting-edge system shifts the focus from reactive cleanup to proactive detection, enhancing safety and reducing costs in the process.
The FusionSensor directly addresses key challenges in traditional graffiti management, such as delays in detection, exposing workers to unnecessary risks, and inefficient use of resources. By combining HD3D radar, AI-powered video, and intelligent monitoring, it provides real-time insights to safeguard infrastructure and protect work crews. This approach resolves many of the inefficiencies seen in older methods of graffiti prevention.
The FusionSensor integrates HD3D radar with AI-enabled video to provide accurate, real-time data, regardless of environmental conditions. By fusing data from multiple sources, it creates a clear and unified picture.
When installed in areas prone to graffiti, like underpasses or retaining walls, the system can detect human presence instantly. Unlike traditional surveillance cameras that require constant manual monitoring, the FusionSensor automatically alerts DOT systems the moment someone enters a restricted area. These real-time notifications allow crews to assess the situation remotely and decide if immediate action is necessary, potentially stopping graffiti before it happens.
One of the standout features of the FusionSensor is its ability to integrate effortlessly with existing DOT monitoring platforms. Transportation departments can incorporate the technology into their current operations without the need for major infrastructure upgrades. Alerts are sent directly to the systems already in use for traffic management and maintenance, ensuring a smooth transition.
The sensor is easy to mount in key locations and begins transmitting data as soon as it’s activated. DOT teams can view both real-time and logged information on familiar platforms, enhancing their operations without requiring a complete overhaul of their systems.
In addition to its compatibility, the FusionSensor is designed for quick deployment and future growth.
The FusionSensor is built for simple installation across various types of infrastructure. Whether placed near highway overpasses, along retaining walls, or in other high-risk areas, it operates effectively without the need for complex installation procedures.
Transportation agencies can start by deploying sensors in the most critical areas and expand coverage over time. This modular setup allows for a tailored approach to graffiti prevention, aligning with specific needs and budget constraints. Each sensor operates independently while seamlessly connecting to form a scalable network, making it a flexible solution for evolving challenges.
Omnisight's FusionSensor technology brings a host of advantages to Departments of Transportation (DOTs), reshaping how they handle graffiti and improving overall safety and efficiency. These benefits ripple out, positively impacting both transportation departments and the communities they serve.
Thanks to FusionSensor's real-time detection capabilities, the approach to graffiti management shifts from reactive cleanups to proactive prevention. The sensor detects human activity in restricted areas and sends instant alerts to DOT teams. This allows them to assess the situation remotely and act before any vandalism occurs. By leveraging AI and computer vision, these alerts are faster and more reliable than manual inspections. Additionally, early detection helps DOTs identify high-risk areas, ensuring resources are deployed only when vandalism is confirmed.
FusionSensor's alerts not only prevent vandalism but also enhance worker safety. By minimizing unnecessary deployments to hazardous roadside locations, the technology reduces the risks workers face when operating near high-speed traffic. Real-time alerts ensure quicker responses to emergencies while also cutting down on congestion-related dangers. By sending crews only when absolutely necessary, the time spent in risky environments is significantly reduced.
Real-time prevention translates to considerable cost savings. With fewer unnecessary repainting trips and false alarms, FusionSensor streamlines resource allocation and slashes graffiti cleanup expenses, which cost over $12 billion annually in the U.S.. By focusing on targeted responses, DOTs can save on labor and redirect resources to other pressing needs.
FusionSensor's capabilities extend well beyond graffiti prevention. Its real-time detection technology can also support traffic monitoring and analysis. By providing detailed data on vehicle movement, it aids in optimizing road design and improving traffic management strategies. These additional uses highlight how this technology goes beyond protecting public infrastructure, contributing to better road safety and operational efficiency overall.
The old way of handling graffiti maintenance has often put workers in harm's way and drained public resources through inefficient, reactive measures. Omnisight's FusionSensor technology offers a smarter alternative, shifting the focus to proactive prevention that prioritizes both safety and efficiency.
Take the New Mexico Department of Transportation, for example. After adopting the FusionSensor, their detection accuracy jumped to over 98%. This advancement led to fewer false alarms, more precise responses, and a significant reduction in worker exposure to dangerous environments. The technology’s ability to perform reliably in low-light conditions and bad weather ensures transportation departments receive the critical data they need when they need it most.
"We are thrilled to select and integrate the Omnisight Fusion Sensor as the logical evolution in our truck parking management system", - Charles Remkes, Chief of ITS Operations, New Mexico Department of Transportation
Beyond improving safety, the FusionSensor also tackles the financial burden of graffiti vandalism. By enabling early detection and intervention, it helps prevent repeat incidents, cutting down on maintenance costs and reducing risks to workers.
This isn’t just an upgrade - it's a new benchmark for infrastructure protection. Using HD3D radar, HD video, and TrueEdge processing, the FusionSensor demonstrates that safeguarding public spaces can be both effective and cost-conscious, without compromising worker safety.
As transportation departments nationwide grapple with the challenge of maintaining infrastructure while protecting crews, the FusionSensor provides a clear solution. By moving from reactive cleanups to strategic, data-driven actions, this technology redefines graffiti maintenance, ensuring the safety of workers and the preservation of public assets. It’s not just about cleaning up graffiti - it’s about preventing it smarter and safer.
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