DIRECTED BY TRAFICON

Issue 13, DeceMBer 2007 www.TRAFiCoN.Com

THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF TRAFFIC VIDEO DETECTION

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eDITOrIAl

Fifteen Years of…This year, Traficon has cel-ebrated its 15th anniversary! since 1992, Traficon has been active in the fascinating world of traffic video detec-tion technology. Today our video detection systems are

installed in over 40 countries. More than 40,000 VIP modules are operational day and night to help create safer and smoother traffic world-wide. These facts make Traficon the № 1 global reference in video image processing for traffic analysis.

Mutual RespectI would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all of our partners for their efforts over the years in promoting our video detection solutions. Traficon would never have become that successful without their help. These partnerships – based on mutual respect – have made it possible to serve our customers well and offer them only quality video detection products. We benefit from strong long-term

partnerships with companies such as siemens, Tyco, TraPol, eltodo, IsG and many others. Their enthusiasm, support and cooperation have made Traficon what it is today.

Putting People First!Another important factor in our success is definitely the Traficon crew, who serve our customers with unflagging enthusiasm. I’m very proud to say that some of the people who came on board back in 1992 are still with us today. In an era where ‘the people are a company’s most valuable asset’, their vast technological knowledge and wealth of experience help us build solutions for the future. And our team of nearly 60 people is still growing. One thing is for sure: just like your safety in traffic is our first priority, our employees always come first at Traficon! B

— Jo Versavel, Managing Director

HQ—�When thinking about traffic video detection, or video image processing, what company comes first to mind?

no need to scratch your head… we can only hope it is Traficon. nevertheless, our aim is most definitely to make Traficon ‘top of mind’ for each person in the traffic industry by promoting our high-quality products. By com-municating our message of what makes us different from competition, Traficon has a lot of strong arguments for being the reference. still, in addition to all these efforts, the best possible way to become top of mind is by sharing customer experience. simply by tell-

ing their story, customers spread the Traficon video detection message around the world. Their feedback is objective too, and it helps people who are still in the decision process to sort things out. so, we’re including two articles in this newsletter in which our customers/part-

ners tell their story. We’re also paying special attention in this issue to a solution with great potential for video detection: hard shoulder monitoring. B

cOVer sTOrY

Traficon on top of mindHow Customer Stories Spread the Video Detection Message Around the World

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all of our partners for their efforts over the years in promoting our video detection solutions.”

“The best possible way to become top of mind is by sharing customer experience.”

The evaluation showed that Traficon performed well in all

the test conditions.

I was able to set up 4 cameras in three and a half hours!

It’s easy to program and easy to maintain a VIP module!

Their professional and direct approach was quite impressive.

This intelligent technology lead to a significant reduction in economical

and ecological cost. So it definitely was a cost-effective investment.

It’s easy to visualise how it works. Other technologies make a lot of

claims that are hard to see.

DUBLiN, iReLAND—�Over 200 radar detectors have been replaced by TrafiCam®. We spoke with Mick O’Doherty from Elmore, who told the story behind this decision and why the end customer chose a new type of vehicle presence sensor.

“The radar units that were installed in Dublin met the uK regulations that permitted a power output level of 500 mW, operating in a spectrum above 10.5 GHz. But this caused interference to a wireless broadband service that had been licensed by comreg (commis-sion for communications regulations)”, Mick explains.

“comreg then entered into discussions with the local authorities and the manufacturers of

the radar units. The outcome was that, from now on, all units coming into Ireland will operate in the 10.41 GHz range. so, the Dublin city council decided that it would be better to take out the old units and replace them with video detectors − rather than go to the trouble of removing the radars and sending them back to the uK for re-tuning, or waiting for another new replacement that would satisfy comreg.”

Why did you choose TrafiCam®? What are the benefits of TrafiCam® vs other technologies (radar, inductive loops)?

“Traficam® has many benefits over the standard radar unit, including more channels and less chance of locking up and causing a situation where there is no demand.”

Can you give some advice to people who are planning to install their first TrafiCam® − Tips & Tricks from your experience?

“Yes: find an ideal pole for mounting the Traficam®, because camera position is all-important. Be sure to keep the camera angle well below the skyline and away from direct sunlight and shiny surfaces. Install all interface equipment in the signal controller and run a cAT-5e cable to each detector − putting power supplies and interface units inside the pole-mounted boxes keeps them neat and discrete. One more thing: with the introduction of the new wireless Traficam®, there is a fortune to be saved on junction civil works − particularly if the Traficam® is being used for Q-Detection.”

so we confess… we replaced Dublin’s radar detectors with Traficam®. And we’ll continue to do so! B

On 20 October 2007, German chancellor Angela Merkel opened the new rügen Bridge (rügenbrücke) in stralsund, Germany. This technological masterpiece is one of the long-est bridges in Germany: the bridge itself is 2831 meters long, the connection is 4.1 km (2.5 miles) long, and the centre pylon is 128 meters high.

The new “rügenbrücke” is designed for passen-ger and freight transportation on a european scale. Three lanes, end-to-end wind deflectors, an electronic control system, and a video de-tection system guarantee maximum safety.

not only is the structure a milestone of mod-ern technology, but its architecture also blends in harmoniously with its environment in the interests of ecology and animal welfare.

Traficon is proud to be an active member of this project! B

BAseD On A True sTOrY

Bridging leading-edge Technology and ecology

BAseD On A True sTOrY

Mysterious Disappearance of radars in Dublin… Traficon confesses

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THe InsIDer › DeceMBer 2007

APPEARANCESFAIrs & eXHIBITIOns WOrlDWIDe

February 2008, 6-7 » ATeXPO (Paris, France) stand 33

April 2008, 1-4 » Intertraffic (Amsterdam, The netherlands) stand 01.405

June 2008, 4-6 » 7th european congress & exhibition on ITs Geneva, switzerland stand B14

November 2008, 16-20 » 15th World congress & exhibition on ITs new York, u.s.A. stand 629

SNAP SHOTSneWs FrOM ArOunD THe GlOBe

The Vuosaari Harbour Project »is a prestigious project in Finland. It includes the construction of a harbour along with traffic connec-tions. construction began in January 2003 and is scheduled for completion in 2008. Forty-eight VIP-T detection modules, plus Traficon Management software, have been installed to “tackle” all traffic incidents.

The new renovated Geneva »Tunnels control center (swit-zerland) monitors over 100 AID cameras running on the Geneva ring road.

In Venezia-Mestre (Italy), traffic accidents are »being detected by VIP/I modules. road users can check the status of traffic before travelling via: http://www.autovepd.it/tr/remote/mappe-a.asp

Peter Jamée is Traficon’s new »r&D Director, taking over the position from Mrs. Ilse roelants, who has left the company. We wish them both lots of success in their new job ventures!

seven tunnels in luxembourg are now fully »equipped with Traficon’s AID system. Phases 1, 2, 3 and 4 have been officially approved by the end customer.

With local offices in Beijing, »shanghai and Hong Kong, Traficon is investing heav-ily in the rapidly emerging chinese marketplace. At the ITs World congress in Beijing (china), we detected a lot of interest in intelligent technology for managing traffic in busy cities.

Twenty-nine and still counting: that is the »number of tunnels in France currently being monitored by Traficon VIP modules.

Traficam replaces radars in Dublin (Ireland)

VIP-T modules are operational to detect traffic incidents on and nearby the bridge.

earlier this year, the very first production VIP-T box made its entrance. VIP-T is a single unit, hot-swappable board for vehicle presence and automatic incident detection in tunnels, on bridges, on motorways and at intersections.

What makes it special is that it’s a stand-alone board, combining full functionality with MPeG4 capability. The board provides detec-tion of: vehicle presence, stopped vehicles, inverse direction, flow speed, smoke, slow moving vehicles, pedestrians, objects − in fact, everything you would expect from a fully networked system, but with the flexibility that comes with having a stand-alone unit. B

Traficam® Wireless 868MHz (europe) and Traficam® Wireless 915MHz (u.s.A./canada) are now commercially available.

After tests to secure eTsI/Fcc approval, we now have all the official certificates in hand − allowing us to fully promote this super vehicle presence detection solution. B

For more info: www.traficam.com

PrODucT sPOTlIGHT

Traficam® Goes WirelessPrODucT sPOTlIGHT

stand-alone VIP-T Box

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THe InsIDer › DeceMBer 2007

SoUTH AFRiCA—�City traffic managers are increasingly becoming aware that there is more to life than radar and loops. And once they find out about TrafiCam® − our smart vehicle presence sensor − it’s often a brand-new world! Roger Lewis from Syntell in South Africa gives his honest opinion and shares some of his experience with TrafiCam®.

“Our customers were attracted to the Traficam® solution for a number of reasons, including the flexibility of being able to define detection zones where they are required without damag-ing the road surface. In many situations, heavy volumes of traffic at junctions where the road surface is in poor condition result in ongoing damage to traditional magnet loops. Traficam® is not concerned with the condition of the road surface.”

What are the benefits of TrafiCam® vs other technologies such as radar or inductive loops?

“Probably the simplest answer is: what you see is what you get. It’s easy to set up Traficam®, and it’s easy to visualise how it works. Other technologies make a lot of claims that are hard to see.”

Can you offer some advice to people who are planning to install their first TrafiCam®? Tips & Tricks from your experience?

“Ignore the sky. At first, you think that using such a system will be complicated. so when you first start you worry that you should be doing more to get the system up and run-ning. But after a few installations, you gain confidence that it’s really not complicated at all - just stick to the default settings and let the camera do the work. Don’t look for problems.” B

BAseD On A True sTOrY

What You see Is What You GetBeHInD THe scenes

up to the Topever wonder what your boss is up to on the weekend? Well, our boss is definitely not sitting still. camera images detected Jo Versavel on top of Mont Blanc − at over 4800 metres, one of the highest mountains in europe. Traficon… not only on top of mind, but also on top of France! B

BeHInD THe scenes

Friday the 13thlucky day for Traficon! On Friday the 13th of July, Traficon moved its headquarters to: Vlaming-straat 19 – 8560 Wevelgem – Belgium. The inauguration of the new building coincided with the company’s 15th anniversary.

Glamour and Glitter…It all started in an appropriately glamorous way. The red carpet was rolled out. And then, Managing Director Jo Versavel, together with the Board of Directors, arrived in a regulation Hummer limousine. Mr. Versavel had to quickly don his sunglasses in the glare of the spotlights, flashbulbs and diamond jewellery. security was tight: bodyguards kept an eye on public safety; wireless Traficams kept an eye on traffic.

Before officially opening the new building, Mr. Versavel looked back briefly at the road Traficon has taken so far and highlighted the challenges that need to be met to remain successful in the 21st century.

Sun and Champagne...next, Mr. Versavel cut the ribbon − which wrapped right around the building! − making the opening official. Then, a group of Belgian customers, suppliers, staff, press and dignitar-ies were treated to tours of the new facility. The champagne and sunny weather at the reception added to the celebration atmosphere and reminded you of cannes.

All in all, the celebrations matched the quality of Traficon service– an excellent inauguration for a first-class company. Another memorable day in the history of Traficon… B

Jo Versavel (middle) on top of the Mont Blanc

Special guests arriving at the new Traficon offices in Belgium

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As traffic congestion increasingly affects our economy, quality of life and environment, highway agencies need to find solutions. Simply building new roads will not cut congestion. A solution that is being viewed as an efficient, quick and reasonably priced way to significantly improve the congestion problem is using the hard shoulder as a traf-fic lane during peak hours. This reduces road accidents, travel time and pollution.

But, in order to implement this solution, a monitoring system capable of detecting obstructions and incidents − breakdowns, reversing vehicles, pedestrians and debris − must be put in place. Operators in the regional control centre have to be 100% sure that the hard shoulder is clear of obstructions. And this is where Traficon comes in − with its field-proven outdoor Automatic Incident Detection (AID) system!

Municipalities are also launch-ing a variety of campaigns to promote public transport and convince people to leave their car at home and take the bus. The

rationale is twofold: using public transport leads to less traffic, and it’s good for nature. However, up to now, none of these campaigns has had much impact. People continue to pre-fer to go to work in their car. The main problem here is that they don’t see ‘direct’ benefits from using public transport. But what if you could get to work faster by taking the bus instead of the car? In Grenoble (France), a new solution is now being tested: using the hard shoulder as a privileged lane for public transport. Busses simply avoid traffic queues by driving on the hard shoulder − significantly improving their punctuality and reliability. Will this system be able to change the public’s mind-set and lead to greater use of public transport? We’re eager to see…

Quick alerts

The aim is to give priority to certain road users during prescribed hours: in other words, the emergency lane must be kept clear for busses and rush-hour traffic. To accomplish this, ccTV cameras are installed to enable remote moni-toring. Then, the AID system assists operators in detecting obstructions by continuously ana-lysing the camera pictures looking for objects/vehicles that stop in the detection zones. The AID system alerts operators to any event that it determines warrants further manual checking. The system also allows the police to warn all following busses that there is an obstruction ahead, and to dispatch rescue services to clear the lane expeditiously.

How it works

Depending on the stretch of road that needs to be monitored, the AID system comprises a number of static cameras, each typically 12 m above the bus lane. each camera is capable of detecting stopped vehicles over a distance of approximately 180 m (the actual camera separation varies due to bridges and curves obscuring the hard shoulder). Video is fed over the existing fibre network to the control room, where video processing and alarm generation take place.

Saving time … and lives

The AID system monitors each camera 24/7, supplementing the operator’s eye to detect any abnormal situation in traffic. This bus-lane safety system is capable of detecting stopped vehicles within 10 seconds of their occurrence. Based on the pre- and post-event images that are captured, an operator can determine the nature of the incident and enable a timely and appropriate response. By quickly alerting the controlling authority, AID can help manage traffic, prevent secondary accidents, and save lives.

The AID hard shoulder system has been in-stalled on the A73 in Germany, and it is being thoroughly tested and evaluated as we speak. A similar system for bus lane monitoring is already operational in Belfast (Ireland). To be continued! B

THe InsIDer › DeceMBer 2007

THE TRAFICON STUDIOSHOW TO reAcH us WOrlDWIDe

Traficon NV (HQ) Vlamingstraat 19 b-8560 Wevelgem, Belgium

Tel.: +32 (0)56 37 22 00 Fax: +32 (0)56 37 21 96 e-mail: traficon@traficon.com

Traficon USA LLC 14520 Avion Parkway, suite 305 chantilly, Virginia 20151, u.s.A.

Tel.: +1 (703) 961 9617 Fax: +1 (703) 961 9606 e-mail: traficon@traficonusa.com

Traficon Hong Kong LTD unit A, 11/D Tak cheung Building 22-24 Wing lok street Hong Kong s.A.r., P.r. china

Tel.: +852 2987 8177 Fax: +852 2987 9446 e-mail: traficon@traficonasia.com

Traficon Beijing Jianguomenwai Diplomatic residence compound 9-1-33 chaoyang District Beijing 100600, P. r. china

Tel.: +86 10 5174 0255 Fax: +86 10 8532 5152 e-mail: traficon@traficonasia.com

Traficon Shangai units c60 - c66 11/F shanghai Mart 2299 Yanan road West shanghai 200336, P.r. china

Tel.: +86 21 6236 0700 ext118 Fax: +86 21 6236 0706 e-mail: traficon@traficonasia.com

Traficon France SARL 16 rue louis Jacques Thénard F-71100 chalon-sur-saône, France

Tel.: +33 686 552 725 Fax: +33 385 965 498 e-mail: traficon@traficonfrance.com

Traficon Germany lohauserstraße 64 D-49453 rehden, Germany

Tel.: +49 (0) 5446-20 65 32 Fax: +49 (0) 5446-20 65 34 e-mail: traficon@traficon.com

TRAFICON : “THE INSIDER - ISSUE 13” k JO VERSAVEL l STIJN VANDEBUERIE a MICK O’DOHERTY STIJN VANDEBUERIE ROGER LEWIS e STEVE COLLINS g ROBIN COLLAERT HELMERT DECAVELE JONAH SAMYN £ ROGER LEWIS PETER JAMÉE JO VERSAVEL w GUSTAV

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Bus lane monitoring