Systems in the individual areas of traffic management and transport telematics were expanded and innovated on in 2020 with an emphasis on connecting them to each other. The primary goal was to increase the permeability of the road network via these systems and thereby optimise traffic levels and increase the flow and safety thereof.

Transport telematics have had increasingly broad application in the road traffic management processes through traffic signals and superordinate switchboards, as well as in the provision of traffic and travel information, in parking, monitoring and warning systems, and last but not least in creating the conditions for improving the quality of public transport.

Two new traffic signals were built within the City of Prague in 2020. One is a provisional pedestrian crossing on Ječná and the other, in its final form, was installed on the street Na Zlíchově as part of overhauling the tram tracks. As part of the same project, the timed traffic light for access from the Lihovar tram stop was done away with. As part of restoration of the Strakonická – Nádražní intersection, the standalone pedestrian cross that was controlled by a single sequencer along with the intersection was removed. The number of sequencers thus increased by one to 668, with the number of signal-controlled sites on the road network also increasing by one to a total of 706.

The number of traffic signals on the tram network has not changed. The number of lights with tram priority increased by five to 211. Bus priority was implemented at seven sites. Detailed information on priority for public transport is provided in Chapter 7.

Basic data on traffic signals in Prague
Traffic signals (TS) total	Stand-alone pedestrian crossings	TS centrally controlled
668 (by number of controlers)	156	503
TS on tram network	TS with tram priority	TS with bus priority
247	219	251
Number of new, removed and refurbished trafic signals in 2020
2 new, 1 removed		37 refurbished

A total of 37 signal-controlled intersections and crossings were renovated in 2020. These works particularly improved the conditions for pedestrians, for example during restoration of the signals at the Resslova – Karlovo náměstí intersection, where barrier-free street-level crossings were added.

Intersections around Anděl and Na Knížecí had their equipment renewed. During restoration of traffic signal 4.454 Modřanská – Barrandovský most ramps, the capacity of the whole intersection was increased through structural modifications.

Control centres are systematic nodes for managing traffic using traffic signals. The structure of such management in Prague is divided up into several levels. At the lowest level are the individual traffic signals with sequencers, which are gradually being connected to the Area Traffic Control Centres (ATCC).

Control of traffic signals and management of whole areas is centralised through the automated ATCCs into the main Urban Traffic Control Centre (UTCC), which is located at the public transport Central Dispatching building on the street Na bojišti in Prague 2. From the UTCC, dispatchers can currently control roughly two thirds of all the traffic signals in Prague. The system of control centres is run by TSK.

As of 31 December 2020, ten Area Traffic Control Centres had been installed in Prague and 503 signals were connected to this central level.

The Traffic Information Centre (TIC) has been in operation since 1 July 2005 and is the longest serving centre of its type in the Czech Republic. Since 2016 it has been providing continuous operation under the City of Prague Technical Administration of Roads (TSK). In 2017 the TIC was joined by the City Camera System (CCS).

TIC dispatchers make sure information is entered into the content management system, collaborating actively with the Prague Outer Ring Road Control Centre (PORR CC) in Rudná, the National Traffic Information Centre in Ostrava (NDIC), Czech Radio and Czech Television. They also run the system of devices for traffic information (DTI), keep track of the differences between automatically generated traffic volumes and the actual situation, and last but not least monitor alternative sources of traffic information.

As part of the Single Traffic Information System (STIS), information is passed on to Mapy.cz, Waze, etc. Output is also provided for the TSK website (www.tsk-praha.cz) and the TIC website (dic.tsk-praha.cz or www.dopravapraha.cz).

TSK also provides information for broadcast by the RDS – TMC (Radio Data System – Traffic Message Channel) on the frequency of Czech Radio‘s Regina DAB Praha station. This system displays the current traffic information in navigation systems and makes driving around the city easier.

The other transport telematics systems in the City of Prague include all the systems that help monitor the traffic situation on Prague‘s roads.

CAMERA MONITORING SYSTEMS

The centre of the TVD-TSK camera monitoring system is the Urban Traffic Control Centre and the main users are the dispatchers at UTCC and TIC Prague. Overall 843 cameras are available in the television monitoring system, both from TSK's surveillance systems and from monitoring in the Blanka Tunnel Complex.

Camera television monitoring systems in the City of Prague (TVD)
System	Cameras	System description
TVD-TSK	448	Monitoring of traffic situation – run by TSK
TVD-TKB	395	Monitoring of traffic and equipment in Blanka Tunnel Complex
MKS	1 100	Monitoring of (traffic) safety system – run by City Hall Departments
DPP	1 200	Monitoring of situation in metro – run by Prague Public Transport Company

We distinguish between several types of camera, chiefly based on their primary purpose. In tunnels there are fixed cameras with a video detection safety function. Using a software definition of potential events that can take place in their field of vision, these cameras can detect a stopped vehicle, a slow-moving vehicle, emerging congestion, an object on the roadway that is blocking traffic, or other potentially dangerous situations such as a pedestrian in traffic, vehicle going the wrong way or reduced visibility in the tunnel. Not only do these cameras provide an image for online monitoring by UTCC and TIC dispatchers, but also events that trigger predefined automatic reactions in the control system of the tunnel in question.

The second type of camera are rotating cameras that allow operators to rotate or zoom the camera, thereby acquiring an overview of the transport situation from farther parts of the road being observed. Newer types of such rotating cameras installed in the most recent projects under the Operational Programme Transport OPD can also detect basic characteristics of traffic. Stills from traffic cameras are also available on TSK's website http://unicam.tsk-praha.cz/Discoverer/KTDS or at http://www.tsk-praha.cz/wps/portal/root/aktualni-doprava/dopravni-kamery.

System of traffic information collection

Another type of transport telematic device is strategic traffic detectors. We differentiate between strategic loop detectors (induction loops), which are part of the relevant traffic signal, and strategic spot detectors (SDDŘ) and section detectors (SDDÚ), which are a significant source of traffic data in the City of Prague.

Spot (SDDŘ) and section (SDDÚ) strategic traffic detectors
Detectors	Number	Description
SDDÚ	22	Two portals with cameras designed for collection of data on a section.
SDDŘ	108	Video detectors placed on lamp posts designed for collection of data at a spot.

Devices for high-speed weighing of freight vehicles (WIM)

The system of weighing vehicles while moving (WIM – Weight in Motion) is in place at eight locations in Prague that are heavily trafficked by freight vehicles. The principle of the system is based on measurement of the dynamic effect of individual wheels on the carriageway (pressure sensors). When the vehicle passes, the speed and acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle is also measured. The system furthermore categorises vehicles into classes and, in connection with other WIM locations (reading licence plates), makes it possible to evaluate where vehicles are travelling.

Travel times

In order to inform about current travel times between selected locations, a network of routes with sensors monitoring travel times has been built in the City of Prague. The system collects and encrypts the MAC addresses of passing wireless devices. When these pass through multiple cross-sections on the route, the system obtains the actual time it took. It then provides the statistically analysed data to the public using selected DTIs (28 DTI locations) and the website http://unicam.tsk-praha.cz/Discoverer/TravelTime3. In 2020 travel times were measured in this manner at 40 sections, with 1 of those also evaluating travel times for the category of freight vehicles.

Parking sensors

A smart parking project – Parking Detection, was started in Hradební and Řásnovka street. It is a smart parking system based on the real-time detection of occupancy rates of parking places, primarily by the use of cameras and artificial intelligence.

The key benefits of this system are the optimisation of limited parking areas, providing information to drivers of vehicles about current occupancy rate of the parking area, improved safety of the area thanks to modern surveillance technologies, utilizing the system for long-term gathering of traffic data for development planning, integration of solution to higher units – e.g. linking to the police etc.

Using magnetometric detectors, the occupancy of 57 parking spots reserved for those with physical disabilities (holders of the ZTP or ZTP/P cards) in the central part of Prague is determined. The read online data are sent to a central server, which then provides them in the tied-in “ZTP Parking” app, available for both Android and iOS. As part of this project, inventory was taken of reserved parking spots in Prague 1, 2, 3 and 8.

Weather detectors

The network of weather detectors include road weather detectors (RWD, 28), automatic emission monitors (AEM, 12) and informative emission monitoring stations (IEMS, 18).

Traffic offence teelmatics systems

The basis for all traffic offence systems is a close-up camera that can read registration plates. The data acquired in this manner are passed on in a protected manner to the competent department of the municipal or state police. All devices also serve to collect traffic information.

Section speed measurement (MÚR)

Devices for measuring the speed on a road section (MÚR) consist of a pair of cross-sections with cameras that take a picture of vehicles. By identifying the vehicle from its registration plate, geodetically measuring the length of the segment and using time data, the average vehicle speed in the measured section is calculated, reduced by the margin of tolerance, and compared to the speed limit. The system is highly effective in terms of forcing the speed limit to be followed. Since this system was installed in 2006, the number of offences in the given locations fell from a range of 30 to 60 % to a range of around 1 to 5 % of recorded vehicles.

In 2019 the location V Holešovičkách – heading into the centre was put into operation, thus in total speed is now being measured in this way at 60 stretches in Prague. Of this number, ten locations are located in tunnels on the City Ring Road, where they contribute significantly to the flow and thus also safety of traffic.

Spot speed measurement (MOR)

In certain cases the measurement of section speed is also tied in to a location for spot speed measurement (MOR) using cameras at a single cross-section. Spot speed is measured by evaluating signals from a pair of induction loops. A close-up camera with registration plate reading then takes care of registering the offence. The MOR system was first realised in Prague in 2010 near the Ořechovka tram stop heading into the centre. As of 31 December 2020, spot speed measurement was being conducted at 38 locations.

Intersections with a system for documenting the running of red lights

As part of the applications for registering traffic offences, systems have been installed in Prague for detecting and documenting the running of red lights. As of 31 December 2020, this offence was being recorded at a total of 19 locations.

Since 2012, a device has been installed on Čs. armády by the street Národní obrany that records the offences of drivers who do not yield to pedestrians at the uncontrolled crossing.

PROVISION OF TRAFFIC INFORMATION

Devices for traffic information (DTI)

Serving to directly and indirectly manage and influence traffic in Prague are devices for traffic information – DTIs. The project phase for building and modernising DTIs in Prague was completed in 2013.

Since that year, a total of 58 DTIs have been at the disposal of TIC operators and also motorists.

In 2015, the DTIs installed as part of building the Blanka Tunnel Complex were also incorporated into the system, which now numbers a total of 72 information boards meant for traffic information of citywide significance (a further 26 two-line DTIs are installed in Blanka to inform on the current situation in the tunnel).

Through the system that collects current traffic information from the various subsystems, operators of the Traffic Information Centre (TIC) can use text messages on DTIs to inform drivers of various emergencies, closures and restrictions or on the current traffic situation immediately in front of the driver.

In terms of choosing which messages to display, there is a system of priorities and orders that takes into account the significance of an emergency and its location relative to the DTI in question.

Cooperative systems – RSU locations

In 2015, RSUs were installed on radial roads as part of the Operational Programme Transport (OPD). The goal was to build up an infrastructure of connection points where vehicles equipped with compatible OBUs can pass along data on their trip and acquire traffic information from the whole route. This was a pilot project.

Telematic systems for increasing traffic safety

This subsection mentions telematics systems intended to address the issue of improving traffic safety in concrete locations with concrete measures. These systems tend to be solely local in scope.

The most numerous of such systems is informative speed measurement. An LED panel shows the road users their speed as measured by radar, which leads to an increase in compliance with the speed limit. 

In 2018, a height checking system was installed on the street Dukelských hrdinů, the purpose of which is to prevent the overhead lines from being torn down in the low underpass leading to Výstaviště. The system warns drivers through flashing lights that the height limit has been exceeded.

Telematics systems do not only serve vehicles and their drivers, but also pedestrians. At ten locations in Prague, highlighting of pedestrian crossings has been installed. LED markers have been installed in the street along the axis of the crossing. These start flashing when a pedestrian enters the waiting space at the edge of the crossing, thus signalling the presence of a pedestrian to the approaching vehicles.