Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)An Overview

ITS Overview

What are ITS?

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) involve the collection and processing of data:

to provide information;

to advise or control the actions of:

travellers;

drivers;

fleet operators; and

network managers

using computers with multi-media communications and other technology.

ITS Overview

What Does ITS Offer?

Allows improved use of existing infrastructure by:

Providing a better understanding of the transport network Live traffic and travel information – quick response

Providing new methods to manage the network Improved traffic signals and vehicle priority Improved intra/inter organisational communications

Providing new services to the public

Travel Information to make journeys easier and more pleasant

ITS Overview

ITS Overview

How Does ITS Help?

ITS is a tool to implement transport (and other) policy Not an end in itself Not a panacea

ITS can be beneficial On its own Supporting other measures

ITS builds on what is there Not all new SCOOT UTC

Flexibility to respond to changing priorities

ITS Overview

The Underlying Processes

Data Source

s

Central Processing Unit

Information

Destination

Communication

Link

Communication

Link

Monitor

Acquisition

Processing

Distribution

Information &

Management

ITS Overview

ITS Applications

Two Main Categories Urban Inter-Urban

ITS can also help co-ordinate actions across authorities and networks Sharing data Enhanced strategies

Urban ITSImproving Transport Within Towns and Cities

ITS Overview

What Challenges Can ITS Address?

Congestion

Poor safety

Integrated services

Accessibility

Environmental impact

Urban regeneration

UTMC systems

Speed limit enforcement

Real time information

Bus Priority systems

Alternative vehicle routes

Parking management

What are those ITS solutions?

ITS Overview

UTMC

Based on a common database

Can fulfil many objectives

Costs vary depending upon the complexity of the system and its requirements

Designed for interoperability with non proprietary systems

May include, for example SCOOT Urban traffic control Variable message signs Bus priority measures at traffic signals Real time travel information

Urban Traffic Management and Control

ITS Overview

Integration - Sharing Data

UTMC COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

Operators

Terminals

Signal

Control

VMS

Public

Transport

Priority

Emissions

Monitoring

Road

Pricing

Other Functions

as Required

Common

Database

Other Systems

& Services

Other Users of Information

ITS Overview

Data Gathering And Information Dissemination

ITS Overview

Data Gathering

Data gathered automatically - in a variety of ways

induction loops

Cameras CCTV ANPR

Floating Vehicle Data

Information from RUC schemes and tolling information

ITS Overview

Information Dissemination

Information available pre trip and on trip

Information for Fleet managers, Network operators

Delivered in a variety of ways Website VMS Highways Advisory Radio

(HAR) Information to your phone via

SMS Etc

ITS Overview

UTMC Demonstration Projects

Early UTMC Systems now operational in Preston, York, Reading and Stratford

Largely a ‘Proof of Concept’ using UTMC specifications

Different focus in different demonstrators – including VMS, SCOOT, Environmental Monitoring, Car Park Guidance, Real Time Information

Sizes of projects also varied Preston UTMC capital costs rated at

£1.5m York UTMC costs rated at £4m

ITS Overview

Speed Limit Enforcement

Old style speed enforcement including Gatso wet film cameras is being superseded

Digital Photography Eliminates the need to remove and replace film Cheaper to operate

ANPR systems Allows “Distance over time” enforcement

IR photography

Encourage compliance “Secret Signage”

Intelligent Road Studs to measure speeds and advise drivers

ITS Overview

ANPR Systems

ANPR:- Automatic Number-plate Recognition Systems

Uses neural net programming for image recognition

High levels of accuracy

Technology used for other purposes such as London’s Congestion Charge System

ITS Overview

Distance over time Enforcement

Some speed enforcement measures cause rapid acceleration and deceleration as drivers break in front of cameras

ANPR systems allow vehicles to be identified at different positions on the network

Average speed between two points is measured

Speed across the entire length of road can be enforced.

ITS Overview

Speed Warning Devices

ITS provides speed control devices that are not aimed at prosecutions Speed activated signs, Displaying registration of speeding vehicle

Maximum appropriate and safe speed may be significantly below signed speed limit Variable Speed Limit applications now being used

ITS Overview

Secret Signage

Speed activated signs

Flash speed limits at drivers exceeding the speed limits

Effective at reducing accidents along dangerous stretches of road

Guidance is to use it as a last resort

Inter-Urban ITSImproving Capacity and Preserving the Asset

ITS Overview

ITS on the Motorways and Trunk Roads

No longer able to keep building new roads to accommodate predicted demand

Need new ways to improve capacity

Need to ‘lock in’ capacity provided by new / improved road schemes

Drivers want more information and more reliable journeys 10% of delays result from road works, 25%

from incidents

ITS can advise of congestion and help manage road works and incidents

Safety improvements result

ITS Overview

Ramp Metering – Motorway Access Management

Popular in America

Used in Glasgow for access to the M8 (introduced 2004)

Used on the M6 for many years – many new sites planned

Can increases throughput

Can improve journey time reliability

Guidance on deployment now available from the HA

ITS Overview

VMS For Strategic Management and Tactical Control

VMS (Variable Message Sign) Display selected information

Can be used for special event signing

Warns of congestion and can advise of alternative route

Different sizes and complexity

Controlled by NTCC (strategic) and RCC (tactical)

Automatic sign settings with signals possible - linked to MIDAS

ITS Overview

MIDAS and VMS

MIDAS - Motorway Incident Detection and Automated Signalling

Uses induction loops to monitor traffic flow on strategic road network

Predominantly for queue protection

Automatically sets signals and signs, including variable speed limits

Good response: Average time till the system displays signs appropriate to an incident is routinely before RCC is aware of incident

Signs and signals clears down automatically when flow returns to ‘normal’

ITS Overview

Hazard Warning Systems

Companion System

Intelligent Road Studs (IRS)

ITS Overview

Companion System

Series of “companion posts” at the side of the carriageway

Radar detector in posts every 0.5 km for automatic activation

Posts can flash in groups – including ‘running lights’ approaching the driver – to warn of

problem Away from the driver – to encourage

throughput

Headways / throughput improves

Secondary incidents avoided

ITS Overview

Intelligent Road Studs (IRS)

Deployed on the M8 Between Edinburgh and Glasgow

Part of NADICS (National Driver Information and Control System) Used for

Guidance in Fog Surface water detection Incident detection Hazard warning

ITS Overview

51,000 vehicles a day

Cheaper than induction loops

Improved visibility over cats eyes

1 road stud per 18m makes the route visible for up to 1km ahead

Detector studs every 250m provide information on speed and flow as well as weather conditions

Flashing studs give hazard warning of upcoming incidents

ITS Overview

Active Traffic Management

M42 Junctions 3a - 7: Birmingham

Multi-Million pound project

Uses the latest technology

Not just Controlled Motorways

A Trial of Different ITS Tools and Operational Regimes

M42 J3a-7

ITS Overview

Active Traffic Management

Access Control

CCTV Based Incident Detection

Emergency Refuge Areas

Hard Shoulder Management

HADECS Digital Speed Enforcement

MS4 Variable Message Signs capable of displaying pictograms

Possibility of ‘dedicated lanes - including HOV

Not just Controlled Motorway…

ITS Overview

Active Traffic Management The reality

ATM Picture

ITS Overview

Active Traffic Management

Installation works now complete

Three Lane Variable Speed Limits from Late 2005

Four Lane Hard Shoulder Running from Autumn 2006

Access Control: still to be determined

Timetable

ITS Overview

Active Traffic Management

Advert in Birmingham METRO:

Monday 21st November 2005

ATM Website: www.highways.gov.uk/atm

Education

ITS Overview

Network Advisory Assessment Tool (NASS)

Computer modelling tool developed by IPL

Will be used by ATM Operators in the Control Room

Predicts traffic conditions an hour ahead

Match conditions to a library of traffic patterns

Decide which one of three associated plans will have the most benefit

Summary

ITS Overview

What is NASSA screenshot…

Image

ITS Overview

What is NASS

Working for WSP in Basingstoke

Ultimate client is the Highways Agency

Testing Phase B of the system completed “Offline” testing / proof of concept

Phase C to be installed in the Control Room FM to develop strategies / plans to address incidents

Faber Maunsell involvement

ITS Overview

What is NASS

Used to simulate road conditions and assess Flows, Speed and Journey times across the network with and with proposed Plan

“Graphical” modelling tool available to the engineer / operator Each “dot” is a car! Colours show speed of each car

TRL SISTM Simulator Used in Phase B

Image

ITS Overview

NASS ResultsAn example assessment of a proposed plan …

Journey times for Junction 3a to 4 Northbound

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

06:00 07:12 08:24 09:36 10:48 12:00 13:12

Time

Jou

rne

y ti

me

in m

inu

tes

Baseline Journey Times

Nass Run 1 Journey Times

Junctions 3a to 4 Speed-Flow Comparision

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100

150

200

06:00 07:12 08:24 09:36 10:48 12:00 13:12

Time

Sp

eed

(kp

h)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

Flo

w (

veh

icle

s p

er h

ou

r)

Speed1

Speed2

Flow1

Flow2

ITS Overview

Integrated use of ITS – The Key to Success

Better management / more efficient operation

Sharing data – collect once, use many times

Standardising equipment and protocols – using the best IT can offer

Reducing cost / achieving operational targets

Dealing with information overload - highlighting what is important

Presentation in a digestible format and there when you need it

Coordinating effort – knowing what is happening and who is dealing with it

ITS Overview

Integrated Incident Management

ITS Overview