Road Network Operations
& Intelligent Transport Systems
A guide for practitioners!
Road Network Operations
& Intelligent Transport Systems
A guide for practitioners!
Urban Traffic Control Centres (TCCs) have operated traffic signal systems for years using a wide range of software packages. Their main purpose is to keep traffic moving in the urban network of arterial roads. As more ITS devices are being deployed in the arterial networks, the use of ITS for Arterial Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) is becoming commonplace. European practice is to refer to Urban Traffic Control (UTC), or Urban Traffic Management and Control (UTMC).
A summary of operations for a TCC that controls an urban arterial road network is given in the tables below. (See also TCC Functions)
|
Operational Function |
Operational Method |
Resources Used |
Desired Result |
| Surveillance |
Visual monitoring |
CCTV, video wall, work-stations, video “tours” |
Maximum visual coverage of network |
|
Sensor monitoring |
Electronic detectors |
Maximum sensor coverage of network, capture traffic characteristics |
|
|
Vehicle probes |
Mobile safety patrols, crowd sourcing, floating vehicles |
Detect and verify incidents in timely fashion |
|
| Traffic control/ influence |
Signal operation |
Traffic signal controllers |
Regulate traffic flow through intersections, along corridors and in networks |
|
Traveller information |
Inform public and logistics managers of conditions for self-decisions |
|
Operational Function |
Operational Method |
Resources Used |
Desired Result |
|
Traffic control/ influence |
Signal operation |
Traffic signal controllers and traffic control software |
Regulate traffic flow particularly along corridors and through networks |
|
Contra-flow or other special lane use |
Lane signals, VMS |
Increase roadway capacity |
|
Operational Function |
Operational Method |
Resources Used |
Desired Result |
|
Surveillance |
Sensor monitoring |
RWMS (although rare on arteries) |
Detect adverse weather |
|
Visual monitoring |
CCTV, video wall, workstations, video “tours” |
Detect and verify adverse weather |
|
Operational Function |
Operational Method |
Resources Used |
Desired Result |
|
Surveillance |
Visual monitoring |
CCTV, video wall, workstations, video “tours” |
Detect and verify incident, dispatch response, notify other responders |
|
Incident notification |
Police, Emergency Control Centres |
Initiate response |
|
|
Vehicle probes |
Safety service patrol (if used) |
Detect incidents, SSP respond and assist |
|
|
Signal operation |
Adaptive signal controllers |
Regulate traffic flow around incident |
Improve throughput |
|
Traveller information |
Encourage diversions and journey time changes |
|
Operational Function |
Operational Method |
Resources Used |
Desired Result |
|
Traffic control/ influence |
Traveller information |
Safe, free flow past maintenance and other road work or diversion of route |
|
Resource |
Technology |
Further information |
|
511 (USA) |
Telephone travel information system |
|
|
Closed-circuit Television |
||
|
eCall |
Automated vehicle collision reporting system |
|
|
Electronic detectors |
Vehicle and pedestrian sensors |
|
|
Highway Advisory Radio |
||
|
Lane signals |
Overhead VMS showing lane availability |
|
|
Media feed |
Automatic feed of information to websites, radio and TV stations |
|
|
PDMS |
Portable Dynamic Message Sign |
|
|
Queue detectors |
Electronic sensors to detect queues / queue length |
|
|
Ramp signals |
Traffic signals to control traffic volumes entering a motorway / freeway |
|
|
RWMS |
Road Weather Management Systems |
|
|
Social media |
Facebook, Twitter, etc |
|
|
Speed advisory VMS |
Advisory Variable Message Signs |
|
|
Speed limit VMS |
Mandatory Variable Message Signs |
|
|
Video “tours” |
Successive display of CCTV images from different cameras |
|
|
Video wall |
Wall-mounted screens to display CCTV images |
|
|
Variable Message Signs |
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