Transport for London (TfL) has launched the first procurement in its data roadmap project with a market notice for Data as a Service – Journey Time Data (DaaS-JTD).
The move is part of its wider Surface Intelligent Transport System (SITS) programme and is aimed at updating the systems and data capabilities for traffic signal control and incident management across London’s road network.
TfL has set out to acquire a real time data for vehicle journeys around the capital, mapped to major road junctions and with options to split between different modes such as cars and freight.
DaaS-JTD will provide it with journey time information for as many types of vehicle as possible, and make it possible to identify and resolve traffic incidents.
All the data will be delivered to TfL’s architecture through API connection to improve the organisation’s control over the flow of traffic. There are also plans to use machine learning, artificial intelligence and image recognition algorithms in harnessing and analysing the data.
August start
TfL has specified that it wants the contract to kick in from August of next year, with implementation services to be delivered over 90 days and the data services to follow over the next two years. It has set a wide potential value of between £400,000 and £1.5 million on the deal, which will run for three years with the option to extend for another two.
The SITS programme, which dates back to 2016, was developed response to growing pressures on London’s road network and TfL’s aim of making travel more efficient and sustainable. It involves using data from sensors and other sources to unlock additional capacity on the road network, but while giving priority to people who are walking, cycling and using buses.
Image by Dun.can, CC BY 2.0 through flickr
