To help address its urban traffic control (UTC), the UK has developed the UTMC (Urban Traffic Management and Control) concept, as a framework approach for implementing and operating Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and developing open modular systems to support future transport management. A framework for existing and emerging international and de facto standards will be developed and specified. This paper reviews the background and aims of the UTMC initiative and the part played by standardisation, describes the UTMC research programme, and assesses the immediate future of the UTMC framework. UTMC systems are defined by the UTMC Specification, aiming to provide standards for each aspect of UTMC functionality, that needs to be defined in detail to ensure interoperability. The framework focuses on defining interfaces between the modules, especially user messaging, the user interface, and file transfer, and defines elements needed to share information. The research themes are UTC and applications, UTMC infrastructure and communications, and architecture and systems. Its current projects include: (1) input/output data needs; (2) ownership cost model; (3) selected vehicle priority; (4) pollution minimisation strategies; (5) suitability of NTCIP-based communications; and (6) applications messages.
Samenvatting