VMS harmonisation in the Netherlands Hans Remeijn VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen,

2 Harmonisation of VMS Signs; standardisation of sign types Harmonisation of messages Standardisation of Control Systems

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, 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)

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, Standardisation of Sign types 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

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, Standardisation of Sign types Dynamic Route Information Panels 1 standard specification New spec, based on LED and EN12966 Text only, 3 lines, 10 metres wide White or Yellow

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, Standardisation of Sign types BermDRIPs New signs, based on English MS4 Graphic, 192x128 pixels, red/white Combination of pictograms and text Specification, based on EN12966

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, Standardisation of Sign types Text carts No uniform technical specification Big variety Often rented Hardly good/uniform optical requirements Starting to work on a common specification (using EN classes)

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

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, Standardisation of Sign types GRIPs Prototypes tested end of 2002 Results promising No pilot (yet) on the “real road”

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, 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

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, Harmonisation of VMS messages 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

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, Harmonisation of VMS messages Dynamic Route Information Panels

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, Harmonisation of VMS messages Dynamic Route Information Panels Experiments with Travel Time (calculation) Next change: use of pictograms in the text

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, Harmonisation of VMS messages BermDRIPs Guideline being prepared (2 nd 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)

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, Harmonisation of VMS messages BermDRIPs; layout ideas in NL

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, Harmonisation of VMS messages Text carts Agreed list of texts to be used on text panels Distributed in the districts Still lots of “specials”

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, Harmonisation of VMS messages VMS panels on pickup’s (autoDRIP) Guideline for texts exits Change necessary because of change in panel specs (and possibilities)

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, Harmonisation of VMS messages GRIPs First use near Amsterdam as a pilot On the “bermDRIPs” No guideline yet

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, Harmonisation of VMS messages 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

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, 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

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, But: we still have some exotic signs…

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, 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

VIKING VMS workshop Copenhagen, Any Questions ?