The Mestre-Venice beltway is the most critical stretch of the Italian motorway network. MARCO, the ITS system on this beltway, is intended to optimise traffic flow by controlling the access roads, to provide real time driver information and to detect and manage incidents including emergency response. The MARCO system architecture includes traffic monitoring, traffic surveillance, traffic control, traffic information, and supervisor subsystems. The motorway traffic sensors are based on integrated infrared and radar technology and are mounted one per traffic lane, at the beginning of access roads and at traffic light stop lines on the ring road. Remote controlled colour video cameras are mounted so that one surveys all traffic lanes. Variable message signs are used to inform drivers entering, leaving or progressing on the ring road. The installation and activation of MARCO are described.
Abstract