MVIS hybrid offers the best of both worlds

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MVIS has launched the first hybrid Journey Time Solution (JTS) for use on portable VMS in the UK. Portable and easy to install, the pioneering Tom-Tom Journey Time Solution (JTS) enables traffic managers to use the journey time data provided by both the Highways England National Traffic Operations Centre (NTOC) and Tom-Tom.

NTOC data covers the UK’s strategic road network (motorways and large A roads) while Tom-Tom provides coverage for 99% of all UK roads. Access to both, using the same portable VMS, means traffic managers now have total flexibility in the journey time information they can display at roadworks.

For example, VMS deployed at motorway roadworks will use the NTOC information to display journey times between junctions but if information about a diversion away from the motorway is required, the VMS can be switched to Tom-Tom to access journey time information for roads not covered by the NTOC.

Keeping road users better informed and being able to identify incidents in real-time helps ease congestion and improve safety around roadworks. MVIS’ innovative hybrid system can also combine the estimated journey times from both systems for the most accurate journey time estimates and is especially well suited for overnight diversions for motorway road works.

The Tom-Tom JTS from MVIS is the latest addition to MVIS comprehensive range of innovative, fully autonomous Intelligent Transport System (ITS) solutions designed to help traffic managers operate temporary traffic scenarios safely, efficiently and cost effectively.

Find out more at www.m-vis.co.uk or email us at sales@m-vis.co.uk.

Department for Transport announces 1.2bn funding

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It was announced recently that there will be over £1.2bn of funding for English local authority roads in 2017/18. Including individual councils’ share of the pothole fund, £185m of new funding was announced in the Autumn Statement and the Local Highways Maintenance Funding Needs Element to help improve the UK’s road network.

The £1.2bn for the 2017 to 2018 financial year for local highway authorities outside London, consists of:

  • £210m from the £1.3bn National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF) announced in the Autumn Statement, with £185m to improve local highways and public transport networks and £25m to help tackle some of the most dangerous council A roads
  • £801m Local Highways Maintenance Funding Needs Element
  • £70m to be shared across local highway authorities from the Pothole Action Fund
  • £75m from the Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund, with local highway authorities invited to compete for funding to help repair and maintain local highway infrastructure, such as bridges, lighting and rural roads
  • £75m from the Highways Maintenance Incentive Element, which invites councils to complete a self-assessment questionnaire “in order to reward those who demonstrate they truly understand the value of their asset”.

The Pothole Action Fund allocated totals £250 million which is estimated to be enough to repair on average over 4.7 million potholes, or stop them forming in the first place.

During this time, it is estimated that the ongoing road maintenance and improvements will cause lengthy queues and obstruction on the roads. MVIS offers a number of traffic management solutions which can be hired to allow your road work project to run smoothly, encourage safer and more environmentally friendly driving habits, and help prevent complaints from motorists by keeping them well informed of their approximate travel times.

No matter what or where your traffic management project is, MVIS provides innovative temporary Intelligent Transport System Solutions which can help your road work project run smoothly, on time and to a budget. This includes CCTV, HD Data Collection Radar, ANPR, VMS and Journey Time Solutions which are mounted on solar powered platforms and can be deployed as multiple units on a single platform or individually as required.

At MVIS we work closely with our customers and partners and we’re dedicated to producing the best product to match your needs. Our five colour matrix VMS displays are ideal for traffic management and accident information, and help keep motorists well informed.

Available for hire throughout the UK, MVIS ensures temporary VMS are quickly deployed to provide urgent traffic management solutions. If your road work project requires help to reduce traffic levels to increase motorist’s satisfaction levels and awareness, contact the MVIS team who will be happy to offer you full support and flexibility to help you inform road users.

If you would like to talk to us regarding hiring any of our traffic management solutions, please get in touch by calling 01629 580 570 or email us at sales@m-vis.co.uk.

 

 

New partnership with Highways England

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Mobile Visual Information Systems Ltd (MVIS) developed a temporary intelligent transport system (ITS) solution which receives DATEX II real time journey time data from Highways England’s National Traffic Operations Centre (NTOC), collected from in-vehicle sensors.

The data is used to calculate journey times from the locations of MVIS’ 11 portable Bartco UK VMS-C variable message signs (VMS) along the MSM roadworks to the end of the affected stretch of motorway. The times are uploaded onto the desired portable VMS every five minutes.

Configurable safeguards ensure that journey times computed do not fall outside the range made feasible by current speed limits and that they do not conflict with messages on permanent VMS.  The automated VMS messages may be manually overridden in the event of a network incident.

Said MVIS’ technical manager, Matt Felce: 

“MVIS is an innovative firm, and so was pleased to have the opportunity to work in partnership with Highways England to develop the first solution enabling real-time journey time information from NTOC to be displayed on portable VMS.”

MVIS works in partnership with other leading providers to create bespoke temporary ITS solutions for traffic management organisations to help the road network to operate efficiently and safely.

Its solar powered solutions incorporate monitoring and visual information equipment:  VMS, ANPR and CCTV cameras, radar and Intellicone contactless sensor technology.  MVIS’ VMS signs are manufactured in the UK by Bartco UK.

MVIS’ products are available nationwide via a network of over 20 depots.

How to lower pollution with MVIS’s Auto Detect

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It was reported recently that London reached its annual limit for air pollution just five days into the new year.

And with the RAC Foundation estimating more than 43 million drivers on the roads by 2034, it can only mean bigger traffic jams, longer journey times and even more air pollution.

So how can we prevent this?

Motorists themselves can adopt certain habits when driving to help reduce emissions, such as keeping the vehicle in tip-top shape, removing excess cargo and avoiding unnecessary idling. If you are going to be stopped for more than 10 seconds, it’s much more environment tally friendly to stop and restart your engine than to keep the vehicle running.

But what can we do to help reduce emissions in locations which we know will have a high volume of slow-moving traffic? Circumstances such as heavy road works, large sporting events or concerts can have a large amount of stop-start traffic, and so are in need of an effective solution to communicate with motorists to educate them on more environmentally friendly driving practices – the Auto Detect.

The Auto Detect is an innovative integrated solution available to hire from MVIS and combines variable message signs (VMS) with contactless sensor technology which can help make drivers more aware of their carbon footprint and drive more responsibly, therefore becoming more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

The system pairs a series of VMS units with a master Intellicone Traffic Management Unit with a set of traffic lights. When the lights turn red, the VMS is wirelessly activated and instantly displays messages – pre-programmed by the user using our innovative Web Studio™ – to communicate with the stationary motorists. These messages can include facts about the levels of air pollution caused on UK roads as well as advice on how motorists can effectively lower their own emissions, such as turning off their engines when in stationary traffic queues.

If you would like to contact us regarding your road work project, please call 01629 580 570 or email sales@m-vis.co.uk

MVIS supports Nottingham County Council

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The National Highways and Transport Network’s 2016 Public Satisfaction Survey, which received a record breaking response of nearly 100,000, recently announced that Nottingham City Council achieved the highest public satisfaction for highways and transport.

The city council came out on top with a satisfaction rating of 61.5%, after scoring 78.1% for local bus services, 77.5% for public transport information and 64.9% for traffic management.

As well as calculating satisfaction levels, the 2016 National Highways and Transport Network’s survey also collected respondent’s opinions on road issues they saw as most important. Each cited by 96%, were highway conditions and safer roads.

Other issues highlighted as important by respondents were reducing traffic (86%) and traffic pollution (85%). Only 45% expressed satisfaction on the issue of reducing traffic, and only 50% on the issue of traffic pollution.

MVIS have provided support over the last 3 years to Nottingham City Council during the tram redevelopment.

If your road work project requires help to reduce traffic levels to increase motorist’s satisfaction levels and awareness, contact the MVIS team who will be happy to offer you full support and flexibility to help you inform road users through five colour VMS.

No matter what or where your traffic management project is, MVIS provides innovative temporary Intelligent Transport System solutions which can help you to improve, monitor and control traffic queues. This includes CCTV, HD Data Collection Radar, ANPR, VMS and Journey Time Solutions that are mounted on solar powered platforms and can be deployed as multiple units on a single platform or individually as required.

At MVIS we work closely with our customers and partners and we’re dedicated to producing the best product to match your needs. Our five colour matrix displays are ideal for traffic management, accident information, event organisation and brand advertisement.

Available for hire throughout the UK, MVIS ensures temporary VMS are quickly deployed to provide urgent traffic management solutions.

If you would like to talk to us regarding hiring any of our traffic and event management products, please get in touch by calling 01629 580 570.

Traffic jams to cost UK drivers £62bn

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With the recent news that congested roads will cost UK drivers £62bn over the next 10 years, perhaps now is the time to re-evaluate your traffic management solutions to make sure your road maintenance operations are being carried out as efficiently as possible.

In a report commissioned by the Department for Transport, transportation information company Inrix measured the average duration, length and frequency of UK traffic jams in September, and calculated the cost by using value of travel time figures.

Unsurprisingly, London came out worst. The most highly congested stretch of road was the M25 northbound between junctions 15 and 16 near to Heathrow Airport, and overall, London’s traffic jams are set to cost motorists over £42bn up until 2025. Other highly congested areas were the A720 westbound Edinburgh Bypass at Dreghorn Barracks which is estimated to cost £2.8bn, and the Eastbound junction of the A8 Glasgow and Edinburgh Road with the M8 which has an estimated cost of £2.3bn.

MVIS provides innovative temporary Intelligent Transport System solutions which can help you to monitor and control traffic queues. This includes CCTV, HD Data Collection Radar, ANPR, VMS and Journey Time Solutions that are mounted on solar powered platforms and can be deployed as multiple units on a single platform or individually as required.

No matter what or where your traffic management project is, the MVIS team are on hand to be able to offer full support and flexibility to help you resolve your road maintenance project quickly and efficiently, because whilst it’s said that the British love to queue, it doesn’t extend to sitting idly in traffic.

If you would like to know more about MVIS’ portfolio of traffic management products, please click here.

Take a look at the top 10 traffic hotspots:

London (£42bn) M25 northbound between junctions 15 and 16

Edinburgh (£2.8bn) A720 westbound Edinburgh Bypass at Dreghorn Barracks

Glasgow (£2.3bn) Eastbound junction of the A8 Glasgow and Edinburgh Road with the M8

Birmingham (£2bn) Northbound junction of the A38 (M) with the M6

Manchester (£1.9bn) M60 northbound at junction 1 for the A6 Stockport

Bristol (£1.6bn) M5 southbound at junction 20 for Clevedon

Leeds (£1.5bn) Westbound M62 junction 26 with M606 junction 1

Cardiff (£1.1bn) A48 westbound at Riverside Park

Bradford (£1.1bn) From the A650 in the city centre to the A6038 Otley Road

Belfast (£797m) A12 eastbound at the junction with the M2 and M3

Event planning is all about effective communication

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If you’ve ever organised an event of any size, you know that communication is key.

It’s imperative to have the right processes in place to make sure that everyone involved has a clear idea of what their role is – from your suppliers right through to your guests. And when traffic management is involved, having the right tools at your disposal helps things to run a lot more smoothly.

Whether it’s a small community gala, street party, or a big cup game for your local sports team, keeping motorists and pedestrians well informed with up-to-date information not only helps to keep traffic moving, it also helps to keep them safe. Plus, by presenting clear information such as car parking or entry directions to visitors, it ensures that they are much more likely to have a positive experience at your event.

Static signs with a pre-printed message can be extremely useful, but if your information changes suddenly, it can render them defunct and confusing to your audience. Fortunately, hiring a variable message sign (VMS) from MVIS offers you much greater control over your communication. Our VMS units can be updated instantly via a PC or any Wi-Fi enabled Apple device using our innovative Web Studio™ so no matter what message you need to broadcast, you can do it quickly and easily with MVIS.

The non-glare units ensure they’re easily seen, even in the most extreme weather, and as they are able to be combined with additional features such as CCTV or high-speed radar, it offers even more opportunity to convey important information to help keep people safe and well informed, such as ‘slow down’ messages to motorists who are travelling too fast. Plus, with a five colour LED screen, there’s no reason for your communications to be missed – they even support pictograms too.

You can hire event management equipment to help with your event, direct from MVIS. With over 20 depots across the UK, we can deliver straight to your event quickly and effortlessly, and with a 24/7 service line for all customers, we’re on hand if you need support with anything.

Our high quality, reliable and cost effective VMS are environmentally friendly, portable and can be changed to display a variety of messages in an instant.

Hire a VMS signs today and benefit from:

Five Colours
Create eye-catching displays to attract the attention of the crowd

Web Studio™
Our innovative Web Studio™ enables you to view your VMS from any Wi-Fi enabled Apple device to remotely locate your signs, observe traffic flow and change your message at the touch of a button

Reduced Costs
Solar powered and environmentally friendly, VMS units do not require plugging in

Easy To See
Made from non-glare UV resistant polycarbonate, VMS are visible in every condition

Security
The VMS comes complete with satellite tracking and a SMS tamper alarm, and can be fitted with CCTV for added peace of mind.

Call us today on 01629 580570 to discuss your event requirements.

Variable Messaging Signs – Frequently Asked Questions

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Q- How are the VMS programmed?

A – The VMS are programmed remotely using our innovative WebStudio™ system which is a web based program which can be used on any Wi-Fi enabled Apple device or personal computer. You can pinpoint the different VMS units you have out on the road and change the display in an instant. Perfect if you need to relay important information to road users or event users quickly and efficiently.

Q – How long does it take to change the message on a VMS?

A – It’s almost instantaneous. Providing you have access to a computer or Wi-Fi enabled Apple device, you can change your displayed message in a matter of minutes.

Q – Can the VMS be tracked?

A – Yes all the VMS are fitted with a GPRS controller which can be tracked via WebStudio™.

Q – Can you upload a message to multiple VMS?

A – Yes. WebStudio™ allows you to group the VMS units together – no matter where they are located – to allow multiple uploads at one time.

Q – Can you upload messages to display at certain times?

A – Yes, the VMS can be scheduled on WebStudio™ to allow certain messages to appear at your requested times.

Q- Can the VMS be programmed on a smartphone?

A – Yes. The VMS can be programmed on any Wi-Fi enabled Apple smartphone or tablet via the Curbsite Lite app.

Q – Can the VMS display pictograms eg, speed roundels and traffic signs?

A – Yes. The VMS can display five different colours (amber, white, red, green and blue) and there is a wide range of pre-saved messages and signs commonly used within the motor industry which can be shared with customers.

Q – Are the VMS and Solar IPs secure when on site?

A – Yes. The VMS and Solar IPS are padlocked in all areas as standard to ensure security on site. They are GPRS enabled so we can see where they are at all times.

Q – Can the VMS be fitted with Radar?

A – Yes. The VMS can be fitted with Radar to enable speed triggered messages.

Q – Do the VMS and Solar IPs have batteries?

A – Yes. They come with solar powered batteries and the battery levels are monitored daily to ensure the products are working at all times.

Q – If I require assistance with one of the products, does MVIS offer an out of hours service?

A – Yes. MVIS offers a 24/7 service to customers. You can contact us by calling 01629 580570 and we guarantee a response within 4 hours.

If you have a question that hasn’t been answered, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01629 580 570 or at sales@m-vis.co.uk

 

MVIS’ Safelane Technology

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In 2015, Highways England recorded more than 40 cases of drivers deliberately ignoring road closure signs on the A13 alone.

These figures were recorded by road workers working on a section of the A13 near Thurrock, in Essex, which was being widened to reduce congestion and improve safety. The project, which is estimated to be completed in autumn 2016, will see the A13 on the approach to junction 30 widened to four lanes in each direction, with new dedicated link roads between the M25 and A13. The work is an ongoing process, and has seen a number of work zone incursions from the start.

During 2015, a range of vehicles were seen unlawfully entering the worksite, and some drivers ignored carriageway closures. In June 2015, a road worker’s work vehicle was struck and damaged by an object thrown by the motorist of a moving vehicle.

Lizzie Pauling, project manager for Highways England says: “Safety is Highways England’s top priority. We are concerned by a number of drivers choosing to ignore road closures, putting their safety and the safety of others at risk. The improvements to the A13 and M25 will improve safety and reduce congestion for the tens of thousands of drivers who use this section each day.”

To assist in events like this, MVIS provides an innovative solution to help road workers stay safe. The Safelane Integrated Solution sees Intellicone-enabled Smart VMS positioned at road closure points, surrounded by intelligent cone barriers and contactless sensors to detect breaches. If a breach does occur, the sensors send a message to the VMS which warns the driver they are in a prohibited area, and instructs them to turn around. Simultaneously, the gatepeople at checkpoint locations are alerted by an audible alarm, giving them time to take appropriate action and retreat to a safe place. They are also supplied with a manual panic alarm to alert the workforce if a driver is to continue beyond the checkpoint. This system can incorporate CCTV if necessary and is proven to reduce the resources required to safely carry out road closures and minimise confrontations with disgruntled drivers.

For more information on Safelane Technology, please get in touch on 01629 580 570 or email us on sales@m-vis.co.uk.

 

 

 

Are your wicket signs compliant with the new Department for Transport regulations?

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You may have heard that the Department for Transport is changing the approved size for wicket sign screens where signs haven’t been located in the central reserve, also known as Fixed Taper Points (FTP), Remote Controlled Temporary Traffic Management signs (RCTTM) and Remotely Operated Temporary Traffic Management signs (ROTTM). If you have signs installed that don’t meet these new regulations they will need to be changed or Police operated rolling road blocks put in place to deploy traffic management, which can become problematic on schemes where this is a regular requirement.

Our UK manufactured five colour VMS-C meets all of the requirements set out in drawing number GT50/198/0015-1 that the Secretary of State approved on the 10th March 2016. This allows our VMS-C to be used as a replacement for FTP signs, also known as RCTTM and ROTTM signs on Smart Motorway schemes until the fixed permanent signs are fully operational. This will enable the motorways to return to All Lanes Running (ALR) without the requirement for Police operated rolling roadblocks to be used to deploy Traffic Management.

Our VMS can be controlled remotely from any internet connected PC with a web browser via MVIS’ Web Studio or Wi-Fi enabled Apple device using Bartco Curbsite Lite. All of the required approved legends are already programmed in to the system making the setting of the signs a simple process. If sufficient notice is given we can preset the messages for you, enabling you to activate and de-activate all five signs in a Fixed Taper Sign group with just six clicks of your mouse.

Individual user accounts can be set up for any number of operators, each with their own log in so a full audit trail of which messages were activated, when and who by can be recorded. We can also set access rights to: only allow them to activate the approved legends; be able to make their own legends if the signs are to be used for other purposes; or allow them viewing access only for monitoring purposes.

And with 22 depots throughout the UK and high levels of VMS in stock you can trust us to deliver.

If you’d like to discuss your requirements further, please contact us on 01629 580570.

 

 

Driving Home for Christmas?

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As we’ve seen on the news this week, extreme weather conditions can cause massive disruptions to travel plans.

No matter how well planned travel plans are, they can be upturned in an instant. This not only leaves road users and commuters in need of guidance, but also requires local authorities and those working within the highways agency to quickly implement new routes and infrastructures to maintain safe and efficient traffic management.

Mobile Visual Information Systems (MVIS) is a leading supplier of innovative mobile and solar powered monitoring and visual information systems which means that we can be relied on to provide solutions to the highways industry.

We work with traffic and event management companies to help keep Britain moving by providing fast, flexible, cost effective temporary solutions, such as VMS units to help advise road users and commuters of new routes, important information and alternative directions. Plus, with the welcome addition of MVIS’ Web Studio™, you can change the messages displayed on your VMS units instantly from any Apple device. So should your new route be compromised in any way, you can swiftly amend your VMS unit to display the most up-to-date information, keeping the roads – and those using them – as safe as possible.

What’s more, MVIS’ 24/7 support service offers a comprehensive level of support no matter what it is you require. Whether you need urgent support or advice on any of our products, or if you need to hire any of our products out of hours, simply email our Team at sales@m-vis.co.uk and you are guaranteed a reply within 4 hours.

Alternatively, if your enquiry is within office hours, call us on 01629 580570 to speak to one of our experienced technicians.

 

How the Solar Intelligent Platform is leading the way in ITS

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In situations that require a combination of temporary intelligent traffic systems, MVIS Solar Intelligent Platform delivers unrivalled flexibility.

This innovative mobile product allows the user to select their preferred combination of any number of items from MVIS’ portfolio of ANPR, CCTV, and radar, with the confidence that the will all work seamlessly with the Solar Intelligent Platform. Further versatility and customization is added by the potential to easily alter the equipment housed in the platform to best meet the user’s needs.

With cutting-edge 250W solar PV panels specifically designed to optimize UV light the system can incorporate a 12V, 24V or 48V battery. This leading technology creates a comprehensive system that does not depend on an external power supply and is also silent in operation.

Its negligible environmental effects, its reliability and its ease to deploy make the Solar Intelligent Platform a perfectly suited option to a large variety of traffic and event management applications.

Mobile Visual Information Systems

01629 580 570

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