2012 Olympics – Dorset County Council
The Challenge
Sailing at the 2012 Summer Olympics took place in Weymouth, Dorset. In anticipation of a huge influx of visitors, Dorset County Council needed a reliable traffic management system. This had to be installed at least one year in advance, reassuring the council that spectators and athletes would be able to arrive on time.
Alongside 10 Olympic events with more than 500 competitors, the Paralympics would involve 400 athletes. And because all the events are ticketless, spectator numbers are potentially unlimited. For Dorset County Council, managing the influx of visitors and ensuring the timely arrival of competitors from London and beyond presented a considerable challenge. Weymouth town centre was pedestrianised, so visitors used a park-and- ride system. Additionally, most were unfamiliar with the region and its public transport. To help them complete their journeys quickly and smoothly, the Council needed a traffic control system that would transmit real-time travel information to drivers and passengers through a range of devices, from roadside signs to mobile phones.
The Solution
Vodafone’s dedicated machine-to-machine team ran a site survey to assess the region’s existing network and calculate the need for additional masts, while Mobius designed an urban traffic management solution based on:
Variable message signs
Variable message signs that warn drivers of potential issues.
Real-time updates
Real-time updates at bus stops to indicate routes and travel times real-time updates – via hands-free mobile devices and digital passenger signs – for drivers, spectators and competitors on coaches travelling from London to Weymouth.
Recognition cameras
Automatic number plate recognition cameras that identify priority vehicles – such as those carrying athletes – and send location details to Weymouth based traffic management team.
Traffic light control
Used to alter the frequency of changes and allow specific vehicles to pass.
Mobius offered an additional layer to the Vodafone network with a fixed IP address for each device in the traffic management system, such as bus stop signs, variable message signs and cameras. These addresses would allow administrators to send crucial updates to specific devices quickly and easily.
