Skip to main content

TSB funding for intelligent transport solution project

University Campus Milton Keynes is working with Clearview Traffic Group on a 13-month research that could lead to the development of innovative traffic management systems. UCMK, part of the University of Bedfordshire, will receive $195,000 of funding from the UK’s innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board, to carry out the research. The project will see UCMK and the University’s Department of Computer Science and Technology partner with Clearview Traffic Group to explore the feasibility of extendi
May 27, 2014 Read time: 3 mins
University Campus Milton Keynes is working with 557 Clearview Traffic Group on a 13-month research that could lead to the development of innovative traffic management systems.

UCMK, part of the University of Bedfordshire, will receive $195,000 of funding from the UK’s innovation agency, the 2231 Technology Strategy Board, to carry out the research. The project will see UCMK and the University’s Department of Computer Science and Technology partner with Clearview Traffic Group to explore the feasibility of extending vehicle counting data obtained from solar-powered sensors built into roads to include information such as the classification of each vehicle and its speed.

In order to measure accurately the speed of passing vehicles, detectors must be placed some distance apart. While wireless communication negates the need for costly and problematic cables linking the sensors, it is currently impractical to send all data collected from each sensor due to size, power and capacity limitations.  

Clearview’s project will aim to develop a set of novel algorithms for solar-powered in-road sensors capable of gathering and compressing vital vehicle data, enabling it to be sent wirelessly to derive speed and vehicle classification, creating actionable information and informing intelligent traffic management decision-making.

The data will inform intelligent decision-making by transport managers and road network operators in order to minimise congestion and emissions, reduce accidents and lower the costs of installation and maintenance traditionally linked to in-road traffic data collection systems.

Ben Allen, Professor of Computer Science at University Campus Milton Keynes, will lead the University’s contribution to the project.

He said: “We are very excited to be working with Clearview on this collaborative venture, which will also help to put UCMK on the map as the city centre hub for innovation. The University of Bedfordshire’s expertise in algorithms and distributed signal processing will be crucial to the development of this new technology.”

Dr Chris Barnes, Clearview head of Engineering, said: “This project will stimulate innovation at the intersection between connected computing and the use of sensors, providing traffic and transport data that can help decision-making around traffic management.

“The global market for intelligent transport solutions is substantial and rising year on year.  In partnership with the University of Bedfordshire, and with financial support   from the Technology Strategy Board, we aim to bring innovative technology to market as soon as possible.”

Related Content

  • April 30, 2020
    Intelligent powertrains could make cost cuts
    Intelligent vehicle powertrains could be a way of making substantial cuts in operating costs and emissions. David Crawford looks at some far-reaching initiatives in Europe and North America
  • November 13, 2015
    UK researchers take first prize for traffic control system that thinks for itself
    A team of scientists at the University of Huddersfield, led by Dr Mauro Vallati of its Department of Informatics has won a prize for its research into the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as a way of keeping the traffic flowing. The second Autonomic Road Transport Systems competition which took place under the aegis of the long-running EU-backed research framework named European Co-operation in Science and Technology (COST). Dr Vallati formed a team with two fellow researchers in the field whom he h
  • June 28, 2022
    Florida AV project takes new turn
    Yunex and Florida DoT make headway in university driverless shuttle initiative
  • November 13, 2012
    'Conservatism hampering ITS technical evolution'
    Nick Lanigan, managing director of Clearview Traffic, considers the current outlook in the ITS sector from an SME's perspective. Interview with Jason Barnes. When times are hard, businesses can invest or cut. Either way, they need guidance from customers – governments – on where best to concentrate their efforts. Prolonged economic slowdown is currently an issue. A short recession, however sharp, would have left many industry players able to ride the bow-wave of governments’ multi-year spending on strategic