PEDESTRIAN
TARGET
New mobile
dummy for
developing collision
avoidance systems
TRLnews
IN THIS ISSUE...
INNOVATION IN
MOZAMBIQUE
HELMET LOSS
Examining the
factors associated
with helmet loss
Improving year
round access for
local communities
TRL AT THE ITS WORLD CONGRESS
Creating
the future of
transport
TRL will be at the 2012 ITS World Congress, Vienna.
Exhibiting as part of the ITS-UK stand, visitors will be
able to see demonstrations of the latest TRL Software
releases, and listen to TRL experts during some of the
many conference sessions.
See page 3
OCTOBER 2012
www.trl.co.uk
2 TRLnews
Mobile pedestrian
target available for
collision avoidance
testing at ADVANCE
It is a fact that today when a new car is
involved in a collision, the occupants are
better protected than ever before as a
result of better design practices and
advances in technology. Primary safety
systems, such as anti-lock braking and
electronic stability control, have also
aided the driver’s response to
emergency situations. These systems
are fitted as standard within many
production cars, and have contributed
substantially to reducing the number of
people killed and injured on the roads
during the last decade.
As the level of technology available to car
manufacturers has increased, they are building
more sophistication into their vehicles.
Automatic braking systems, for example, use a
combination of cameras and radar detection to
warn the driver of a potential hazard and, if
necessary, apply the brakes before hitting it.
This technology may prevent a collision from
occurring, or at least can reduce the severity by
lowering the speed of the vehicle before
impact. One such potential hazard is a
pedestrian in the road. Given their vulnerability
in the event of collision with a vehicle, and the
importance of walking as a healthy, sustainable
mode of travel, the avoidance of pedestrian
collisions represents a particularly important
goal in road safety.
In order to assist manufacturers in developing
their pedestrian detection systems and to
standardise the assessment of their
performance, it is necessary to have a facility
that presents a pedestrian target to the system
without risk to life or limb. This target must, in
as many aspects as possible, provide the same
signature to the system’s sensors as a real
pedestrian and it must also be able to mimic
a pedestrian’s movements.
TRL has drawn on its expertise in accidentology
and biomechanics to develop a mobile platform
and a series of dummies that can be carried by
the platform in pedestrian avoidance tests.
Currently, three dummy sizes have been
created, representing different risk groups for
pedestrian collisions: a 50th percentile male,
50th percentile female (this size is also
representative of a teenager) and a 6 year old
child. Uniquely to the TRL design, all of these
dummies have the capability for articulated leg
movement to provide a more realistic
representation of a walking pedestrian than
a static dummy.
The low profile, mobile platform is self-propelled
and has been designed to survive being runover by a vehicle travelling at speeds up to 50
kph without causing significant damage to the
vehicle or the base. The lightweight dummies
break away in the event of a collision and can be
re-attached to continue testing.
Amongst the features that, in addition to the
moving leg, make this dummy unique is the
appearance of an approximate human shape
from all angles. This is essential because the
mobile platform can be user programmed to
move at varying speeds along a complicated
path and therefore, the side of the dummy
presented to the
system being tested
can change as the
dummy traverses the
path. This flexibility
allows a wide range
of collision scenarios
to be tested, and
provides for a
high degree of
repeatability
between tests.
The system can be used at innovITS ADVANCE,
a purpose built test facility at the MIRA site near
Nuneaton. This facility also has the benefit of a
high-precision video triangulation system,
which can provide sophisticated diagnostic
information to users by tracking the trajectories
of the pedestrian dummy target and the vehicle
under test during each scenario.
TRL’s knowledge of real collisions, including
accident risk factors and pattern of movement
leading up to the event, has influenced the
functionality designed into both the mobile
platform and the dummies. The
programmability of the mobile base movement
and a selection of dummy sizes mean that
testing can incorporate a range of realistic
collision scenarios. This ability coupled to the
repeatability of the TRL system makes it suited
to product development and also for
comparative performance assessment of
pedestrian collision avoidance systems.
CONTACT:
Helen Viner
+44 (0)1344 770387
[email protected]
TRLnews 3
TRL AT THE ITS
WORLD CONGRESS
TRL will be at this year’s ITS World Congress, which takes
place in Vienna between 22nd and 26th October, both as an
exhibitor as part of the ITS-UK Stand and as a presenter.
Traditionally known for its innovative
transport research, TRL’s focus at the World
Congress will be on three key areas:
Adaptive Traffic Control and exciting new
software releases; our expertise in
managed motorways and cooperative
systems and finally, our growing presence
and work across the EU. This is exemplified
by TRL taking the premier position on the
EU Safety Framework and our in-depth
knowledge of vehicle road charging, which
sees a team currently working on a
European lorry road charging scheme.
Visitors to the stand will be able to see
demonstrations of all the latest TRL
Software releases including TRANSYT
Online, ARCADY8, Sign Design Pro and
Line Design Pro.
During the Congress, Chief Scientist and
Research Director Alan Stevens will be
leading in one of two IBEC organised
Special Interest Sessions (SIS). The first is on
Adaptive Real Time Traffic Control (ART)
which will hear from practitioners about
technology and policy developments. The
session will explore the extent to which the
benefits of using ART can be measured and
realised. Attendees will also hear from
Gavin Jackman, TRL’s Head of Traffic and
Software. (SIS52 - 25th October).
Alan will also be taking part in another
Session which looks at the development
of the workforce in the 21st century, the
need to attract and retain the best ITS
professionals and the part ITS education
and training plays in this. Delegates will
learn of the latest thinking and contribute
to formulating an international strategy.
(SIS59 – 25th October).
Keeping an eye on the ORN
For all the media worries immediately prior to the Games,
we can now reflect on a job well done with security and
transport planning proving its worth and not forgetting,
of course, our truly deserving medal winners and the
amazing support from the volunteers and crowds alike.
TRL, as Foundation Members of ITS UK, read with interest
that their head office overlooked one of the now famous
Transport for London Games Lanes (Olympic Route
Network – ORN) between central London and the
Stratford Olympic Park and Excel Olympic venues.
To help ITS UK share their experiences at home and
abroad as it played out before them, we helped set up
their very own independent webcam. As a result, ITS UK
were able to broadcast to interested parties around the
world and to record traffic moving towards the Olympic
Stadium. To find out what it captured and their personal
travel experiences, visit the blog at
www.itsuk.org.uk/blogs/latestblogs
The second IBEC SIS will look at the issue of
the impact of social media on sustainable
travel choices. Here, Rebecca Hutchins,
Psychologist will be discussing her work on
the impact of social networking sites as a
means to encourage sustainable mobility.
(SIS24 – 24th October) The topic will also
be covered separately at a session devoted
to environmental impact reduction (TS007
– 23rd October).
TRL is also involved in a paper which
describes the development of an end-toend performance testing capability for
the Pan-European eCall system and the
use of the innovITS ADVANCE track.
(TS025 – 23rd October).
TRL has extensive experience in the
understanding, development and
trialling of a broad range of ITS systems
and processes both in the UK and
internationally.
To find out
more, come
and talk to the
TRL experts on
Stand D71.
Keeping London Moving
SCOOT is playing a major
role in reducing traffic
delays throughout the UK,
especially in London, where
it is fundamental in helping
to improve Journey Time
Reliability (JTR). London
now boasts close to 50%
coverage under SCOOT control for its 6000 signalised
intersections and this proportion is rising all the time.
This is believed to be the largest deployment of
Adaptive Traffic Control Systems in the world.
A recent development, referenced as SCOOT GOLD
(Games Operation Led Development), is supporting
London’s on-going corridor management program
and was essential to the management of signal
timings on the Olympic Route Network (ORN) for the
2012 games. Key to the ORN implementation was
the retiming of 1300
traffic signals which was
predominantly managed
through London’s SCOOT
system.
4 TRLnews
Benchmarking European
railway safety authorities
A safe, harmonised railway network is
essential to the development and prosperity
of the European Union. In recent years,
regulatory change in Europe requires each
Member State with a railway to establish its
own ‘National Safety Authority’ (NSA). Each
NSA has responsibility for certifying the Safety
Management Systems of the rail operators
and infrastructure managers that run the
railway within the Member State. The
European Railway Agency (ERA) is the focal
point for NSAs and has a specialised
responsibility for developing and harmonising
the core safety certification and supervision
processes that form part of the safety
regulatory framework, and promoting this
harmonised approach throughout Europe.
ERA recently commissioned TRL to run a Europe-wide
study to benchmark the way in which NSAs supervise
and enforce European rail regulations. This was
prompted by a new set of regulatory principles to
govern the supervision activities of NSAs to ensure they
are: proportionate; consistent; targeted; cooperative and
transparent; and that NSAs prioritise their resources and
remain accountable for their decisions.
Our approach to the study was to carry out an initial
online survey of all NSAs to gather data that could be
used for benchmarking. The survey was a resounding
success, achieving a very high response rate (22 out of
25 NSAs responded) – partly due to our offer to
translate the survey into other languages as required.
Subsequently, the survey data were used to identify 11
NSAs that represented a range of supervision and
enforcement practices. We then interviewed these
NSAs by telephone or in person (sometimes with the
assistance of an interpreter) to collect more detailed
information on their supervision practices.
The overall objective of the study was to develop the
findings into good practice guidance that ERA and
NSAs can use to ensure that future supervision of the
rail network is consistent and effective. To ensure that
the guidance was not restricted to a railway
perspective only, we conducted a parallel desktop
review of competent authorities for occupational safety
and health, and civil aviation. Our systematic review of
the websites and online documentation of these
authorities, together with targeted interviews, helped
us to identify alternative approaches to supervision and
enforcement that could benefit the rail sector.
A systematic rating system was applied so that all the
examples of supervision and enforcement practices
could be ranked according to whether they
represented the baseline, or higher levels of good
practice. Excellent collaboration between TRL and ERA
enabled our team to participate in a series of
workshops and plenary meetings with NSA
representatives. Through this interaction, we were able
to engage NSAs with the study and ensure that our
good practice guidance was relevant and received
their approval. ERA is now in the process of
implementing the good practice guidance together
with NSAs.
By setting the benchmark and providing good practice
guidance in this area, TRL’s work will help to keep on
track the development of an open, safe and
harmonised European rail market.
CONTACT:
Simon Tong
+44 (0)1344 770378
[email protected]
TRL publications go free!
At the core of all our work is the knowledge we
create. At TRL we are keen to increase the
visibility and availability of TRL’s published work,
and to bring our research to people with as few
barriers as possible.
From 1st December 2012 all TRL published
reports will be free to download from the TRL
website. This includes all those reports in our
historical series collections. The reports will only
be available in electronic PDF format (hard-copies
will no longer be available).
There is a widespread trend for publications and
reports of all kinds to be freely available on the
internet, and this trend is likely to accelerate in
the coming years. This also reflects the increasing
number of requests from our clients that their
reports are freely available for researchers.
TRLnews 5
EVALUATING STATION TRAVEL PLANS
As the demand for rail travel grows, the
need for sustainable access to railway
stations becomes ever more important.
In 2008, the Association of Train
Operating Companies (ATOC) and RSSB
established a pilot programme of 24
Station Travel Plans (STPs) covering 31
stations. In 2011, TRL and The Railway
Consultancy were commissioned to carry
out an evaluation study to determine the
effectiveness of the STP pilot programme
and develop recommendations for the
rail industry.
which specific measures were successful, the use
of STPs in the ‘end-to-end’ journey and
guidelines and recommendations for future
implementation.
Overall, the study concluded that the pilot
schemes had been a success, delivering some
clear benefits for passengers. Analysis of local
data provided good evidence of increased use
of sustainable modes of transport at many
stations, contributing towards a reduction in
CO2.
• Enhanced pedestrian and cycle routes
• Improvements to bus services and facilities
• More and better cycle facilities at stations
• Improved information for passengers
e.g. real-time bus screens at stations
• Marketing and communications campaigns
to raise awareness
• Car sharing
The pilots also demonstrated that STPs can be
an effective tool for helping TOCs and local
authorities to deliver sustainable transport
measures that also improve station access.
They can act as ‘the glue that brings initiatives
together’ – helping to co-ordinate and maximise
the benefits of a number of programmes, as
well as delivering benefits in their own right.
Stakeholders reported that participation had
improved communication between them,
enabling better coordination of activities and
improved cost effectiveness.
The evaluation examined modal shift of
passengers, station patronage, CO2 reduction
and customer satisfaction. It also considered
Although the pilot schemes were successful, TRL
concluded that important lessons had to be
learnt in relation to target setting for future STPs.
Some of the initiatives implemented as part
of the pilot programme included:
Targets need to focus on specific, identified local
issues and be easily monitored, ideally using data
that is already available or can be easily
obtained, rather than relying on sometimes
unreliable ‘before and after’ passenger surveys.
Due to the lack of robust data available for this
particular project, TRL developed a new
assessment methodology for evaluating the
impact of the initiatives implemented – a
methodology that will be very useful for future
exercises of this nature.
TRL is now working with RSSB and ATOC to
update the ATOC guidance on implementing
STPs to reflect the lessons learned from this
study.
Copies of the report “Evaluation of pilot station
travel plans” (research project number T918)
are available from the RSSB website
www.rssb.co.uk.
CONTACT:
Marcus Jones
+44 1344 770552
[email protected]
TRL appoints new Director for the Middle East
Akin Adamson joins TRL as the new Regional Director for the Middle
East. He brings with him extensive advisory and research experience
across multiple industries including Transportation, ICT and Energy.
Akin’s primary objective will be to grow the work TRL has already
established in the Middle East, particularly in Qatar, Abu Dhabi and
Oman. He is looking forward to strengthening existing relationships
and establishing new ones. “My role will be an exciting mix of
operational management and business development and my top
priority is getting to know key people in the Middle East – both
clients and members of staff we have working in the region.”
Prior to joining TRL, Akin was a Global Head of Consulting at Nokia
Siemens Networks and a Director at Telstra in Australia. Akin is
originally from the UK but is now based in Doha, Qatar with his family.
He was educated at The London School of Economics, London
Business School and the University of Michigan, USA.
CONTACT:
Akin Adamson
+974 4491 4474
[email protected]
6 TRLnews
EUROPEAN TRANSPORT
CONFERENCE
The 40th European Transport Conference took place in Glasgow earlier this month. The
Conference forms the focus of activities for the Association of European Transport and is a key
event for practitioners and researchers. TRL presented a series of papers covering a range of
topics including: assessing road maintenance on a “value” basis; fleet managers and the
decision making process surrounding electric vehicles; the wider impacts of cutting road
maintenance budgets; and traffic management techniques for cyclists.
Thomas Buckland’s paper looked at “Assessing
road maintenance programmes on a “value”
basis: consideration of the road users’
requirements”. Road maintenance schemes have
traditionally been assessed on the basis of a
combination of: costs; works; and user delay - both
at a strategic and project level. In recent years, there
has been a move towards assessing maintenance
which takes into account the wider impact of
environmental parameters. Discussions were held
with experts and groups of road users to understand
how carbon emissions and noise could be captured
within a whole life value model, alongside the more
commonly used works and user delay costs.
“Fleet Manager decision-making behaviour
in relation to Electric Vehicles” was the topic of
Rebecca Hutchins’ paper. Between 2005 and 2008
fleet vehicles made up 58% of new car purchases in
the UK car market (DfT 2010). However, little
research had been undertaken to understand fleet
managers’ vehicle purchasing behaviours or
perceptions of electric vehicles (EVs). Following
structured telephone interviews with 20 fleet
managers representing a variety of industry sectors
and fleet sizes, several different decision-making
approaches emerged. In addition, the amount of
choice fleet managers had over the allocation of
fleet vehicles varied, from full control prescribing
what makes and models should be allocated, to very
little influence. This suggests that EV marketing
strategies will need to be targeted towards the
different structures of decision making found within
organisations.
This work was conducted as part of a larger study of
consumer attitudes towards EVs.
A third paper entitled “What are the wider impacts
of cutting road maintenance budgets?” was
delivered by TRL’s Trevor Bradbury. Based on work
undertaken on behalf of Transport Scotland, he dealt
with a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the social,
environmental and economic impacts resulting from
changes in road maintenance budgets. These included
modelling of vehicle, user and environmental costs; and
sensitivity analysis of key assumptions. The study
concluded that the whole life economic impacts of
reductions to road maintenance budgets outweighed
the savings in whole life costs of maintenance works
achieved from budget reductions. Therefore, it is
essential for the wider impacts of maintenance budget
reductions to be considered when assessing how to save
money from roads maintenance.
TRL’s final contribution was in the area of cycling safety
and reported on work conducted on behalf of the
Department for Transport (DfT) in a paper entitled
“Traffic management techniques for cyclists”
and co-presented by Ellie Gould and the DfT. This
study looked at an integrated approach to the
provision of safe cycling (with particular regard to road
markings, traffic signs, signals and engineering
infrastructure), with priority measures where
appropriate, through the approaches to traffic signals
and through the controls themselves. The project was
designed to provide evidence, and make assessments,
on traffic management techniques used for cyclists in
Great Britain and elsewhere with a view to informing
possible trials of new techniques and to help inform
future policy and regulatory changes.
Feedback from the presentations was very positive
and all the proceedings will be available to download
from www.etcproceedings.org
TRLnews 7
Delivering innovative
infrastructure solutions
in Mozambique
TRL has a long history of working in Mozambique and over the past five years
has been delivering infrastructure research projects for the DFID funded African
Community Access Programme (AFCAP), and for other bi-lateral aid agencies.
performance; and identify knowledge gaps that
are not possible to fill with the short monitoring
period of the existing trial sections.
AFCAP is based around a portfolio of research,
demonstration and training projects undertaken in
Sub-Saharan Africa, which identify and support the
update of low cost, proven solutions for rural access
that maximise the use of local resources.
Since 2008, TRL has been involved in a suite of
projects funded by AFCAP and the Swedish
International Development Agency (SIDA) for the
Mozambique National Roads Administration,
Administracao Nacional de Estradas (ANE). These
projects, which are part of Mozambique’s Rural
Roads Investment Programme and comprise four
phases of research, explore the use of marginal and
non-conventional road building materials and
techniques to improve year round access for local
communities.
Under Phase 1, some of the notable design options
that were implemented include construction of
Otta seal sections between Inhacufera and
Machaze in Manica Province. The focus of these
designs was the use of low cost locally available
natural materials so as to reduce spot improvement
costs, and, as a result, make it easier to provide
access through bottleneck sections. A guideline for
design specifications and execution of works for low
volume roads in Mozambique resulted from the
research and is being finalised for dissemination to
stakeholders and practitioners, particularly to ANE
engineers, provincial consultants and contractors.
TRL’s mandate continued into a second phase
which began in 2009. The second phase involved
the design of various pavement and surfacing
options; the supervision of construction, and the
monitoring of sections in order to establish trends
and limits of performance. Scott Wilson provided
training to provincial contractors, provincial
consultants and ANE provincial staff on construction
planning and methods.
A notable technique introduced under this phase
was the construction of an Emulsion Treated Sand
Base. A structured research approach to the
design and construction of this method was
simplified, so that small scale contractors could
adopt the technique at low cost and with robust
outcomes that reduce spot improvement costs.
Sand-Calcrete blended bases were also introduced
in Inhambane province, which resulted in a strong
road base for low-volume roads. A gravel wearing
course was constructed in Inhambane province
using in-situ sand blended with calcrete. Blending
of in-situ materials lowers costs by reducing the
quantity of material that has to be extracted from
a borrow pit and hauled to the point of
construction.
TRL began a third phase of SIDA funded trial
sections for ANE in 2011, which investigated
armouring techniques for strengthening road
bases in Mozambique - monitoring continues to
enhance confidence in the specifications
emerging from this research.
Phase 4 of AFCAP funding in Mozambique started
in July 2012 with the aim of studying the
performance of roads built more than 10 years
ago and to obtain data on: their construction;
pavement design as built; materials; age;
environment; traffic data and general
In addition, TRL is providing guidance to ANE and
the Inhambane provincial authorities on the
location of calcrete deposits in the province, as
well as their classification of road building materials
and technical specifications for their use in road
construction. This AFCAP project will identify and
map calcrete deposits in the province, and prepare
a calcrete classification system that can be
adopted for use across Mozambique.
TRL is also working with InfraAfrica and AFCAP to
provide guidance on cost-effective technologies
using locally available sands that can be used for
the construction of low volume paved and
unpaved rural roads in Mozambique. This will
result in a guideline being produced for the use of
sands in low volume road construction in the
Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)
region.
TRL’s work in Mozambique is helping to contribute
to a comprehensive knowledge base of guidance
and best practice that will improve Mozambique’s
infrastructure by using locally available materials to
maintain the roads at low cost.
CONTACT:
Annabel Bradbury
+44 (0)1344 770284
[email protected]
8 TRLnews
HELMET LOSS
Various international studies have suggested
that a significant number of motorcycle riders
lose their helmets in collisions. Whilst a failure
to have secured the helmet properly or at all,
is likely to influence loss in some cases, there
are a number of documented cases where a
correctly restrained helmet has been lost. This
loss deprives the user of the protective value
of the helmet in any subsequent head impact.
On behalf of the Transport Research Foundation,
TRL is conducting research to examine the factors
associated with helmet loss, which will assist our
understanding of the potential mechanisms and
provide better consumer education to motorcycle
helmet users. The programme involves physical
testing and helmet user surveys.
The regulatory testing for helmet retention is based
on an impulsive load being applied upwards and
forwards at the rear of the helmet rim and is known
as a roll-off test. This replicates the inertial properties
of the helmet alone (without external contact) during
a collision. This testing is carried out on new helmets
as part of the statutory approval scheme, and takes
no account of any changes in the physical properties
of the helmet as a consequence of use and ageing.
TRL has been analysing roll-off testing using a high
speed film analysis technique to see which variables,
such as helmet size, type, strap tightness and
chin stiffness can be shown statistically to have
an influence on the potential for loss.
The photograph shows computer tracking
of a number of optical targets on the side
of the helmet, which allows the helmet
movement to be resolved into linear and
rotational elements in time.
The test programme will include dynamic testing
using a sled to see how the existing roll-off test
compares to precise collision pulses, and will be
used to evaluate the orientation of the head during
collision, and potentially the inclusion of a flexible
neck. We are also conducting a number of surveys,
to include assessments of users with their helmets,
to analyse what factors affect helmet choice, and
whether their helmets are the correct size for their heads.
CONTACT:
Stephen Jowitt
+44 (0)1344 770835
[email protected]
Reducing Road and Street Works Congestion Road Plate, Rapid Cure and Temporary Backfill
Technologies: Dissemination Seminar & Webinar
In a jointly funded project commissioned by Transport for
London (TfL) and the Department for Transport (DfT), TRL
has, over the last eighteen months, been undertaking
laboratory and track testing aimed at providing highway
maintenance and utility companies with supporting
evidence and advice on how to reduce congestion at road
works through the use of technology; such as road plates,
rapid cure materials and temporary backfill.
The work is providing advice and information that will help
to reduce the costs of traffic delays at road works across the
UK and could also reduce lane rental charges.
The results will be presented at an early evening
seminar aimed at highway maintenance and utility
companies and their contractors who are involved in
the construction and maintenance of roads and of
utility services. The seminar takes place on December
4, 2012 at the Chartered Institution of Highways
& Transportation between 16.00 and 19.00.
TRL HEAD OFFICE
Crowthorne House
Nine Mile Ride Wokingham
Berkshire RG40 3GA
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1344 773131
The dissemination of outputs will include a series of
guidance notes on when, where and how to use
different road plating systems, and on the performance
of rapid cure and temporary backfill materials. Advice
will also be given on the use of ‘Core and Vac’ systems
and utility mapping techniques.
Interim material is already available on the Reducing
Congestion Project Website: www.trl.co.uk/
reducingcongestionfromhighwayworks
To book a place at the seminar or to find out more
about a webinar for those who are unable to attend,
please visit www.ciht.org.uk/en/events/
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Tel: +44 (0)1344 770141
Email: [email protected]
GENERAL ENQUIRIES
Tel: +44 (0)1344 773131
Email: [email protected]
TRL SCOTLAND
Edinburgh
Tel: +44 (0)131 445 4613
TRL LIBRARY
Tel: +44 (0)1344 770203
Email: [email protected]
TRL BIRMINGHAM
Tel: +44 (0)121 222 5497/5498
TRL WALES
Cardiff
Tel: +44 (0)29 2066 0117
For further information email: [email protected] or visit www.trl.co.uk
TRL ABU DHABI
Tel: +971 2444 6010
TRL QATAR
Tel: +974 4491 4471
Compiled by TRL’s Communications Team