Traffic Scotland

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Traffic Scotland are an organisation that enable the collection and distribution of real-time traffic information occurring across the Scottish trunk road network. As described by the Department for Transport, Traffic Scotland work closely with Transport Scotland to provide road users with information about road conditions to ensure that the best use is made of the existing Scottish trunk road network and that the safety and efficiency of the network is maintained[1]. Transport Scotland state that through providing drivers with real-time traffic information they are provided with advance warning of these incidents helping to avoid congestion, extended journey times and further incidents[2].

Contents

[edit] Traffic Scotland Website

The Traffic Scotland[3] site is a traffic information website that provides real-time data of traffic conditions across the Scottish trunk road network. The Scottish government outline within their corporate plan for 2007-07 that through the provision of real-time traffic data drivers in Scotland will be able to check travel conditions prior to making their journey and be able to make an informed decision when planning their route[4].

The website provides details of real-time incidents, queues, roadworks, events and congestion as well as planned roadworks and events. In addition to the real-time traffic information Traffic Scotland also offers current traffic headlines, Live-Eye-View camera images, variable message sign locations and settings, details of park and ride facilities across Scotland and weather conditions for regions and roads[5].

[edit] Interactive Mapping Component

The Traffic Scotland website uses an interactive mapping component for displaying data allowing users to navigate the map, turn data layers on and off and view further data attributes. The map component features a range of different zoom levels that can also be used to view traffic data at different scales. The website offers users a number of data layers that they can toggle on and off for display on the interactive map. The data layers available are current incidents, roadworks, queues, planned roadworks, planned events, park and ride facilities, variable message signs and congestion. All of the data layers are displayed as points on the map except for the congestion layer which is displayed in a polygon format with sections couloured by congestion severity.

[edit] Live-Eye-Views

The Traffic Scotland website also provides real-time camera images, called Live-Eye-Views (LEVs), for sections of the Scottish road network via its website. The number of cameras on the site has recently been increased with greater coverage now of trunk roads in the North of the country. The main aim of providing LEV images is most likely to allow drivers to check travel and weather conditions before they travel allowing them to make an informed decision on their journey. At present there are some third party users of the Traffic Scotland LEV images, including the BBC that display the images as part of their travel section[6]. Although not being streaming video the Live-Eye-Views can be automatically 'played' as part of an 'LEV route' on the LEV section of the website.

Traffic Scotland homepage

Traffic Scotland Interactive Mapping Component

Traffic Scotland Live-Eye-Views

[edit] Freight Scotland Website

Traffic Scotland are also responsible for the Freight Scotland website[7]. Freight Scotland is a real-time traffic information website aimed at logistics operators and HGV drivers operating in Scotland. The site provides the same functionality as the Traffic Scotland website but with the additional details of lorry parking sites, ports, airports, freight railheads and industrial estates across Scotland, as well as providing a large number of links to other freight related websites.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.dft.gov.uk/transportdirect/about/suppliers, Department for Transport Data Suppliers
  2. ^ http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/defaultpage1221cde0.aspx?pageID=112, Transport Scotland: Keeping Traffic Moving article
  3. ^ http://www.trafficscotland.org, Traffic Scotland website
  4. ^ http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/47121/0020950.pdf, Transport Scotland Corporate Plan 2006-2008
  5. ^ http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/defaultpage1221cde0.aspx?pageID=112, Transport Scotland: Keeping Traffic Moving article
  6. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/whereilive/travelscotland/home/webcams/index_thumbnails.shtml, Live-Eye-Views used by the BBC
  7. ^ http://www.freightscotland.org, Freight Scotland website