Jump to content

Urban Traffic Management and Control

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Cwpnelson (talk | contribs) at 16:04, 27 November 2007 (←Created page with 'Launched in 1997, the '''Urban Traffic Management Control ''' or '''UTMC ''' programme was the Department for Transport or '''DfT ''' main initiative for the de...'). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

Launched in 1997, the Urban Traffic Management Control or UTMC programme was the Department for Transport or DfT main initiative for the development of a more open approach to Intelligent Transport Systems or ITS in urban areas. During the first three years, a number of research projects were undertaken to establish and validate an approach based on modular systems and open standards. These have contributed to the UTMC Technical Specifications, which define UTMC standards.

In January 2001, the programme embarked on its demonstrator phase to consolidate the results of the earlier research. Preston, Reading, Stratford-upon-Avon and York have implemented, in a pragmatic way, full scale demonstrator projects based on the UTMC approach.

Early in 2003, the UTMC Development Group or UDG of stakeholders, consisting of local authorities and suppliers was set up, with the support of the DfT, to oversee the future development of UTMC.

Background and history

To assist local authorities gain the most from ITS and achieve their transport objectives, the DfT initiated the six-year, £6M UTMC programme in 1997. The first half of the UTMC programme (1997-2000) concentrated on specific applied research tasks, on both technical and operational issues.

UTMC systems are designed to allow the different applications used within modern traffic management systems to communicate and share information with each other. Thereby a more robust and intelligent system can be used to meet current and future management requirements.

UTMC has helped local authorities achieve their goals by adopting an appropriate, but not over constraining, set of standards to allow users, suppliers and integrators of UTMC systems to plan and supply systems cost-effectively in an open market.

Technical Specifications

UTMC Framework Technical Specification

TS003:2005 [1] takes into account feedback from the consultation process and ongoing international initiatives in this field. It presents the core technical standards recommended for use by UK Traffic Managers in their systems.

The UTMC Objects Registry

The Objects Registry [2]provides format standards for shared data (ie data communicated between applications of a UTMC system, or between a UTMC system and an external system) through:

  • holding definitions of current UTMC Objects, and making them available to users;
  • receiving submissions for potential new UTMC Objects, and coordinating consultation as necessary;
  • facilitating contact between Object developers;
  • advising on changes needed to potential new UTMC Objects;
  • registering new UTMC Objects.

The UTMC Products Register

The UTMC Products Directory [3] is a catalogue of UTMC Compliant Products which Local Authorities may use in finding Products for their Traffic Management Systems. Suppliers may wish to refer to the Products Register which outlines the process for submitting a Product to the Register and subsequently to the Directory.

Activities

Specifications and Standards

The UTMC Specifications and Standards Group (S&SG) is responsible for ensuring that the UTMC technical framework continues to meet local authorities needs, currently and in the future. The S&SG oversees the maintenance and upkeep of the UTMC Technical Specifications. Its members are drawn from both local authorities and the supplier community, but it is always led by local authorities.

The S&SG works closely with the full range of UTMC suppliers to ensure its requirements are technically achievable. It operates a transparent consultation regime on all technical changes. From time to time it may commission and fund technical research and standards development activities, though it operates principally through coordinating the input freely provided by suppliers and users.

Outreach and marketing

The UTMC holds an annual conference, develops papers for publishing in key industry publications and also holds regular workshops focusing on key themes.The UTMC has a committed range of professional experts that perform a ‘helpdesk’ function for local authorities and suppliers a like.

In 2006, the UTMC ran a number of special sessions at the ITS World Conference held in London, as well as running a dedicated stand.

Joint Chairs’ Group (JCG)

The JCG brings together the UDG with three other key ITS community organisations, namely the Travel Information Highway, the Real Time Information Group and Intelligent Transport Systems United Kingdom. Meeting at chair’s level, the JCG aims to ensure that the strategic direction of the four groups is aligned.

The JCG meets approximately quarterly. It is a consultative rather than an executive forum: it is up to individual chairs and the groups they lead to take any action as a result of JCG discussions.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Urban_Traffic_Management_and_Control&oldid=174151384"