Get A Strategic Analysis Of The Advanced Traffic Management Systems Market In Western Europe.

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c59908) has announced the addition of the new Frost & Sullivan Report "Strategic Analysis of the Advanced Traffic Management Systems Market in Western Europe" to their offering.

The Frost & Sullivan research service titled Strategic Analysis of Advanced Traffic Management Systems in Western Europe provides opportunity analysis in other parts of the world, technological roadmap and emerging market trends. In this research, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine the following: traffic sensor or detector markets, video image processors and coordinated signal systems market.

The following technologies are covered in this research:

- Traffic Sensors: Traffic Sensors are devices that aid in real time traffic data collection. Sensors include inductive loops which could be single or double loop detectors, embedded in the road surface or overhead sensors which detect the speed of traffic flow and transmit the data to control centres. Traffic sensors also include freeway vehicle detection systems, off-ramp sensors and arterial vehicle detection systems. They have extensive applications in incident detection, vehicle detection, vehicle classification, occupancy, speed and length classification.

- Video Image Processors (VIPs): VIPS are video detection systems, which consists of a microprocessor-base CPU and software that utilizes video images. These use video signals from CCTV cameras to detect vehicles and have applications in automatic incident detection, intersection control, traffic data collection and video surveillance on cameras to enhance safety and security of the road infrastructure.

- Coordinated Signal Systems: Coordinated Signal systems are traffic control devices which comprise the required hardware and software standards and protocols capable of coordination with adjacent traffic signal heads and the central computers for effective traffic signalling and smooth flow of traffic. These systems include intersection controllers, intelligent traffic lamps, pedestrian signal lamps, countdown clocks, combined sets and graphic countdown clocks for monitoring traffic on a real time and ongoing basis (adaptive traffic control) on the road network.

- Urban Traffic Management Control Systems: Urban traffic management control systems are specialised adaptive traffic control systems designed primarily to control traffic flows by reducing vehicle delays and the number of stops on the road network. This is achieved by fitting sensors/detectors and video image processors to detect the incidents and traffic flow on the roads. CCTV cameras are used to take images and these are processed accordingly to chalk out a plan for controlling traffic at the junctions.

- Ramp Metering Systems: Ramp metering systems are designed to control on-ramp traffic on the motorway or connecting motorways using traffic signals to stop access to motorways with increased traffic volumes. These systems work with numerous detectors functioning on the upstream, downstream and merge points of the ramp to prevent queues and reduce spill over onto the motorway. The metering rates function owing to the demand levels at each point on the ramp and real time data on traffic conditions with predictive algorithms to control congestion.

- Tunnel Traffic Management Systems: Tunnel traffic management employs various coordinated traffic control systems namely tunnel signals, variable message signs, CCTV cameras and incident detectors (fire and smoke detectors) to reduce congestion and monitor traffic through video surveillance systems for maintaining a smooth flow of traffic within the tunnel.

- Bridge Traffic Management Systems: Bridge traffic management systems are focused towards bridge security monitoring and control of traffic flow on bridge systems. They include video image processing equipment with CCTV cameras for monitoring the real time traffic situation on the bridge along with vehicle detectors, dynamic message signs, emergency call boxes and remote control units to enable operators to enhance mobility on the bridge lanes.

Market Overview

Increasing Need to Minimise Traffic Congestion and Pollution Levels Driving Growth

Heightened concerns over increasing traffic congestion and pollution are providing a major fillip for the implementation of advanced traffic management systems (ATMS) across Western Europe. In the period form 2005 to 2006, motorists in the United Kingdom alone experienced a total delay of 31.3 million hours in 10 per cent of journeys across the region, and this is expected to rise to 25 per cent by 2015. Furthermore, in order to achieve their aim of bringing down Co2 emission levels by 130 g/Km, EU governments are laying greater stress on the improvement of existing traffic management systems and their deployment in areas where they are non-existent. Such concerns and measures are expected to drive the demand for ATMS throughout the forecast period.

Nevertheless, budgetary constraints remain a major impediment to the further implementation of ATMS. Given their limited budgets, local authorities are less likely to experiment on new measures that are not tried and tested. "Moreover, in countries such as Scandinavia, government bodies are looking for solutions that involve the use of cost-effective technologies to bring about reduction in traffic volumes and simultaneously save money," notes the analyst of this research service. "For instance, the use of overhead detectors reduces digging costs that are borne for fitting loop detectors."

Market Consolidation Leading to End-to-end Solution Providers

With regard to market trends, there has been a notable increase in the level of partnerships between system integrators and local suppliers of detection systems throughout Western Europe. Many of the integrators are beginning to introduce their own products. Siemens, for example manufactures its own detectors, image processors and coordinated signal systems along with installation process. This allows government bodies to save the extra costs of looking for individual suppliers. In the future, system integrators are likely to buy out more supplier companies to extend the value chain and attain economies of scale by reducing the cost of single systems and increasing supply volumes. Such consolidations are also likely to help improve margins.

Among the product segments, video detection is gaining pace with significant advances in technology related to improving the processing power and flexibility of applications in the traffic detection markets. This emerging product segment is likely to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.0 percent over 2006 to 2015 and is expected to grow significantly by 2015. "With an eye on reducing installation costs, loop detection systems are gradually being replaced by overhead sensors, and as such, the detector segment is gaining pace," says the analyst. "Coordinated signal systems account for 30 per cent of the market for urban systems and are expected to witness stable growth from 2006 to 2015 due to demand for new systems and replacement of systems on the road network."

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