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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. Touching Blue Limited is developing the context of highway evolution by proposing a road structure that is long-lasting, capable of interacting with connected vehicles, and harvests energy to power vehicles en-route, while feeding surplus energy into the local community. More detail to follow.
The moment a new road opens, it becomes a drain on the economy and seldom provides more than temporary relief to local congestion. Touching Blue Limited is developing the context of highway evolution by proposing a road structure that is long-lasting, capable of interacting with connected vehicles, and harvests energy to power vehicles en-route, while feeding surplus energy into the local community. More detail to follow.
Incentivised Lanes
Lane segregation for specific vehicles, such as buses, has not proven as successful as envisaged. 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 such. If done carefully, the incentive to switch can be enhanced and encouraged. The existing UK Government deadline for the elimination of fossil fuels is completely unrealistic since this will be achieved far sooner than 2040. There are many driving factors (no pun intended) and incentives, the latest being the move toward Super-Capacitors (see below) to replace outdated battery technology.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 in time.
Autonomous Vehicles
Level 5 AVs will not initially be universally acceptable for some time since many drivers enjoy driving. Driving can be fun and rewarding and is a skill that evolves over time with most learning happening after passing the driving test. However, as network management evolves, varying degrees of autonomy will become 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 and such metering of large traffic flows has proven 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 would 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 as a result.
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 sooner than expected but likely to include an inter-stage of Graphene based super-efficient batteries before moving fully to SuperCaps.
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 [LA] area and the equipment resides in an LA 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 that was based on specific timings for am peak, pm peak, and in some bigger cities, between daytime peaks also. SCOOT monitors the network and adapts traffic light timings in 'real-time' 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. Examples would be the mass exodus of traffic from a football ground following a game, which can be detected typically within 5 minutes and cause dramatic changes to SCOOT parameters along key routes from the ground to clear traffic quickly. Or, in the event of a major road closure, alternative route signals can be amended automatically and variable message signs set as appropriate; the possibilities are numerous.
Unfortunately, many of the skills required to elicit the best from SCOOT are becoming fewer as engineers who grew with these systems leave, often 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. Next or same day deliveries is another cause of increasing vehicles on the road and network management must evolve to meet the needs.
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 afford Local Authorities considerable control over every aspect of their network but without the need to understand the mechanism.
There is a lot more to say on this issue, in time, and it will be something special.
An intelligent system known as SCOOT has been evolving since the 1980's and replaced an older 'Fixed Time' system that was based on specific timings for am peak, pm peak, and in some bigger cities, between daytime peaks also. SCOOT monitors the network and adapts traffic light timings in 'real-time' 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. Examples would be the mass exodus of traffic from a football ground following a game, which can be detected typically within 5 minutes and cause dramatic changes to SCOOT parameters along key routes from the ground to clear traffic quickly. Or, in the event of a major road closure, alternative route signals can be amended automatically and variable message signs set as appropriate; the possibilities are numerous.
Unfortunately, many of the skills required to elicit the best from SCOOT are becoming fewer as engineers who grew with these systems leave, often 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. Next or same day deliveries is another cause of increasing vehicles on the road and network management must evolve to meet the needs.
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 afford Local Authorities considerable control over every aspect of their network but without the need to understand the mechanism.
There is a lot more to say on this issue, in time, and it 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 safer journeys, correct road use and secure transportation from origin to destination including cross-border trips. 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 can reduce link capacity if simply applied within the general network and can increase overall congestion and emissions. Some cities have reduced or removed bus lanes to improve capacity since the predicted migration from car to 'reliable' bus was over estimated. 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. Mobility as a Service (MaaS) provides greater potential for the future of personal transport.
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.
Journey Time Reliability is essential in freight movement and the good news is that much of the infra-structure required to implement solutions 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 can reduce link capacity if simply applied within the general network and can increase overall congestion and emissions. Some cities have reduced or removed bus lanes to improve capacity since the predicted migration from car to 'reliable' bus was over estimated. 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. Mobility as a Service (MaaS) provides greater potential for the future of personal transport.
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.
Journey Time Reliability is essential in freight movement and the good news is that much of the infra-structure required to implement solutions 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
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Freight: Emergency Vehicle priority: Bus priority: Freight productivity: Incentivised Lanes: Intelligent Highway: On-street parking: Road works: Comment: |
Touching Blue is currently engaged with major partners to develop an innovative solution to traffic problems caused mostly by freight movements along a strategic corridor in the North West. Our proposed alternative will, not only solve virtually all associated traffic problems, but will positively affect the environment, local communities and wildlife, and provide additional opportunity for economic growth, Locally and nationally.
[August 2019 - Further updates will appear here as soon as possible.] Saving lives by real-time control of traffic lights for emergency vehicles is going to become a reality, potentially this year. TBL is currently developing this in relation to a major Local Authority area, one of many interested in this project. Phase I of this project is ready for testing and includes a linear 'green light run' through three traffic signalled junctions under control of the system. Tests are likely to take place in September/October 2019 and will be followed by Phase II. This phase caters for any vehicle origin to any destination and for multiple vehicles. Bus Priority can be provided intelligently thanks to developing technology; TBL and partners will be developing our solution following the ambulance priority system. Bus priority can help bus drivers to maintain timetables thereby providing journey time confidence to passengers. Freight supports the economy, nationally and locally yet, HGVs have seldom benefited from any recognition on the highway, other than restrictions. Managed correctly, freight vehicles can have selective priority but this requires a new approach to network traffic control methodology; a disruptive and innovative new concept is being developed by Touching Blue. Electric Vehicles are slowly impacting the current mix of harmful fuels used in vehicles, however a greater incentive would help this change escalate. Touching Blue is developing a concept that will help increase the uptake of electric vehicles. Road Construction has not changed a great deal over many years but there is an opportunity, with new 2D materials, to build new facilities into the road surface. TBL has a development plan for a new type of surface structure that will be both interactive and energy efficient. Finding a Parking Space on-street can be random and difficult in most cities. However, TBL has a proposal to address this and allow for space reservation. We have at least one major Local Authority interested in trialling this fairly complex system which is planned for development after the ambulance project. Off-peak Road works spanning several days are inefficient and costly to both contractor and Local Authority. TBL is working to improve the efficiency of such works to reduce costs and shorten the time required for the works. Again, at least one major Local Authority is interested in trialling this solution. The above projects are real, five of which are either underway or in current development. One or two will complete in 2019 with two, perhaps three more in 2020 and the Intelligent Highway concept will take longer. However, a number of large companies involved in traffic related solutions are keen to support these projects by carrying out their own development work on their existing products in relation to modifying them for our purposes and we look forward to working with those companies; all of whom will appear on this site over time. |
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