A leading ITS manufacturer with three decades of expertise has launched its latest product.

The AGD650, developed and produced by AGD Systems, is a dual-lane stop-line detector with potential data capabilities which are already creating excitement in the industry.

The 650 was first showcased at the Intertraffic event in Amsterdam this spring, and will also be on show again during Traffex this month (June).

A limited number of trial kits will then be installed around the country, to enable a select group of local authorities and highways organisations access to the product before it goes on general sale across the world.

Commercial Director Ian Hind says: “We’re thrilled to add the 650 to our product range, and it’s been fantastic to see solid initial interest – especially from organisations keen to see an increase in the data which can be gleaned from traffic detectors.

“The 650 is a step up from our previous offerings, in terms of its data capabilities, but we know we can take this much further and it’s a key area of focus for us going forward.

“The richer the data streams, the more possibilities for control centres and for those planning the future of infrastructure and transportation. The ITS is always a fast-moving sector, and it’s even more exciting at the moment because we know how much this area is set to develop in the coming years.”

The 650 has inbuilt artificial intelligence and makes use of a new neural processing platform and sophisticated algorithms to provide ultra-reliable real-time detection and automated decision making on vehicle types, including bicycles and scooters.

The hardware platform is future proofed for vehicle classification to provide more detailed information in the future.

There are two independent detection zones which can be adjusted remotely, and the product makes use of AGD’s WiFi Touch-setup system.

More information is available by visiting the 650 product page – and anyone interested in trialling the 650 should get in touch with the team by calling 01452 854212 or clicking the button below.

We are delighted to announce that The Traffic Group are now an accredited Living Wage Employer!

This means that every member of staff working for The Traffic Group (incorporating AGD Systems, MAV Systems, and Traffic Group Signals) will earn a wage that truly reflects the cost of living, not just the government minimum wage.

In light of the cost-of-living crisis, the choice to make this adjustment came as common sense. Since last December, food and drink prices have increased 4.2%, housing and utilities by 4% and transport by 12.1%. We hope that this commitment to paying a fair wage will help reduce the financial burden on our staff and support with costs of travel.

In addition to becoming officially accredited and committing to a fairer Living Wage, we have introduced further pay scales to support employee development.

Like any responsible employer paying the real living wage will make a real difference to the financial well-being of our staff. With the cost of living rising during 2022, this commitment to our staff ensures they will be able to afford the things they need to live and worry less about their income.

“The response from staff has been extremely positive and reaffirms our decision. We, as an organisation, would encourage others to join in supporting their staff and the Living Wage Foundation.”

• Ian Hind, Commercial Director at AGD Systems.

The real Living Wage is higher than the government’s minimum, or National Living Wage, and is an independently calculated hourly rate of pay that is based on the actual cost of living. It is calculated each year and is announced by the Living Wage Foundation as part of Living Wage Week. It is currently £9.90 in the UK, with a higher rate of £11.05 for London, reflecting the higher costs of living in the capital.

As it stands, workers paid the government’s National Living Wage need almost an extra £800 per year to bring earnings in line with the real Living Wage. This difference could pay for 13 weeks of food, or 10 weeks of housing costs.

Katherine Chapman, Director, Living Wage Foundation said: “We’re delighted that The Traffic Group has joined the movement of almost 9,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on.”

“They join thousands of small businesses, as well as household names such as Burberry, Barclays, Everton Football Club and many more. These businesses recognise that paying the real Living Wage is the mark of a responsible employer and they, like The Traffic Group, believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.”

Since 2011, the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 300,000 people and put over £1.6 billion extra into the pockets of low paid workers. You can hear some of their stories here.

The importance of ensuring workers throughout England earn a fair wage is crucial now more than ever, in the face of higher bills and cost of essentials. This is a choice that we encourage all businesses to make; it’s our responsibility to pay our staff a wage they can support themselves and their families with.

If you have any questions or concerns about the Living Wage please contact [email protected] or use the webform here.

You can find out more about the Living Wage by visiting www.livingwage.org.uk.

Keep an eye out for opportunities to join the business as we are hiring in a number of areas

Traffex visitors will be among the first to see AGD’s latest offering up close, when the event begins on Tuesday 14^th June.

One of the products being showcased on our stand will be the AGD650, a stop-line detector that will have the capability to deliver a rich data stream on targets approaching intersections.

And our Commercial Director Ian Hind and Commercial Manager Greg Baker will also be taking to the stage at the Solutions Showcase Theatre to discuss exactly how the ITS sector can develop the use of data – to the benefit of highways authorities everywhere.

About the AGD650:

The smart, optical AI detector is designed for either single or dual stop-line configurations, with provision for cycle refuge areas. High-grade optics and deep-learning image recognition are used to detect stationary and moving targets – making use of WiFi AGD Touch-setup to speed up installation and reduce risk.

The ability to send real time data and video with IP connectivity to ITS control rooms means truly informed decision-making is on the horizon for all vehicle target types.

About our presentation:

Ian and Greg will be speaking at the Solutions Showcase Theatre at 11.05am on day 2 of the event (Wednesday 15^th June), focusing on where the data stream journey may lead.

Looking at the need for a shared industry-wide language, and how the sector can respond to new forms of transport and new travel patterns, they’ll explore not only what data is available now, but also what the future could hold.

Questions and discussion are welcomed, so do join them for what promises to be an interesting debate.

Where to find us:

You can find us at stand D026, where we’ll be displaying the AGD650 and many of our other class-leading detection solutions which have contributed towards our position as one of the UK’s most successful manufacturers of ITS products.

If you haven’t yet secured your free visitor ticket, you can do so at www.traffex.com

The team at AGD Systems is thrilled to be finally attending Intertraffic Amsterdam, scheduled to take place from 29th March to 1st April 2022 – a welcome return for the event after organisers were forced to postpone last year’s plans.

We’re embracing the opportunity to showcase our class-leading pedestrian and traffic monitoring radar solutions, connect with over 800 exhibitors, and greet contacts old and new during what is sure to be an outstanding event.

With the traffic industry undergoing major changes in a bid to drive growth towards safer, greener and more efficient transport environments, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the latest trends in traffic mobility, from Infrastructure, Safety, and Parking, to Smart Mobility and Traffic Management.

As one of the leading UK manufacturers of ITS products developing the most innovative systems for smart cities, smart highways and intelligent crossings, our friendly team will be on hand throughout the four-day event to explore with you our pioneering and future-proof pedestrian and highways monitoring radar systems.

It is also the perfect occasion to share with you details of an exciting new product launching soon, which is in the final stages of development and set to be a game changer, showing early signs of hugely impressive performance!

The AGD team will be on Stand 05.428 in Hall 5, so do come along and say hello if you’re planning to attend.

If you haven’t already done so, head along to the Intertraffic Amsterdam website now to secure your ticket to this unmissable event.

When it comes to preparing for an influx of visitors, ensuring traffic stays moving while hosting one of the biggest sporting events on the globe is a tall order.

The team at ITS Qatar has been tasked with ensuring that intelligent traffic systems on the ‘FIFA Corridor’ (as it’s known colloquially) are up to the task ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022 kicking off in Qatar in November. Given the importance of the job, they’re relying on tried and tested technology manufactured and supplied by AGD Systems to maximise the safety and efficiency of the roads during the event.

Matches will be played across eight venues, one near Al Khor in the north and the other seven in and around the capital city of Doha. It’s estimated that more than 1 million fans will attend the 28-day event, meaning traffic monitoring and movement will be crucial.

ITS Qatar’s CEO Eng. Abdelrahman Al Khateeb explains: “We wanted to use technology that had been tried and tested across the world, and partner with a company which we knew would be able to meet the specifications needed.

“Qatar has developed incredibly quickly, and many huge highways were built around five years ago – now that technology has improved, enhancements are needed to update the systems being used on these highways.

“Ian and the team at AGD have been great at not only providing the systems that we required, but also keeping us up to date at every step along the way, supporting with installation and maintenance, and providing training for our clients too.

“We are involved in two of the FIFA infrastructure projects, worth a combined total of almost £30m – these both have a tight schedule to ensure everything is ready for the games, so the first began in December 2020 and will finish by May this year, and the second began in November 2021 and will be complete in August 2022.

“It’s been a breath of fresh air to work with Ian and the AGD team, they’ve been there to assist us with everything we’ve needed and the response rate has been excellent. I would definitely recommend them and hope to work with them on future projects.”

AGD has supplied over 100 of their AGD343 Systems as part of ITS Qatar’s FIFA infrastructure projects.

The 343 Highways Monitoring Radar provides real-time, multi-lane highways data and helps agencies across the world enhance the safety, capability and efficiency of their traffic systems.

Detailed data can be captured across up to 10 lanes, including the speed, direction and type of passing vehicles. The 343 leads the way, not only compared to outdated high-maintenance loop systems, but also compared to radar systems which must be installed far from the carriageway: by comparison, the 343 can be sited just 2 metres from the nearest lane.

Manufacturing, supply, and support for the installation and maintenance are all taken care of by AGD Systems, one of the UK’s most successful manufacturers of ITS products. With more than 30 years of delivering solutions for smart cities and highways, and strategic transport initiatives around the globe, AGD has a range of product solutions which fit today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges.

Transport for London (TfL) has been experimenting with the default status of traffic lights, trialling new Green Person Authority signals at 18 locations across the city.

These innovative signals shift the priority from road users to pedestrians, showing by default a red light to traffic and a green man indicating that it is safe to cross on foot. When traffic approaches these sites, the red light temporarily switches to green to allow it to continue through.

Interesting new data has now been released from the trial, which indicates that this pioneering technology has been hugely successful in helping to boost safety since the beginning of the trial in May 2021 – helping deliver TfL and the Mayor’s Vision Zero commitment to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on London’s roads.

The trial highlighted huge benefits to pedestrians, with the technology making it easier and safer for them to cross, and reducing their journey times. At the average trial location, the collective time saved by pedestrians was 1.3 hours per day, with the green pedestrian signal showing for an extra 56 minutes per day. More than half of pedestrians were able to cross within 5 seconds of arriving at a crossing, effectively not waiting for the green man at all. Whilst compliance with the signals by road users stayed the same, compliance by pedestrians did increase during the trial by 13%, reducing the risk of collision with a vehicle.

This increase in safety and convenience for pedestrians was found to have virtually no impact on traffic. Any increase in journey times was minimal, with the largest recorded increase in travel time being just 11 seconds. Several sites even showed improved journey times.

To ensure a healthy and sustainable pandemic recovery, enabling more people to walk or cycle is paramount. The trial offered promising results for a shift towards this goal, and TfL now continues to assess how pedestrian priority technology could be improved and rolled out to other locations across London.

At AGD, we’re pleased to see such positive results and hope this paves the way for more pedestrian and traffic monitoring solutions being implemented across the capital, to the benefit of all road users.

When the Ministry of Transportation (Highways Division) in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia was seeking an effective solution to its outdated vehicle monitoring and traffic flow system, it was the team here at AGD that had the perfect offering.

Having previously relied upon standard inductive loops, The Highways Division was looking for a non-intrusive alternative in order to provide high quality data on vehicular volume, classification, and speed across all lanes of a busy highway.

Having had a partnership with us lasting more than two generations, AGD’s Canadian distributor, North Line Canada Ltd, recommended to its client an initial trial of our 343 Highways Monitoring Radar.

The project’s location was Kelly Lake Compliance Station situated on the Veteran’s Memorial Highway route 102, a site that utilised Weigh In Motion Sensors (WIMS) along with high-maintenance inductive loops.

One of the core challenges posed by the Canadian Highways Division was that the highway (which spanned almost 90 metres) comprised of multiple lanes in both directions, divided by a large, grassed median. Being able to set the radar to accommodate an elevation difference of over one metre between the north and southbound lanes was also vital.

Dean Jarvis, AGD’s Commercial Engineer, explains: “Our 343 radar was designed specifically to combat the challenges faced by authorities who require their monitoring products to be situated close to the highway itself. Most radars must be mounted between 5m and 8m from the carriageway, and – particularly on roads where the edge of the highway is close to the built environment – there isn’t always that amount of space available.

“The 343 can be mounted as close as two metres from the inner edge of the inside lane and, due to a bespoke antenna, will still provide information for the lane immediately below the radar, as well as the lane on the farthest point of the carriageway. The 343 is angled at 30o, but it can also monitor up to ten lanes of traffic, looking across both carriageways to detect vehicles travelling in approaching and receding directions – making it the perfect solution for this particular project.”

Following official approval for the trial to proceed at the designated site, the North Line team got to work and completed the installation at the location in less than 45minutes, with all traffic monitoring fully functional within a quarter of an hour of final commissioning.

Jim Sheehan of North Line Canada, commented at the start of the trial: “When we were approached by the Province of Nova Scotia and asked for assistance, the AGD343 product was an obvious choice as a solution to their very specific needs.

“AGD’s reputation for reliable equipment, intensive quality control, and their highly efficient responses to customer feedback meant that we were extremely confident that the initial installation would be a success – and we’d like to offer a huge thank you to the expert and experienced team on the ground at AGD who ensured a smooth and pain-free transition.”

The trial was a success, and the Highways Division in the Province of Nova Scotia were very happy with the performance of the radar at the test site, with the data provided being consistent with the data received via their IRD WIMS site. Subsequently we’ll be sending more units out in the coming months.

North Line Canada continue to recommend the AGD343, and we’re also set to deliver 343s to other customers of theirs – including highways authorities in British Columbia eagerly awaiting feedback from Nova Scotia with a view to updating their older loop sites.

At AGD, we are delighted with the continued success of the AGD343 product in providing the ideal solution to the unique challenges faced in Nova Scotia.

Introducing the enhanced 24m AGD 326, the on-crossing pedestrian detector from AGD Systems

The latest update provides greater range and more precise coverage of the crossing, increasing support for wider crossings and improved pedestrian detection.

Building on the performance of the original 326, AGD Systems have developed an enhancement that eliminates detection black spots using a unique kite shaped detection zone. Furthermore, the radar range has been increased from 16 to 24 metres, making it suitable for use on wider crossings.

“AGD Systems is committed to continually improving our products to provide safer, greener and more efficient solutions for our customers and road users. The enhancement to the 326 radar will supersede the current model and lead to more accurate detection on crossings, increasing safety and expanding its applications in international markets.”

Installers will benefit from the new wi-fi AGD Touch Set-up user interface, which has been simplified to be more intuitive and can be easily accessed using a mobile device or tablet. The pedestrian crossing visualisation ensures correct set-up according to the road layout, which can be verified using the Walk Test method.

“Combined with the new interface, the Walk Test method is a quick and effective way to set-up and test the 326 radar. Installers will benefit from a new level of detection accuracy, which will enable the precise mapping of the detection zone to the crossing.”

The AGD 326 pedestrian on-crossing detector will be available internationally from 1^st of September. AGD Systems are supporting the release with a new product manual and video guides, which can be accessed via their website and by scanning a QR code contained within the product packaging.

For more information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.agd-systems.com

AGD Looks Ahead to Highways UK 2021

Following the success of last year’s virtual event, we’re thrilled to be heading back to the NEC, Birmingham next week for Highways UK 2021.

Taking place on the 3^rd and 4^th November, Highways UK is one of the calendar highlights for the highways and road infrastructure sectors, and we’re very much looking forward to meeting with our friends and peers from across the industry face-to-face once again.

The core themes of this year’s event are innovation, sustainability, and investment – and our team will be on hand to share with visitors how we’re supporting system integrators, road authorities and traffic engineers across the globe to deliver world-leading solutions which create safer, greener, and more efficient transport environments.

We’ll be showcasing our range of traffic and pedestrian monitoring products including our AGD343 Highways Monitoring Radar which has been expertly designed to provide real-time traffic flow data across multi-lane highways.  We’ll also be demonstrating our AGD318 and 306 traffic control radars as well as our ever-popular AGD641 and 326 pedestrian detectors which have been developed specifically for applications where the detection and safety of moving pedestrians is required.

There’ll also be opportunities for attendees to hear about the international successes of the AGD343 Highways Monitoring Radar in locations as far afield as Australia and the Middle East where the ease of radar set-up and deployment is very high on people’s agenda.

The AGD team will be on Stand number F83 throughout the two-day event, so if you’re planning on attending – please do come along and say hi.

We are thrilled to be returning to Nottingham Trent University on the 15^th and 16^th September for the 26^th JCT Traffic Signal Symposium and Exhibition.

After many months of social restrictions, the team is hugely excited to have the opportunity to once again meet with industry peers face-to-face at this long-established annual event.

We’re also proud to be co-sponsors of the 2021 video recordings of the Symposium presentations and are very much looking forward to hearing from all of the fantastic speakers from across the sector.

Throughout the two-day event, we’ll be showcasing our range of traffic and pedestrian monitoring products and will also be sharing news of what’s to come over the next few months.

We’ll be on Stand number 01 – so do come along and find out more.