Task O9 – Harmonise VMS Domain Operations Brian Harbord, Bristol, 26 January 2006

Domain Operations PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January Task O9 – Harmonise VMS Not a ‘first priority’ Task, but… Start mid ’06, initial thoughts today Background – including lessons learnt Proposed way forward Discussion all in 15 mins….

Domain Operations PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January Task O9 – Harmonise VMS Background…. 1960s - VMS (graphics) on strategic routes – safety 1980s – Text/graphics VMS – congestion - traffic management Different countries, different approach, different language.

Domain Operations PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January Task O9 – Harmonise VMS Late ’80s, research on visibility, legibility Early ’90s, EC research - VAMOS, TROPIC, etc Start of harmonisation of standards EN – optical performance - visibility, legibility, etc. but not common usage

Domain Operations PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January Task O9 – Harmonise VMS WERDS/DERD - ‘FIVE’ Framework for Implementation of VMS in Europe 3 basic ‘rules’ –Use Pictograms –Follow Vienna Convention –If text, use common format

Domain Operations PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January Task O9 – Harmonise VMS ‘VMS Platform’ UK lead – £150k (€200k) per annum Lots of work – few results Why? –No clear objective/outcome, just deliverables –No programme/No end date!! –No control!!!

Domain Operations PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January Task O9 – Harmonise VMS VMS Platform.. –Library of documents –Website – but few ‘hits’ –Several meetings – networking –No (very little) agreement/acceptance –Expanding ‘FIVE’ document – too much for Directors

Domain Operations PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January Task O9 – Harmonise VMS 2004: CEDR-EB asked SGT to investigate what was hampering implementation of FIVE –Claude Caubet – 3 meetings - VMS action plan No deliberate avoidance, but…

Domain Operations PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January Task O9 – Harmonise VMS Task O9 – ‘Harmonise VMS’ Take account of …. –Mare Nostrum (M-VMS Working Group) embraces FIVE and (may) fill in gaps –UN-ECE WP1 small working group of 4 countries revision of VC on road signs and signals –SOMS IN-SAFETY 6 th FP develop new pictograms and structured rules

Domain Operations PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January Task O9 – Harmonise VMS Task O9 – ‘Harmonise VMS’ –Work with national VMS implementations –Develop an updated FIVE, with simple, clear advice, including a handbook with good practice examples –Disseminate and promote results

Domain Operations PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January Task O9 – Harmonise VMS Proposed way Forward PRINCE 2 – PID Project Initiation Document –Outcomes –Responsibilities –Programme Draft for next PG (end March in Copenhagen) for mid year start.

Domain Operations PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January Task O9 – Harmonise VMS Discussion

Domain Operations PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January Gaps identified via VMS-action New needed pictograms for dynamic situations (see FIVE list such as "bad visibility", COST 30 and symbols for new traffic management situations such as "temporary use of hard shoulder"), Use of speed limits, and use of lane-control signs in terms of successive gantries, Language independent symbols (+, =, ->, …) in text messages, Some more clear rules specifying the text structure, A focus on a clear distinction between immediate danger warning messages (close to the event) and informative ones (upstream).