Urban ITS

1. Urban ITS John Paddington Nottingham University, 23rd November 2006

2. Lecture Overview • Real Time Information • Urban Traffic Management and Control • The ITS Toolkit website

3. Real Time Information

4. Real Time Information • What is Bus Real Time Information? • How does it work? • Where it is used?

5. Real Time Information provides: • Detailed fleet information for bus operators

6. Real Time Information provides: • Information at bus stops: • when the next bus is due • other service information

7. Real Time Information provides: • SMS text messaging facilities; • Travel information booths • Web based information via a graphical interface.

8. 208 At Stop Displays Internet SMS WAP PDA 20 Off Street Displays How does Real Time Information work? (1) 208 At Stop Displays Satellite Navigation (GPS) Satellite Navigation (GPS) Internet Internet SMS SMS WAP WAP Transmission Transmission Central Control Central Control Station Station PDA PDA 20 Off Street Displays Bus Depot Bus Depot

9. How does Real Time Information work? (2) • Vehicles are fitted with Automatic Vehicle Location equipment, enabling their position to be tracked continuously using the Global Positioning System (GPS) • Bus position is transmitted to the central control station • using wireless communications: • Private Mobile Radio; GPRS; MESH

10. How does Real Time Information work? (3) • A central computer uses this information to predict how long it will take for vehicles to reach stops • Arrival times transmitted to stops using wireless communications • This information is also can be relayed to a computer server for display on the internet

11. Public Transport Priority • In some systems, vehicles ‘request priority’ at traffic signals when behind schedule • A request is sent when the vehicle crosses a GPS cordon on approach to traffic signals • This request can either be relayed via an urban traffic control system or direct to the traffic signals themselves

12. Where is Real Time Information in use: Bristol • Four bus routes fitted with RTI • Installed Spring 2003 • Information available at stops and online: (www.acislive.com) • “Showcase” scheme also includes bus priority and road improvements • 10% increase in bus patronage

13. Where is Real Time Information in use: Leicester • Star Trak system launched in 2000: • Covers 34 routes, expanded into Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire • Cost approximately £4 million • Routes equipped with Star Trak experienced a 28% patronage increase

14. Why invest in Real Time Information? • Many bus companies see major benefits from being able to locate their vehicles and manage their fleet better; • The public like bus real time information, it improves people’s perceptions of public transport; • When included as part of ‘whole route treatment’ RTI can increase bus patronage and reduce reliance on the car; • RTI systems provide a platform for other location based services e.g. provision of bus priority at traffic signals; • The public will pay for SMS services.

15. Real Time Information: The future • Road User Charging: • Providing investment • Integration into the charging system to present current charging • Smartcards • Electronic payment either on bus or at stop

16. Urban Traffic Management and Control (UTMC) Background

17. Urban Traffic Management and Control • Background • The system • Our Suffolk County Council project

18. Urban Traffic Management and Control (UTMC) Background (1) • In the beginning: • Individual traffic signals using fixed time plans • Problems: • Needs to be updated to reflect changing traffic conditions • Doesn’t cope well with differing traffic conditions, e.g. at weekends in town centres or near sports stadiums before and after games, bank holidays, after road traffic collisions, etc.

19. Urban Traffic Management and Control (UTMC) Background (2) • Next came computer controlled systems using induction loops in the road to detect traffic. • Two main examples in the United Kingdom are: • MOVA (Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation ) • Single junction • SCOOT (Split Cycle and Offset Optimisation Technique) • Series of junctions

20. Urban Traffic Management and Control (UTMC) Background (3) • Next development was to attach a database to the Urban Traffic Control system • This allowed traffic flows and speeds to be monitored • Problem was what to do with this information… • Database was often isolated • Different systems could not talk to each other

21. Urban Traffic Management and Control (UTMC) The solution • System has a Common Database at its heart • Links all subsystems together • Common methods to exchange information • Allows information exchange between systems • Reduces costs as standard protocols used by all manufacturers

22. Urban Traffic Management and Control (UTMC) Case Study: Suffolk County Council UTMC

23. Suffolk County Council UTMC Background: Lowestoft • Two lifting bridges • Only way north and south of the river • UTMC implemented as part of a major regeneration scheme (Waveney Sunrise scheme): • Including a new relief road

24. Suffolk County Council UTMC Scheme specifics in Lowestoft • Four new variable message signs • 16 new cameras • 10 new Real Time Information Signs • Wireless Mesh Communications

25. Suffolk County Council UTMC How the scheme operates (1) – Communications Picture courtesy of NowWireless

26. Suffolk County Council UTMC How the scheme operates (2) – Variable Message Signs

27. Suffolk County Council UTMC Not just Lowestoft: Bury St Edmonds • New Shopping Centre will mean less car parking spaces • To combat this a parking guidance system is being installed • Aim is to have the system operational in early December for Christmas shopping

28. Suffolk County Council UTMC Not just Lowestoft: Ipswich • SCOOT UTC system linked to database • Includes: • Puffin, Pelican, Toucan crossings • Signalised Junctions • Traffic detectors • Vehicle activated signs

29. ITS Toolkit

30. ITS Toolkit What is the ITS toolkit? (1) • A website: www.itstoolkit.co.uk • Officially titled “Understanding the Benefits and Costs of Intelligent Transport Systems” • Provides information and guidance for Local Authorities (and Students) Image

31. ITS Toolkit What is the ITS toolkit? (2) • Compliments Transport Analysis Guidance (WebTag): www.webtag.org.uk • Department for Transport advice on appraisal of all transport schemes Image

32. What is the ITS Toolkit The Decision Tree(1)

33. What is the ITS Toolkit The Decision Tree(2) • Includes: • Illustrative costs • Illustrative benefits • Important considerations • Guidance on monitoring and evaluation • Where to go for further information

34. What is the ITS Toolkit? Case Studies

35. And finally… • Any questions? • john.paddington.fabermaunsell.com • Also: • We are at the careers fair today till 3pm • Next Wednesday (31st) we will be at the sponsorship event in Coates C13 between 1.15pm-5pm. • On December 7th (12pm -1pm) we will be giving a Company presentation.

36. Urban ITS John Paddington Nottingham University, 23rd November 2006