Modules

This section provides a brief outline of the functions and requirements of the components of the PRIME System Prototype as defined by the ITS Architecture in D4.1 Parts 1 and 2 and a description of how the components have been deployed at the various test sites. The PRIME generic prototype consists of the following components:

Fig 1: PRIME Essential Services

As the simplified example in Figure 1 shows, apart from item 5, these components are derived from the Essential Services defined in the PRIME ITS Architecture. This last item in the list is not fully integrated in the PRIME prototype as it works at a lower level to the rest of the prototype, providing an additional versatility to the hardware.

Each component supports one or more of the PRIME Algorithms such as Persaud, Neural Networks and U06 for ID and the UPC and TNO models for EIP. The components have been tested both separately and together at the various test sites. Together these components comprise the PRIME system to provide real-time services for detecting and estimating the probability of road traffic incidents, differentiating between false alarms and real incidents and determining an appropriate response.

The services provided by these components are split between two product groups which are the PDV/Sys, covering the analysis and verification of incoming incident data, and the PRIME/Sys which includes integrated strategy response. These products have been deployed and tested at each site according to local policy requirements so, for example, incidents detected on-line at the Southampton and Winchester sites must be verified manually by the operator. Incident verification at the Attiki Odos site can be verified using a combination of the rules defined in the PRIME ITS Architecture.

The Incident Detection Component acquires incident data from existing and anticipated traffic surveillance technologies. The probability of an incident occurring at a point in the road network will be estimated based on the prevailing traffic and weather conditions and the geometry of the road network.

The System can be configured to verify incidents automatically based on corroborating evidence from alternative sources and the reliability of the source of the incoming incident data. The services are rule based and configurable to provide the flexibility required to comply with variations in policy between regions and countries.

PRIME/Sys provides Integrated Incident Management according to the verified incident information provided by the components in PDV/Sys. The deployment of containment and mitigation strategies for incidents will be automatic or manual depending on the configuration of the system. It is anticipated that over a period of time operators will be able to optimise the system to account for the reliability of the various types of road-side monitoring equipment used, the road network topology and the patterns of traffic demand and driver culture for a specific installation.