MOVA USERS GROUP: MEETING NO. 18 Minutes of the Eighteenth Meeting

Transcription

1 MOVA USERS GROUP: MEETING NO. 18 Minutes f the Eighteenth Meeting Actin Held n Wednesday 16 th April 2008 at the Hillscurt Cnference Centre, Birmingham Arranged by JSTSM Ltd Aims, Objectives, and Frmat: Fr users, by users: t discuss any Mva related issues. The frmat fr the Users Grup meetings is nw lng established, f Users discussin f issues and applicatins (in the mrning), and TRL and manufacturers (in the afternn). Sessins are pen t all thrughut the day, unless as requested by Users t discuss matters in private. 1. Welcme and Intrductin: Chairman, Jhn Spence, JSTSM Ltd. 2. Aplgies fr absence: nne sught 3. Minutes: Minutes had been issued by as usual 4. Agenda as published 5. Frm DfT, Suku Phull present as a delegate; fr the HA, Richard Privett nce again nt attending the meeting. 6. Matters arising: The absence f the Highways Agency: the Grup expressed a desire fr the Highways Agency t jin in the debate; its views were sught n several aspects f Plicy n Mva. The Chairman was asked t write t the Highways Agency and request their attendance at the next meeting. This meeting had been arranged in this new venue as the least expensive f a number f ptins assessed; User s views n accessibility, des the rm wrk, quality f fd etc, were welcmed. 7. Chairman briefed delegates n the main develpments in the Mva cmmunity in the last six mnths, Mva 6 is nw available and up and running, frm tw Cmpanies The number f Mva sites being implemented has increased recently As discussed previusly in this grup with n cnclusive explanatin being ffered, Chairman had heard ther reprts f sites running shrt greens after an equipment failure, suggesting an issue with Mva Histric data TfL trials underway f Mva running n abve grund detectin Mdelling using TRL s PCMva and Micrsense s Simulatr / Emulatr ffering Cntrller functinality 8. Signal Cmpanies attending: On this ccasin Siemens (Keith Manstn), TSEU (Mark Pleydell), and Peek (Kevin Gilday and Andrew Hdge); all three majr manufacturers, thank yu. Mrning Prgramme: Issues and Applicatins Sessin dedicated t Users t raise Issues and cme frward with applicatins. 9. Issues raised by Users: Attendance f the Highways Agency: User s seek the attendance f the Highways Agency

2 A questin raised by Andy Dixn (Sctt Wilsn), discussin jined by Carle Prbert (Amey Muchel) seeking any infrmatin r any thers wrking n the interactin between Ramp Metering and Mva cntrlled junctins, he is explring this fr M1 J24. Chairman and Amey Muchel have als bth explred this in relatin t the Midlands mtrway junctins, with n cnsidered respnse frm the HA as yet. One user (Graham Wheatley) reprted failure f Mva t run fallback timings when all the lps n an apprach had been lst when the surface had been planned ff at resurfacing (ther users have since reprted similar issues in different circumstances). Mva shuld run fallback timings based n the histric data stred in the DF lg, but was nt ding s. The user cncerned t cntact TRL please, TRL t reprt t the next meeting please. Richard Butler, GMUTC, asked abut use f exit blcking detectin int Mva, in his case t speed up the existing Mva respnse by designing in a specific facility, ne f a number f things GMUTC are ding t imprve cntrl at their Mva junctins. 10. The meeting is fr the benefit f users: Users are requested t bring examples f applicatins, issues r prblems fr discussin. There has recently been a lack f discussin n examples frm the flr. Afternn Prgramme The afternn prgramme as usual devted t the manufacturers and TRL updating users n current and frthcming develpments: 11. TRL were represented by Mark Crabtree (tel , mcrabtree@trl.c.uk and Alastair Maxwell tel , amaxwell@trl.c.uk) Mva Licence fees: Mva Licence fees (recently set t 650 fr a first time Mva site, and 325 (half f the full fee) fr an upgrade frm Mva 2 r 4 t 5 r 6, with half price licence fees fr stand alne crssings, and it had been agreed the Licence fees wuld be reviewed every cuple f years r s) were t be reviewed as a cnsequence f the number f Mva units being implemented, Mark indicating apprximately 300 per annum currently nw with a ttal f abut 300 units. TRL are aware f the request t imprve the transmissin f the infrmatin available frm the Mva unit t the Instatin (currently nly available by cnnecting t the unit n site r remtely and interrgating the unit) t transmit autmatically t instatins ideally in an imprved / enhanced frmat with user selectable infrmatin t enable users t use infrmatin abut flws and cngestin fr Netwrk Management purpses (in particular the SAT flags which indicate cngestin). PCMva up-issue due shrtly On the issue f Mva drpping ff line in lw flw cnditins, Mark indicated that Mva 6 did nt undertake the Stage Stuck check which had been causing these prblems, and s was nt susceptible t this prblem (Keith Manstn indicating that fr Siemens equipment n current Gemini units a sftware dwnlad t Mva 6 was available shuld users wish t upgrade t Mva 6 beware Licence cst implicatins thugh, see abve!). Alastair indicated TRL were undertaking n behalf f DfT a study f the safety f Cmpact Mva, results t be reprted t a future meeting (Suku indicating there this wrk is lking at bth junctins and stand alne crssings) A PCMva User s Grup meeting had been arranged fr 11 th June, free f charge, fr Paramics / VISSIM PCMva Users, speakers t be annunced TRL Siemens

3 TRL cnfirmed they were develping a Windws versin f MOVASETUP; several users vlunteered t test develpment issues f the sftware. Mark indicated that this wuld be available n the TRL website, and wuld cntinue t be available free f charge. Mark indicated that in part because f issues with licensing the third party Palm Operating System sftware embedded within the BUNDLE suite, and because f the limited use f the Palm OS s the suite was nly useable n certain PDA s, that TRL had nw withdrawn the BUNDLE suite. Users are therefre n lnger able t purchase frm TRL any sftware prgram which allws users t measure Cruise Speed, which seems t be a mve in the wrng directin since it is the single mst imprtant measurement which users are required t make by the dcumentatin t psitin lps accurately, with the knwledge frm previus wrk undertaken at TRL that incrrect Cruise Speeds and hence lp lcatins significantly cntributes t Mva sites being bth less effective at preventing red running etc and hence imprving the safety recrd f Mva junctins. S there is nw n fficial surce f any Cruise speed measurement sftware TRL n lnger supprting an essential engineering tl t d the jb? Ian Stewart (Lancashire Cunty Cuncil) reminded us that there were manual methds available t achieve Cruise Speed measurements (althugh users shuld beware that the TA22/81 Methdlgy as used fr Give Way junctin apprach speed / visibility splay assessment requires the 85 th percentile apprach speed, whilst Mva Cruise Speeds use the 20 th percentile apprach speed), and yur Chairman pints ut that a sftware file des at least prve that Cruise speed readings were undertaken (nt necessarily f curse that the measurements were taken crrectly, but at least a dcumented recrd in the event f an investigatin fllwing a speed related incident). There is an issue setting PEDMAX in current issue MOVASETUP sftware (PEDMAX is a new facility intrduced t Mva 6 t replace the rather crude TOTALG arrangement fr cntaining cycle time all the time t keep cycle time shrt fr pedestrians by this facility which allws mre cntrl ver cycle time, shrtening the cycle time when there is pedestrian activity in a user cntrllable manner, allwing lnger cycle times if there is n pedestrian activity) ptential PEDMAX users shuld speak t TRL abut the fix fr this. Mark explained his nging acquiring and retaining sftware develpment staff shrtage issue. DfT TRL AGD 12. Highways Agency: User s seek the attendance f the Highways Agency t reslve the liability issue, t ffer guidance in the interim n additinal intergreen t be used t avid liability n the Engineer and his Authrity / Firm, and ther Mva related issues. Any clarificatin f the Highway Agency s Plicy t be directed please t Richard Privett, the Highways Agency s man respnsible fr Mva (tel , Richard.Privett@highways.gsi.gv.uk). 13. The Highways Agency web site where signal related dcuments can be dwnladed free f charge is users may in particular wish t review TR2500A, the recent replacement fr TR2210A, and ther signal related dcuments which can be dwnladed free f charge - in particular fr Mva Users MCH1542C. 14. Telent (frmerly TSEU), represented by Mark Pleydell, (tel: , fax , Mark.Pleydell@tseu.net Mark explained the cmpany was nw cntrlled by the Telent Grup (frmerly Marcni fr thse with lg memries), and invited Dan Preece (Jstsm Ltd / Integrated Traffic Services Ltd, , dan.preece@blueynder.c.uk) t give a demnstratin f the TSEU Cnfiguratr / Emulatr package used t achieve full Cntrller functinality f

4 Paramics mdels. 15. Peek, represented by Andrew Hdge , and Andrew Lee, Peek sftware Team Leader explained prgress n rlling ut the Chamelen Mva, having been in use fr appraching 6 mnths n there Hampshire CC test site fault free, and nw beginning t cme int use generally, this unit ffering 96 inputs and 96 utputs, running Mva 6 (Mva secnd editin) and ffering up t fur streams, either PSTN r GSM, all the sites prving t be rbust and reliable. Chamelen Mva s were preset n issue frm the factry t be up t either 2 r 4 streams, s culd users please specify n there rder which is required. Peek wuld shrtly n lnger be supprting the bslete frmer Mnitrn OMCU / Mva hardware. 16. A Wiznet prduct upgrade fr Chamelen was due within a mnth r s f the meeting, t enable Mva users t cmmunicate with their units n street. 17. Siemens, represented by Keith Manstn (tel: , fax , Keith.Manstn@ple.siemens.c.uk). Keith indicated that fllwing successful site trials all Gemini units issued frm the end f June wuld be Mva 6 units. Bth Mva 5 and 6 firmware upgrades are available n the Siemens Website, and nthing f curse prevented users frm dwn issues firmware t Mva 5 if the cst implicatins f the increased licence fee fr 6 were an issue. Keith reminded users that Semi-integral and free standing versins f Gemini 2 were available, the Gemini culd be hardwired n t any equipment type t achieve remte mnitring and Mva functinality. Fr Mva 6, the unit must be a Gemini Keith indicated that at InterTraffic the Cmpany wuld be presenting a new range f FMCW radar detectrs useable fr any cntrl system including Sct and Mva, and that the Cmpany were develping an abve grund radar detectr and having had a successful SCOOT trial, were nw lking fr trial sites t install and mnitr this technlgy n a Mva applicatin, free f charge t the site peratr. TRL HA 19. SIAS, represented by Peter Sykes tel , Pete.Sykes@SIAS.cm. Peter indicated that SIAS were develping a Windws Versin f Paramics which wrks with the VISTA Operating System, that there was t be a PCMva curse n June 12th and that they were develping further advice n hw t mdel t prvide imprved representatin f the arrival flw variatins which ccur in reality. 20. AGD Detectin systems, represented by Lee Shepherd, tel ?????, lee.shepherd@agd-systems.cm utlined the range f detectin prducts available fr use in Mva Systems, the AGD 315, a Digital Radar detectr, and JANUS, a full duplex transmissin wireless linking detectr transmissin fr a remte self pwered ple tp unit back t a Cntrller ple tp receiver up t 300m line f sight distance away, in use successfully at A36 (T) Limpley Stke suth f Bath, apprved by the HA. 21. Graham Heywd, Mtus Traffic (Techmiracle), tel Graham.Heywd@mtustraffic.cm als presents a range f verhead detectin using Vide set typically 10m abve the apprach, currently in use at M25 J11 amngst ther lcatins n the Trunk Rad netwrk. 22. Discussin in the User s Grup cnfirmed the usefulness f having AGD and Mtus traffic attend these meetings t keep the Grup up t date n develpments

5 with verhead detectin and applicatins being used by the Mva cmmunity. Summing Up / The Way Frward 23. Minutes: Thanks again t several individuals fr assistance in recrding discussins t enable me t write the minutes, including Paul Ruse (PRSignals), Graham Wheatley (Derbyshire CC), Dan Ward Hampshire CC) Phil Shbridge (Halcrw), Jhn Fincher (Jacbs fr Kent CC), Andy Dixn (Sctt Wilsn), Carle Prbert (Amey Muchel), Ian Stewart (Lancashire CC), thank yu all. 24. Arrangements and Catering: Thanks t the Hillscurt Cnference Centre fr catering, and ur spnsrs, cnsisting f the signal cmpanies attending, TRL, and SIAS, fr funding lunch and the csts f the rm and equipment hire, n this ccasin arranged by JSTSM Ltd. 25. Next Meeting: Tuesday 16 th September 2008, t be held n the day prir t the JCT Sympsium at Jubilee Campus, Nttingham: bking arrangements thrugh JCT Circulatin: TCUG (Secretary) and all interested parties Jhn Spence JSTSM Ltd js@jstsm.cm Mva Curses available are: JCT curses: The lng established and ppular annual curse held in Birmingham (this year Tuesday 6 th t Friday 9 th May accrding t which parts f the Curse yu wish t attend) cvering all aspects f Mva design and applicatin intended fr Traffic Engineers wishing t learn r expand their knwledge f Mva, a fur day curse, f which Day 1 was available as a stand alne Intrductin t Mva t thse wh want nly an verview f Mva, the three day curse is fr thse wh seek a mre detailed understanding, and day 4 (nly fr thse wh have previusly attended the three day curse) available as a stand alne advanced applicatins tpics day. Details frm JCT. The tw day Dataset Wrkshp Curse will be ffered again this year, venue JCT s new ffice pening in the summer, this is a tw day curse which will run in Octber, dates t be cnfirmed. This is suitable fr Traffic Engineers with experience f Mva wishing t gain experience f Creating Datasets in a wrkshp envirnment with supervisin and assistance frm JSTSM persnnel, s bring yur wn examples f layuts requiring datasets, r prblem sites, althugh lts f examples are available. Delegates will wrk n JCT PC s, althugh are welcme t bring there wn Laptps if they wish. Varius ther curses have been develped, including a ne day intrductin t Mva Curse, a bus pririty curse, and a curse fr Maintenance Engineers. All can be arranged as bespke curses fr individual authrities r cnsultants. Details frm JSTSM Ltd

6 TRL are again prviding a Mva Curse, in the frm f a Mva Wrkshp n the third f Nvember 2008, and an Engineer s Wrkshp n the 4 th and 5 th Nvember 2008, details frm TRL: