MTCC Goals and Implemented Programs:

Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System

The Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System, abbreviated SCATS, is an intelligent transportation
system developed in Sydney, Australia by the Roads and Traffic Authority in the 1970s, and used
in Melbourne since 1982. It is also used in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Tehran, Dublin, Rzeszów and
soon in part of Metro Atlanta, among several other places. The system is called Canberra
Automated Traffic Signal System (CATSS) in Canberra. In total, about 23,000 intersections in over
100 countries use the system. In Australia, the majority of signalised intersections are SCATS operated
(around 11,000).

The system uses traffic cameras or induction loops installed within the road pavement
to count vehicles at each intersection, and adapts the timing of traffic signals in the network through
a centralized datacenter. Detailed signal diagnostics are also passed to the datacenter, with the ability
to notify staff when a traffic light has a bulb blown out.

Emergency Vehicle Pre-emption (EVP) Systems for Traffic Signals

Emergency Vehicle Pre-emption (EVP) systems are one of the latest tools to make roads safer. This system
changes traffic signals to clear an intersection so that emergency vehicles can pass. EVP devices flash light
or infrared pulses to a receiver, most times mounted on a traffic signal pole. Once the pulse has been
received, the lights change as needed. Reducing response time for emergency vehicles and increasing
safety for vehicles approaching the intersection are the advantages of EVP. Modern traffic signal control
systems provide emergency vehicle preemption (EVP) capabilities by utilizing advanced sensors and
communication technologies. EVP strategies are widely implemented by urban transportation management
agencies. One of the challenges of implementing

EVP under coordinated-actuated signal systems is selecting the best coordination recovery strategy at the
end of preemption such that disruptions to the normal traffic signal operations are minimized.