Indra to implement traffic systems in Medellin

Spanish traffic technology company, Indra, has been awarded two contracts for transportation management systems in Medellin, Colombia’s second largest city. The two contracts have a total value of EUR9 million (US$11.8 million) and will allow the city to reduce traffic congestion and costs, minimize contaminant emissions and promote more efficient and ecological modes of transportation. The first contract includes a new integrated traffic control system and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for the city. The contract has been awarded to Indra in consortium with the two companies that manage transit in Medellín: UNE Epm Telecomunicaciones and XM, a subsidiary of the ISA group.

The systems will be based on Indra’s Hermes equipment, which will make it possible to continuously track traffic and monitor the various control subsystems in real-time. Collecting current and past data will also make it easier to analyze and consolidate information for making future decisions related to mobility. The project includes the design, implementation and start-up of closed circuit television (CCTV) systems, support systems for the traffic light network and variable message signs (VMS). The new systems will give XM’s Transit Control Center operators access to a variety of traffic data and will allow them to view traffic conditions at 48 strategic locations throughout the city in real-time, in order to make decisions that improve mobility in these areas. It will also provide drivers with information about traffic conditions, possible incidents and areas of congestion.

The second contract, awarded by the Medellín Metro, will allow the city to have an intermodal public transportation system, which will combine the management of the metro and buses. For the project, Indra is implementing an Operations Assistance System for Metroplús, the city's BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) fleet, which will be integrated with Indra’s Da Vinci system that has been managing Metro train traffic since 2008. The objective is to integrate train operations with the bus system. The Operations Assistance System currently manages 20 buses, which will rise to 48 buses by the end of the year. The tool, based on location technologies (GPS), a geographic information system (GIS) and mobile communications (3.5G/GSM/GPRS), provides the control center with real-time information about the vehicles, in order to improve their management.

17 September 2012