United Kingdom
Air quality improvement in South London by 20%.
Traffic Technology Today 30.09.2021
A two-year innovation project by Bosch and Transport for London (TfL) aimed at improving air quality in South London has been successfully completed.
The project has helped to improve air quality by almost 20%, as well as reduce traffic congestion and improve traffic. The project also made it possible to analyze the impact of wind and weather on the spread of pollutants in the central part of the city.
Bosch has installed 17 air quality monitoring terminals in the center of Brixton and on nearby streets. They measured the content of a number of pollutants in the air, including NO2, as well as solid particles of fractions PM2,5 and PM10. The collected data were combined with TfL traffic volume data and emission and dispersion simulations were used.
ANPR technology enabled the inclusion of vehicle classification information in the simulation, including the type of their engines (petrol, diesel, electric or hybrid) and emissions of each vehicle.
The above solutions allowed Bosch to launch a model of environmentally friendly traffic management. This is a cloud-based software that shows the level of emissions at certain points in Brixton and how it changes throughout the day.
For the first time, air quality in Brixton was measured minute by minute, and the causes of maximum and minimum pollution values could be accurately linked to traffic, vehicle and environmental data.
The key tool to combat air pollution was the adjustment of the signal time of traffic lights. This has led to an improvement in air quality, as well as to a faster traffic flow through the city center, which is confirmed by the measurement data.
The data and lessons learned from this project will be used for future TfL projects in the field of traffic management. These tools are equally useful for early modeling of new road infrastructure programs to assess their potential impact on local air quality.
Swarco will put 78 characters of variable messages
Traffic Technology Today 01.10.2021
Swarco Traffic, working in partnership with Costain, has won a new National Highways contract for the supply of 78 Variable Message Signs (VMS) for the upgrade of the M56 motorway at a cost of 85 million pounds.
The signs will display speed limits, traffic and safety information, helping to turn the shoulder on a stretch of highway into an active lane - a solution known as "all-lane-running". The extensive VMS functionality will allow National Highways to manage the highway in real time and respond effectively to accidents as they occur. "The modern highway system requires both traffic monitoring and real-time information," says Jack Ellis, Swarco Project manager. "Our VMS is able to respond to accidents as soon as they occur, and they are complemented by real-time monitoring, which includes automatic event recognition, allowing the operator to make decisions immediately. Our systems can also measure the speed and distance between vehicles, as well as environmental parameters such as wind, humidity, temperature, and emissions, to provide holistic highway surveillance. " The Swarco signs are controlled by the Costain Version 3 Roadside Controller (RCV3), and each of them has received MCH1600 product acceptance certificates from National Highways. The signs are expected to be installed in February 2022.Updating the National Highways snowplow fleet
Highways 01.10.2021
More than 100 new snowplows will be delivered to National Highways this year to help keep traffic moving this winter.
The cars comply with the latest EU emissions standards for diesel engines, known as Euro 6, which aim to reduce exhaust emissions.
Duncan Smith, acting chief operating officer of National Highways, said: "The new cars incorporate state-of-the-art technology to remove snow from the road at speeds of up to 50mph, which is 10mph faster than previous models. Our winter maintenance teams across the country will be ready to work around the clock to ensure traffic."
Over the past four years, National Highways has replaced 311 snowplows in its fleet.
Additional information can be found on the page of the annual Cold Comfort Winter Service Conference. (https://coldcomfort.tn-events.co.uk/)
USA
Roadside intelligent modules in the state of California
Traffic Technology Today 29.09.2021
Western Systems recently entered into a partnership agreement with the California Department of Transportation to supply 188 Yunex Traffic Roadside Intelligent Modules (RSU) and Corbin Connect software for ITS on major highways and intersections of the state.
The Yunex Traffic RSU will provide wireless communication from the roadside infrastructure to the on-board vehicle units (OBUS) and to the traffic control center.The modular Concert ATM system performs traditional monitoring and device management functions, but also directly interacts with a wide range of third-party data collection, device management and messaging subsystems, which significantly increases the types and volume of data available for decision-making.
Western Systems Sales Manager Zach Hoiting notes: "The new RSUs have put California at the forefront of the adoption of connected vehicles. RSUs will help to adapt quickly to future technologies, while creating better and safer roads. "
The project is scheduled to start this fall.
Partnership Derq and AMSignal to promote intellectual infrastructure
Traffic Technology Today 29.09.2021
Derq has announced a partnership with AM Signal, an expert in the distribution of traffic signal control devices and ITS in the western region of the USA. The partnership will combine advanced Derq technologies and AM Signal's significant industry experience. The goal is to improve road safety and intelligent transportation infrastructure in eight states with exclusive partnerships in Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico.The customer-oriented approach of AM Signal C will present a unique integrated offer for the management of traffic light signals, ITS, traffic sensors and software applications. These solutions will be used to reduce the number of accidents on the roads, as well as to improve traffic efficiency.
The Derq artificial intelligence platform for real-time perception and interaction collects data from various sources, including traffic sensors, signal controllers and connected infrastructure. Their platforms include Derq INSIGHT and Derq SENSE. Derq INSIGHT generates an array of real-time safety and traffic data, providing up-to-date, detailed data for analyzing safety issues. Derq SENSE is a peripheral solution that provides real—time infrastructure-based analytics for external applications of shared perception and traffic management. This includes "car to everything" (V2X) applications for connected and autonomous vehicles, adaptive traffic management and intelligent pedestrian crossings.