Network Operations

The objective of the Network Program for 2012-16 is to improve productivity and reliability of road use, in moving people and goods.  It has seven key outputs which are:

-    ITS architecture adopted nationally
-    Standardised traffic system requirements
-    Network operating techniques for all modes
-    Next generation network operations performance measures
-    National Cycling Strategy 2011-16 implementation
-    Information services standardised for users
-    Guide to Traffic Management.

It achieves these outputs through several groups including the Network Task Force, the Traffic Management Working Group and the Australian Bicycle Council.

 Network Taskforce:

The role of the Network Task Force is to assist road and transport agencies in their efforts to optimise utilisation of the road network through undertaking strategic research to gather intelligence and improving tools and techniques of network management.

Achievements for 2011-12:

In 2011-12, the Network Program delivered a large number of outputs, including eight completed projects, nine published reports, continued dissemination of the Guide to Traffic Management, significant steps forward in the Cooperative ITS arena and continued work to harmonise practices. 

Achievements include the publication of Implementing National Best Practice for Traffic Control at Worksites (AP-R403-12) which harmonises the practices across the states and territories in relation to traffic control at worksites, addressing identified differences in a range of legislation, policy, codes of practice, guides and training. It delivered two outputs the first being a ‘field guide’ which identified the elements of national best practice, particularly in the areas of risk management, auditing and field operations and the second identified units of competency to form nationally consistent skill sets through the functional analysis of roles and the mapping of existing jurisdictional practice.

Also published was The Use of Microsimulation Traffic Models for On-road Public Transport (AP-R401-12) which considered how the microsumulation techniques could be used with on road public transport to better understand the various priority treatments and their impacts on the network. The report highlighted that the use of upstream detectors can provide useful data to assist with adaptive traffic control. 

A number of publications about Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems have also been highlights for the Network program.  These include New Traffic Signal Controller - Functional Specification (AP-R396-11) which continued work around traffic signal controllers and delivered stakeholder consultation and the functional requirements of an Advanced Australian Traffic Signal Controller and Emerging Telecommunication Developments in WAN/LAN for Intelligent Transport Systems (AP-R399-12) which reviewed available communication technologies with regard to their use to support intelligent transport systems (ITS) networks to provide the ability to support efficient and safe vehicle movements..

Several Guide to Traffic Management projects were underway in 2011-12 for completion in 2012-13.  For more information on these please visit the Traffic Management page.

Current work - 2012-13:

The Network Program has a significant work program scheduled for 2012-13, framed around the Austroads Strategic Plan. There will be continued development in the areas of ITS Architecture Development as a framework within which to coordinate and operate ITS devices.  This will include the development of ITS Standards, continued development of Cooperative ITS (securing bandwidth allocation and developing protocols) and managing and developing new models for existing devices and how they interact. 

There are also a number of projects dealing with standardised traffic system requirements. These will provide Austroads and its members clear direction and opportunities to work together to deliver consistent traffic system requirements from a procurement approach to sharing of information and harmonising practices.

Network Operations projects in 2012-13 along with the cycling projects will provide opportunities for road authorities to consider their finite resource to get the best out of it for different road users.

To view all Austroads projects in further detail please click here.     

Network projects 2012-13: 

Contact details

Program Manager:

Steve Brown
Executive Director - Regional Operations
VicRoads

Program Support:

Heather Bishop
Austroads Program Assistant
VicRoads
Level 6, 60 Denmark St
KEW  VIC  3101
Phone: +61 3 9854 2867
Fax: +61 3 9854 2500
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