The Mattisse traffic and travel information system was first developed as part of the European Union's Fourth Framework project QUARTET. It was set up to create an Integrated Transport Environment (ITE) system, in a region of the English Midlands covering 3500 sq. kms and 3.5M inhabitants. It aims to create cooperation and added value between the various transport systems operating in the area. Traffic data are collected automatically from a range of existing systems in the region. They include data from urban traffic control, car park monitoring, equipment fault monitoring, and rail passenger information systems. The ITE system distributes the information as required, and displays it graphically on user terminals in each urban traffic control centre (UTCC). Some of the information is also displayed in similar format on the Internet. It is about: (1) traffic congestion on motorways and main roads; (2) major traffic signal faults; (3) road accident reports; (4) road works and closures; (5) spaces in car parks; and (6) major bus and rail public transport disruptions. Mattisse's strategy function provides the road network manager with a coordinated set of response instructions, matched to a detected traffic incident. Mattisse is now operational, and its local authority participants have agreed to collaborate further to extend it.
Abstract