The UK division of Austrian traffic technology supplier Swarco will showcase its two latest innovations at Road Expo Scotland, which takes place on November 1-2 in Edinburgh.
Swarco Traffic will be demonstrating its Profectus central control technology and Zephyr cloud-based management software at the event, which is run in association with Transport Scotland and SCOTS (Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland).
Profectus is a central processing board that allows school signs and vehicle-activated signs (VAS), to be monitored and programmed to meet a specific need, and has been created to make the area around a school safer during term time. It allows local authorities to monitor whether a school sign is activating from a simple web browser, equipped with a zoom/pan map showing the exact location of each sign. Fault notifications are sent via web browser, SMS or email, to reduce the possibility of a broken sign going unnoticed, and energy consumption and temperature can also be evaluated.
Profectus allows bespoke timetables to be set up, including ‘special days’, which send different messages or alerts on weekends and off-peak times. Profectus has a single range of 984ft (300m), but the addition of an external radio can carry the signal up to 3.7 miles (6km), with additional ‘dummy’ signs to target longer distances.
Zephyr is a new cloud-based system that allows authorities full flexibility over their assets, including VMS and Trailer VMS, Car Parking Signs, VAS and School Warning Signs. A web-based interface enables users to quickly and easily edit message and pictogram displays at the touch of a button, as well as being able to upload new text and graphics as required. The interface also comes with a TSRGD (Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016) rule checker, to ensure that any free-hand messages comply with the appropriate industry regulations.
Zephyr features easy drag-and-drop windows, including pan/zoom maps, enabling each of the assets to be easily located and their status monitored, including: current messages displayed, schedules for any changes that are due, and red flags for any faults or errors that could impact the signs’ operation. The software also enables the segmentation of data to include traffic count or parking lot occupancy detailed in a separate report.
Swarco Traffic’s business development manager, Andrew Walker, noted, “These two innovations demonstrate our ability to develop new solutions to traditional problems. It means intelligent transport solutions are easier to manage than ever before.”
