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Case Study

NADICS - National Driver Information and Control System

Tools Involved

• Asset Management Databases;
• Adaptive Traffic Signal Control;
• Common Database;
• Incident Detection;
• Lane Control;
• Passenger Information Systems;
• Public Transport Priority;
• Variable Message Signs.

Site Description

NADICS is Scotland’s National Driver Information and Control System, established by the Scottish Executive (through its Traffic Controller Unit).  The 24-hour National Network Control Centre (NNCC) operates NADICS and has the role of managing the Scottish Trunk Road Network.  NADICS equipment is located from Inverness to Gretna and from Edinburgh to Glasgow (as shown in the map to the right).

Site Problems

The strategic motorway and trunk road network often suffer from severe congestion and the unfavourable effects of both planned maintenance works and un-planned incidents. NADICS equipment was implemented to assist both motorists and the NNCC in recognising and then dealing with incidents.

Scheme Description

The NNCC use NADICS for setting strategic VMS signing across the network, using inductive loops and CCTV to monitor traffic.  The Police are responsible for setting tactical signs in response to incidents through their Police Control Centres. During free-flow periods with low congestion levels NADICS will set the VMS signs to display safety messages across the network.

The NNCC liaise with partners and suppliers to collect traffic information and then make available on their website at http://www.trafficscotland.org/.  The website provides text and graphically illustrated information, including maps and ‘live-eye-views’ of key roads (showing recent CCTV pictures uploaded to the site).  The site is frequently updated to ensure data integrity. Information is also presented at travel information kiosks at motorway service areas and to mobile users through WAP and SMS services.

The NADICS system comprises an oracle SQL database with windows NT/2000 workstations.  A GIS interface sits over the database.  Multiple tools feed data into the database and are configured/controlled from the workstations.  These include Variable Message Signs, Traffic Monitoring Units, Emergency Roadside Telephones, a Ramp Metering system, CCTV cameras, etc.  Traffic Signals in Glasgow and a bus real time information system are also controlled from within the NNCC..

Scheme Objectives

By providing travellers with both pre- and on-trip information, NADICS aims to provide the best and most appropriate use of Scottish motorways and trunk roads, thereby improving safety and network efficiency. It also aims to encourage and assist timely and informed decisions by road users by keeping them informed of conditions.

Improvements

The system will:

• reduces traffic congestion, improving the efficiency of the road network;
• reduces secondary accidents;
• improvess the environment through reduced pollution due to less wasted vehicle-hours;
• reduce driver stress, when drivers are better informed of road conditions ahead.

Integrating Systems

The NADICS system is comprised of multiple components with a common database at its heart. The system has been expanded a number of times and is at the forefront of both urban and inter-urban traffic management in the UK.

Costs

The NADICS system budget was approximately £5.5m for 2001. This included both capital and revenue costs.

Benefits

Benefits have not yet been reported for the NADICS system as a whole. Results that have been identified so far are shown below:

Actual benefits reported
Impact Assessment	Environment	Fewer pollutants are expected to be emitted due to less stationary traffic.
	Accessibility	No benefits expected or reported.
	Safety	Motorists are informed of road conditions and therefore can make safer, better-educated decisions. Motorists are aware of upcoming hazards and accidents.
	Efficiency	The total estimated benefit of NADICS in terms of reduced congestion on inter-urban roads was £4.4m for 2005. The equivalent figure for urban roads (including the Forth Road Bridge) was estimated to be £9.1m for 2005.
	Integration	No benefits expected or reported.
Technical Performance		Technical performance has been good with high availability rates for most types of equipment.
User Acceptance		In 1995 a questionnaire survey (sample size 380) ascertained that: Nearly all respondents were aware of VMS; 82% thought road conditions matched the information they had seen on the VMS; 94% thought VMS usually give reliable information; 97% found the signs easy to understand.

NADICS benefits table

(primary source: Evaluation Study Phase 3: Inter-Urban Cost Benefit Evaluation, Scottish Executive, 2006)

In addition, a survey conducted by Traffic Scotland during 2008 (700 users surveyed), reported that the site has had the following influence on drivers:

• Immediate Influence: 82% of respondents changed their journey plans resulting from information made available on the Traffic Scotland Web Site. Of those that changed their journey, 86% took a different route by car, 42% set out earlier, 22% delayed their journey by one to four hours, 19% cancelled their journey and 17% delayed their journey by less than one hour.
• Long term influence: 25% of respondents stated that they had made long term changes to their travel plans resulting from information made available on the Traffic Scotland Web Site. Of this group, 58% now take a different route by car, 62% leave earlier or later for a regular car journey, 24% have switched to public transport and 8% travel less often.

Source:NADICS Media Page

No attempt has been made to validate the results reported. Users of the guidance are encouraged to assess the robustness of the results presented and the likely transferability of the case study to their own local environment.

More Information

More information can be found on the: Traffic Scotland Website