Intelligent transport system (ITS) Olympic and Paralympic legacy

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London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games intelligent transport system (ITS) solutions provider, MVIS, read with interest an article in last week’s Highways on Fridays, which reported on the way in which improvements in how the country’s busiest roads are managed have come about as a direct result of lessons learned from the games.

The article referred to the verdict of road bosses speaking at an industry event, London 2012 Lessons and Legacy, held by the Roads Academy, a new professional development programme designed to encourage innovation and best practice across the roads industry.

Industry leaders speaking at the event explained that ways of working pioneered while planning for last summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games have led to improvements in planning roadworks, managing traffic flows during busy times and how incidents are responded to, and MVIS’ intelligent transport system (ITS) was of a cruical element of the initiative.

Comenting on the project which incorporated MVIS’ intelligent transport system (ITS), TfL director of roads Dana Skelley said: “Moving millions of people across London was obviously one of the major challenges of the London 2012 games. Despite the scale of the challenge posed to London’s transport network, transport arrangements were enormously successful…. Investment in state-of-the-art traffic management systems played a vital role in keeping London moving. New technology systems, upgraded traffic signals and improved modelling are all leaving a legacy of better managed roads and smoother traffic flow throughout the capital.”

Highways Agency chief executive Graham Dalton added: “A relentless focus on performance and innovative solutions – like the ones we developed for the games – will be crucial in making maximum use out of our road network, a vital national asset, in the years ahead while ensuring we continue to deliver best value for taxpayers’ money.”

MVIS is one of UK’s leading intelligent transport system (ITS) solutions providers, working in partnership with traffic management organisations to create solutions to help the road network operate efficiently.

Its Olympic Route Network intelligent transport system (ITS) solution featured the supply of what is believed to be the largest single deployment of solar powered variable message signs (VMS) in the world, with almost 200 units employed for the network, enabling key participants, such as athletes and officials, to travel safely, securely and efficiently between venues and their accommodation, while also keeping London and the rest of the UK moving.

 

MVIS deploys a rapid, flexible response to major incident

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It’s been a busy month at MVIS headquarters as interest in the colour mobile variable messaging and ITS products soar. The interest and uses for these flexible units are very diverse. MVIS signs were seen at Wembley Stadium earlier in the year at the England – Brazil match and now, as a preferred supplier, MVIS signs are being utilised on Wembley Way as you approach the main stadium entrance to help direct crowds.

new wembley stadium

Last month, MVIS was asked by TfL to respond to a major incident at Vauxhall Bridge in London. MVIS deployed 17 signs within 12 hours to provide support to Traffic for London’s traffic directorate in alleviating traffic congestion during the period of incident investigation.

Tony Price, Managing Director of MVIS said, “MVIS was able to respond so quickly because we have a pool of signs in London permanently on standby specifically for emergency deployments of this nature. Our units are mobile and totally autonomous, which means we can offer a rapid, flexible response when there is an urgent need. Equally, it means they are perfect for temporary situations, whether it is for traffic management at road works or at an event.”

To find out more about MVIS visit www.m-vis.co.uk

TFL thanks MVIS for “Critical” olympic and paralympic support

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MVIS has received a formal letter of thanks from a Transport for London director for its “critical” support during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In a letter to MVIS’ managing director, Tony Price, Alan Bristow, TfL’s traffic directorate surface transport director, said: “I would like to formally thank you for the work you and your team have done for the planning and delivery of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Without doubt, we found the support from MVIS to be critical to our operation. As you know, the 177 mobile VMS that you deployed was the largest ever such undertaking in London. Our people were unfamiliar with the operating system and we were therefore not only dependent on you and your team for logistic support in moving/redeploying signs at often short notice, but also for the back office support to London streets traffic control centre traffic co-ordinators.

“I am aware that the back office support that you and your team provided, particularly Steve Young and Keith Menzies, commenced well in advance of the Games, initially helping us to become familiar with the system and then ensuring that we were able to effectively assign signs to groups, was very responsive and available at short-notice and at all hours. The support helped us to ensure that the operation of Games Lanes was effective, thus directly benefiting the Games vehicle fleets and helping us to keep London moving.

“Please accept my grateful thanks on behalf of TfL.”

MVIS signs support traffic management plan at Heathrow’s Terminal 2

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With their fully autonomous solar charging system, the innovative five colour VMS signs operate continually under normal operating conditions. It was this system that was chosen by BAA to support the master traffic management plan surrounding Heathrow Airport’s £800m Terminal 2 replacement construction programme, which is due for completion in 2014.

The VMS signs, which have Highways Agency approval for replicating Chapter 8 signage, give customers the choice to create more ‘stand out’ messaging by replicating brand logos and using multiple colours, on roads where TSRDG (Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions) regulations are not in force.

BAA now has the ability to project often fast-changing passenger information using individual airline’s brand colours and logos. Martin Draper BAA Landside Senior Operations Manager at Heathrow said, “The visual impact of colour on these signs has had an immediate positive effect on traffic flow. Terminal 2 is currently an extremely busy part of the airport roads network due to the volume of construction traffic, traffic management restrictions and the need for our customers to access terminals 1 and 3, and the signs have proved invaluable in minimising disruption.”

“The signs are performing well 24/7 and we’re particularly pleased with the longevity of battery life and Web Studio, the sign management system, which provides flexibility to change messages instantly from any Internet enabled PC. We can produce and schedule our own messages and graphics and see the exact location and real time message of each sign simply by logging into the system.”

To find out more about MVIS visit www.m-vis.co.uk

 

TfL PRAISES MVIS’ “OUTSTANDING” OLYMPIC CONTRIBUTION

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Transport for London (TfL) has commended mobile signage and eco-lighting provider, Mobile Visual Information Systems (MVIS) Ltd, for its “outstanding” contribution to The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Until recently known as Colour Mobile VMS, MVIS undertook TfL’s contract to supply variable message signage for the event’s Olympic Route Network.

In what is believed to be the largest single deployment of solar powered variable message signs in the world, almost 200 units were employed for the network, enabling key participants, such as athletes and officials, to travel safely, securely and efficiently between venues and their accommodation, while also keeping London and the rest of the UK moving.

As the event closed, TfL’s London streets traffic control centre operations manager, Esmon George MBE MILT, contacted the team at MVIS personally to thank them for their “outstanding support”, adding: “We couldn’t have achieved what we did without you”.

TfL’s operational process improvements manager, John Tenten, was also impressed by MVIS’ work, saying: “Your assistance during the games made our role considerably easier”.

Commented MVIS managing director Tony Price:  “Because our sign management system allows multiple signs to be grouped, messages were sent to multiple signs on different parts of the Olympic Route Network in a single transmission.  This allowed TfL to dynamically control access to the Games Lane, ensuring that athletes, press and VIPs transited quickly and safely, and that London’s traffic kept flowing. The fact that the signs displayed the Games Lane messages in different colours enabled road users to instantly identify whether the lane was in use.

“We’re delighted to have been a part of such a massive international event, and TfL’s praise is testament to our capability within this sector.”

For more information see www.m-vis.co.uk

A fantastic achievement by everyone invovled…

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“Delivering this contract has been immensely satisfying, but has required a huge team effort, from the very beginning.

A massive thank you to Bartco, our innovative Australian manufacturers, whose innovative and flexible approach to procurement and manufacturing was matched only by their determination to hit the shipment dates.

A 10,000 mile supply chain length, weather, port closures, flight delays and customs issues were all overcome to get the signs into
the UK on time.

The contract could not have been achieved without our Leeds based commercial funder, Reward Capital LLP and Affinity Asset Finance, so their help was very much appreciated.

And the rolling deployment of the 177 signs onto the London roads was project managed superbly by Steve Young of Colour Mobile VMS and Phil Harrop of P&D Specialist Services. Traffic Management for the deployment across London was co-ordinated by Ringway Jacobs and the flexible attitude and attention to detail of all the traffic management teams involved was instrumental in making this achievement possible.

Deployment was also supported by Hw Martin group of companies from their Amber Langis depot at Harlow.

The facts and figures:

  • Order placed for 175 solar powered portable VMS signs
  • 10,000 mile supply chain
  • 14 flights from Melbourne, Australia and
    Hong Kong
  • 22 containers on 8 ships
  • Averaging 35 days at sea for each shipment
  • 15 weeks to delivery date
  • All 177 solar powered VMS signs now on the streets on London!

This manufacture, delivery and deployment project has been a fantastic achievement by all involved.”

Thank you,
Tony Price MD Colour Mobile VMS

World’s largest deployment of solar powered VMS signs

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Colour Mobile VMS and P&D Specialist Services have completed the deployment of 177 variable message signs for Transport for London (TfL), believed to be the largest single deployment of this type of signs in the world.

The solar powered five-colour portable signs have been positioned along the city’s Olympic Route Network (ORN) for The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The 10,000 mile supply chain saw the companies meticulously manage 22 40ft containers on eight ships from Melbourne, Australia and 14 flights from Hong Kong in just 35 days.

Tony Price, Managing Director of Colour Mobile said, “Delivering this phase of the contract to schedule amid extreme weather conditions, port closures, flight delays and customs issues is immensely satisfying.

We’re certain this deployment of solar powered portable VMS signs onto the ORN has been the biggest of its type in the UK and quite likely globally. We worked closely with delivery partner P&D and Ringway Jacobs traffic management to ensure TfL could begin using the signs straight away.”

The signs are being used to provide information on events, traffic information and Olympic Route Network messages for the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games.

Find out more www.colourmobilevms.com

 

 

Colour Mobile VMS to provide multi colour VMS signs to support Olympic Route Network

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Colour Mobile VMS and P&D Specialist Services are proud to announce that they will be supplying Solar Powered Portable Variable Message Signs in support of the Olympic Route Network over the Olympic and Para Olympic games period 2012.

177 multi colour variable message signs will be delivered, installed and supported for the Olympic Route Network, strategic signing and road events. These innovative signs will start to be seen on London roads towards the end of April.

Tony Price, MD of Colour Mobile VMS said, “We are extremely proud to have been selected and to be involved in this once in a life time event. Our signs incorporate the latest in remote communications technology, a state of the art sign management system and multi colour messaging options. We are looking forward to delivering and surpassing the requirements of the contract. We are confident the visual impact delivered by our product will add significant value to the overall Olympic traffic management plan.”

If you want to find out more about Colour Mobile VMS visit www.colourmobilevms.com

Colour Mobile VMS features at Sheffield United Football Club

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Colour Mobile VMS is used at Sheffield United Football Club to promote the Blades Superstore and up coming fixtures

UK First: Colour Mobile VMS brings Colour to UK highways

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Innovative signage provider, Colour Mobile VMS, is set to brighten up UK roads with the provision of its new five-colour variable message signs.

This is the first time the Highways Agency has approved mobile signage for use in colours other than amber. The Colour Mobile VMS products will feature colour options of amber, red, white, green and blue.

This is an exciting development on the UK roads as colour is an impactful way to gain drivers’ attention about road conditions, speed enforcement, traffic calming and incidents. Chapter 8 signage can be replicated and colour is internationally recongised as warning signage, so there are many advantages.

The colour message signs have already started to appear at events around the UK and now with official approval from the Highways Agency, expectations for the signage are high.

Another exciting advantage of the new messaging signs, which will transform response times to incidents and change on our motorway network, is the ability to update messages instantly by SMS text message. This is a major development for traffic agencies and roadwork companies as they can keep the public up to date with what is happening, in seconds from their mobile phone.

The environmentally-friendly signs feature a non-glare, high-bright, low-power consuming LED display, which runs off a fully autonomous solar changing system, avoiding the need for expensive battery or electricity costs.

Tony Price, Managing Director at Colour Mobile VMS says, “This is the first time mobile colour signage for UK highways has been available in the UK, so we’re expecting a very positive response to the products. The signs will be of particular interest to any organisation managing traffic control and road incidents, plus those who already supply to that trade.

“All our customers can be assured of the highest quality products and complete reliability. They are proven and tested and widely used by our manufacturer BARTCO in Australia. But because we are UK based, we can offer 24/7 service and support. We welcome conversations from all parties interested in the colour matrix signs.”

Colour Mobile VMS is officially launching the colour matrix signs at Traffex on March 29-31, 2011 at stand C74. For further information please visit www.colourmobilevms.com

Mobile Visual Information Systems

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