6: DATA COLLECTION ANALYSIS

6:

DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS

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Data search and supply service

The Tracsis Conduit Dashboard is thought to provide the most comprehensive list of traffic surveys ever compiled in the UK, with an historic data module to help deliver projects throughout the pandemic. By Nick Mather, Business Development Director & Group Marketing Lead, Tracsis

With traffic data from 2020 providing a potentially useful benchmark for the future, but not much in the way of “normal” traffic flows, Tracsis is supporting modelling on ongoing projects throughout the pandemic by using its extensive historic records.

Set up in June 2020 in response to COVID-19, the Tracsis Conduit Dashboard is a multi-functional data platform to store, view and utilise a range of data sources.

Potential users of the historic data element of the dashboard can log in, filter the data by the period of time and type of traffic data - for example manual classified counts or automatic number plate recognition information – identify the area they are looking for historic data by selecting any potential sites displayed on the map, and then make a request.

“Essentially the platform enables the easy search and supply of previously collected data to keep projects moving which would otherwise stall,” says Nick Mather, Business Development Director at Tracsis.

Ewan Anderson of SAJ Consultants says his company used the data to model the operation of a junction (the Caldecotte Interchange).

“It was invaluable, given the current circumstances, and allowed us to proceed with certainty without having to seek to agree a traffic flow adjustment factor with the local authority and Highways England. The junction model was accepted by both parties and neither are objecting to the planning application for a new commercial warehouses development.”

The dashboard helps display the available data sets and organise them, and further functionality is available through different modules. For instance, if a client wanted to host live, ad-hoc, or their own previously collected data, that functionality is available through Conduit Data Hosting, rather than have data sitting across multiple servers in spreadsheets. Mather adds: “As Tracsis occupy about half of the total market share in traffic and transport data collection, the historic data database provides a robust route to the search and supply of historic data.

“The platform has opened up many commercial avenues for Tracsis. First of all, any historic data requests that are successful and end up with the data being released to the user, have a fee attached to the transaction. It is not the case that we are reselling the data, but applying an administration fee for the facilitation of the process. These revenues are crucial to us at a time where there is little no actual data collection work being undertaken.

“Secondly, we have seen a broad interest in companies and government bodies wanting to use the platform to host their own data and make it available for others to use. This concept will be the phase 2 development for the data hosting module, where the system will move from being a search tool to a search

The dashboard presents data by survey type

Data is plotted to site level

and hosting tool where the client can download the data directly from the system.

“Lastly, and in more of an overarching concept, the interest in the platform has opened up many lines of communication with our customers, elevated our presence in the market at a time where many data collection companies are dormant, and this in itself has generated further enquiries for related work and proposals for new data collection into the new year.”

The formulation of the database was a simple but effective work plan. Tracsis logs all ‘enquiries’ - quote requests - for traffic surveys and, after being granted permission from the client, it will share all the data it collects. But it also goes a step further – it follows up on the contracts it didn’t win and shares any public data from those projects too, if this is possible.

Mather adds that the database contains every enquiry since 1 Jan 2017.

The company has been through the records or enquires, and manually split out every data set contained within each enquiry by site, as previously each survey information was logged as a single latitude longitude or postcode.

“There are still some enquiries to go through and break down to a site level, but the current number of data points in the database is 21,005, which will increase as this task continues,” says Mather.

Tracsis updates the database periodically, for instance on 20 December last year it received data from over 100 permanent AI sensor locations. n

Any data from sites of interest can be added to the "basket”

Once data is requested the Administrator responds promptly

Case study

Buckinghamshire County Council recently acquired data for use within the redevelopment of its new strategic countywide transport model.

A Buckinghamshire Council spokesman said: “In 2019, Buckinghamshire Council decided to update its countywide strategic transport model. The model was around six years old and required an update to assist the new unitary council to develop their forthcoming local plan and other strategic policies.

“The new model was to use 2020 as a base year and traffic flow data collected from on-street surveys. As a result of the pandemic, the 2020 base year would not provide a satisfactory level of normality for modelling future years.

“Although Bucks Council had a wealth of traffic flow data from various years, the council needed to fill a number of areas where data was lacking. Generally, this was because the data was outside of Buckinghamshire or was required to add to the available data on transport road links or specific traffic junctions, or was needed to validate earlier traffic data that Buckinghamshire Council held.”

As a result of this, Buckinghamshire Council turned to Tracsis to “plug the gaps”.

Tracsis helped validate and calibrate the model and thereby provided greater confidence in the future forecast outputs. This provided confidence that the model’s assessment of likely impacts of key planning developments and highway improvements in, say, 10 or 15 years’ time are realistic.

The benefits to Buckinghamshire Council were: l There was a wide range of data available to assist filling areas within the model highway network. l The data was acquired quickly and at a reasonable cost. l The turnaround and quality of service offered by Tracsis was excellent. l Undertaking new surveys was difficult due to COVID impacts on the “norm”, and more effective than extrapolating earlier data that the council held.

Operating throughout the UK and Ireland our network of operational bases allow us to deliver the largest and most complex data collection projects alongside individual local surveys. We utilise the innovation and skills Tracsis are known for including AI Video Analytics, Bluetooth, WiFi, Radar and Pneumatic Tube ATC and our inhouse data analytics and reporting skills.

Contact Nick Mather nick.mather@tracsis.com 01937 833933 www.tracsis.com Software: Conduit

The Tracsis Conduit Dashboard is a multifunctional data platform to store, view and utilise a range of data sources.

l Historic Data module to find and request existing data sets to plug gaps during disruption l Web-based Data Hub to host any data set, including live data from sensors or air quality monitors through API l Bespoke dashboard development for specific reporting requirements l Third party data module for additional insight e.g accident/weather l Public facing information module with website integration

Tracsis Conduit can bring all of your data into one, accessible front end dashboard, improving its usability to make informed decisions.

Contact Nick Mather nick.mather@tracsis.com 01937 833933 www.tracsis.com

Software: SwiftMetrics

Fully understand and improve the performance of your bus network with SwiftMetrics, a powerful online reporting dashboard that delivers bus network analysis at scale.

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Contact philip@cityswift.com + 353 (0)91 393 255 www.cityswift.com/platform#swift-metrics

Transportation Data Collection Services

Nationwide Data Collection (NDC) provides specialist data collection services for transport planning, traffic engineering and market research. We have unrivalled experience in conducting manual & automatic traffic counts, roadside interviews, pedestrian surveys, ANPR, video, radar speed surveys and parking surveys.

Contact Gerard OʼRegan gerard.oregan@nationwidedatacollection.co.uk 01926 485 504 www.nationwidedatacollection.co.uk

GAIST

Product: Spatial Deterioration Simulation Program Contact: Marc Tite marc.tite@gaist.co.uk www.gaist.co.uk

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THE FLOOW LIMITED

Product: MobilityIn Contact: Dr Sam Chapman sam@thefloow.com www.thefloow.com/our-solutions/mobilityin/

l Manual Traffic Counts l Roadside Interview Surveys l Pedestrian Counts & Interviews l Video Surveys, ANPR & Infrared l Journey Time Surveys Choose NDC for Quality, Reliability and Unrivalled Experience

l Public Transport Surveys l Automatic Traffic Counts l Parking Surveys l Market Research l Bluetooth & WiFi Surveys

Scotland Peter Rohwer

Tel: 01355 221363

London & South East Damien Wilson-Pulley

Tel: 0207 833 2999 Email: enquiries@nationwidedatacollection.ie Website: www.nationwidedatacollection.ie

Ireland (Dublin, Athlone & Belfast) Paul Murray

Tel: +353 (0) 1 633 4725 Email: enquiries@nationwidedatacollection.ie Website: www.nationwidedatacollection.ie North Peter Rohwer

Tel: 01924 288040

Midlands & South West Rhod Jones

Tel: 01926 485504

Netherlands Olaf Seinen

Tel: +31 (0) 88 254 2001 Email: olaf.seinen@ndc-nederland.nl Website: www.ndc-nederland.nl