AGD Systems, leading manufacturer of ITS product solutions, will exhibit at this year’s ITS European Congress, 2-6 June, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

ITS European Congress is the largest event entirely dedicated to smart mobility and digitalisation of transport. At this year’s show, AGD will showcase its new suite of pedestrian solutions for 2019, and will share a stand with ITS (UK) and Videalert, a leading provider of CCTV enforcement solutions.

Later this year, AGD will be replacing its entire popular traffic portfolio with a new family of high-performance pedestrian and vehicle detectors for urban crossings and junction control.

The AGD 326 will allow optimisation of the crossing phase, giving back more green time to traffic. Suitable for UK and international deployment, it will feature dynamically adjustable range for new site designs. The 641 will offer a 4 x 2m zone for monitoring the pedestrian wait area and 3D stereo vision with self-IR illumination of zone for enhanced night-time detection. Both solutions will offer safe, easy remote setup via a smart phone or tablet with AGD Touch-setup.

Ian Hind, AGD’s commercial director, says: “Customers will benefit from the ease, convenience and safety offered by WiFi AGD Touch-setup across the whole range, and a complementary suite of solutions that have been designed using valuable customer feedback for international as well as UK deployments.”

As part of this comprehensive solutions suite, visitors to ITS European Congress can see AGD’s WiFi-enabled, IP-capable 645 Pedestrian Detector – now with 10m x 3m detection zone, and the non-intrusive, loop-replacing 318 Traffic Control Radar.

The 645 now has volumetric capability as part of the standard build, which allows monitoring of the level of pedestrian occupancy in the wait zone for safer, smarter pedestrian crossings. The 318 includes an important new function: the ability to detect stationary or queuing traffic. This, together with WiFi AGD Touch-setup technology and an enhanced user setup GUI, will facilitate MOVA installations and other strategic applications.

AGD will also present its new 343 Highways Monitoring Radar at the show. Developed using the company’s experience and expertise in designing radars for highway speed enforcement, the AGD 343 is an easy-to-integrate traffic flow monitoring solution that provides real-time data on multi-lane highways.

The 343 can be mounted as close as 2m from inner edge of the inside lane of the carriageway and will still provide information for the lane immediately below the radar, as well as the lane on the farthest point of the carriageway – looking across both carriageways to detect vehicle travel in approaching and receding directions. It can be used almost anywhere for better-informed decision-making and optimised traffic flows and combines well with AGD’s enforcement solutions to offer a full product suite for UK smart motorways as well as international highways.

AGD can be found on stand 0.74 at ITS European Congress 2019.

AGD Systems’ technology is powering the smart portable traffic lights in a new trial by UK Power Networks and Kent County Council that could see a 24% increase traffic flow through roadworks compared to traditional portable traffic lights, together with lower costs and improvements to air quality and safety.

The RadioConnect2 (RC2) traffic management system by Traffic Group Signals company Hollco uses AutoGreen radar technology, inspired by AGD’s smart motorway radar expertise, to automatically adjust portable signals to suit the volume of traffic travelling in each direction, minimising wait times for drivers.

AutoGreen accurately tracks vehicle movements and uses this information to optimise the operation of the lights, varying the decision-making algorithms and timings.

UK Power Networks, the country’s biggest electricity distributor, trialled the system recently on roadworks in Maidstone, Kent, as part of a project to upgrade an electrical junction box.  Kent County Council helped deliver the trial via its Lane Rental Innovation Fund.  Highway policy and inspections manager at Kent County Council, David Latham, said: “These lights never get tired or stop monitoring and optimising themselves to maximise traffic flow, ensuring that any disruption is kept to a minimum.  This technology is better for drivers and site operatives.”

Trials of the RC2 smart traffic light system have already taken place in Essex, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire.  UK Power Networks said the findings from the Kent trial are currently being

considered and, if successful, smart TGS systems using AGD radars could in future be deployed across the county and the other areas the firm services.

With many local authorities aligning themselves to TOPAS (Traffic Open Products and Specifications) for traffic control and associated equipment, AGD is pleased to announce that its 318 Traffic Control Radar has now been accredited to TOPAS 2505A – which relates to its use on left- or right-turn filter lanes.

When above-ground radar is used on a filter lane, the standard MVD’s detection footprint is usually too wide, encroaching into the adjacent lanes. In addition, if the lane is short, further range reduction can only be achieved by pointing the radar down, which can cause false detections from the road surface.

The 318’s narrow beam, combined with the user’s ability to limit its range to within 1m, will overcome this issue, providing accurate detection for left- or right-turn filter lanes.

As more councils seek different technologies to keep detection out of the carriageway, and the 318 is a popular solution for MOVA, SD, bus, long shuttle and cycle applications.  AGD will pursue TOPAS accreditation for these applications over the coming months.

New video highlights benefits of AGD 343 Highways Monitoring Radar

AGD has created a video to illustrate the benefits of its new 343 Highways Monitoring Radar –

an easy-to-integrate traffic flow monitoring solution that provides real-time data on multi-lane highways. Designed for traffic profiling and incident detection, the 343 dramatically enhances highways safety, capability and efficiency.

Click here to view the video.

The 343 employs AGD’s proven enforcement-grade radar and measurement techniques to quantify speed, range and length of passing vehicles. MCH 1529 approved, it provides detailed traffic information on whether traffic is free-flowing, slowing or starting to queue, for instant decision-making.

The 343 offers reliable operation in managed motorway scenarios and ALR schemes.  The radar looks across both carriageways – up to 10 lanes – to detect vehicle travel in approaching and receding directions.

Simple to install, set up and configure, the 343 is pole-mounted – no need for lane closures or cutting the road surface.  Low lifetime cost and close to 100% up-time. Easily integrates with existing infrastructure and combines well with AGD’s enforcement solutions to offer a full product suite for UK motorways and international highways.

See the AGD 343 on stand E040 at this year’s Traffex, 2-4 April, NEC Birmingham.

AGD Systems has today announced a significant enhancement to its highly successful 645 Pedestrian Detector. From 1 March 2018, the AGD 645 optical kerbside detector will cover a 10m x 3m zone in standard build format. Until now, the 645 has offered a 5m x 3m detection zone, but this new version is capable of monitoring the new super-crossings that are increasingly being deployed internationally.

Ian Hind, AGD’s commercial director, commented: “Already seen in many locations worldwide, and particularly at modal intersections such as bus and rail stations, as well as in busy city centres, super-crossings are ever more prevalent. Now, just one of our 645 Pedestrian Detectors can cover an entire super-crossing, which can be up to 10m wide from pole to pole. We are anticipating a great deal of interest in this enhanced product, which we will be exhibiting at this year’s Intertraffic Amsterdam from 20 to 23 March.”

This high-performance product processes information on board with new chip-set and sophisticated algorithms for automated decision-making, to provide ultra-reliable detection. The AGD 645 employs a 3D HD stereo-vision optical sensor that detects moving and stationary targets. It has an outstanding capability to detect people while rejecting shadows, litter, leaves and other irrelevant distractions. The 645 also has IP and real-time video capabilities which allow it to feed data and pictures down the wire, straight into ITS control rooms, for truly informed, smart city decision-making.

The 645 is quick to set up using any WiFi device – smart-phone, tablet or laptop – with its unique and secure AGD Touch-setup that allows installers to configure the device in just a few clicks. Multiple AGD detectors may be set up at the same time from a safe position on the ground, or in a vehicle up to 100m away. Conveniently, the AGD 645 can be adjusted for zone changes just as quickly in the same way.

Customers can order trial samples of the new, larger zone AGD 645 Pedestrian Detector now, for delivery in May 2018.

Leading manufacturer of ITS product solutions, AGD Systems Limited, has acquired Radix Traffic Limited as part of its ambitious plans for growth. Radix, which is based in Romsey, Hampshire, is the largest manufacturer of ‘rotating cone’ tactile equipment to assist visually impaired pedestrians at signalised crossings. Radix designs and manufactures its market-leading products in-house and has a customer base that is complementary to AGD’s.

Pete Hutchinson, managing director of AGD Systems, says: “As one of the largest manufacturers of nearside signal equipment in the UK market, AGD has been a very satisfied customer of Radix for many years. There’s a natural fit between our product ranges and this acquisition comes at an exciting time for us, allowing us to build on the Radix brand with AGD know-how. Putting it all together makes sense because it means customers can continue to benefit from the Radix best-in-class product but now as part of the bigger AGD portfolio.”

The Radix tactile indicator, when fitted to the familiar nearside signals, allows a blind or partially sighted person to hold a cone which protrudes from the signal. When it is safe to cross, the cone starts rotating as the green man appears. When Radix was evaluating the market in 1988, a survey indicated that some 5,000 tactile units would satisfy UK need. Today it is estimated that more than 200,000 tactiles are operating on Britain’s crossings and junctions.

The contribution to the traffic industry of Radix founders, Dick Duley and Milan Fuchs, in making life easier for vulnerable pedestrians cannot be underestimated. Dick spent more than 50 years in the industry, starting as an apprentice with GEC, holding several key industry positions and directorships during his career. Milan joined Dick at GEC in 1968, where he designed the first microprocessor-based traffic controller. Dick and Milan’s commercial and technical skills enabled them to give support and encouragement to the Radix management team, now headed by traffic industry professional Brian Cherry.

Brian will continue as a director of the Radix division of AGD Systems, maintaining continuity for customers and assisting with the transitioning of the product portfolio. Contact numbers for Radix remain unchanged, and customers are welcome to visit AGD’s stand D026 at Traffex to meet Brian and the AGD traffic and pedestrian control team.

For further information, interviews and high-resolution images please contact:

• Christina Relf, Real Word Communications – +44 (0) 1962 795173,
  [email protected]
• Ian Hind, Commercial Director, AGD Systems – +44 (0) 1452 854212, [email protected]
• Brian Cherry, Director, Radix Division, AGD Systems – +44 (0) 1794 511388, [email protected]

Leading manufacturer of ITS product solutions AGD Systems will exhibit at this year’s Traffex exhibition, 2-4 April at the NEC, Birmingham.

Traffex is the UK’s largest and most established exhibition for all those involved in the traffic and pedestrian control sector. At this year’s show, AGD will showcase its new suite of pedestrian solutions for 2019.

The 326, available from September, allows optimisation of the crossing phase, giving back more green time to traffic. It is suitable for UK and international deployment, and features dynamically adjustable range for new site designs. The 641, available from May, offers a 4 x 2m zone for monitoring the pedestrian wait area and 3D stereo vision with self-IR illumination of zone for enhanced night-time detection. Both solutions offer safe, easy remote setup via a smart phone or tablet with AGD Touch-setup.

Ian Hind, AGD’s commercial director, says: “It is very exciting for AGD to be replacing its entire popular traffic control portfolio in 2019 with a new family of high-performance pedestrian and vehicle detectors for urban crossings and junction control.

“Customers will benefit from the ease, convenience and safety offered by WiFi AGD Touch-setup across the whole range, and a complementary suite of solutions that have been designed using valuable customer feedback for international as well as UK deployments.”

As part of this comprehensive solutions suite, visitors to Traffex can also see AGD’s WiFi-enabled, IP-capable 645 Pedestrian Detector – now with 10m x 3m detection zone, and the non-intrusive, loop-replacing 318 Traffic Control Radar.

The 645 now has volumetric capability as part of the standard build, which allows monitoring of the level of pedestrian occupancy in the wait zone for safer, smarter pedestrian crossings. The 318 includes an important new function: the ability to detect stationary or queuing traffic. This, together with WiFi AGD Touch-setup technology and an enhanced user setup GUI, will facilitate MOVA installations and other strategic applications.

AGD will also present its new 343 Highways Monitoring Radar at the show. Developed using the company’s experience and expertise in designing radars for highway speed enforcement, the AGD 343 is an easy-to-integrate traffic flow monitoring solution that provides real-time data on multi-lane highways.

The 343 can be mounted as close as 2m from inner edge of the inside lane of the carriageway and will still provide information for the lane immediately below the radar, as well as the lane on the farthest point of the carriageway – looking across both carriageways to detect vehicle travel in approaching and receding directions. It can be used almost anywhere for better-informed decision-making and optimised traffic flows and combines well with AGD’s enforcement solutions to offer a full product suite for UK smart motorways as well as international highways.

AGD can be found on stand D026 at Traffex 2019.

At this year’s Intertraffic Amsterdam, which took place on 20-23 March, AGD Systems welcomed a record number of visitors to its stand who were keen to find out more about its new, even larger zone kerbside detector, the AGD 645, and the highly successful non-intrusive, loop-replacing AGD 318 Traffic Control Radar.

Commercial Director Ian Hind noted high levels of interest from ITS professionals, traffic and transport authorities from across Europe and around the world.  “With a thriving export business, we are committed to extending our reach overseas and it was good to be able to talk to potential customers from a range of countries about how our product solutions can answer their needs.

“Intertraffic was not only a great opportunity to showcase our next-generation product solutions for Urban Traffic and Pedestrian Control but to collaborate with existing clients operating in the Enforcement and Highways sectors who are deploying advanced AGD radar solutions around the globe as part of their local inter-urban traffic control schemes”

As more local authorities aim to eradicate in-ground detection from their road networks, AGD Systems’ 318 Traffic Control Radar provides the intelligent solution they need.

Councils are seeking to cut the costs of installation, repair and ongoing maintenance of detection at junctions, and the new breed of above-ground radar provides a smart solution to wear-prone loops and magnetometers.

Says Ian Hind, commercial director at AGD Systems: “Staffordshire County Council recently used the AGD 318 Traffic Control Radar to replace speed detection loops at a busy junction, and the success of the solution has resulted in their decision to avoid in-ground detection wherever possible in the future. We believe it’s only a matter of time before others follow suit.”

Martin Fenlon, principal signals engineer at Staffordshire County Council, explains: “Because the road surface was in such poor condition where the loops would have been installed, the AGD 318 radar gave us an ideal, non-intrusive solution for detection. This option saves us a great deal of time and money because it is pole-mounted, easy to configure and maintenance-free.”

Developed from enforcement-grade technology, the AGD 318 provides accurate virtual loop detection with speed discrimination, and can emulate two inductive loops to a range of 150m or provide lane-specific detection up to 40m for a range of applications. Because it is pole-mounted, it requires no ducting or intrusive works to install, and there is no need for traffic management and the associated disruption to road users. Easy to set up using AGD Touch-setup, the AGD 318 is cheaper to maintain and the detection zone can easily be changed or moved without any intrusive works.

“The AGD 318 detects vehicle type based on range, size, speed and direction of travel, enabling green wave strategies in which bikes and buses can be prioritised over cars,” continues Ian Hind. “It is ideal in a huge range of applications, including MOVA, speed discrimination and single left or right turn. Using this technology can save councils many thousands of pounds while helping ensure optimal performance of roads, junctions and crossings.”

Martin Fenlon at Staffordshire County Council concludes: “Road surfaces are not being maintained as well as they once were, due to budget constraints, which can result in problems for intrusive detection solutions. And of course traffic management costs when you cut loops into the road are huge. Loop-free technology is the only way to go as far as we’re concerned.”

AGD Systems is pleased to announce that its parent company, The Traffic Group Limited (TTG) – formerly AGD Group Limited – has acquired MAV Systems Limited (MAV) as part of its ambitious plans for growth.

MAV is one of the world’s foremost suppliers of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. It employs 21 staff based in Eynsford, Kent, and also has a sales office in Sutton Coldfield. MAV designs and manufactures its products in-house and has a customer base that is complementary to AGD’s. MAV will continue to operate as a stand-alone business under its existing management.

AGD Systems is already working with MAV supplying radar products to work alongside MAV’s IQ range of intelligent ANPR cameras, and the two companies are currently collaborating on a number of other synergistic systems. The acquisition will bring a more extensive range of traffic solutions under one banner.

MAV has achieved excellent growth within the ITS, parking, policing and enforcement markets in the UK and internationally. Combining the intentional sales channels of MAV with those of TTG’s existing businesses will create significantly enhanced opportunities for new overseas sales.

Steve Walker, co-founder and managing director of MAV, commented: “In joining forces with TTG we are already seeing opportunities to develop enhanced products for all our customers beyond those we originally foresaw. The depth of technical and market expertise we now jointly possess is truly world-class and inspirational.”

Mike Hutchinson, chairman of The Traffic Group, added: “This acquisition comes at a very exciting time for us, with the formation of TTG to steer a group of strong companies – each a leader in its field – into a new phase of growth and expansion, with a product range that increasingly addresses the wider needs of the traffic market.”