Yukon government's (YG) Transportation Engineering Branch (TEB) leads and supports the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) within YG. Part of this program development is the replacement of 511. TEB have historically been providers of bridge and highway work exclusively across Yukon, however, the branch has expanded with a team for ITS development and deployment. This team supports, leads and implements ITS projects across the Transportation Division and YG.
The Transportation Maintenance Branch (TMB) supports Yukon's multi-modal transportation systems. This is done with YG staff maintaining roads to a level that ensures safe and efficient use. Between TEB and TMB, is the management of highway rights-of-way and other lands and assets required for transportation purposes. Both branches develop and maintain 4,821 kilometers of Yukon roads.
YG currently has 11 highways and Yukon has a population of approximately 40,000, majority of which reside in Whitehorse. Most communities have cell connectivity, however, along most highways there is no cell service. Yukon's highways connect to British Columbia, Northwest Territories and Alaska. Temperatures can vary between -50C and +30C through the year.
Currently, 511Yukon.ca is managed externally using the Telenium 511 system. This system is outdated and not adaptive to the constant technological change, and staff and public expectations of such a system.
YG requires a new Advanced Traveller Information Management System (ATIMS) to replace and improve upon the existing 511 Yukon platform, increase efficiencies on data management and provide a safety-driven, user-friendly interface to the public.
The development and evolution of the new Yukon 511 solution is an integral part of the Territory's future long-term transportation strategy. The new Yukon 511 is a cloud-based software called Travel-iQ provided and developed by IBI Group (IBI). The new Yukon 511 provides a secure, modern and supported system that provides centralized data management and a user-friendly ATIMS.
In replacing this system, the key functionality is focused on:
road condition and traffic management;
incident management;
road and weather information systems;
traffic control and management;
work zone safety;
Weight and bridge management; and
*data collection and management.
This new functionality includes providing detail information collected from various infrastructure elements put in place by the TEB ITS team, such as Mini road weather information systems, a data logger for roadbed temperature senor, radar traffic classifiers and traffic cameras. The information is then laid out on a visual map of the Yukon, allowing the public to see events, alerts, road closures and much more information.
A part of the new Yukon 511 system includes the ability for users to create an account if they wish. A user account is not required to use the Yukon 511 system. if a user signs up for an account, it allows for the user to create and save customized routes, create and save alerts for routes, create and save emergency alerts, set map layer preferences and personalize the camera view function (to display specific camera images).
No personal information is purposefully collected by any of the ITS infrastructure discussed above. however, the traffic cameras may inadvertently collect a person's image or an image of their vehicle. Please see the Traffic Cameras PIA for additional information.
The Yukon 511 system is accessible via website as well as a mobile application. The information in the system is the same between the website and mobile application. If the user chooses to provide the information while using the mobile application, route calculations and geolocation identification are collected. There is also an option to use the system over the phone, via an interactive voice response system (IVR), in which case a telephone number and audio recording of the telephone prompts are recorded for system improvement and audit purposes.
Web and audio analytics are also collected and used for system evaluation and improvements.
