The old adage “strength in numbers” is proving true in France, where a unique collaboration between public and private entities is working to improve traffic conditions on some of France’s busiest roads. Such collaborations are gaining traction, particularly in Europe, where many public agencies have discovered the benefits of contracting with private companies to implement and maintain roadways and intelligent transportation systems.
The collaboration relies heavily on the involvement of Wavetronix and its French distributor, Magsys, working together with one of France’s leading managed motorway operators, APRR. The project, to deploy 42 SmartSensor HD detection stations on French highways throughout APRR’s network, is now almost completely operational.
“APRR decided to install SmartSensor HD stations in order to create a more comprehensive network from which to collect data,” says Jean-Marc Coutellier, president of Magsys. SmartSensor HD is being used in place of traditional inductive loop detectors, which APRR has found can be difficult and expensive to install and maintain. “The HD detector was selected after extensive testing that was the first part of a collaborative effort that included training and constant interaction, before, during and after deployment,” Coutellier says.
The main participants in the APRR project began collaborating right at the start of the project, beginning with the testing of devices to determine the best technology to use at each detection station. Wavetronix designs, engineers and manufactures SmartSensor HD; Magsys, the Wavetronix authorized channel partner for France, supplied the equipment for the test and assisted in the installation, configuration and operation of the test site.
“After successful testing, SmartSensor HD was identified as the vehicle detection device desired by APRR for this project,” says Bruno Claverie, the Wavetronix regional sales manager in France.
APRR manages the project; Spie, an established electrical engineering firm, is the co-contractor in the agreement and is responsible for confirming station location choices, controlling power boxes, and installing, wiring and maintaining all station equipment. Magsys was contracted to supply the equipment and assist with location selection and station rollout; manage administrative tasks for the co-contractors; and provide training to the APRR and Spie employees tasked with installing and operating the sensors. Once all sensors are fully deployed, Magsys will also be directly responsible for ensuring that the sensors at each station are working properly.
Once SmartSensor HD was selected, Magsys, in collaboration with Wavetronix, was responsible for training Spie and APRR employees on the proper way to use the sensor so that the project could benefit from all of the sensor’s capabilities. Wavetronix is recognized as one of the leaders in the ITS industry for the amount and quality of technical training it provides to its customers.
“Wavetronix is committed to its customers and is eager to help its customers be successful,” says Claverie. “Our unique training program aids our customers in becoming experts in our products, so that they can be as proficient with our technology as possible.”
“[SmartSensor HD] was selected after extensive testing…the first part of a collaborative effort that included training and constant interaction, before, during and after deployment.”—Jean-Marc Coutellier, President of MAGSYS
Spie and APRR employees were trained by Magsys during courses offered each year at Magsys’s offices in Biarritz. The main topics covered during the two-day course included a general introduction to radar technology in relation to vehicle traffic detection and the benefits and limitations of radar. This was followed by techniques for installing SmartSensor HD in the field and selecting mounting locations; an overview of different methods for communicating with sensors; configuring the sensor to automatically detect lanes; and using the sensor’s detection settings to define speed and vehicle length bins. Classroom discussions were followed by training in the field, where participants gained valuable hands-on experience configuring the sensor, qualifying vehicle counts and retrieving data.
This intensive training course culminated with a final exam and an onsite skill assessment that certified the APRR and Spie employees were qualified to install and configure each SmartSensor HD station. “This certification guarantees APRR a high level of expertise and results in a transfer of knowledge that is needed to successfully carry out the project,” Coutellier says.
Wavetronix and Magsys are committed to fully supporting the sensors deployed by APRR for the life of the project. This support began immediately – Spie and Magsys were both present at the first site visits and were both involved in rolling out the first units.
This constant involvement has helped to ensure the best technical support for APRR’s project.
“The task of providing support for SmartSensor HD is made much easier because the sensor is so easy to install and maintain,” Coutellier says. “It is rare for a detection station to be operational the same day that it is installed, but one SmartSensor HD unit typically can be installed, configured and operational in approximately one hour.”
As a result, the sensor can be installed, tilted in the proper direction and put into operation all in the same day. Technicians do not need to visit the station site multiple times to make the sensor operational; the station can be lowered to the ground by a single person if necessary, and manlifts or road markers are typically not required.
Ease of maintenance was one of the reasons APRR selected SmartSensor HD for this project. SmartSensor HD installs above the ground and unlike loops, which must be buried in the road, typically does not require lane closures that can negatively impact traffic flow.
“For this project, SmartSensor HD is being installed on rotating mast arms in order to facilitate the easiest maintenance possible and to guarantee the highest possible availability of data,” Coutellier says. “If a station malfunctions, it can be replaced in about 30 minutes, so the availability of data is quickly restored.” Rotating mast arms were selected because the cost is only slightly higher than the cost of traditional mast arms, and the difference is not significant in relation to the overall cost of installation.
Successful public-private deployments are demonstrating that innovation doesn’t just happen with technology but can also apply to how intelligent systems are deployed. The partnership between APRR, Spie and Magsys is not unique to Wavetronix, but it is unusual in the ITS industry, in which project responsibilities are often highly compartmentalized. For Wavetronix, constant collaboration with its customers has been an important part of the company’s success. By joining forces and working together, APRR, Spie and Magsys are ensuring not only the success of this project, but the successful implementation of ITS in France for many years to come.
