Skip to main content

Next generation traffic management has CHARM

A collaboration between Highways England (formerly Highways Agency) and the Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) to develop an integrated advanced traffic management system (ATMS) for the UK and Dutch highways is in the process of finalising the software platform requirements. The Common Highways Agency Rijkswaterstaat Model (CHARM) program aims to move towards an open, modular ATMS architecture that is integrated, flexible and scalable. Highways England and RWS have collaborated in order to develop requirements for a
August 20, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
A collaboration between 8101 Highways England (formerly 503 Highways Agency) and the 4767 Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) to develop an integrated advanced traffic management system (ATMS) for the UK and Dutch highways is in the process of finalising the software platform requirements.

The Common Highways Agency Rijkswaterstaat Model (CHARM) program aims to move towards an open, modular ATMS architecture that is integrated, flexible and scalable. Highways England and RWS have collaborated in order to develop requirements for a new generation of traffic management systems that will be jointly procured to support the operational processes of traffic management centres.

Austrian company Kapsch TrafficCom has been awarded a contract by the Rijkswaterstaat and has been advised of Highways England’s intention to award a contract to supply its advanced traffic management system DYNAC as part of the CHARM collaborative program.

In a contract valued at around US$66.7 million, Kapsch will deliver and install DYNAC in two traffic management centres, one in England and one in the Netherlands, with the instalment set to be completed within 26 months of the start date. Following implementation in the first traffic management centres, DYNAC will be installed by a third party in all remaining traffic management centres. The contract also includes provision of maintenance support services for a period of up to 13 years.

The proposed modular architecture would allow Highways England and Rijkswaterstaat to improve operational efficiency by using contemporary traffic management systems to cater for developments in traffic management within the agencies. It is expected that the majority of the existing applications will be replaced.

The CHARM programme plans deliver the first traffic management centres in 2016 and to complete the implementations in 2018.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Include ITS in policy decisions from the start, not as an afterthought
    February 1, 2012
    DG TREN's Fotis Karamitsos, on why the European Commission's new ITS Action Plan is looking to the past for future direction. The European Commission's (EC's) new Action Plan for the Deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in Europe, which was announced as 2008 drew to a close, intends that transport and travel become 'cleaner; more efficient, including energy efficient; and safer and more secure'. At first sight, that wording might be interpreted as marking a significant policy shift within Europe, wit
  • Effortless mobility for everyone
    September 10, 2021
    To improve the way we move people around, a lot of stakeholders are going to need to start cooperating and aligning, suggests Edwin van den Belt, software architect at Dat.mobility
  • Joining the dots: four ways to help cities make the connection
    May 18, 2018
    Smoothing the path to connected transportation systems in urban areas all round the world takes a lot of planning: Cisco’s Kyle Connor lays out the four key areas on which he thinks cities should focus. Forward-thinking cities around the world are exploring innovative, new ways to leverage the Internet of Things (IoT) and related technologies to create more connected and efficient transportation systems. Through greater digitisation and connectivity, cities can optimise public transit routes, reduce
  • Accelerating Smart Mobility with Beter Benutten ITS
    March 21, 2016
    The Netherlands’ Beter Benutten programme is focused on ITS deployment and smart mobility. Beter Benutten (Optimising Use) is a programme run by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment focused on ITS deployment and smart mobility that actively encourages cooperation between the private sector, users and the government. The Netherlands has clear ambitions to foster innovation, strengthen its competitive position and be a frontrunner in the area of cooperative ITS, self-driving cars and smart