Automating real-time traffic management for cost efficiency
23rd September, 2024
Many UK local transport authorities currently face the challenge of reducing congestion and smoothing stop-start traffic in order to safeguard existing capacity and reduce emissions. All of this needs to be achieved in the context of shrinking budgets and spending rules that limit spending to capital expenditure, i.e., one-off purchases.
In many cases, operational network performance may be maintained and improved by using human traffic operators to monitor and manage disruptions to service such as incidents and unexpected congestion. However, installation of traffic control centres is expensive and requires significant ongoing costs, such as staffing.
Managing transport more efficiently
Local authorities typically overcome these issues with automated traffic management systems, such as urban traffic management and control (UTMC). Many of these systems allow for automated monitoring and management of recurrent congestion, but they are largely reactive, responding only when congestion begins to occur.
Aimsun’s real-time tools help to address the challenges currently faced by authorities, providing systems that can prevent or avoid congestion with minimal human intervention or even none at all.
From reactive to proactive traffic management
Aimsun systems are equipped with predictive capabilities, able to forecast network traffic up to one hour ahead. This predictive functionality enables proactive traffic network management, stopping traffic jams before they even start rather than reacting to them after they’ve happened. Predictive analytics and simulation provide human traffic managers with decision support, identifying the most appropriate traffic management strategies – in real-time.
Real-time support ensures that traffic networks are managed in a quick and efficient manner with minimal intervention; they also enable faster response times to incidents and reduce reliance on highly trained staff.
Integrations with Yunex Traffic’s systems enable actuation of change on-street direct from Aimsun’s real-time tools, implementing the identified strategies, either with a human in the loop, or automatically using pre-defined KPIs and triggers.
Automation in action: bus reliability in Tees Valley, UK
A great case in point is our work for Tees Valley Combined Authority in the UK, where we are automating bus reliability.
“The immediate benefits are clear. Not only will an automated digital twin bring cost savings from reduced staffing requirements as we expand our digital services, but it will also help us to implement the best strategies to reduce congestion and emissions.
Looking ahead, this digital twin will grow with us to provide a future-proof platform for testing a broad range of innovative mobility solutions.”
Andrea Reacroft
Digital Transport Programme Delivery Manager,
Tees Valley Combined Authority
The traffic digital twin digital enables Tees Valley’s traffic management team to continually monitor and evaluate real-time traffic, bus, and signal data feeds across the entire transport network. The digital twin uses data from the already installed and operational Stratos and UTC-UX traffic management systems from Yunex Traffic. This real-time data is integrated with the Aimsun Live predictive decision support system in a single, powerful digital twin platform.
Within just a few minutes of receiving the data, the digital twin will provide comprehensive predictions and assessments of near-real-time and upcoming traffic states, up to 60 minutes into the future. This predictive element allows for a far more proactive approach to traffic management: the system will not only get late buses back on time but will also identify buses that look likely to fall behind schedule soon and help them get back on track before the delay even occurs.
The Tees Valley digital twin will benefit multiple stakeholders, including transport planners, traffic managers, bus operators, environmental officers, and data providers.
Tees Valley plan to integrate further automations into wider traffic management in later deployments, so watch this space for further updates!
What next?
If you’d like to learn more about how automated solutions can work within your budget restraints, contact Dr Gavin Bailey at gavin.bailey@aimsun.com.
