ImFlow:

PolIcy BasedTraFFIc ManageMenT

Imtech Traffic & Infra - Head office

Basicweg 16

NL-3821 BR Amersfoort

P.O. Box 2542

NL-3800 GB Amersfoort

The Netherlands

Tel. +31 33 454 17 77

Fax +31 33 454 17 40

www.imtech.eu/traffic-infra

The total solution provider www.imtech.eu/traffic-infra

ImFlow Technical specification

The table gives a summary of the ImFlow functions and capabilities.

Modes of operation ■ Real-time adaptive control.

■ System Activated Plan Selection (SAPS).

■ Fixed time control.

■ Local control.

configuration and ■ The ImFlow configurator is fully integrated with a micro simulation environment to enable the

testing traffic engineer to effectively configure and test an ImFlow system.

Multi criteria ■ Vehicles.

optimisation ■ Pedestrians and cyclists.

■ Public Transport vehicles.

■ Priority vehicles (e.g. Eco driving trucks, emergency vehicles).

Multi-level ■ The ‘network optimiser’ optimises the signal timings based on the provided policies and within the

optimisation configured constraints. The ‘intersection optimiser’ further optimises individual controller timings

using logic rules.

Public Transport ■ User policies and performance indicators used to manage a PT-route.

(PT) priority ■ Modelling of the behaviour of PT-vehicles on PT-routes.

■ Prediction of the arrival/departure at signalized intersections and passenger stops.

■ Extensive recording of the journey of PT-vehicles.

■ Flexible detection concept (e.g. traffic light controller inputs, centre-to-centre interface).

Hurry calls ■ Absolute priority for emergency vehicles.

■ VIP routes.

User interface ■ Multilingual web based user interface.

communication ■ ImFlow is fully based on internet technology.

■ Support for both wired and wireless IP networks.

The smart and sustainable city

ImFlow will change the way we manage traffic. Effective and

environmentally transportation is the key to a city or region’s

economy and environment, making it a better place to live and

work. The city’s long-term strategy drives the policies, programs,

design criteria, and projects that will further enhance the city

or region’s mobility. Through this plan the city will make its

transportation system more environmentally, economically, and

socially sustainable. Transport planners and traffic engineers require

tools to implement the policies defined in the plan and to keep the

Intelligent Transport Systems up-to-date when demands or policies

are changing. Trade-offs are needed to make optimal use of the

available road infrastructure, traffic flows need to be identified and

prioritised and decisions made about the amount of traffic allowed

onto the network to reduce congestion during peak hours and to

maximise the effectiveness of public transport. ImFlow is this tool

for urban traffic management enabling the city's action plan to be

effectively implemented.

Policy based Urban Traffic Management

ImFlow optimises traffic flows based on configured policies, making

optimal use of the road infrastructure. The uniqueness of ImFlow is

its real-time adaptive algorithm that automatically translates policy

into optimal traffic flow. A set of policies represent a scenario. Within

a scenario each policy is assigned a level of importance allowing the

user to balance the importance of the traffic flows, priority vehicles,

pedestrians and cyclists within the network. ImFlow supports multi-

criteria optimisation at area, route and intersection levels and

allows policies to be defined for each level. ImFlow is an Intelligent

Transport System that can interact with a scenario manager or

strategy supervisor by means of scenarios. Where applicable the

strategy supervisor can change the level of importance of individual

policies providing even finer control over the traffic flows. ImFlow

is highly flexible and scalable providing one solution from a single

intersection to a large city network. As such, ImFlow is the tool to

coordinate the traffic lights in a smart and sustainable city.

ImFlow improves Flow, safety & environment

■ ImFlow reduces traffic congestion by accurately matching signal controller

operation to prevailing traffic conditions.

■ ImFlow improves specific routes by prioritising the traffic flows.

■ ImFlow reduces the waiting time for pedestrians and cyclists.

■ ImFlow improves public transport by minimising the delay and stops and

assists in the adherence to schedule (i.e. uniform arrival at passenger

stops).

■ ImFlow can inform pedestrians and cyclists about the remaining waiting

time, reducing red light negation.

■ ImFlow can give conditional priority to vehicles equipped with co-operative

technology, promoting schemes like eco-driving for heavy trucks.

■ ImFlow reduces traffic accidents resulting from impatient driving by

making traffic flows smoother.

■ ImFlow provides emergency vehicles with a quick and safe passage

through the network providing absolute priority where applicable.

■ ImFlow saves energy by making traffic flows smoother, minimising stops

and reducing travel time to destinations, thus allowing savings on fuel.

■ ImFlow reduces traffic pollution (noise and emissions) by reducing the

number of times vehicles have to stop.

■ By moving unavoidable congestion to another part of the road network

ImFlow can influence and optimise the location and the severity of traffic

pollution. By spreading the pollution ImFlow reduces the effect of traffic

pollution on the urban environment.

From policy to flow

ImFlow offers a unique programming concept based on policies

and constraints. The policies and constraints can be directly entered

into the ImFlow system and are used by the ImFlow adaptive

algorithm to optimise the signal timings in real-time. The policies

and constraints are easily understandable by traffic engineers

who need to setup and maintain an ImFlow system where policies

represent the optimisation objectives and the constraints are rules

that must be obeyed in order for the system to function safely. For

example, by defining a policy for a route a traffic engineer can make

the traffic on the route more important than other traffic flows.

Based on this setting ImFlow will minimise stops and delays on the

route to implement the policy. ImFlow tracks all priority vehicles on

the network and predicts their arrival and departure at signalised

intersections and Public Transport stops. A priority vehicle receives

conditional priority based on the configured policies and the current

status of the vehicle.

In control of your traffic flows.

Imtech/Peek believes its products have to contribute to a liveable and sustainable society. Imflow ensures better

traffic flow and less fuel consumption and fits within our policy for corporate social responsibility.