Network Monitoring
TRL's technology operations support capability is founded on long-established support to the development and operation of the M25 Controlled Motorway (J10-16). TRL has monitored and analysed the performance of the M25 Controlled Motorway since August 1995 and has developed deep expert knowledge of the behaviour of the Controlled Motorway system and of the traffic flows it manages. |
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During 2005, it was decided by the Highways Agency to bring TRL's expertise to bear directly on the daily operational management of the network, with the focus on reducing congestion and improving journey time reliability.
TRL's team includes experts in the performance and behaviour of Controlled Motorways and traffic flows, and staff with extensive knowledge of the technologies of motorways. A range of powerful analysis tools is available to the team. The Motorway Traffic Viewer (MTV) toolset depicts traffic and signal data graphically to enable the operational effectiveness of the Controlled Motorway to be analysed against the actual traffic demands encountered, over daily and weekly periods. TRL also conducts Motorway Incident Detection and Automatic Signalling (MIDAS) ‘Healthchecks' to search for likely faults in MIDAS loops throughout South-east England, which are reported to the managing consultants and maintenance engineers.
The team has also developed an internet-hosted database to assist the management of maintaining MIDAS, detailing fault records and maintenance actions of the regional maintenance contractor engineers. This approach creates a comprehensive system-performance knowledge centre enabling all stakeholders to fully appreciate the operational status of the MIDAS system. TRL has been highly effective at engaging with the full range of stakeholders involved (Highways Agency departments, managing consultants, engineers, and regional control centre staff) to identify and resolve any problems. Since TRL involvement, there's been a marked improvement in the operation of the MIDAS system and M25 Controlled Motorway. The number of faulty loops in the M25 Controlled Motorway section has decreased considerably since May 2006 (by 75% in January 2007), with the secondary benefit of significantly reducing the number of inappropriate signal settings caused by the loop faults.
Case Studies - please click on the following links for more information:
Operational Technology Support and Development of Network Tools
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