vms harmonisation in the netherlands hans remeijn viking vms workshop copenhagen, 16-05-2006

VMS harmonisation in the Netherlands

Hans Remeijn

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, 16-05-2006

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Harmonisation of VMS

• Signs; standardisation of sign types• Harmonisation of messages• Standardisation of Control Systems

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Standardisation of Sign types

• Motorway (lane control) signs• DRIPs (Dynamic Route Information Panels)• bermDRIPs (new full matrix panels)• Text carts (VMS on a trailer)• VMS panels on pickup’s• (GRIP = Graphical Route Information Panel)

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Motorway (lane control) signs• All existing signs: fibre optic • Various “generations”, but same layout• Since 2005 new specification for LED signs

(using new EN12966)• Fixed set of messages:

50, 70, 80, 90, 100,120, X, , , ,

• First pilots are being done• Cooperation with SNRA on MTM system

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Dynamic Route Information Panels• 1 standard specification• New spec, based on LED and EN12966• Text only, 3 lines,

10 metres wide• White or Yellow

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BermDRIPs• New signs, based on English MS4• Graphic, 192x128 pixels, red/white• Combination

of pictograms

and text• Specification,

based on

EN12966

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Text carts• No uniform technical specification• Big variety• Often rented• Hardly good/uniform

optical requirements• Starting to work on

a common specification

(using EN 12966 classes)

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VMS panels on pickup’s• New specification, using EN 12966 classes• 2 colours (white and red)• 80 pixels wide, min. 32 high• Hydraulic lift• Horizontal adjustment• Controlled with PDA• Monitoring in TMC

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GRIPs• Prototypes tested end of 2002• Results promising• No pilot (yet) on

the “real road”

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Harmonisation of VMS messages

Traffic Management Agreements• Prepared by RWS – AVV• Agreed on by all (regional) Traffic Managers• Decided on by Direction team RWS• Then made “public” on RWS intranet site• Mostly guidelines

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Dynamic Route Information Panels• Guideline for texts on DRIPs• Two possibilities for Route Information

– Traffic situation on the two alternative routes leading to the same point (Intersection name), or

– Traffic situation on 2 or 3 not alternative routes

• Always mentioning the Range ( to .. )• Standard as x km Queue, and use of arrows• Use of “via” and Road numbers

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Dynamic Route Information Panels

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Dynamic Route Information Panels• Experiments with Travel Time (calculation)• Next change: use of pictograms in the text

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BermDRIPs• Guideline being prepared (2nd half 2006)• Rules on layout, text and pictograms• Also here: use of small pictograms in the text• First signs on the road: end of June, 2006• Basis: UK layouts (on road trial: M4)

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BermDRIPs; layout ideas in NL

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Text carts• Agreed list of texts to be used on text panels• Distributed in the districts• Still lots of “specials”

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VMS panels on pickup’s (autoDRIP)• Guideline for texts exits• Change necessary because

of change in panel specs

(and possibilities)

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GRIPs• First use near Amsterdam as a pilot• On the “bermDRIPs”• No guideline yet

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Further plans:• Making 1 guideline out of many:

– Text strategy for (standard) DRIPs

– Display strategy for bermDRIPs

– Agreed texts for text carts

– Display strategy for pickup signs

• Solving problems and handling requests via

“editorial group for texts on dynamic panels”• Use of the agreement procedure, ending in

publication on intranet

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Standardisation of control systems

• Now 5 control systems for DRIPs– bermDRIPs will be added to this

• Functionally (almost) the same• Systems soon probably the same via

“consolidation action” within RWS– From 3 2 1 ?

• Slow convergence towards 5 identical systems with the same functionality

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But: we still have some exotic signs…

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Future …?

• In car info will gradually make traffic information on VMS less important

• But: warning, control and guidance are getting more important

• So: need for newer types

of VMS (with graphics)• bermDRIPs are a first step in this direction• Using results from Mare Nostrum

C O D A D I 3 K M

B O R D I G H E R A

V E N T I M I G L I A

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Any Questions ?

vms harmonisation in the netherlands hans remeijn viking vms workshop copenhagen, 16-05-2006

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