Delegates at the popular JCT Traffic Signals Symposium in September will hear updates on an important project aimed at getting more value from the UK’s network of traffic signal controllers.
The Manager of the Transport Technology Forum, Darren Capes (pictured, right), will give a speech outlining work on the Digital Controller Interface Specification at the opening of the two-day event in Nottingham, while the Forum’s Connected Vehicle Working Group Chair Andy Graham of White Willow Consulting (pictured, left) will give more details later in the day.
DCIS aims to provide a national unique numeric identifier for road authorities, a convention for uniquely numbering signalised junctions, a JSON schema for describing the features and allowed turning movements, and another schema describing the signal controller configuration in terms of its phasing, staging, timings and other engineering parameters traditionally held in the TOPAS 2500 specification.
The work to standardise the identification of signals controllers is seen as vital in the industry because it will mean users will no longer be forced to develop ad hoc solutions, which often ends up with them relying on a paper copy, or pdf, of the data. The current system is seen as a barrier to the development and use of potentially beneficial connected vehicle applications like Green Light Optimal Speed Advisory technology (GLOSA). The TTF launched a consultation in February and first feedback about the results will be shared at the Symposium.
Mr Capes will also outline the value of the new Manual for Smart Streets which includes a Use Case to help local authorities valuable advice on how to best manage their traffic signals detailing current solutions such as SCOOT and MOVA, along with updates on trials on GLOSA, traffic control using Floating Vehicle Data and integration with Bus Open Data.
The involvement in the JCT Traffic Signals Symposium begins a busy autumn for the Transport Technology Forum. It will also take an active role in the LCRIG Strictly Highways event in Blackpool in October, and will also exhibit at Highways UK later that month. Then on 14 November the TTF holds its Autumn Update meeting at the IET in Birmingham.
The Symposium brings together traffic management and control professionals from the public and private sector for a learned programme in which experts detail groundbreaking projects and ideas on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 September at Nottingham Trent University, with the MOVA User Group and welcome barbecue the day before.
(Picture – JCT)
