In Fall 2012, the City of Tyler, Texas, became the latest municipality to implement Northwest Signal’s state-of-the-art adaptive signal control algorithms. Using radar and video-based detection well in advance of the stop bar, the system measures volume and occupancy to determine the best use of available green time — in real time! Changes made to the split time occur instantly, eliminating delays to the next cycle as many other adaptive signal control systems do.
The system operates using Northwest Signal’s M1 Advanced Adaptive NEMA controllers or 2070 and ATC controllers. Contact Northwest Signal for more information about adaptive signal control technology.
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The City of Seattle received nearly 50 ATC-1000 controllers from Peek Traffic in December 2012. Leveraging Peek’s industry-leading transit signal priority module, the City plans to install the controllers along transit corridors as well as replace legacy Peek (TCT, Crouse Hinds) controllers.
Peek’s built-in data collection engine includes the ability to record and time stamp selected “state changes” at the intersection, like every interval change and every detector actuation. The ATC-1000 will allow the City to enjoy the horsepower of a modern controller with a fast processor and tremendous amount of memory (allows an auxiliary SD card) making it possible to capture data like never before.
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LeddarTech recently released a new long range version of their amazing d-tec vehicle/bicycle detector which is able to reach out 300 feet from the sensor and provide highly accurate volumes and occupancy by lane. You heard that right – long range, volume and occupancy — all together.
The sensor also includes a color CCTV camera so that the device can be a valuable addition to your surveillance network. The d-tec is fully IP capable, uses POE and is reliable in all weather and lighting conditions. Contact Northwest Signal for more information on this superior technology!
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The Novax SoundSafe™ Audible Pedestrian Signal (patent pending) is receiving great reviews! With over 25 years of experience in designing and manufacturing accessible pedestrian signals, Novax’s SoundSafe™ is a well-engineered approach with significant features, including:
- Cane friendly, high impact intelligent tactile buttons
- Raised Vibra-Tactile directional arrow
- Intuitive configuration GUI
- Simplified universal wiring requirements
- Wireless hand held device for remote configuration
- User defined settings can be saved and loaded
- Dynamic output monitoring ensures SoundSafe™ sounds remain perceptibly above ambient traffic noise
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This article taken from the City of Minneapolis 12th Ward News:
Hiawatha Signal Lights – Things are Happening!
Improvements to the signal lights on Hiawatha Avenue are becoming a reality. In just a few weeks, new [M1™] controllers will be installed at 46th Street to test the new equipment. This equipment has been closely scrutinized. Public Works and the lead engineer for this project, Allan Klugman, investigated nine different products and then conducted a detailing screening of four products.
The selected controllers were tested in the Minneapolis shop through computer simulations of Hiawatha Avenue conditions. This signal equipment is used extensively in Portland [Oregon] [Note: Portland uses the same firmware from NWS, but in a 2070 configuration. The 2070 firmware is called NWSVoyage™] and contacts in that city give it high marks. A key feature needed from the new equipment is the ability to change the phasing of signals depending on other factors, such as which leg of the intersection got the turn last. So, if a train goes by, the cycle of signals does not have to start at the same place again. Instead, it could favor the cars that have been waiting the longest. This is just one aspect of the new, more sophisticated equipment. The goal is to have a new system installed and operational by this fall.”
Northwest Signal recently delivered a dozen small sign structures to the Idaho Transportation Department for use across the state. These smaller structures are of a scale suitable for use anywhere, including in urban environments. Designed to current AASHTO standards and galvanized, poles of this type will likely “out live” all of us!
NWS has also designed and delivered much larger structures, both cantilever and bridge style. If your projects need well-built, all American structures please think of us!
NWSVoyage™ has been reworked into a version that runs on the Linux OS called NWSVoyageL™. This firmware has been tested on Peek Traffic’s 2070-1C engine board and is currently in the hands of several agencies for Beta testing. NWSVoyageL™ offers two significant enhancements in its current configuration, dual independent Ethernet ports and the ability to load new firmware using a USB stick. Northwest Signal is excited to offer this version suitable for running in a controller using a “PC speed” processor.
The NWSVoyage™ 2070 application firmware now supports a direct interface Peek VideoTrak IQ processor card using a simple SDLC cable. No additional hardware or software is needed to bring up to 64 detection channels right into a standard 2070L controller. This same capability exists with any brand of NEMA TS-2 controller, including the Peek ATC-1000 and the NWS M1™ Advanced Adaptive NEMA Controller.
Peek Traffic’s New Sabre Traffic Counter (shown above) brings power, ease-of-use and cost efficiency to portable traffic counter/classifier customers. Following is a summary of the Sabre’s impressive feature set:
- Internal fixed memory: 16MB
- Expandable memory: SD card up to 4GB
- USB connectivity making for fast connection speeds
o Device port connects ADR-Sabre to a Windows based computer
o Host port allows for take away storage (i.e., USB thumb drive)
- High speed processor that provides enhanced processing granularity
- Large LCD Screen (8 lines high by 40 characters wide)
- Easy-to-use keypad with directional and function keys
- Simplified menu system
- Contact closure mechanisms standard in all shipping units; (Cabling is optional)
- Low power consumption
- Supports existing sensors and fits in ADR1000 chassis making upgrades simple & painless
- Records, stores, and re-processes time-stamped events
- Solar power option for recharging battery
- Multilane operation
- FHWA Scheme “F” or user-defined classification scheme
- Local and/or remote access via front panel, direct serial connection, or MODEM
- User-configurable auto daylight savings time adjustment