User tweaks for traffic sign design software

User enhancements have been made to two UK systems for designing traffic signs and their supports. SignPlot now has an additional ‘wizard’ for creating complete assemblies of warning and regulatory signs with plates and backing board if needed. SignLoad, meanwhile, incorporates the recent set of assumptions issued by the trade body ARTSM (The Association for Road Traffic Safety and Management) for use when no post or location information is available.

SignPlot version 2.8 contains a wealth of new features and provides all the new signs authorized recently by the Department for Transport (DfT) and the new working drawings from the Welsh Government showing bilingual version of the signs in the 2011 Amendment Regulations.

The new facility to generate arrangements of warning or regulatory signs, with any plates and backing boards, will save a great deal of time and ensure that these signs are always correctly laid out. For Wales, it automatically translates into Welsh and places the half-size distance units used on some plates. For sign manufactures and others, many enhancements have been made to the output options, including special formats for digital printing of finished signs.

SignLoad – which is built into SignPlot but also available separately – minimizes post and foundation sizes by applying accurately the latest (2011) editions of the wind loading Eurocode. It incorporates passively safe products and advises on their correct use and spacing. Aluminum supports from Sapa Pole Products have been added for this version.

21 June 2012