Template for Reporting Evaluation Results (Short)
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Template for Reporting Evaluation Results (Short) Project Reference: IE-01 Project Name: MIU ITS Deployment ITS Corridor: Arc Atlantique Project Location: M7, M8, M11, M18 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED BY THE PROJECT 1.1 Nature of the Site The MIU ITS Deployment encompasses the deployment of a Journey Time Data Collections technologies and Variable Message Signs on motorways located on the TEN-T Core and Comprehensive networks. The ITS deployment occurred on the following four major inter-urbans in Ireland: M7 – The M7 (E20) forms part of the Dublin to Limerick national primary road. The M7 is 186 km in length and the longest motorway in Ireland M8 – The M8 motorway is an inter-urban motorway which forms part of the motorway from the Dublin to Cork. The M8 is 149 km in length and motorway commences County Laois at the motorway interchange with the M7. M11 - The M11 motorway is an inter-urban motorway forming part of the national primary route from Dublin to Wexford. The national primary route is 134km in length and continues to Rosslare as the N25. The road forms part of European route E01. M18 - The M18 motorway is an inter-urban motorway linking the cities of Limerick and Galway via the large town of Ennis and the major airport at Shannon beside the mouth of the eponymous river. The Journey Time Data Collections technologies are located on the M7 between Dublin and Limerick. This route was selected for the Data Collection (sub-function1) element of the project as it provided the greatest coverage for a single motorway and existing roadside equipment and back-office support facilitated the subsequent data fusion and processing (sub-function 2). The deployment of the Variable Message Signs (Sub-function 3 – Data Provision) was spread across the four motorways at strategic locations. 1.2 Issues Addressed Deployment of ITS Equipment for the provision of the Traffic Condition and Travel Time Information has to date been concentrated on the heavily trafficked M50 located in Dublin and the cross border route the M1 between Dublin and Belfast. This project sought to address the lack of Traffic Condition and Travel Time Information on the lower trafficked inter urban routes in Ireland by increasing the coverage of ITS deployment through the following: Template for Reporting Evaluation Results (Short) (i) Collection of and processing of data along the M7 Motorway that will enable the dissemination of both predictive and real-time travel time information to the road user. This will contribute to the improvement of traffic efficiency facilitating the road users in the selection of more cost and time effective trips. The current lack of this data increases the adverse Environmental impact of congestion on the network. (ii) Provide information about traffic conditions and travel times to positively impact road safety. The locations for deployment of the 10 no. Pilot VMS were selected, in part, on the basis of the following: Proximity to accident hotspots based on the NRA Traffic Accident Database; Proximity to alternative routes that will facilitate the motorist in react to the information displayed to find the best way to bypass critical road segments / areas of the network, respectively. 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE ITS PROJECT 2.1 Project Objectives, incl. specificities / contextual useful information The primary objectives of the MIU ITS Deployment is to improve safety, reduce congestion, reduce environmental impacts, and promote the continuity of services on existing inter urban routes through the coordinated deployment of real-time information, traffic management and logistics services. This project sought to achieve these objectives through the deployment of Journey Time Systems and Variable Message Signs. As part of the project, Travel Time information data is collected by the contractor, EACL Ltd, on behalf of the Authority along the M7 using the Bluetooth Journey Time Management System. The data is collected at 21 no. counting stations along the route and processed by the Traffic Monitoring System operated and maintained by the Contractor on behalf on the Authority. It is envisaged that Data collected from these points will be fused with information obtained by the Road Operator from existing Event-based Information Systems such as the TII Road Space Booking System and existing weather stations. Figure 1 demonstrates the model organisational structure that best fits this project. Figure 1: Organisational architecture - road operator point of view Data Fusion & Information Data collection Information Use Processing Provision Template for Reporting Evaluation Results (Short) In the immediate term, information from the mature Event-based Information Systems will be displayed on the deployed VMS with travel time data displayed in the future when the quality of information obtained from the Bluetooth Journey Time Management System is verified. This will enable the Authority to achieve the goal of increasing the coverage of the network where motorists are provided with both pre-trip and on-trip travel information. On a national level, a project specific objective of the Authority was to deploy cost effective ITS solutions for the provision of Traffic Condition and Travel Time Information on lower trafficked inter urban routes. To achieve this objective, the following cost saving measures was trialled as part of the project: (i) Journey Time Data Collection The Authority deployed a Bluetooth Journey Time Monitoring System to ascertain whether it is a viable alternative to ANPR technologies. The Bluetooth Journey Time Monitoring System was selected due to its perception in the market as a low-cost and non-intrusive alternative to ANPR. To further reduce the costs of the deployment; the M7 motorway was selected as the route for the pilot study as the Bluetooth units could be co-located with TII owned traffic counters and cabinets along the full extent of the route. The traffic counters are located approximately every 10 km along the route between junctions. The co-location of the Bluetooth unit with traffic monitoring units also provided the Authority with additional information to verify the quality of information obtained from the Bluetooth Journey Time Monitoring System. (ii) Variable Message Signs The Authority deployed 10 nr. VMS (two different sign types) across the four motorways to examine the feasibility of alternative and more cost effective VMS solutions. The alternative VMS solutions deployed are as follows: Solar Powered VMS that do not require the substantial costs of connecting to a power supply or the continued cost of powering the signs. Full Colour VMS suitable for mounting on existing cantilever road sign structures which are typically located at the beginning of diverge tapers for interchanges on motorways and dual carriageways. Template for Reporting Evaluation Results (Short) 2.2 Systems and Technologies Applied Two separate systems were deployed on the network as part of this MIU ITS Deployment as follows: (i) Bluetooth Journey Time Management System (ii) Variable Message Signs (i) Bluetooth Journey Time Management System The HI-TRAC® BLUE Bluetooth system manufactured by TDC (Q-Free) and supplied by EACL Ltd was deployed on the M7 between Dublin and Limerick at 21 no. locations. The HI TRAC Blue unit installed is UTMC compliant and fully integrated with the TII Traffic Monitoring System supported by Drakewell. This enabled the TII to process the data collected at the 21 no. points along the M7 using the existing TII Traffic Monitoring System following the addition of an existing compatible software module. The journey time information will be used to provide the operator with real time journey time information and the Authority with historical journey time information. The HI TRAC Blue unit is co-located with existing traffic monitoring sites on the M7 and the compatibility of the HI-TRAC® BLUE Bluetooth system with the TII Traffic Monitoring System will enable the deployment of the Bluetooth Journey Time Management System against the traffic count data. (ii) Variable Message Signs (VMS) The 2014 VMS Pilot Scheme comprised of the deployment of 10 VMS using on both new and existing structures and explored the use of alternative deployment methods, never before used in Ireland. This included mounting some signs on existing road sign structures and also using solar power as a means of avoiding the significant costs associated with sourcing & supplying power to VMS. The scheme involved the deployment of 2 sign types namely: Solar Powered VMS (manufactured by Securite & Signalisation(SES), supplied by Rennicks) Full Colour VMS (manufactured by Data Display, supplied by Imtech) 2.3 Project Costs (i) Bluetooth Journey Time Management System The project costs for the Supply, Installation and Operation of the Bluetooth Journey Management System at 21 no. sites along the M7 was €95,704.54 excl. VAT. The maintenance costs of the Bluetooth Journey Management System over a four year period are €27,014.72 excl. VAT. Template for Reporting Evaluation Results (Short) (ii) Variable Message Signs (VMS) The project costs for the deployment of 10 VMS was €1,388,544 excl. VAT. The breakdown of projects costs per site type is as follows: Greenfield Static Sign Gantry Solar Powered Sign Full Colour Sign Variable Message Sign €67,600 €45,000 Foundation €8,000 €0 Mounting Structure €18,248 €12,500 Installation €20,000 €5,000 Civil Enabling Works €34,000 €59,000 Electrical works €0 €10,000 Structural Survey €0 €3,500 Total €147,848 €135,000 2.4 Status of the Project (e.g. planned, implemented, operational) The Bluetooth Journey Time Management System and Variable Message Signs have been installed and are currently operational in isolation. The verification of the data obtained from Bluetooth Journey Time Management System is ongoing and the results from initial validation exercises are positive. Comparisons with 2 no. existing ANPR systems on the N7 indicate the Bluetooth Systems output similar travel time information despite a reduced capture rate of 30% (ANPR capture rate of 90%).