AfriGIS was appointed by the City of Cape Town for the Network Performance Monitoring and Link Volume modules of ATraMS (Advanced Transport Monitoring System).

Usually, the efforts associated with transport data capturing were un-coordinated, often leading to a duplication of work, loss of quality, inaccessibility of information and as a result inadequate and incomplete monitoring of transport measures of effectiveness. An integrated system was therefore required to facilitate capturing and storage of transport data, but also to ensure availability and accessibility of the data. Developed as an integrated system, the modules developed by AfriGIS had to link and complement the other modules of ATraMS.

An integrated Transport/Traffic web-based system, with Oracle as foundation, was developed that facilitates data capturing (manual and through CE applications), data upload and verification (manual and electronic verification), monitoring and mapping of service interruptions and extensive reporting on various traffic performance indicators, ie AADT, journey time, delay/queue, saturation flow, LOS, etc.

TransCAD was used as the ATraMS Web server primarily due to the traffic and transportation related functionalities provided in TransCAD. TransCAD is an integrated GIS and transportation analysis tool and was therefore the perfect GIS web server for the Network Performance and Link Volume modules.

For data capturing, AfriGIS develop software for CE devices to replicate and replace the existing paper based forms. Using these devices for the surveys would entail less/no time required for generating data sheets as everything is electronically generated, more accurate data, easy data storage, data being in a standard format and easy spatial representation. Furthermore, surveys such as saturation flow measurements that were very rarely done in the past, are now executed from a single device.

The template for the survey is created on the website, including type of survey, the geographical location, person responsible, verifier, peak description, survey date, survey time, approach or direction and movement and a map of the area. The template is downloaded from the website onto the CE device for use in the field. On completion of the survey, the captured information is uploaded onto the website and verified. For link volumes, AfriGIS developed middleware between the Automatic Traffic Counter and ATraMS systems that would enable effective data transfer between these systems. Data is uploaded automatically at 15 minute intervals, although manually uploading data is also possible. ATraMS provides reporting functionality for intersections and arterials/freeways in the form of graphs, maps, tables, GIS outputs and intersection diagrams.

ATraMS is further used to manage service interruptions (eg accidents). Users can add new service interruptions, edit existing ones and compare historical interruptions. These are presented as static or flickering icons on the map.

ATraMS has established a solid platform from where the ITS industry can expand in future. Wireless information transfer and route optimisation on realtime traffic situations are merely two of numerous possibilities that can become a reality in future.

Phase 2 of the ATraMS development is now underway and this will focus on capturing intersection, arterial and freeway geometrics as well as on reporting of information on a network wide level.

AfriGIS

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