The Department for Transport and the Highways Agency are running an SBRI competition to explore the use of synthetic environments applied to transport, in this case, modelling and managing complex traffic situations on motorways.
As traffic volumes continue to rise over the longer term, the UK is faced with the challenge of managing the road network more effectively. Investing in new infrastructure is often difficult to introduce because of economic, environmental or social reasons. Improving the use of the current network through better management can also deliver more sustainable benefits. In the trial of Active Traffic Management (ATM) on the M42, the "managed motorway" approach has demonstrated how, at peak times, opening up the hard shoulder and introducing variable speed limits delivers reduced congestion, better journey times and improved local air quality.
Currently only certain elements of this complex system can be modelled. Consequently, DfT and HA are seeking to test new modelling and visualisation techniques that can be applied in this context and used to understand how human behaviour and the physical infrastructure interact, so that better decisions can be made in the management of the road network. There is a large amount of data available to create synthetic models and this will be made available to potential companies.
Full details of the competition background, challenge and scope are available in the briefing document.
This competition is open to all companies, including those not currently engaged in the transport sector. There are two stages to the process - Registration and Application.
Registration:
Registration was required for the application process for this competition. Registration closed at 12.00 noon on Friday 7 August, 2009. No registrations will be accepted after this time.
After this date, all registered companies will be e-mailed an application form (a sample of which is available here) and the supporting documentation for applying.
This includes;
Application:
Applications can only be made using the form received by e-mail from the Department for Transport.
Applications must be sent to the Department for Transport by Friday 11 September, 2009. The competition closes on this date and applications received after this date will not be considered.