In 2023, Cardiff City Council unveiled a state-of-the-art bus station, a flagship initiative within the city’s broader strategy to modernise transportation infrastructure. This new facility was designed to address critical challenges in urban mobility, including reducing traffic congestion, improving accessibility, and encouraging increased reliance on public transport. The bus station was anticipated to handle a daily footfall of over 14,000 passengers, necessitating a focus on smooth traffic flow at its exit to prevent congestion and ensure operational efficiency.
Cardiff City Council faced several challenges in achieving these goals. Managing the high volume of traffic at the station’s exit was particularly demanding, given the need to balance bus movement with other traffic and significant pedestrian activity. The system had to ensure pedestrian safety while preventing bottlenecks, particularly during peak hours. Another challenge was the need for responsive traffic signal control capable of adapting dynamically to real-time traffic conditions, ensuring that vehicles moved efficiently even during periods of high congestion. Furthermore, aligning with the city’s sustainability objectives required prioritising buses at the exit without causing excessive delays to other road users.
To address these challenges, Cardiff City Council adopted the AGD650 AI Multimodal Detector. Designed for complex urban settings, the AGD650 offered advanced capabilities to manage traffic in real-time by accurately identifying and tracking various road users, including buses, cyclists, and pedestrians. Its precise vehicle detection capabilities ensured smooth traffic flow across multiple lanes, facilitating efficient bus movement. The system’s ability to integrate real-time traffic data into the city’s traffic management framework allowed dynamic adjustments to signal timings, ensuring optimal flow based on prevailing conditions. The AGD650 also featured vehicle classification capabilities that enabled bus prioritisation at traffic signals, helping reduce delays for public transport while maintaining overall traffic efficiency.
The implementation of the AGD650 involved Dean Jarvis, Commercial Engineer, completing a comprehensive site survey to identify the best locations for installing the detectors, considering the site’s unique complexities, including restricted areas and traffic from multiple directions. Following the survey, the AGD650 was configured to accurately detect and manage traffic flows within this environment. It was then seamlessly integrated with Cardiff’s existing traffic signal system to enable dynamic signal adjustments. The integration included specialised settings to activate bus prioritisation phases during peak traffic times.
The deployment of the AGD650 produced significant improvements in traffic management at the bus station exit. Congestion was markedly reduced as buses merged into traffic more efficiently, even during peak hours. The system’s dynamic signal adjustments minimised delays for all road users, contributing to smoother traffic flow. Bus prioritisation aligned with the city’s sustainability goals by reducing travel times for public transport, thereby enhancing passenger satisfaction and encouraging greater use of buses. Additionally, the reduction in vehicle idling times helped lower emissions, supporting Cardiff’s environmental objectives. Pedestrian safety was also upheld, even during periods of high traffic volume, demonstrating the system’s ability to balance competing demands effectively.
The integration of the AGD650 at Cardiff’s new bus station exit underscores the transformative impact of advanced traffic detection technologies in urban transportation systems. By enhancing traffic flow, improving public transport efficiency, and supporting environmental sustainability, the AGD650 has played a critical role in helping Cardiff City Council realise its vision for a modern, efficient, and eco-friendly transport network.
“The successful deployment of the AGD650 at Cardiff’s new bus station showcases how intelligent detection technology can transform urban traffic management. By providing real-time, multimodal detection, we’ve helped improve efficiency, prioritise sustainable transport, and enhance safety for all road users.”
Dean Jarvis, Commercial Engineer, AGD Systems