Birmingham upgrades UTC system

Amey, which works in partnership with Birmingham City Council to run the city’s highways maintenance service, has placed an order with Siemens for an upgrade to the latest PC SCOOT Urban Traffic Control (UTC) system. The city’s existing analogue data transmission system will be replaced with the latest UTMC compliant UG405 outstations, installed in tandem with a new Internet Protocol (IP) communications network, as part of Amey’s UTMC upgrade project. Siemens’ PC SCOOT (Split Cycle Offset Optimization Technique) system will provide adaptive traffic control at more than 300 locations across the city’s network. As part of the contract, the company will supply and install the latest UG405 data transmission units in both new and existing traffic signal sites, at the same time as wireless communications equipment at traffic signal, sign and CCTV locations.

The introduction of the Siemens UTMC OTUs and associated instation components will offer improved network management and provide flexibility in communications options, through the use of lower-cost IP communications links or sharing existing IP communications infrastructure. Additional system benefits include an enhanced internet-based user-friendly interface, enabling easy access to all OTU features from the instation and full integration of four MOVA 6 streams, which may be activated either manually or automatically from the UTC instation. According to Siemens product sales manager, Gary Cox, the project will provide Birmingham with a long term and sustainable intelligent traffic solution, which will significantly reduce the on-going cost of operating the system.

As part of the Birmingham Highways Maintenance and Management Service, Siemens will maintain traffic signals, variable message signs (VMS), car park guidance signs, warning signs, and outstation transmission units for the operation of urban traffic control and network data gathering. In addition to responding to faults, the company’s engineers will provide routine maintenance at over 1,000 sites, including regular inspections, electrical testing and preventative measures, which will include providing repairs to third party damage as a result of road traffic incidents.

5 July 2012