Technical delivery terms for route stations
The technical delivery conditions for route stations (TLS) serve as a standard for establishing traffic control systems on federal trunk roads. Together with the instruction leaflet on furnishing traffic computer centres and sub-centres (MARZ), they define the architecture of traffic control systems for the federal trunk road network.
The technical delivery conditions for route stations are updated on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development by the Federal Highway Research Institute in cooperation with the state road building authorities and the industry. Responsibility for this is borne by the TLS work group headed by the Federal Highway Research Institute.
The Federal Ministry of Transport und Digital Infrastructure is furnishing federal trunk roads increasingly with traffic registration and control systems. The aim is to measure characteristic variables of traffic flow which are of significance to current traffic-situation evaluations and statistical techniques. In addition, ambient data influencing traffic flow (for example visibility, precipitation) are acquired at selected points. The information obtained with the registration systems is used in conjunction with traffic control instruments to improve the traffic situation.
Route stations and the sensors assigned to them are meant to register traffic and ambient data, transmit switching commands to alternating traffic signs and ensure communications with higher-level systems.
TLS is intended to standardize functions and interfaces so that devices from different manufacturers largely identical in terms of functionality can also be compared with each other under competitive conditions. Another objective is to be able to extend the system without needing to convert existent equipment or binding road building authorities to manufacturers of existent equipment on contract award. For suppliers of route equipment, TLS is to permit free competition by demarcating the services to be offered.
The following diagram shows how traffic control systems for interstate roads are organized:
The technical delivery conditions for route stations cover all road infrastructure including links to sub-centres.
History
Development of the TLS dates right back to the 1980s. A preliminary version of the technical delivery conditions for route stations was presented in June 1988. This version for the first time laid down specifications concerning an acquisition of traffic data. The next edition in 1990 also took data transmission into account.
In 1993, the Federal Ministry of Traffic introduced the first official version of the TLS. An extended and improved draft version remained in preparation until 1997. The revision of this document finally led to introduction of the current TLS (2002) in September 2002.
Continuous advancements in telematic applications and communication technology entail corresponding updates to the TLS. The TLS work group is presently engaged in performing such updates.
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