API Documentation

The REST API provides simple interfaces to most of the data available on the 511WI website. The REST API enables developers to access essential data on the 511WI website including Cameras, Message Signs, Truck Parking, Winter Road Conditions, Events, Alerts. This API enables developers to create mobile traffic apps for Wisconsin.

Notes:

Requires a developer key. For most calls, query string 'key' parameter is required.
Throttling is enabled. Ten calls every 60 seconds.

The following outlines the resources available via the 511WI API.

Resource	Description
Cameras	Returns all cameras.
Message Signs	Returns all VMS.
Truck Parking	Returns all truck parking.
Winter Road Conditions	Returns current road conditions.
Events	Returns all traffic events.
Alerts	Returns all emergency alerts.

Legacy API Documentation

Note: A newly created API Key will not work on the legacy API.

Legacy API Documentation
Resource	Description
GetWinterRoadConditions	Returns all active winter road condition events.
GetMainlineRoutes	Returns the route configuration and status in the 511WI system. This includes travel time and average speed for interchange to interchange freeway segments updated every 60 seconds.
GetMainlineLinks	Returns the configuration and status of Vehicle Detector Station links within the 511WI system. This is defined as the portion of roadway between two vehicle detectors on a roadway.
GetAlerts	Returns a list of Alerts. These are also known as Floodgates and are the high priority messages scrolling across the header of the 511WI website.
GetIncidents	Returns all active incidents. This data is updated every minute.
GetRoadways	Returns a list of roadways that are configured within the 511WI system.
GetRoadwork	Returns all active or planned roadwork. This data is updated every minute.
GetMessageSigns	Returns the configuration and status of all message signs within the 511WI system.
GetCameras	Returns the configuration of all cameras in the 511WI system.

Legacy API Resources

GetWinterRoadConditions

Resource URL - https://511wi.gov/web/api/winterroadconditions?key={key}&format={format}

Resource Information

Rate Limited?	Yes
Requires Authentication	Yes
Response Formats	json or xml
Http Methods	GET

Parameters

Key - required
Format - Optional

Example Request

https://511wi.gov/web/api/winterroadconditions?key=4114551d2d4a403a921eab1c4c22ec8b&format=xml

Json Sample


{"Condition":"Good Winter Driving","EndCounty":"MONROE","LocationDescription":"Between WIS 82 and I-90","Region":"Southwest Region","SegmentCoordinates":[{"Latitude":43.79664,"Longitude":-90.05632},{"Latitude":43.79903,"Longitude":-90.05857},{"Latitude":43.80253,"Longitude":-90.06212},{"Latitude":43.8037,"Longitude":-90.06332},{"Latitude":43.81061,"Longitude":-90.07064},{"Latitude":43.81183,"Longitude":-90.07171}

Xml Sample


<ArrayOfWinterRoadCondition xmlns="http://schemas.datacontract.org/2004/07/IBI.ATIS.Web.ApiServiceModels" xmlns:i="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<WinterRoadCondition>

<Condition>Good Winter Driving</Condition>

<EndCounty>MONROE</EndCounty>

<LocationDescription>Between WIS 82 and I-90</LocationDescription>

<Region>Southwest Region</Region>

<SegmentCoordinates xmlns:a="http://schemas.datacontract.org/2004/07/IBI.ATIS.Common.Data">...</SegmentCoordinates>

<StartCounty>JUNEAU</StartCounty>

</WinterRoadCondition>

</ArrayOfWinterRoadCondition>

GetMainlineRoutes

Resource URL - https://511wi.gov/web/api/MainlineRoutes?key={key}&format={format}

Resource Information

Rate Limited?	Yes
Requires Authentication	Yes
Response Formats	json or xml
Http Methods	GET

Parameters

Key - required
Format - Optional

Example Request

https://511wi.gov/web/api/mainlineroutes?key=4114551d2d4a403a921eab1c4c22ec8b&format=xml

Json Sample


{"DirectionOfTravel":"Northbound","EndLatitude":0,"EndLongitude":0,"ID":"STOC-Milwaukee::803","LengthMeters":7249,"Links":null,"Name":"Wausau I-39 NB: Maple Ridge Rd to WIS 29 E","RoadwayName":"I-39","SpeedMetersPerHour":null,"StartLatitude":0,"StartLongitude":0,"TravelTimeMinutes":5}

Xml Sample


<ArrayOfRoute xmlns="http://schemas.datacontract.org/2004/07/IBI.ATIS.Web.ApiServiceModels" xmlns:i="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<Route>

<DirectionOfTravel>Northbound</DirectionOfTravel>

<EndLatitude>0</EndLatitude>

<EndLongitude>0</EndLongitude>

<ID>STOC-Milwaukee::803</ID>

<LengthMeters>7249</LengthMeters>

<Links i:nil="true"/>

<Name>Wausau I-39 NB: Maple Ridge Rd to WIS 29 E</Name>

<RoadwayName>I-39</RoadwayName>

<SpeedMetersPerHour i:nil="true"/>

<StartLatitude>0</StartLatitude>

<StartLongitude>0</StartLongitude>

<TravelTimeMinutes>5</TravelTimeMinutes>

</Route>

</ArrayOfRoute>

GetMainlineLinks

Resource URL - https://511wi.gov/web/api/MainlineLinks?key={key}&format={format}

Resource Information

Rate Limited?	Yes
Requires Authentication	Yes
Response Formats	json or xml
Http Methods	GET

Parameters

Key - required
Format - Optional

Example Request

https://511wi.gov/web/api/mainlinelinks?key=4114551d2d4a403a921eab1c4c22ec8b&format=xml

Json Sample


{"DirectionOfTravel":"Westbound","EndLatitude":43.05339,"EndLongitude":-89.49765,"ID":"STOC-Milwaukee::117","RoadwayName":"WB Beltline","SpeedMetersPerHour":156000,"StartLatitude":43.0525,"StartLongitude":-89.48749}

Xml Sample


<ArrayOfLink xmlns="http://schemas.datacontract.org/2004/07/IBI.ATIS.Web.ApiServiceModels" xmlns:i="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<Link>

<DirectionOfTravel>Westbound</DirectionOfTravel>

<EndLatitude>43.05339</EndLatitude>

<EndLongitude>-89.49765</EndLongitude>

<ID>STOC-Milwaukee::117</ID>

<RoadwayName>WB Beltline</RoadwayName>

<SpeedMetersPerHour>156000</SpeedMetersPerHour>

<StartLatitude>43.0525</StartLatitude>

<StartLongitude>-89.48749</StartLongitude>

</Link>

</ArrayOfLink>

GetAlerts

Resource URL - https://511wi.gov/web/api/alerts?key={key}&format={format}

Resource Information

Rate Limited?	Yes
Requires Authentication	Yes
Response Formats	json or xml
Http Methods	GET

Parameters

Key - required
Format - Optional

Example Request

https://511wi.gov/web/api/alerts?key=4114551d2d4a403a921eab1c4c22ec8b&format=xml

Json Sample


{"CountyNames":["all"],"ID":"2005","Message":"Alert 1","Notes":"test"}

Xml Sample


<ArrayOfAlert xmlns="http://schemas.datacontract.org/2004/07/IBI.ATIS.Web.ApiServiceModels" xmlns:i="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<Alert>

<CountyNames xmlns:a="http://schemas.microsoft.com/2003/10/Serialization/Arrays">

<a:string>all</a:string>

</CountyNames>

<ID>2005</ID>

<Message>Alert 1</Message>

<Notes>test</Notes>

</Alert>

<Alert>

</ArrayOfAlert>

GetIncidents

Resource URL - https://511wi.gov/web/api/Incidents?key={key}&format={format}

Resource Information

Rate Limited?	Yes
Requires Authentication	Yes
Response Formats	json or xml
Http Methods	GET

Parameters

Key - required
Format - Optional

Example Request

https://511wi.gov/web/api/incidents?key=4114551d2d4a403a921eab1c4c22ec8b&format=xml

Json Sample


{"CountyName":"Milwaukee","Description":"Disabled semi trailer","DirectionOfTravel":"Southbound","ID":"WisDOT IMS::255120","LanesAffected":"No Data","LastUpdated":"11:22am, 12\/30\/14","Latitude":43.081539,"LcsEntries":[],"Location":"At W KEEFE AVE","Longitude":-87.920671,"PlannedEndDate":"","Reported":"12:00am, 1\/1\/01","RoadwayName":"I-43","Severity":"Unknown","StartDate":"12:00am, 12\/30\/14"}

Xml Sample


<ArrayOfEvent xmlns="http://schemas.datacontract.org/2004/07/IBI.ATIS.Web.ApiServiceModels" xmlns:i="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<Event>

<CountyName>Milwaukee</CountyName>

<Description>Disabled semi trailer</Description>

<DirectionOfTravel>Southbound</DirectionOfTravel>

<ID>WisDOT IMS::255120</ID>

<LanesAffected>No Data</LanesAffected>

<LastUpdated>11:22am, 12/30/14</LastUpdated>

<Latitude>43.081539</Latitude>

<LcsEntries/>

<Location>At W KEEFE AVE</Location>

<Longitude>-87.920671</Longitude>

<PlannedEndDate/>

<Reported>12:00am, 1/1/01</Reported>

<RoadwayName>I-43</RoadwayName>

<Severity>Unknown</Severity>

<StartDate>12:00am, 12/30/14</StartDate>

</Event> </ArrayOfEvent>

GetRoadways

Resource URL - https://511wi.gov/web/api/roadways?key={key}&format={format}

Resource Information

Rate Limited?	Yes
Requires Authentication	Yes
Response Formats	json or xml
Http Methods	GET

Parameters

Key - required
Format - Optional

Example Request

https://511wi.gov/web/api/roadways?key=4114551d2d4a403a921eab1c4c22ec8b&format=xml

Json Sample


{"RoadwayName":"US 2","SortOrder":2}

Xml Sample


<ArrayOfRoadway xmlns="http://schemas.datacontract.org/2004/07/IBI.ATIS.Web.ApiServiceModels" xmlns:i="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<Roadway>

<RoadwayName>US 2</RoadwayName>

<SortOrder>2</SortOrder>

</Roadway>

</ArrayOfRoadway>

GetRoadwork

Resource URL - https://511wi.gov/web/api/Roadwork?key={key}&format={format}

Resource Information

Rate Limited?	Yes
Requires Authentication	Yes
Response Formats	json or xml
Http Methods	GET

Parameters

Key - required
Format - Optional

Example Request

https://511wi.gov/web/api/roadwork?key=4114551d2d4a403a921eab1c4c22ec8b&format=xml

Json Sample


{"CountyName":"Milwaukee","Description":"Ramp Full Closure","DirectionOfTravel":"Westbound","ID":"WisDOT LCS::LCS-63912-1","LanesAffected":"No Data","LastUpdated":"10:20am, 11\/26\/14","Latitude":43.030688,"LcsEntries":[],"Location":"At ON RAMP FROM MITCHELL","Longitude":-87.980729,"PlannedEndDate":"11:45pm, 12\/16\/15","Reported":"12:00am, 12\/6\/14","RoadwayName":"I-94","Severity":"Unknown","StartDate":"12:00am, 12\/6\/14"}

Xml Sample


<ArrayOfEvent xmlns="http://schemas.datacontract.org/2004/07/IBI.ATIS.Web.ApiServiceModels" xmlns:i="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<Event>

<CountyName>Milwaukee</CountyName>

<Description>Ramp Full Closure</Description>

<DirectionOfTravel>Westbound</DirectionOfTravel>

<ID>WisDOT LCS::LCS-63912-1</ID>

<LanesAffected>No Data</LanesAffected>

<LastUpdated>10:20am, 11/26/14</LastUpdated>

<Latitude>43.030688</Latitude>

<LcsEntries/>

<Location>At ON RAMP FROM MITCHELL</Location>

<Longitude>-87.980729</Longitude>

<PlannedEndDate>11:45pm, 12/16/15</PlannedEndDate>

<Reported>12:00am, 12/6/14</Reported>

<RoadwayName>I-94</RoadwayName>

<Severity>Unknown</Severity>

<StartDate>12:00am, 12/6/14</StartDate>

</Event>

</ArrayOfEvent>

GetMessageSigns

Resource URL - https://511wi.gov/web/api/MessageSigns?key={key}&format={format}

Resource Information

Rate Limited?	Yes
Requires Authentication	Yes
Response Formats	json or xml
Http Methods	GET

Parameters

Key - required
Format - Optional

Example Request

https://511wi.gov/web/api/messagesigns?key=4114551d2d4a403a921eab1c4c22ec8b&format=xml

Json Sample


{"DirectionOfTravel":"Northbound","ID":"MILWAUKEE::1264","Latitude":43.001651,"Longitude":-89.491083,"
Messages":["BUCKLE UP\u000a489 TRAFFIC RELATED\u000aDEATHS THIS YEAR"],"Name":"US 18\/151 NB (Verona Rd) at Fitchrona Rd","Roadway":"US 18\/151"}

Xml Sample


<ArrayOfMessageSign xmlns="http://schemas.datacontract.org/2004/07/IBI.ATIS.Web.ApiServiceModels" xmlns:i="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<MessageSign>

<DirectionOfTravel>Northbound</DirectionOfTravel>

<ID>MILWAUKEE::1264</ID>

<Latitude>43.001651</Latitude>

<Longitude>-89.491083</Longitude>

<Messages xmlns:a="http://schemas.microsoft.com/2003/10/Serialization/Arrays">

<a:string>BUCKLE UP 489 TRAFFIC RELATED DEATHS THIS YEAR</a:string>

</Messages>

<Name>US 18/151 NB (Verona Rd) at Fitchrona Rd</Name>

<Roadway>US 18/151</Roadway>

</MessageSign>

</ArrayOfMessageSign>

GetCameras

Resource URL - https://511wi.gov/web/api/cameras?key={key}&format={format}

Rate Limited?	Yes
Requires Authentication	Yes
Response Formats	json or xml
Http Methods	GET

Parameters

Key - required
Format - Optional

Example Request

https://511wi.gov/web/api/cameras?key=4114551d2d4a403a921eab1c4c22ec8b&format=xml

Json Sample


{"DirectionOfTravel":"Northbound","ID":"MILWAUKEE::CCTV-05-0071","ImageUrl":"http:\/\/www.dot.wi.gov\/travel\/greenbay\/cameras\/cam336.jpg","Latitude":44.520269,"
Longitude":-87.967748,"Name":"I-43 at Danz Ave","RoadwayName":"I-43"}

Xml Sample


<ArrayOfCamera xmlns="http://schemas.datacontract.org/2004/07/IBI.ATIS.Web.ApiServiceModels" xmlns:i="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<Camera>

<DirectionOfTravel>Northbound</DirectionOfTravel>

<ID>MILWAUKEE::CCTV-05-0071</ID>

<ImageUrl> http://www.dot.wi.gov/travel/greenbay/cameras/cam336.jpg </ImageUrl>

<Latitude>44.520269</Latitude>

<Longitude>-87.967748</Longitude>

<Name>I-43 at Danz Ave</Name>

<RoadwayName>I-43</RoadwayName>

</Camera>

</ArrayOfCamera>

Things to know about the REST API

Entirely HTTP-Based Methods to retrieve data from the 511WI API require a GET request. API Methods that require a particular HTTP method will return an error if you do not make your request with the correct one.

The API is a RESTful resource

The 511WI API attempts to conform to the design principles of Representational State Transfer (REST). Simply change the format extension a request to get results in the format of your choice. The API presently supports the following data formats: XML and JSON.

Rate Limiting

API usage is rate limited to protect 511WI from abuse. Authenticated calls are limited to 1 requests per minute for each method.

Knowing if you are rate limited

If you are being rate-limited by the REST API it will receive HTTP 400 response codes.

Error Codes & Responses

HTTP Status Codes

The 511WI API attempts to return appropriate HTTP status codes for every request. The following are the codes that may be returned:

Code	Status	Description
200	OK	Success!
400	Bad Request	The request was invalid. An accompanying error message will explain why. This is the status code that will be returned during rate limiting and if an invalid key is used.
403	Forbidden	The request is understood, but it has been refused.
404	Not Found	The URI requested is invalid or the resource requested does not exist.
500	Internal Server Error	Something is broke. Please contact the customer feedback to report this issue so the 511WI team can investigate
503	Service Unavailable	The 511WI servers are up, but overloaded with requests. Try again later.

Error Messages

When the 511WI API returns error messages, it does so in XML format.

Legacy API Documentation

Legacy API Resources GetWinterRoadConditions

GetMainlineRoutes

GetMainlineLinks

GetAlerts

GetIncidents

GetRoadways

GetRoadwork

GetMessageSigns

GetCameras

Things to know about the REST API

Error Codes & Responses

Legacy API Resources

GetWinterRoadConditions