AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF VMS IN THE
INTERURBAN SCOTTISH HIGHWAY NETWORK

Albert Messmer1), Markos Papageorgiou2), Neil Mackenzie3)

1) Ingenieurbü ro A. Messmer, Sommerstr. 12, 81543 Mü nchen, Germany
2) Dynamic Systems and Simulation Laboratory, Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, Greece
3) National Roads Directorate, The Scottish Office Development Department, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH66QQ, United Kingdom


Abstract

The paper presents the design, implementation, and evaluation work performed by a European consortium for the development of a Variable Message Sign (VMS) information and guidance system in the interurban Scottish Highway network. The employed control strategy is based on simple automatic control concepts with both feedback and feedforward terms subject to user optimum constraints. Feedforward terms are employed for the prediction of travel times and delays along long-distance interurban highway links. Simulation studies demonstrate the potential improvements achievable with this kind of control measures and control strategies. The implementation concept and field evaluation results are outlined.