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ROAD
MONITORING INFRASTRUCTURE |
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This
activity domain covers the implementation of monitoring systems
designed to improve knowledge of road network conditions. This
is a critical activity within CENTRICO, since accurate traffic
data provides the basis for a significant number of projects in
other CENTRICO domains. Investigations have shown that further
investment in high quality traffic data is needed in order to
be able to run operational traffic management and information
systems. Work in this domain is at an advanced stage and most
emphasis is put on implementation activities.
Loop based monitoring device, cameras and fiber optics continue
to be implemented on the TERN in all CENTRICO regions, in order
to enable continuity of high quality data and services across
borders.
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The
installation of traffic monitoring stations in order to improve
the knowledge of traffic and to provide users with traffic information
and journey times.. Since the beginning of the MIP period (2001),
sthe density of this coverage and the quality of the infrastructure
has constantly increased: 4299 km of the CENTRICO portion of the
TransEuropean network was covered by various monitoring devices
such as loops and cameras, and therefore 11633 km of the TERN
are now covered with ITS. (75% of the TERN at end of 2005, against
50% in 2001)
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The
addition of monitoring systems such as CCTV cameras and AID (Automatic
Incident Detection) systems in order to complement existing traffic
management, specially in dangerous areas such as tunnels in Brussels
and steep slope areas that represent a potential danger for lorry
drivers on several French motorways. In England, the system MIDAS
has been developed and deployed in order to analyse the data coming
from the existing loops and detect incidents from variations of
traffic patterns.
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The
upgrade of information retrieval systems in order to improve data
quality, for instance using data fusion techniques.
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The
localisation of maintenance vehicles and road works by using GPS/GPRS
technology. |
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The
study of non intrusive new technologies such as: |
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Radars (SAPN and Flanders)
- Scene analysis cameras for counting and automatic incident detection
- ANPR systems (Automatic Number of Plate Recognition systems
used to calculate
travel time)
- Floating car data
- Fiber optic based detectors (England)
- Vehicles following by mobile phones
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CENTRICO participates
to the Monitoring Expert Group (MEG) and to the European initiatives
related to data quality. |
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EUROPEAN
NETWORK OF TRAFFIC CENTRES |
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Traffic
Centres represent the link between transport data collection and
traffic management as well as information services. It deals with
the co-ordination of the implementation/upgrading of traffic centres,
the cross-border and exchange of traffic information between neighbouring
regional traffic centres and the interconnection between regional
and urban traffic. In total eleven traffic centres are involved
in CENTRICO. These represent the highest level of the regional
system architecture. |
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Travel
Information Highway
The
TIH project involves the widespread exchange of travel information
through the use of common standards and best practice for both
the public-sector and commercial interests.
The TIH uses commonly recognised standards (such as those used
by the internet) to allow systems to 'talk to each other' and
exchange information. As such, it knows no geographic boundaries.
The use of common standards also means that the TIH is not restricted
to particular types of organisation; both public and private sector
alike can take advantage of the benefits the TIH offers. A website
has been set up to show the developments of the TIH.
More
info : http://www.tih.org.uk
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Cross
Channel Information Services
Cross
channel traffic has been steadily increasing over the last few
years and along side this the need for accurate and timely travel
information about the countries being entered has also grown.
The key objective of this project is therefore to improve and
provide seamless Cross Channel Traveller Information Services.
This is being achieved through using existing portals such as
variable message signs and radio stations, as well as new developments
such as automated data exchange through DATEX.
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Data
Exchange Forum – Special Working Group 4
The
overall aim of this working group is to harmonise and support
the CENTRICO traffic centres’ activities to establish a
European Network of Traffic Centres, as laid out in Annex IV of
the European Commission’s white paper on a European Transport
Policy for 2010. This is being achieved by supporting the CENTRICO
partners in providing data exchange links between traffic centres
in CENTRICO as stated in the mid-term review, or through revising
these targets if necessary. The Working Group is also supporting
CENTRICO centres by establishing common liaison activities with
relevant European bodies outside CENTRICO. |
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TRAFFIC
MANAGEMENT & CONTROL |
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Effective
and consistent application of traffic management plans and other
forms of control and optimization at both strategic and tactical
level are
needed to help manage traffic on the TERN.
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Increase cross border continuity of services
- Provide
information and advice to allow (inter)national
travelers to make informed decisions
- Provide
instructions to drivers an appropriate enforcement
of actions to increase the efficiency of traffic flow and improve
safety.
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Long
Distance Corridors
In
follow up of a study investigating the need and the feasibility
of
ITS-measures on European long distance corridors a demonstration
project was
started in 2003. Together with CORVETTE and STREETWISE it was
decided to
continue as a joint project. The objectives for the Long Distance
Corridor
demonstration project are to facilitate road use and road operator
with a
set of measures directed to long distance traffic on specified
route(s)
during a demonstration period of 2 years.
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Re-Routeing
Corridors
The
Trans-European Road Network within the CENTRICO area has an extremely
high traffic volume. Within CENTRICO several cross-border corridors
have been defined for international traffic management such as
corridor re-routing, and incident management to face recurrent
congestion and traffic disturbances. These measures are realized
by use of ITS. Cross-border
re-routing corridors between Köln (North Rhine-Westphalia)
and Eindhoven
(The Netherlands), and Antwerp (Flanders) and Rotterdam (The Netherlands)
are already operational. Other corridors are designed an implementation
of
the required systems is under way and others are in the start-up
phase.
During 2003 a synthesis report has been made, which gives a more
detailed
description of each corridor.
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Decisions
Support Systems
Several
CENTRICO partners are investigating and applying models for data
completion and traffic forecasts in order to support traffic management
decisions. Experts in CENTRICO have exchanged knowledge and experiences
in 2001 and several steps have been taken until now. Hessen has
applied the
tool ASDA/FOTO on the selected sections of the Hessian motorway
network and will be enhanced with additional features. The simulation
model developed
for North Rhine-Westphalia reproduces the current traffic situation
on the
complete motorway network, which is disseminated to the road users
on the
internet since 2002. The same data-completion approach will be
applied on
the motorway network in Rhineland-Palatinate.
In France studies will be done in 2004 on predictions of incidents
and
congestion using several different methods: simulation, database
and real
time information.
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LDWA
In
the LDWA project the consequences of a Lane Departure Warning
Assistant
were investigated. A report was finished in September 2003. It
describes the
consequences for the road infrastructure and the role of the road
authority
and it provides recommendations for further implementation of
the system.
Incident and traffic management
In Belgium safety is a federal, regional and provincial matter.
Flanders
started a new project in order to decrease intervention time in
case of
incidents on motorways. The objectives are to allow break downDifferent
actors like insurance companies will be able to participate in
this project
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Dynamic
Lane Marking
Dynamic Lane Marking is used locally to increase road capacity
and network
wide to manage capacity and ensure traffic safety. Road authoirites
are able
to adapt the road layout using DRM. In 2002 pilot systems of 5
different
suppliers are installed on the A44 in The Netherlands. In 2003
the
evaluation has taken place.
During this evaluation pilot the traffic effects and technical
aspects of
the dynamic lane marking systems at the A44 were tested. Recommendations
for improvements for further systems and transferability to other
sites were
formulated based on these tests.
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| TIS |
Traveller
Information Services |
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It
is the policy of most of the CENTRICO authorities that dissemination
of traffic information should be eventually left to commercial
service-providers. Therefore they put their information available
to service providers. Nevertheless, the road administrator informs
drivers by VMS. Some Traffic Information Centres (TIC) have their
own website with pre-trip and on-trip information. Gathering travel
time information and guaranteeing the quality of the information
are two major concerns for the TICs. |
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Positioning
of the Traffic Information Centres on the market
Within
CENTRICO there have been discussion and workshops on the role
of the Traffic Information Centres versus the private end-user
service providers. This has been resulted in a positioning document. |
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OTAP
The
OTAP project is a collaboration of domain “European network
of traffic centres” and the domain “Traveller Information
Services”. The OTAP demonstrator has become a platform where
road administrators, broadcasters, automobile clubs and private
service providers meet.
Further information:
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Travel
time generation
One
of the main mile stones within CENTRICO is to have a on-line travel
time available on the whole CENTRICO TERN network. Several systems
and technologies are used:
- licence plate recognition
- tracking and tracing of mobile phones
- use of toll collection systems
- on-line microsimulation
- tracking by use of image processing technology
Travel times
are presented on VMS, on websites or used to give on-line rerouting
advice.
More info on the French application:
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Travel
Time Generation and Dissemination (pdf 1.659 Kb)
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Quality
of traffic information
Former
work within CENTRICO has shown that the poor quality of traffic
information and the complete missing of benchmarking systems for
quality of traffic information is one of the barriers for implementing
commercial services. Most of the TICs have started up projects
on these quality aspects. Former work on CENTRICO level has been
introduced in the TIS expert group as startup for a larger initiative. |
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On-line
traffic information
Beside
the initiative for closer collaboration between road administrator
and service providers, the TIC’s are still investing in
better on-line information.
Different systems and technologies are used:
- VMS with textual information
- Dedicated radio
- Internet kiosks at rest areas
More information
on a French application:
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Horizontal
activities are the activities that involve more than one domain
within the CENTRICO project. CENTRICO has actively worked in the
horizontal domain, to help build consensus on common services
in areas such as enforcement and system architectures and to develop
agreements to ensure interoperability. |
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Evaluation
The
objective of the Evaluation activity is to enable the achievements
of similar ITS initiatives to be presented on a consistent basis.
This objective is being achieved primarily through the dissemination
of best practice advice and guidance on issues such as evaluation
methodology, common performance indicators and the appropriate
reporting of results. |
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