A trial of connected vehicle technology has begun in Manchester. The trial is using open data provided by TRL Software’s SCOOT traffic management software to create a demonstration app that helps drivers minimise wait times at traffic lights.
Using this data, KL systems will generate in-vehicle alerts to inform drivers how long there is to go until the next change of lights. This trial is part of a wider deployment that also examines the provision of in-vehicle messages that can instantly alert drivers to hazards on the road, say the press release.
SCOOT 7 data, provided by TRL Software, allows KL Systems to show that live second-by-second traffic light information can be fed to vehicles without the need for additional, expensive hardware to be installed.
The KL Systems app can tell the driver how long they have until the next change of lights and the optimal speed to drive at in order to reduce the time spent at red lights.
“Once we had created the app for displaying the information to the driver and then successfully linked it up to interpret the data that SCOOT® 7 was firing into the cloud, there was no need to install any hardware, or take any down afterwards,” says George Brown, Founder of KL Systems. “The open data is still being transmitted, because that’s what SCOOT® 7 does, and our app continues to work with it.”
TRL’s UTC software is designed to save users up to 60% on the total cost of ownership compared to other traffic management software on the market.
“We’re super excited that George has been able to capitalise on our open-data philosophy by using our market-leading UTC SCOOT,” says Subu Kamal, Head of Product at TRL Software. “We strongly believe that open data drives innovation and liberates legacy-locked industries. There is no better evidence to support this view than KL Systems’ innovative solution, which drives down costs while providing a better end-user experience. It’s also fantastic that it is being done on the ground, in one of the UK’s biggest and most progressive cities.”
“We are focused on making sure that all of our traffic software range remains best in class and that we continue to push the boundaries of innovation for our customers (and ultimately the users of their road networks) to ensure that we keep roads flowing, make them safer, reduce congestion and help to deliver on clean-air targets,” he added.
