Array's World-Class Transportation Expertise
On today's crowded roadways, traffic congestion is a fact of life. Congestion results in extended travel times, increased air pollution and additional fuel consumption. Information technology may be employed in order to better manage the highway infrastructure and reduce the adverse effects of congestion. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) refers to the application of communications and information technology to transport infrastructure and / or to vehicles to improve the efficiency of transportation networks.
In a typical ITS application, software is employed for traffic simulation, for real-time control and for communications. Transportation Systems projects may be broadly divided into infrastructure projects and vehicle-orientated applications. Typical infrastructure projects include the installation of Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) along a freeway or the implementation of intelligent traffic light control for city streets. Vehicle-orientated projects include applications such as as automated vehicle location and scheduling. Vehicular ITS applications are frequently applied to transit vehicles and corporate fleets.
Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure
- Traffic Signal Sequencing and Control
- Vehicle Detection and Monitoring
- Dynamic Message Signs
- Ramp Metering Systems
- Queue-End Warning Systems
Intelligent Transit Systems / Vehicle Fleet Management
- Computer Aided Dispatch
- Automated Vehicle Location
- Automatic Voice Annunciation
- Automatic Passenger Counting
- Navigation Systems
- Fare Payment Systems
Array's involvement with ITS since 1981, combined with extensive expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), communications technologies, modelling, simulation and complex systems integration, make us uniquely positioned to offer innovative solutions to your transportation needs.
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Three Decades of Pioneering ITS Solutions
Former Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto
Array's involvement in the field of Intelligent Transportation Systems began with the founding of the company in 1981. Array's very first project was the implementation of intelligent traffic signal control software for the former Metro Toronto Traffic Control Centre (MTTCC). Array continued to be involved in the implementation and post-delivery support for this system throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s.
In the early 1990s, MTTCC awarded Array the Central MUX Integration (CMI) project. This program had the objective of integrating a legacy multiplexer and the traffic cell software previously developed by Array onto a new QNX-based platform. The software consisted of three main components - the Systems Software, CMUX Emulator and Traffic Task. This software was delivered to MTTCC in 1993.
Further work for MTTCC followed, including a rework of the Metro Transportation's plan change system, a communication reconfiguration project, and a requirements analysis and feasibility study for the proposed Traffic Signal Control System. In the mid 1990s, Array performed an upgrade of the Metro Transportation Traffic Signal Control System (TSCS) for Metro Toronto Transportation.
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Ontario Next Generation COMPASS System
Ontario Ministry of Transportation - COMPASS System
Since 2005, Array Systems has been actively involved in the development of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation's Next Generation COMPASS System (NGCS). The NGCS will replace the existing infrastructure in the COMPASS Traffic Operations Centres (TOCs) which has been in operation since 1991. The COMPASS system is the freeway traffic management system for all the 400-series freeways in the Province of Ontario, including Highway 401, which includes the busiest stretch of highway in North America.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation describes the COMPASS system as follows:
The Highway 401 COMPASS System within Toronto went into operation in early 1991. The initial section covered 16 kilometres through the centre of Toronto between Martin Grove Road and Yonge Street. Highway 401 is the "main street" for many Toronto commuters, and has a unique express/collector configuration and a cross-section with a minimum of 12 lanes. Some sections carry in excess of 350,000 vehicles on an average day.
Over the years, the COMPASS System has been continuously evaluated, enhanced and expanded. The current system stretches from the Highway 403/Eglinton interchange to Highway 401/410 interchange and easterly to Harwood Avenue for a distance of approximately 59 km. As of December 2002, the Hwy 401 system is made up of 94 colour CCTV cameras, 33 LED type changeable message signs, 630 vehicle detection stations and over 3100 vehicle detectors to help manage traffic on Highway 401.
View the Ontario Ministry of Transportation's information page about COMPASS.The objective of the NGCS project is to replace the legacy COMPASS central control computers with new technology, while enhancing the traffic flow management and incident response capabilities of the system. The existing field devices are to be retained. The legacy COMPASS central control is based on DEC VAX hardware, which is now obsolete and expensive to support. Under NGCS, this central processing facility will be replaced with Intel-based bladeservers running Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). The NGCS software itself is implemented in Java Enterprise Edition.
Array is responsible for the development of the core Database Manager (DBM) and Dynamic Message Sign Display Writer (DMSDM) functions, and for the integration of these modules with a number of new components developed by other contractors to form the integrated NGCS.
- Total Project Management for the Systems Administration and Management of the Next Generation COMPASS Software (TPMSAM)
- Software Development for the Dynamic Message Sign Device Manager of the Next Generation COMPASS Software (DMSDM)
- Systems Integration and Database Management for the Next Generation COMPASS Software (SIDM)