Temporary Traffic Management Radar

Traffic management companies are tasked with ensuring operational safety and meeting traffic flow targets through roadworks. Current technology detecting stranded vehicles through roadworks relies on the constant manual monitoring of CCTV cameras, which is costly, subject to human error, and can present problems in adverse weather and light conditions when visibility is poor.

To help traffic management companies meet their obligations around traffic flow and safety, we are developing a temporary traffic management (TTM) radar solution for safer and more efficient roadwork traffic management. The solution is based on the ClearWay radar sensor and technology, which has been proven to work in the most demanding situations and conditions on highways all over the world.

The solution will provide a more cost-effective alternative to traditional 24-hour manned surveillance of CCTV, whilst also providing faster and more reliable detection. The fully-automated system will operate in all weather and light conditions.

Our ClearWay radar sensor will be installed by connecting it to the roadside fibre network or mounted on a mobile unit. The high-definition, 360° long-range radar will provide coverage over multiple lanes, rapidly detecting stranded vehicles. The system is fully automated – when a stranded vehicle is detected, an alert is automatically sent out via text and email. In this communication, a link to the live feed from the closest camera is provided, as well as the camera number, so the traffic officer can quickly verify the alert and locate the vehicle.

Full coverage of the stretch of roadworks is achieved with the minimum number of sensors. Depending on the geography of the road, 2 to 3 radar sensors are required per kilometre. This solution will help to ensure effective traffic management through roadworks by rapidly alerting traffic officers when there is a stranded vehicle, so they can then take the appropriate action to rescue the vehicle and get traffic flow back to normal.

• Operates in all light and weather conditions
• Fully automated system
• Integrates with existing cameras

The temporary traffic management radar solution was trialled on a section of roadworks on the M45 in partnership with leading TTM specialists, WJ Group.

The trial lasted 9 months, with four mobile radars deployed, using fibre between them. The aim of the trial was to ensure that our proven highways sensors could be used in the more complex, changing environment of TTM.

The trial showed that our radars can be used to reliably provide automated stranded vehicle alerts in the temporary roadworks environment. PTZ cameras could be automatically focused on the incident, and the image of an incident automatically sent to the Traffic Safety and Control Officer.