ANPR and Traffic Management

The Requirement

In March 2009, our customer, a large, Southern based, Council was awarded £4.55 million of Community Infrastructure Funding from the Homes and Communities Agency to implement an Urban traffic management centre (UTMC) scheme. This is an important element of their Transport Strategy, providing better traffic management and monitoring capabilities across the town which will benefit residents and visitors.  The scheme ensures that growth will be accommodated and will help to deal with congestion.

The information collected is provided to the general public through the web, mobile phones, public information screens and variable message signs, so journeys can be planned using up to date information.

Reliable communications are key to the implementation of a project of this nature.  A traditional implementation will use leased lines to every network element, with a huge recurring cost.  Aerelink had a solution to remove these costs.

The Solution

Aerelink used the councils own buildings to provide a wireless Point to Multipoint network to deliver IP communications into key areas around the town.  This was delivered to 10 metre lighting columns.  Once at street level, a MESH based system was deployed around these areas, installed on lampposts, with low cost subscriber units delivering IP connectivity for the ANPR devices, such as cameras, road sensors and pedestrian crossing operating hardware installed on the street furniture and in roadside cabinets.

The Benefits

The wireless network removes ongoing monthly costs, saving the Council a huge amount in ongoing, annual rental costs.  As a bonus, the Council has full ownership and control of the network, allowing other applications to be run over the same infrastructure.  Future expansion is planned to allow client devices within council vehicles to show locations when in range of the MESH system and also to allow communications from mobile devices carried by Council employees.