Policy contribution
Contribution to key objectives |
Objective |
SCOOT |
UTOPIA |
UTMS |
SCATS |
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- |
- |
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- |
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- |
- |
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Contribution to alleviation
of key problems |
Problem |
SCOOT |
UTOPIA |
UTMS |
SCATS |
Congestion-related delay |
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Congestion-related unreliability |
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Community severance |
- |
- |
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Visual intrusion |
- |
- |
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Lack of amenity |
- |
- |
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Global warming |
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Local air pollution |
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Noise |
- |
- |
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Reduction of green space |
- |
- |
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Damage to environmentally sensitive sites |
- |
- |
|
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Poor accessibility for those without
a car and those with mobility impairments |
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Disproportionate disadvantaging of particular
social or geographic groups |
- |
- |
|
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Number, severity and risk of accidents
|
|
- |
|
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Suppression of the potential for economic
activity in the area |
- |
- |
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Appropriate contexts
UTC systems are typically implemented in dense urban road networks area
over which traffic conditions are monitored by loop detectors and controlled
by traffic signals. However the system is also suitable for small networks.
It is particularly effective where traffic flows are unpredictable e.g.
random changes in traffic patterns such as often occur in popular tourist
areas.
When junctions are some distance apart (more than about 1 km) isolated
junction control using a system such as MOVA may be more appropriate.
Other site-specific factors would also influence the decision on method
of control. MOVA (Microprocessor Vehicle Actuation) is a modern microprocessor
technology for isolated intersections to optimise signal timings.
Appropriate area-types |
Area-types |
Suitability |
City centre |
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Dense inner suburb |
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Medium density suburb |
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Less dense outer suburb |
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District centre |
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Corridor |
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Small town |
- |
Tourist town |
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Adverse side-effects
If congestion is reduced sufficiently to allow increased speed, risk
of accidents will increase. There are no specific safety features unique
to most UTC systems. However, longer inter-greens for pedestrians will
be effective for safety, so that pedestrian facilities can be required.
In principle information from pedestrian detectors could be included in
the optimisation process for traffic responsive systems.
Text edited at the Institute for Transport Studies,
University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
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