SmarTek Systems

What SmarTek Systems does

SmarTek Systems, Inc. is a privately held, Virginia-based sensing and systems integration company founded in 1995 that specializes in non-intrusive traffic monitoring hardware and software for the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) market. Its product portfolio is anchored by two core sensing platforms — the SAS-1 passive acoustic sensor for cost-effective, side-fire multi-lane highway traffic monitoring (up to five freeway lanes per sensor head) and the SVS-1 video image detection system for vehicle presence detection at surface street intersections (up to six NTSC cameras per processor). These are complemented by the HiWayVU Windows-based traffic monitoring software and a broad suite of cabinet integration hardware (Universal Sensor Interface and BL-2030 processors, network device server DS-1, surge protection, battery controllers, SDLC interfaces, relay interfaces, and junction boxes) that together enable roadside traffic cabinet integration, control center data collection, and information display.\n\nSmarTek generates revenue primarily through one-time hardware sales of these sensors and cabinet components, supplemented by one-time licensed software (HiWayVU, SAS/SVS Monitor and Setup) and project-based engineering services covering systems engineering, algorithm design, hardware design, and software design. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with sales conducted both directly via phone and email and indirectly through a regional distributor network spanning Florida, New York, Virginia, Maine, and Canada (North Line Canada Ltd., IRD).\n\nThe company's customer base is concentrated in federal, state, and local transportation agencies, with additional use cases in defense and homeland security (FEMA emergency operations, US Border Protection acoustic detection, airstrip monitoring, UAV/drone detection) and adjacencies such as cold storage temperature monitoring. Major disclosed relationships include Tri-Chord, Inc., which integrates SmarTek sensors into its Portable Event Monitoring System (PEMS) platform, and integrations with industry-standard traffic cabinet controllers (TS-1, TS-2, Type 170). The company operates from a single headquarters in Woodbridge, VA, with no disclosed subsidiaries, funding rounds, or public listing.

Name

SmarTek Systems

Legal name

SmarTek Systems, Inc.

Website

https://smarteksys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SmarTek Systems is a Virginia-based, privately held provider of non-intrusive acoustic and video traffic monitoring sensors, intersection detection systems, and roadside cabinet integration hardware for federal, state, and local transportation agencies, with additional defense and security applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Traffic Detection Sensors

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

Traffic Management & Intelligent Transportation Systems (Signals, TMCs, Congestion) (BPAIALAC)

Keywords

• Traffic monitoring sensors
• Intelligent transportation systems
• Vehicle detection systems
• Acoustic traffic sensors
• Traffic cabinet integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodbridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Traffic Monitoring Hardware: Sale of acoustic sensors (SAS-1), video detection systems (SVS-1), cabinet integration hardware including processors, surge protection, network devices, battery controllers, and associated components.
2. Traffic Monitoring Software: Software products including SAS Monitor and Setup, SVS Monitor and Setup, and HiWayVU Traffic Monitoring Software for Windows.
3. Engineering Services: Expert systems engineering, algorithm design, hardware design, and software design services for organizations with limited available engineering workforce.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

SmarTek Systems designs, manufactures, and integrates non-intrusive traffic monitoring sensor systems, including the SAS-1 passive acoustic sensor and SVS-1 video image detection system. The company provides roadside traffic cabinet integration hardware, control center data acquisition software (HiWayVU), and engineering services for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) deployments by government agencies and system integrators.

Product overview

SmarTek Systems provides specialized sensing and systems integration solutions for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). The product portfolio centers on two core sensing platforms—the SAS-1 (SmarTek Acoustic Sensor) for passive acoustic multi-lane highway traffic monitoring and the SVS-1 (SmarTek Video Detection System) for video image vehicle presence detection at intersections. Supporting these core platforms is a comprehensive suite of software tools (HiWayVU Traffic Monitoring Software, SAS Monitor and Setup, SVS Monitor and Setup) for data acquisition, display, and system configuration. The offering also includes extensive cabinet integration hardware components including Universal Sensor Interface (USI) and BL-2030 processors, network device servers, battery controllers, watchdog and power distribution modules, various junction boxes, termination units, external relay interfaces, SDLC interfaces, surge protection solutions, and homerun cables. These products collectively enable non-intrusive traffic monitoring, roadside cabinet integration, control center data collection, and information display for traffic management applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SAS-1 SmarTek Acoustic Sensor System

Quantifiable outcome

• SAS-1 monitors up to 5 freeway lanes from single sensor position
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• RoadSys, LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlorida-based distributor for SmarTek traffic monitoring equipment. Provides local sales and support for customers in the Florida region.
• Traffic Systems, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew York-based distributor for SmarTek products. Offers local sales and support for transportation monitoring solutions.
• Tri-Chord, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVirginia-based distributor that integrates SmarTek sensors (SAS-1) into their PEMS platform for portable event, traffic, and incident monitoring applications ranging from everyday traffic management to FEMA operations.
• Coastal Traffic Co., IncminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMaine-based distributor for SmarTek traffic monitoring equipment and solutions.
• Trichord Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrichord Inc. integrates SmarTek acoustic sensors into their PEMS (Portable Event Monitoring System) platform. SmarTek sensors are used in applications from everyday traffic management to FEMA emergency operations. Also mentioned for UAV/Drone detection applications.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Miovision: Miovision delivers computer-vision-based traffic signal optimization and SmartSense intersection detection to municipalities, representing the AI-vision trajectory that could displace legacy video/acoustic vendors like SmarTek.

Broad incumbents

• Q-Free ASA: Q-Free is an international ITS provider offering intersection management, traffic detection, and tolling solutions; while European-centric, it competes with SmarTek in the same vehicle-detection category through global DOT tenders.
• Cubic Transportation Systems: Cubic is a major transportation and traffic-management systems integrator for transit and roadway authorities; it competes indirectly by bundling detection, intersection control, and management software into large agency contracts.
• TransCore: TransCore is a large national ITS integrator and tolling/traffic-management solutions provider; although broader in scope, it competes for SmarTek's state DOT and integrator business through end-to-end traffic management programs.
• FLIR Systems (now part of Teledyne): Teledyne FLIR's Intelligent Transportation Systems group supplies thermal and visible-spectrum traffic cameras/sensors; its broader portfolio competes with SmarTek's cameras and detection at both intersection and highway applications.

Direct peers

• International Road Dynamics (IRD): IRD is a global ITS sensor, weigh-in-motion, and traffic-data systems provider and a SmarTek distributor in Canada; it sells competing vehicle-detection and traffic-monitoring products into the same DOT customer base.
• Iteris: Iteris is a leading provider of advanced traffic management and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for state DOTs and municipalities, with overlapping video-detection and sensor-based intersection/highway products competing head-to-head against SmarTek's SVS-1 and SAS-1.
• Sensys Networks: Sensys Networks produces wireless in-pavement and above-ground vehicle detection sensors, including multi-lane intersection and traffic-data systems, competing with SmarTek's video and acoustic offerings for the same DOT and integrator buyers.
• Wavetronix: Wavetronix manufactures non-intrusive radar-based traffic detection sensors (SmartSensor) for freeways and intersections, directly competing with SmarTek's SAS-1 acoustic multi-lane highway sensor for side-fire vehicle detection.
• Image Sensing Systems (ISS/Autoscope): ISS markets the Autoscope video-detection product line for intersection vehicle presence detection — directly analogous to SmarTek's SVS-1 platform — serving state DOTs and ITS integrators worldwide.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SmarTek Systems