TRAPRIO |
Rising traffic congestion all over the world calls for new Intelligent Traffic Systems that can improve public transport. Within the TRAPRIO project TSS has done just that with a system for:
Objectives
Increase passenger satisfaction with improved public bus services by:
Improved emergency services by:
Giving green light to ambulances, fire fighters and other emergency vehicles allows these to pass the city faster and cut the response time with vital minutes. Ensuring green light further puts an end to emergency vehicles' highly risky passing of red light, which is the cause of many accidents every year. The concept developed by TSS for traffic light priority can also provide hospitals with an automatic warning when an emergency vehicle is approaching and ensure that hospital personnel are ready at the emergency vehicleís arrival.
Giving green light to buses when these are late can drastically cut delays in bus services and thereby improve passenger satisfaction. Going one step further and always give green light to buses can cut average journey time and make public transport an even more attractive alternative to private transport.
Another important factor of passenger satisfaction is accurate real-time information about arrival and departure times ‚ onboard buses, at bus stops and via other media like the Internet. Improving passenger satisfaction is key to attracting more passengers, decreasing private commuting, easing traffic congestion and improving the environment.
Method
To meet the objectives in the TRAPRIO project TSS has developed a new cost-effective and reliable concept for Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL), which is the central part of traffic light priority and passenger information systems.
The TSS AVL system is powerful since the equipment installed in the infrastructure can be utilised by any vehicle and used for a broad range of Intelligent Traffic Systems like:
As an example, traffic light priority can be used for money transfers and dangerous goods. In buses, position data can be used to change zones in ticketing machines and monitor driver and operator performance. Passenger information can be made intermodal, covering various public transport forms ‚ allowing passengers to plan entire journeys.
The system has been implemented within the frame of the TRAPRIO project for traffic light priority in Devon and Maidstone, UK and Kolding, DK.
TSS Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) System
The new Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) concept is based on TSS low frequency RFID battery-less tags embedded in the infrastructure and TSS tag reading equipment on the vehicles.
The battery-less TSS PositionTags are embedded in the road surface at strategic locations throughout the infrastructure at traffic intersections, bus stops, entry and exit to terminals and limited access areas, and other key points. When passing a tag location a TSS RF-ActiveAntenna mounted underneath the vehicle powers up the PositionTags and reads the unique ID code stored in the tag memory. The unique PositionTag ID code refers to position information stored in a database, giving the position and direction of the vehicles with accuracy better than 1 meter.
In-between tag locations, vehicle position data is derived from odometer readings related to the latest tag location. Position data derived when passing a PositionTags are used to calibrate the odometer, increasing the position accuracy derived from odometer readings. Odometer readings are also used to provide vehicle speed data.
Continuous monitoring of vehicle position and speed as they travel towards traffic lights or bus stops allows the system to dynamically change the priority requests and information provided to the public, thereby minimising interference in traffic flow for other vehicles and continuously providing updated accurate passenger information.
It is also possible to collect information from any equipment and sensors onboard the vehicles, e.g. ticketing machines, driver ID-card reader, keyboard, printer, driver display, fuel and other vehicle status indicators. Interfacing to such equipment and sensors can be a useful tool for various fleet management purposes.
The onboard positioning equipment and sensors are connected to a TSS Computer, a small computer that can handle communication between all the various onboard equipment and the Traffic Control Centre. The computer transmits vehicle ID code, PositionTag ID codes, Odometer readings and other data together with a time stamp to a central computer in the Traffic Control Centre via radio, satellite, GSM or any other suitable communication form.
In the Traffic Control Centre the data received from the vehicles are processed in order to derive accurate vehicle position, other information and actions related to the relevant application, e.g. priority request, information display changes, driver performance, etc.
The TSS AVL system provides real-time position data with an accuracy no other system can provide ‚ for any vehicle no matter where it is and what speed it is travelling with. The system has a number of advantages that makes it an ideal choice for traffic light priority, passenger information and other intelligent transport systems:
Benefits
The Public:
Emergency Operations:
Local Authorities:
Fleet Operators: