Future Advanced Transport Telematics (ATT) applications must focus on addressing traffic management at the local level. A central station concept is described, based on personal computers (PCs), that can support a range of ATT operations for local operators, with special reference to cost-effectiveness, adaptability to scale, and flexibility. National governments have already addressed large-scale ATT applications like tolling and national motorway communications. The largest numbers of ATT applications are likely to be at the regional government level, where schemes costing 20,000 to 200,000 pounds are likely to predominate. The process of identifying potential sites for ATT implementation has several key phases. To illustrate the relevant issues, the application of ATT to road incident monitoring is considered in more detail. It comprises all those elements needed to monitor traffic from the roadside and communicate that information to an operator in a control centre, who can then initiate appropriate actions such as informing drivers by roadside variable message signs (VMS). At the top level, a PC-based 'manager' processes the information according to various algorithms, and interfaces to roadside equipment via communications hubs. The system also needs traffic detectors and visual display devices.
Abstract