SCOOT IN SOUTHAMPTON

The paper describes the project history of the first complete system in which SCOOT control directly replaced isolated vehicle-actuated signal control. It starts with the feasibility study, carried out jointly by Hampshire County Council with the City Councils of Southampton and Portsmouth. A detailed cost- benefit analysis was carried out on various alternative systems for Southampton prior to tender, and this is reported, together with an outline of the contract under which Plessey Controls Ltd supplied the chosen system. Details are given of the technical aspects of the system, starting with some concepts underlying the control of traffic through signals. The operation of fixed-time urban traffic control systems is set out, along with details of the SCOOT technique. The chosen system for Southampton is specified, and its capital and revenue costs are identified; the installation, data preparation, and validation of the system are described. Some of the problems of region definition, stage organisation, and loop siting are highlighted by reference to successes and failures in Southampton. The results of the independent before and after study are presented together with information on other investigations carried out during the first year of operation. For the covering abstract of the seminar see IRRD 286745.