This text is an excerpt taken from Christian Chong-White’s presentation for the ITS Australia Summit 2025, titled “Motion Management Will Reshape Adaptive Sign Programs in Australia.”
Classes from Rail Signalling Evolution and Motion & Place Rules
Government Abstract
Cities at this time demand extra than simply environment friendly site visitors stream; they require streets that perform as locations for individuals, supporting security, accessibility, and vibrant neighborhood life. But, most site visitors sign methods stay locked in phase-based management, a inflexible strategy that teams a number of actions to run inexperienced collectively for a similar interval. This outdated mannequin struggles to reply to dynamic site visitors patterns, multimodal wants, and the expectations of contemporary city design.
Rail transport confronted an identical problem a long time in the past. Conventional mounted block signalling constrained capability and suppleness, limiting the power to adapt to real-time situations. The answer was transformative: Communications-Based mostly Practice Management (CBTC) and the European Practice Management System (ETCS) launched transferring block rules, steady communication, and granular management. These improvements delivered 30–40% capability features, improved security, and enabled automation—proving that abandoning inflexible groupings for demand-responsive management unlocks effectivity and resilience.
Motion Management (also referred to as Motion-Based mostly Management, Sign group management, Group management) applies this confirmed logic to street networks. As a substitute of serving whole phases no matter demand, it treats every motion as an impartial management unit, dynamically allocating inexperienced time based mostly on real-time situations. This fine-grained strategy reduces wasted inexperienced time, prioritises buses and pedestrians, and scales seamlessly with related car applied sciences.
Crucially, Motion Management aligns with the Motion and Place framework, which guides transport planning towards streets that stability mobility with liveability. By adapting sign providers to the context of place-oriented websites—akin to city centres and excessive streets—it meets neighborhood expectations for safer, extra walkable environments whereas sustaining environment friendly motion.
The case is evident: simply as rail signalling advanced from mounted blocks to dynamic management, site visitors indicators should evolve from phase-based logic to Motion Management. Doing so will ship measurable advantages in effectivity, security, sustainability, and concrete high quality—positioning cities for a future the place transport methods serve each motion and place.
Nukon has been serving to shoppers undertake superior adaptive site visitors sign management, together with Motion Management, via strategic steerage, trial design, and efficiency evaluation. Customized software program options have been developed to assist detailed evaluation, introducing new static methods to estimate effectivity features from upgrading Section Management methods.
Evaluation has proven potential enhancements of up to 47% at key intersections [1] —insights which are proving crucial in guiding area trials and broader deployments. The static evaluation outcomes proved similar to printed outcomes from a area trial in Japan that in contrast Section Management to Motion Management.
Determine 1: Fastened block versus transferring block
The Japanese research revealed a street capability improve of 39% and 24%, and a management delay lower of -65% and 38% for key actions+, with the change to Motion Management. [2]
Adopting Motion Management delivers confirmed effectivity features of as much as 47%, whereas enhancing security and sustainability—making it the logical subsequent step for future-ready city networks.
Determine 2. Instance intersection web site diagram (high) and configured phasing diagram (backside)
Determine notes:
- Phasing diagram makes use of the time period ‘stage’ to discuss with ‘part’, eg STAGE 1(A) is Stage 1 or Section A.
- The mounted nature of a ‘part’ is analogous to the ‘mounted block’ of Determine 1.
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In distinction, Motion Management controls actions independently and has no idea of a part. This flexibility and optimisation supplied is analogous to the ‘transferring block’ of Determine 1.
References
- Nukon 2025. “TMR Good Hall Stage 1: Headline Findings”, for Transport and Essential Roads Queensland.
- N Kang, W Alhajyaseen, H Nakamura, M Asano Anad Ok Tang, “Analysis Of Group-Based mostly Sign Management By means of Discipline Operational Checks”, Evaluation_of_Group-based_Signal_Control_through_Field_Operational_Tests.pdf
Bibliography
- Fastened Block versus Transferring Block, refer:
Public Transport Authority, The Authorities of Western Australia, Excessive Capability Signalling. - Communications-Based mostly Practice Management (CBTC), Refer:
IEEE Really useful Apply for Communications-Based mostly Practice Management (CBTC) System Design and Practical Allocations, IEEE 1474.3-2025, IEEE SA – IEEE 1474.3-2025.
- Australian implementation of CBTC in automated trains with Sydney Metro in New South Wales, refer:
NWRLOTS-NRT-SWD-OM-STD-730500-MSY 500 Communications Based mostly Practice Management (CBTC) methods.pdf. - European Practice Management System (ETCS), refer:
ERA ERTMS/European Practice Management System (ETCS) Ranges Factsheet (2024 Version). ERTMSETCS-Ranges-Up to date-2024-Version.pdf. - Australian implementation of ETCS with Cross River Rail Queensland, refer
Rail Community Enhancements – Cross River Rail. - Site visitors sign phases and phasing for Section Management, refer:
NSW Authorities, Site visitors Sign Operation, TS 05493:1.0, RTA-TC-106, TS 05493_1.00_Traffic Sign Operation.pdf. - Motion Management known as Group-based Sign Management, refer [2] .
For deeper insights from this presentation, make sure to attend Christian’s speak on the ITS Australia Summit 2025, and discover extra about site visitors signalling optimisation.
