DENVER, CO (April 1, 2016) – Colorado’s Department of Transportation (CDOT) has awarded Denver-based SLI Global Solutions a contract to conduct periodic Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) services of the implementation of their Connected Vehicle technology, a core component of CDOT’s RoadX initiative. The vision for RoadX is to transform Colorado’s transportation system into one of the safest and most reliable in the nation by harnessing emerging technology. CDOT achieves that vision through cost-cutting partnerships with public and private sector partners to create one of the most technologically advanced transportation systems in the nation, and a leader in safety and reliability.
Colorado’s Interstate 70 is the primary route leading through Denver and on to popular Rocky Mountain resorts and getaways. During winter months, high volume traffic combines with treacherous weather to create one of the most challenging traffic corridors in the United States. Connected Vehicle employs cellular networks, cloud based technology and specially equipped vehicles to build, essentially, a virtual “smart” road providing an immediate highway situational awareness, with real-time alerts of road conditions, hazards, closures, and maintenance routes available to CDOT as well as the travelling public. The challenge for CDOT is to appropriately assess the risks raised by leading-edge, interoperable technologies with many moving parts on a fast-tracked implementation timeframe.
SLI’s IV&V approach calls for an initial review followed by periodic “deep dives”. Project Management and Quality Management are evaluated in the Initial Review and in every subsequent Periodic Review. Other areas of project activities, such as Requirements Management, Software Development, Testing, Training, Operating and Development Environments, and Operations Oversight are scheduled for independent review and assessment in the appropriate Periodic Reviews as the Connected Vehicle Project moves through the system development lifecycle. This approach allows SLI’s IV&V Team to identify risks that are the most likely to impact the project, prior to when they are most probable to occur. This enables SLI to provide actionable mitigation recommendations to reduce their severity or eliminate them completely.
“As CDOT seeks to employ a multi-pronged DO-IT (deployment, operations, innovation, technology) approach with the objective of being the nation’s most efficient, agile, and flexible system for bringing transportation technology to market, it is important that sound principles of project management and systems development are established, deployed, and effectively utilized”, said Steve Esposito, Vice President for SLI’s Government Solutions practice. “SLI proposed a flexible approach to conduct the IV&V for CDOT using our standards-based SQM3 methodology. This flexibility permits our delivery team to make mid-course adjustments based on the needs of the project, rather than locking into a schedule and structure that may not meet the needs of the agency as the project progresses.”
“SLI is very excited about the opportunity to assist the CDOT in achieving the transformative vision and critical mission of its RoadX initiative. This contract is the fourth CDOT award earned by SLI,” Steve continued. “These awards solidify our place as a trusted partner to Colorado’s agencies as they work towards modernizing their technology for mission critical public projects while minimizing risk and maximizing quality.”
About SLI Global Solutions:
SLI is a nationally recognized partner with State and Local Government agencies, provides Project Management Oversight, Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) and Assessment Services, Quality Management (QM), and software testing services. SLI offers customers an ISO certified Quality Management methodology and framework, SQM3, which is derived from industry standards articulated by IEEE, PMBOK, ISO, SWEBOK, and COBIT. To learn more about SLI Global Solutions’ Government Services, please click here.