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Intelligent Highway
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Smart Parking
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Smart Roadworks
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Electric Vehicles
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Incentivised lanes
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Autonomous Vehicles (AVs)
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Energy Harvesting
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Blockchain (DLT)
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The Intelligent Highway
What if roads lasted longer, contributed to the environment rather than cause damage to it, powered vehicles and communities at virtually no cost, were a contributor to the economy rather than a drain, and helped eliminate emissions to reduce the effect of Global Warming?
The moment a new road opens, it becomes a drain on the economy and seldom provides more than temporary relief to local congestion. However, Touching Blue Limited is developing the next evolution to the Intelligent Highway by proposing a road structure that is long-lasting, capable of interacting with connected vehicles, and will harvest energy to power vehicles en-route, while feeding surplus energy into the local community. Lots more detail to follow, when appropriate.
The moment a new road opens, it becomes a drain on the economy and seldom provides more than temporary relief to local congestion. However, Touching Blue Limited is developing the next evolution to the Intelligent Highway by proposing a road structure that is long-lasting, capable of interacting with connected vehicles, and will harvest energy to power vehicles en-route, while feeding surplus energy into the local community. Lots more detail to follow, when appropriate.
Incentivised Lanes
Lane segregation for specific vehicles, such as buses, has not proven as successful as envisaged because they reduce overall road capacity but without encouraging sufficient numbers of private vehicle drivers to switch to public transport in spite of its 'improved reliability'. The bus is often only one part of an entire journey and other factors must be considered including the walk to the bus stop, the bus shelter, weather, personal security, and the proximity of bus stops to origin and destination.
However, with the increasing number of clean and connected vehicles on our roads, an opportunity now exists to monopolise on that growth by providing specific facilities for them. If done carefully, the incentive to switch can be enhanced and encouraged to take place more rapidly. The existing UK Government deadline for the elimination of fossil fuels is completely unrealistic since this will be achieved far sooner regardless of the 2040 deadline. There are many driving factors (no pun intended) and incentives, the latest being the shift toward Super-Capacitors (see below) to replace outdated battery technology.
However, with the increasing number of clean and connected vehicles on our roads, an opportunity now exists to monopolise on that growth by providing specific facilities for them. If done carefully, the incentive to switch can be enhanced and encouraged to take place more rapidly. The existing UK Government deadline for the elimination of fossil fuels is completely unrealistic since this will be achieved far sooner regardless of the 2040 deadline. There are many driving factors (no pun intended) and incentives, the latest being the shift toward Super-Capacitors (see below) to replace outdated battery technology.
Smart Parking
On Street parking remains the thorn in the side of any existing or proposed automated parking solutions. However, Touching Blue Limited has a unique solution that will allow, not only on-street parking spaces to be booked, but also provide additional special facilities in the process. More details at the appropriate time.
Autonomous Vehicles
AVs will not initially be universally acceptable since many drivers enjoy driving. Driving can be fun and rewarding and is a skill that evolves over time; you pass your driving test, then you begin to learn how to drive as your experience grows. However, in order to evolve traffic management, varying degrees of autonomy are necessary. Reducing congestion on motorways, for example, is currently helped by the Managed Motorways system that imposes variable speed limited to prevent sudden build-ups further down the line, such metering of large traffic flows is highly effective. Increasing and decreasing autonomy according to the current network status will allow self-driving when remote influence is not necessary. However, autonomy will not simply relate to congestion; it will no longer be possible to speed passed schools, for example.
Smart Roadworks
Off peak roadworks are currently performed under local authority traffic management policy. However, scope exists to review how this is done and Touching Blue Limited has developed a new methodology that will help reduce the impact of such works while benefiting the local authority and reducing costs for contractors.
Energy Harvesting
There is no reason why energy cannot be harvested in sufficient quantities to power evolving electric vehicles, and to provide surplus energy to local communities. This is a considerable area for development with wide ranging implications; current energy providers may need to reassess their long term business plans in preparation.
Electric Vehicles
As predicted by Touching Blue Limited many years ago, the switch to EVs will be logarithmic rather than linear, and this is proving correct; as EVs improve, the confidence to switch increases. However, the next major incentive will be from the abandonment of battery power trains in favour of Super-Capacitors (with a very small battery as emergency back-up). Energy harvesting 'on the go' will become the norm; any necessary 'top up' charging will take less time than filling the tank and the range will vastly increase. Regardless of 'denial', this is likely to be the case by 2025.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI, and degrees of autonomy, will allow for many improvements such as; platooning, were groups of vehicles move faster and with reduced headway. AI will also allow currently excluded people to move about using such vehicles provided only that they are legally authorised to use that vehicle. AI will enable a completely new system of traffic control & management and will enable some special functionality; this development is longer-term but much of the necessary infrastructure is already in place and can provide the foundation platform for that evolution, it also allows for trialling at various scales.
Traffic Control [UTMC]
UK traffic signals have been controlled for decades by computer systems. Generally, the computer system covers a local authority area and the equipment resides in a local control centre where traffic related CCTV cameras are also accessed. Traffic engineers and technicians can influence the system, if necessary, to achieve the optimum configuration for control of traffic on their local network.
An intelligent system known as SCOOT has been evolving since the 1980's and replaced an older 'Fixed Time' system based on specific timings for am peak, pm peak, and in some bigger cities, daytime. SCOOT monitors the network and adapts traffic light timings according to varying traffic flow. SCOOT can provide an efficiency over 'good' fixed time plans of 13%-15% but, although it is essentially an 'off the shelf' product, the initial database build and the positioning and installation of underground traffic monitoring 'detector loops' must be done carefully. A final process known as 'validation' that allows SCOOT to accurately model the road network and its traffic, is then carried out by skilled engineers over days or weeks.
Greater efficiency can be achieved by adding a common database so that planned and unplanned events can be catered for by 'strategies'. Such strategies can be developed for numerous eventualities and either manually triggered by an operator, or automatically triggered based on specific changes on a particular part of the network, such as the routes away from a football ground to respond quickly to the mass exodus of traffic following a game.
Unfortunately, many of the skills required to elicit the best from SCOOT are becoming fewer as engineers who grew with these systems leave, mostly due to retirement. SCOOT is often seen as a 'black box' by those in government who hold the purse strings, much to the frustration of engineers, and local authorities are finding it more difficult to obtain the necessary funding to maintain the systems and to find or retain skilled engineers; growing congestion around UK cities is not solely due to traffic growth.
In the meantime, traffic continues to grow and Autonomous Vehicles will allow those not currently able to use a vehicle on the road to be able to do so; someone over the alcohol limit or even banned from driving, may use an autonomous vehicle provided they are authorised to do so. It is clear, therefore, that traffic control must evolve to meet the developing technology and to resolve congestion issues in a coordinated homologous manner so that the optimum efficiency is obtained regardless of any isolated system.
Touching Blue Limited is pioneering a new concept that avoids the pitfalls of the current methodology and skill shortages. The future will see a new methodology which will give local authorities considerable control over every aspect of their network and do so without relying on skilled traffic engineers.
There is a lot more to say on this issue once protection is in place. Suffice to say, it is coming and will be something special!
An intelligent system known as SCOOT has been evolving since the 1980's and replaced an older 'Fixed Time' system based on specific timings for am peak, pm peak, and in some bigger cities, daytime. SCOOT monitors the network and adapts traffic light timings according to varying traffic flow. SCOOT can provide an efficiency over 'good' fixed time plans of 13%-15% but, although it is essentially an 'off the shelf' product, the initial database build and the positioning and installation of underground traffic monitoring 'detector loops' must be done carefully. A final process known as 'validation' that allows SCOOT to accurately model the road network and its traffic, is then carried out by skilled engineers over days or weeks.
Greater efficiency can be achieved by adding a common database so that planned and unplanned events can be catered for by 'strategies'. Such strategies can be developed for numerous eventualities and either manually triggered by an operator, or automatically triggered based on specific changes on a particular part of the network, such as the routes away from a football ground to respond quickly to the mass exodus of traffic following a game.
Unfortunately, many of the skills required to elicit the best from SCOOT are becoming fewer as engineers who grew with these systems leave, mostly due to retirement. SCOOT is often seen as a 'black box' by those in government who hold the purse strings, much to the frustration of engineers, and local authorities are finding it more difficult to obtain the necessary funding to maintain the systems and to find or retain skilled engineers; growing congestion around UK cities is not solely due to traffic growth.
In the meantime, traffic continues to grow and Autonomous Vehicles will allow those not currently able to use a vehicle on the road to be able to do so; someone over the alcohol limit or even banned from driving, may use an autonomous vehicle provided they are authorised to do so. It is clear, therefore, that traffic control must evolve to meet the developing technology and to resolve congestion issues in a coordinated homologous manner so that the optimum efficiency is obtained regardless of any isolated system.
Touching Blue Limited is pioneering a new concept that avoids the pitfalls of the current methodology and skill shortages. The future will see a new methodology which will give local authorities considerable control over every aspect of their network and do so without relying on skilled traffic engineers.
There is a lot more to say on this issue once protection is in place. Suffice to say, it is coming and will be something special!
BlockChain (DLT)
Use of Distributed Ledger Technology is growing fast and is being developed in many areas of manufacture and shipping. Touching Blue Limited believes that DLT will become an essential part in all aspects of mobility and will be help ensure safe journeys, correct road use and secure transportation from origin to destination including cross-border journeys. DLT, or Blockchain, represents essentially an administration system that is transparent, reliable and secure, and could lead to improved reliability in all aspects of business from paying bills on time to ensuring the right goods are delivered to the right place at the right time, and are 'as described'.
Freight Logistics
Currently, there is no real discrimination, or recognition, of different vehicles on the highway, the exceptions being; emergency vehicles, high priority police routes, bus lanes, abnormal loads, cycle lanes and pedestrian facilities, which are all in conflict with general traffic.
Bus lanes remove overall capacity so, unless supported with additional measures, such as congestion zones in London, are more likely to cause congestion than reduce it. Some cities have removed bus lanes to improve capacity since the expected migration from car to bus didn't happen in sufficient numbers. And it remains unlikely that it will. To encourage change of travel habits, the entire journey must be included in the solution - electricity, water and humans tend to follow the path of least resistance.
Freight, however, is a major area in road transport and this cannot be understated. The economy of the world rests on the shoulders of haulage companies, ports, shipping lines, rail, HGV breakdown services and maintenance crews, and most of all, HGV drivers. Just in Time delivery means reduced space requirement for storage of parts but those parts must arrive when scheduled. Modal-interchange appointment slots (transfer of cargo between transport modes) must be met, at road/rail terminals and ports, or there can be significant impact on manufacturing, commerce and so on. It is time to recognise the importance of freight on our road network and to take appropriate action.
Touching Blue Limited is currently working with partner organisations to address this issue. Journey Time Reliability is essential in freight movement and the good new is that much of the infra-structure required to implement a solution is already in place. Our intention is to endorse the huge investment of Local Authorities, and National Government, in traffic management by utilising existing systems as the foundation for future evolution.
Bus lanes remove overall capacity so, unless supported with additional measures, such as congestion zones in London, are more likely to cause congestion than reduce it. Some cities have removed bus lanes to improve capacity since the expected migration from car to bus didn't happen in sufficient numbers. And it remains unlikely that it will. To encourage change of travel habits, the entire journey must be included in the solution - electricity, water and humans tend to follow the path of least resistance.
Freight, however, is a major area in road transport and this cannot be understated. The economy of the world rests on the shoulders of haulage companies, ports, shipping lines, rail, HGV breakdown services and maintenance crews, and most of all, HGV drivers. Just in Time delivery means reduced space requirement for storage of parts but those parts must arrive when scheduled. Modal-interchange appointment slots (transfer of cargo between transport modes) must be met, at road/rail terminals and ports, or there can be significant impact on manufacturing, commerce and so on. It is time to recognise the importance of freight on our road network and to take appropriate action.
Touching Blue Limited is currently working with partner organisations to address this issue. Journey Time Reliability is essential in freight movement and the good new is that much of the infra-structure required to implement a solution is already in place. Our intention is to endorse the huge investment of Local Authorities, and National Government, in traffic management by utilising existing systems as the foundation for future evolution.
Projects underway
Actively working on, with, or supporting partners
A5036: The A5036 corridor between the Port of Liverpool and the motorway network at the intersection
known as Switch Island, carries a significant number of HGVs and suffers congestion
and delay. Highways England, who are responsible for the road, has proposed two potential
solutions; Option A and Option B, and have a preference for Option B.
Option A was to improve three intersections along the corridor but this would not provide long
term benefits and it is probable that Switch Island would need additional improvement soon after;
traffic growth is expected to rise by 35% by 2030 and HGVs on the A5036 by over 300%.
Option B is to construct a new by-pass over land known as Rimrose Valley, and area rich in
wildlife and provides much needed open space and clean air for the local community.
Touching Blue Ltd and partners are developing an alternative proposal which is gaining interest.
All agree that the loss of Rimrose Valley would be detrimental to local communities and wildlife therefore any serious alternative should be considered, particularly one which also has a strong economic case.
[Update expected in January]
Potholes: Research into longer term solutions for this hazardous, expensive and annoying problem.
Ambulance priority: Saving lives by real-time control of traffic lights for emergency vehicles:
(Red Ninja Studios 'Links' page)
Bus priority: Bus lanes impact capacity in most cities, TBL has a dynamic and efficient solution
Freight transport: Developing solutions to remove specific freight bottlenecks on the road network
Freight productivity: Developing measures to improve productivity using big data and AI
Intelligent Highway: Developing the concept of a new type of interactive road surface
Incentivised Lanes: Changing how we use our existing roads and further encouraging the switch clean & connected
vehicles
On-Street parking: Working with a local authority to develop a potential new system for on-street parking
management that also allows space booking
Roadworks: Working with a local authority to develop a new methodology to improve efficiency of roadworks
A5036: The A5036 corridor between the Port of Liverpool and the motorway network at the intersection
known as Switch Island, carries a significant number of HGVs and suffers congestion
and delay. Highways England, who are responsible for the road, has proposed two potential
solutions; Option A and Option B, and have a preference for Option B.
Option A was to improve three intersections along the corridor but this would not provide long
term benefits and it is probable that Switch Island would need additional improvement soon after;
traffic growth is expected to rise by 35% by 2030 and HGVs on the A5036 by over 300%.
Option B is to construct a new by-pass over land known as Rimrose Valley, and area rich in
wildlife and provides much needed open space and clean air for the local community.
Touching Blue Ltd and partners are developing an alternative proposal which is gaining interest.
All agree that the loss of Rimrose Valley would be detrimental to local communities and wildlife therefore any serious alternative should be considered, particularly one which also has a strong economic case.
[Update expected in January]
Potholes: Research into longer term solutions for this hazardous, expensive and annoying problem.
Ambulance priority: Saving lives by real-time control of traffic lights for emergency vehicles:
(Red Ninja Studios 'Links' page)
Bus priority: Bus lanes impact capacity in most cities, TBL has a dynamic and efficient solution
Freight transport: Developing solutions to remove specific freight bottlenecks on the road network
Freight productivity: Developing measures to improve productivity using big data and AI
Intelligent Highway: Developing the concept of a new type of interactive road surface
Incentivised Lanes: Changing how we use our existing roads and further encouraging the switch clean & connected
vehicles
On-Street parking: Working with a local authority to develop a potential new system for on-street parking
management that also allows space booking
Roadworks: Working with a local authority to develop a new methodology to improve efficiency of roadworks
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