One leading traffic control solution company has announced a major acquisition to broaden its customer offer, while the delivery of an ambitious real-time journey information service for Scotland’s motorists is well on track. Guy Woodford reports
Kapsch’s TrafficCom says its high-profile recent US$16 million acquisition of Transdyn will enable it to offer current and future customers worldwide an extended end-to-end product and solution portfolio for intelligent transport systems (ITS).
The acquisitio
One leading traffic control solution company has announced a major acquisition to broaden its customer offer, while the delivery of an ambitious real-time journey information service for Scotland’s motorists is well on track. Guy Woodford reports
259 Kapsch’s TrafficCom says its high-profile recent US$16 million acquisition of Transdyn will enable it to offer current and future customers worldwide an extended end-to-end product and solution portfolio for intelligent transport systems (ITS).
The acquisition of one of the leading advanced traffic management software and systems integration companies in the US, known for its DYNAC ATMS (Advanced Traffic Management Software), is said to complement Kapsch’s status as a leading provider of electronic tolling solutions. The Austrian-headquartered company has installed and runs a large number of electronic toll collection (ETC) systems for multi-lane free-flow (MLFF) traffic (also referred to as open road tolling, ORT) around the globe. Transdyn is an established systems integrator offering innovative ITS solutions to customers that enable them to safely and securely manage and control vital facilities and processes, including highways, bridges, and tunnels.
“Transdyn and Kapsch are a perfect match,” said Georg Kapsch, CEO, Kapsch TrafficCom Group. “The current customer trend clearly shows the desire for a converged tolling and traffic management offering. Together, we can respond to market requests in a holistic approach and Kapsch will further extend its portfolio and reinforce its position as an end-to-end solutions provider.”
“Transdyn, a well-known provider of ITS and advanced traffic management solutions to highway, bridge and tunnel authorities, offers limited synergies with our other businesses,” said Mike Lucas, president and CEO of Powell Industries. “This transaction will allow us to focus on our core electrical power products businesses and provides Transdyn with additional opportunities. We appreciate the diligent work and many contributions of Transdyn’s dedicated employees.”
“We look forward to the potential growth opportunities ahead of us,” said Mark Thompson, president of Transdyn. “Integrating with Kapsch TrafficCom offers Transdyn employees and customers the strength of the Kapsch TrafficCom portfolio of solutions and dedication to the ITS market. Transdyn has a robust set of products and services, and this transaction enables Transdyn to extend this base into new international markets. Kapsch has a breadth of global industry knowledge and a distribution network to deliver Transdyn solutions globally.”
“We are bringing together a global leader in ETC and ITS Systems with a leader in advanced traffic management solutions and system integration,” said Chris Murray, president and CEO of Kapsch TrafficCom North America. “This ensures that we will continue to develop and deliver innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers around the world.”
Over the last year,707 Clearview Traffic Group has been working in partnership with 2958 Amey to help 4068 Transport Scotland deliver the Traffic Scotland Operations and Infrastructure Services Contract (TSOISC). As part of the contract, Amey is responsible for delivering a “low cost, simple to deploy” Journey Time Service that provides 100% data coverage of the Scottish Trunk Road Network.
Central to this project is the deployment of an accurate and reliable, real-time multi-point system for tracking journey time data across the Transport Scotland road network. Clearview Traffic’s M830 system was selected over other Bluetooth journey time systems and other forms of monitoring, including Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) alternatives.
The initial deployment is now nearing completion with over 90 M830 Bluetooth traffic monitoring devices from Clearview Traffic already at the roadside and reporting back data. With the next phase due to start in the coming months, data from these units will be used to provide accurate real-time journey information to road users in Scotland via the Traffic Scotland website, their mobile app and VMS signs at the roadside.
Of the solution, Nick Lanigan, managing director of Clearview Traffic, said, “At a fraction of the cost of an equivalent traditional ANPR system, the M830 journey time system provides a low cost, simple to deploy solution to record and analyse journey time, traffic speed and congestion data. This data is critical in empowering travellers to make informed decisions about their onward journey, enabling them to determine the most practical route for them, whilst also benefitting other road users through reduced congestion, fuel consumption and lower emissions.”
The M830 units detect and encrypt the unique MAC address of Bluetooth devices, such as mobile phones, car hand-free kits, satellite navigation systems and laptops that are in vehicles passing the defined detection zones (up to 500m in length). The encrypted MAC addresses from the M830 detectors at known locations and distances apart are then matched enabling key traffic flow information including: true queue detection, journey times and flow characterisation.
The M830’s user friendly software interface simplifies the interpretation and monitoring of prevailing traffic flow conditions reported by the devices. Whilst not able to track the same proportion of vehicles as ANPR systems, data from the M830 system typically characterises anywhere between 25%-40% of vehicle journeys (even greater on key commuting routes), providing a statistically significant representation of the average journey times across each area.
“Clearview Traffic has done a remarkable job supporting our current Traffic Scotland Operations and Infrastructure Contract mobilisation efforts, “ said Haroun Turay, project manager at Amey. “Its work and deliverables have been excellent, its customer service has been highly responsive and supportive, and its in-depth knowledge of traffic data technology has been tremendously valuable. In short, its support has been outstanding and I look forward to working with them in the future”.
Kuala Lumpur’s TrafficSens system
A new traffic management system dubbed 'TrafficSens' is being deployed in parts of Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur. TrafficSens traffic lights are being installed at 62 spots across the city including 12 on Jalan Ipoh, seven in Wangsa Maju, and eleven at standalone junctions.
By April 2014, the new system will be integrated with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL)'s existing automated management system. Using artificial intelligence, traffic will be controlled by TrafficSens based on the traffic congestion. This will eliminate the use of traffic light timers that have been one of the reasons leading to traffic woes at busy roads. The traffic management centre will be able to detect a faulty TrafficSens traffic light through 3G connection.
The TrafficSens system has been developed by local firm TrafficSens Systems (M) using a government R&D grant worth more than US$560,000 (MYR 1.0 million).
The acquisition of one of the leading advanced traffic management software and systems integration companies in the US, known for its DYNAC ATMS (Advanced Traffic Management Software), is said to complement Kapsch’s status as a leading provider of electronic tolling solutions. The Austrian-headquartered company has installed and runs a large number of electronic toll collection (ETC) systems for multi-lane free-flow (MLFF) traffic (also referred to as open road tolling, ORT) around the globe. Transdyn is an established systems integrator offering innovative ITS solutions to customers that enable them to safely and securely manage and control vital facilities and processes, including highways, bridges, and tunnels.
“Transdyn and Kapsch are a perfect match,” said Georg Kapsch, CEO, Kapsch TrafficCom Group. “The current customer trend clearly shows the desire for a converged tolling and traffic management offering. Together, we can respond to market requests in a holistic approach and Kapsch will further extend its portfolio and reinforce its position as an end-to-end solutions provider.”
“Transdyn, a well-known provider of ITS and advanced traffic management solutions to highway, bridge and tunnel authorities, offers limited synergies with our other businesses,” said Mike Lucas, president and CEO of Powell Industries. “This transaction will allow us to focus on our core electrical power products businesses and provides Transdyn with additional opportunities. We appreciate the diligent work and many contributions of Transdyn’s dedicated employees.”
“We look forward to the potential growth opportunities ahead of us,” said Mark Thompson, president of Transdyn. “Integrating with Kapsch TrafficCom offers Transdyn employees and customers the strength of the Kapsch TrafficCom portfolio of solutions and dedication to the ITS market. Transdyn has a robust set of products and services, and this transaction enables Transdyn to extend this base into new international markets. Kapsch has a breadth of global industry knowledge and a distribution network to deliver Transdyn solutions globally.”
“We are bringing together a global leader in ETC and ITS Systems with a leader in advanced traffic management solutions and system integration,” said Chris Murray, president and CEO of Kapsch TrafficCom North America. “This ensures that we will continue to develop and deliver innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers around the world.”
Over the last year,
Central to this project is the deployment of an accurate and reliable, real-time multi-point system for tracking journey time data across the Transport Scotland road network. Clearview Traffic’s M830 system was selected over other Bluetooth journey time systems and other forms of monitoring, including Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) alternatives.
The initial deployment is now nearing completion with over 90 M830 Bluetooth traffic monitoring devices from Clearview Traffic already at the roadside and reporting back data. With the next phase due to start in the coming months, data from these units will be used to provide accurate real-time journey information to road users in Scotland via the Traffic Scotland website, their mobile app and VMS signs at the roadside.
Of the solution, Nick Lanigan, managing director of Clearview Traffic, said, “At a fraction of the cost of an equivalent traditional ANPR system, the M830 journey time system provides a low cost, simple to deploy solution to record and analyse journey time, traffic speed and congestion data. This data is critical in empowering travellers to make informed decisions about their onward journey, enabling them to determine the most practical route for them, whilst also benefitting other road users through reduced congestion, fuel consumption and lower emissions.”
The M830 units detect and encrypt the unique MAC address of Bluetooth devices, such as mobile phones, car hand-free kits, satellite navigation systems and laptops that are in vehicles passing the defined detection zones (up to 500m in length). The encrypted MAC addresses from the M830 detectors at known locations and distances apart are then matched enabling key traffic flow information including: true queue detection, journey times and flow characterisation.
The M830’s user friendly software interface simplifies the interpretation and monitoring of prevailing traffic flow conditions reported by the devices. Whilst not able to track the same proportion of vehicles as ANPR systems, data from the M830 system typically characterises anywhere between 25%-40% of vehicle journeys (even greater on key commuting routes), providing a statistically significant representation of the average journey times across each area.
“Clearview Traffic has done a remarkable job supporting our current Traffic Scotland Operations and Infrastructure Contract mobilisation efforts, “ said Haroun Turay, project manager at Amey. “Its work and deliverables have been excellent, its customer service has been highly responsive and supportive, and its in-depth knowledge of traffic data technology has been tremendously valuable. In short, its support has been outstanding and I look forward to working with them in the future”.
Kuala Lumpur’s TrafficSens system
A new traffic management system dubbed 'TrafficSens' is being deployed in parts of Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur. TrafficSens traffic lights are being installed at 62 spots across the city including 12 on Jalan Ipoh, seven in Wangsa Maju, and eleven at standalone junctions.
By April 2014, the new system will be integrated with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL)'s existing automated management system. Using artificial intelligence, traffic will be controlled by TrafficSens based on the traffic congestion. This will eliminate the use of traffic light timers that have been one of the reasons leading to traffic woes at busy roads. The traffic management centre will be able to detect a faulty TrafficSens traffic light through 3G connection.
The TrafficSens system has been developed by local firm TrafficSens Systems (M) using a government R&D grant worth more than US$560,000 (MYR 1.0 million).
