London’s public transport system, TfL, has launched a new, adaptive traffic control solution developed by Siemens Mobility and the University of Southampton, England.

The Sitraffic FUSION is part of London’s new Real Time Optimiser (RTO) system. This aims to completely change the way London’s roads are managed.

At present, traffic lights across London have been managed using information gathered from inductive loops buried in the road. These detect vehicles approaching, a system known as SCOOT. 

The new FUSION system uses richer data sources from a variety of transport modes, including data from connected vehicles and buses.  With flexible, policy-driven adaption techniques, FUSION is designed to improve on the SCOOT philosophy of minimising vehicle delay and stops, by optimising signalised junctions and pedestrian crossings based on all road users’ needs.

Siemens Mobility in collaboration with TfL and supported by the University of Southampton developed the new system. It is designed to allow all modes of transport to be modelled and optimised in a way that responds to the challenges that cities such as London face, such as cleaning up toxic air, making walking and cycling easier and safer and delivering a reliable and sustainable public transport system.

FUSION is set to enter operation in Autumn 2020, and will control a number of ‘living laboratory’ trial sites in London. This will allow Siemens Mobility to test increasingly complex functionality and verify its enhanced performance at existing traffic intersections in a live environment.

Glynn Barton, TfL’s Director of Network Management, said: “We’re working to overhaul the way we manage London’s road network as we tackle some of the biggest issues London faces, such as poor air quality and congestion, ensuring that the capital has a green, healthy and sustainable future. 

“This ground-breaking new adaptive control system, part of our Surface Intelligent Transport Systems programme, has the potential to make our road network more efficient and responsive to people’s needs and movement. We’re very much looking forward to seeing the results of our first trial sites.”

Wilke Reints, Managing Director of Siemens Mobility’s Intelligent Traffic Systems business in the UK, said: “This trial marks a major milestone in the development of this ground-breaking traffic management solution, and I know its progress will be followed closely by industry colleagues around the world.

“Whilst London is using our hosted UTC solution for the first time to provide FUSION with connectivity to the street, the system is designed to work with a range of UTC systems. Although this is just the first manifestation of the new system, we are enormously excited by its potential and the degree of control that it will give transport authorities.

“London is a high-profile showcase for this intelligent traffic solution, with FUSION a great example of how our digital solutions are enabling authorities to make their networks and infrastructure intelligent. Ultimately this will deliver an enhanced experience for road users.”