What is automatic incident detection (AID)?

AID uses video analytics or other sensors to detect incidents such as stopped vehicles, queues, debris or wrong-way drivers automatically, and alerts the operator so that a response can start faster.

Can a city and a road authority share one traffic management system?

They can share data and scenarios without sharing one system. With standard interfaces such as DATEX II, each operator keeps its own platform while coordinated measures are still possible.

Is a traffic management system subject to NIS2?

Depending on the operator and the country, road traffic management can fall under the NIS2 Directive. In any case it is critical infrastructure, so we treat cybersecurity as a design requirement.

Traffic management systems and control centres

What does a traffic control centre do?

Monitoring: live images from cameras, traffic flows, speeds and travel times on a map of the network.
Incident management: automatic incident detection (AID) raises alarms for stopped vehicles, queues or wrong-way drivers, and operators follow agreed response plans together with the emergency services.
Control: changing traffic signal plans, variable message signs (VMS/DRIP), lane control signals and, on some roads, ramp metering or speed limits.
Information: travel times and warnings for road users, and data for navigation services and other operators.

Network management across borders and operators

Traffic does not stop at the boundary between a city and a regional road or motorway. Coordinated network management means that operators agree on scenarios — for example a diversion when a motorway is closed — and that their systems can exchange status information and activate the agreed measures. Standard data exchange in DATEX II makes this possible between different suppliers.

Architecture of a traffic management system

Field equipment: cameras, detection, signs, signals and roadside cabinets with communication.
A central platform with a database, map view, alarm handling, scenario management and logging.
Interfaces to traffic signal systems, tunnel and bridge systems, enforcement systems, other centres and the National Access Point.
Redundancy and cybersecurity: the system is critical infrastructure, so availability, access control and segmentation are designed in from the start.

Data and performance indicators

A modern traffic management system is also a data platform. Travel times, delays, incident durations and the use of response plans can be reported as KPIs, so that the effect of measures becomes visible and decisions are based on evidence rather than perception.

Response plans and scenarios

The value of a traffic control centre lies largely in its preparation. Response plans describe, for recurring situations such as an incident on a given section, a closure or a major event, which signs are set, which signal plans are activated and who is informed. Prepared and tested scenarios let operators act in seconds instead of minutes, and they make the response consistent from one shift to the next.

Planning a new or renewed control centre

Define the operational concept first: which roads, which tasks, which hours, and which partners are involved.
Inventory the existing field equipment and protocols, so that the platform can connect to them.
Specify open interfaces and data exchange, including DATEX II for other operators and the National Access Point.
Design the control room for the operators: ergonomics, video wall, alarm handling and fallback when systems fail.
Plan migration so that monitoring continues while the old system is replaced.

How Urbiflow helps

We specify and integrate traffic management platforms and control-centre functions, connect field equipment from different manufacturers, design response scenarios together with the operator, and take care of testing, commissioning, cybersecurity hardening and maintenance.

Relevant for: Road & highway authorities Cities & municipalities

Traffic management systems and traffic control centres