Task O9 – Harmonise VMS

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

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…. PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January 2006

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. PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January 2006

Task O9 – Harmonise VMS • Late ’80s, research on visibility, legibility • Early ’90s, EC research - VAMOS, TROPIC, etc • Start of harmonisation of standards • EN 12966 – optical performance- visibility, legibility, etc. but not common usage PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January 2006

Task O9 – Harmonise VMS • 2000 - WERDS/DERD - ‘FIVE’ Framework for Implementation of VMS in Europe • 3 basic ‘rules’ • Use Pictograms • Follow Vienna Convention • If text, use common format PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January 2006

Task O9 – Harmonise VMS • 2000-2004 ‘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!!! PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January 2006

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 PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January 2006

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… PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January 2006

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 6th FP develop new pictograms and structured rules PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January 2006

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 PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January 2006

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. PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January 2006

Task O9 – Harmonise VMS Discussion PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January 2006

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). PG CSRU, Bristol meeting, January 2006

Task O9 – Harmonise VMS