Competition funds support development of prototype to provide real time information on traffic congestion
Swindon Borough Council is laying plans for a smart transport network based on real time data in a partnership with Cisco and Davra Networks.
The move comes as the council has been named as one of those allocated funds by the Department from Transport from its Co-operative Intelligent Transport Systems (D-ITS) and Smart Infrastructure Competition.
Swindon obtained £235,000 to support work on an alert system to support local authority traffic managers in spreading information on congestion. It is aimed at providing real time information on the state of key routes to drivers and commuters to enable them to avoid heavy traffic.
The current plan, which is in the design phase, is to develop a prototype over 12 months. A spokesperson for Cisco said that a number of possible solutions could be used, notably from the company’s Smart+Connected Cities portfolio, and that the council and its partners are still considering the best ones for the project.
It is understood that mapping software provider Carto Technology will contribute to developing the prototype.
Optimising roads
Councillor Keith Williams, Swindon’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The smart transport initiative, in conjunction with Cisco, is the next step to ensuring that we can optimise the roads in our town and, ultimately, ensure our citizens are safe while traveling around. We are looking forward to kicking off the project, utilising the real time data and experiencing the benefits that this technology can offer.”
Scot Gardner, chief executive of Cisco UK and Ireland, commented: “We look forward to seeing the project evolve, highlighting the impact smart technology can have on people in Swindon and hope to see similar programmes rolled out in every town and city within the UK and beyond.”
Image: Swindon's 'Magic Roundabout', by Alby, CC BY-SA via Wikimedia Commons
