Highway & Network Management

Winter road maintenance could be getting more efficient, thanks to the Grip, a black ice detection system from two Finnish research organisations. The Grip allows drivers to detect in real-time slippery road conditions extremely accurately and with costs significantly lower than by any other methods already being used, according the two firms – EEE Innovations and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The first application of this patented technology is being offered to commercial vehicle owners and

Drivers in Finland now have access to a downloadable reindeer-on-road warning app for their iOS and Android smartphones. The Porokello app – Reindeer Bell - alerts users of reindeer possibly on the road by sound and colour in real time using geographic data, according to Finland’s Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Lapland. Tests have been carried out since June 2016 when the centre started recruiting commercial drivers to try the app. When they come across reindeer either

UK solar lighting manufacturer Prolectric said that trials have been successful for its ProLight mobile solar-powered lighting for infrastructure and highways contractors. The ProLight lighting tower has been used in the UK on the A14 and Hinkley Point power generation site, the M1 Smart Motorway and for Scottish Southern Electric power supplier. ProLight comprises a specially-developed trailer-mounted unit with heavy-duty deep-cycle batteries, an array of four 330W solar panels, a 7.5m telescopic mast with

Swarco has launched Zephyr, a cloud-based software package to provide local authorities with total control over traffic sign assets and strategy. Swarco said that Zephyr allows authorities full flexibility over their assets, including variable message signs and trailer VMS, car parking signs, vehicle-activated signs and school warning signs. A web-based interface enables users to edit message and pictogram displays at the touch of a button, as well as upload new text and graphics as required, explained Andr

Urban design technologists Umbrellium said that it has created the Smart Crossing, a pedestrian crossing that adjusts its lines and colours according to the situation. The crossing, a prototype, was developed for UK insurance company Direct Line in response to research which highlighted the dangers for people, cyclists and vehicle drivers at pedestrian crossings. Research by Road Safety Analysis, a designer of highway safety programmes and services, noted that there were more than 29,000 casualties on or n

The first European asset management framework package to improve decision-making, including cross-border asset management will be available in August 2018. The framework is being developed by AM4INFRA, a two-year Horizon 2020 project that is supported by the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR) and ProRail, the Dutch national rail agency. H2020 is European Union Research and Innovation programme to boost the competitiveness and efficiencies of EU organisations. Funding for projects is nearly €80

Highways England has deployed an intelligent transport system that uses portable message signs to display real-time journey information from the National Traffic Operations Centre (NTOC). Mobile Visual Information Systems’s DATEX allows an average of 85,000 drivers daily on a 34km section of the A14 Cambridge-to-Huntingdon upgrade scheme to navigate roadworks. The scheme includes a new bypass, junction improvements, highway widening and creation of access road. The A14 Integrated Delivery Team, on behalf