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SPRUCE Overview

SPRUCE is a strategy control system which can be programmed using logic to implement strategies via a UTC system. Not a strategy in itself, more a strategy implementer, SPRUCE is designed to provide a solution to almost all control situations – ultimately limited more by the imagination of the user than by the software.

SPRUCE is installed on to a typical server and interfaced with the UTC system (both Siemens and Dynniq supported). This allows SPRUCE to override the main UTC plans according to strategies in order to optimise the on street traffic network.

SPRUCE is now running over 500 junctions with a mix or bus, tram and traffic strategies at the following local authorities:

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  • Leeds

  • Sheffield

  • Bradford

  • Halifax

  • Edinburgh

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The majority of sites are bus priority strategies but SPRUCE was always conceived as a Tram Priority tool and now between Edinburgh and Sheffield there are now over 50 sites with tram and congestion strategies implemented.

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SPRUCE GUI

Provided as a tool with no inbuilt strategies it is up to the engineer to conceive and write there own strategy. There is now growing library of strategies, some examples of these include:

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  • Bus Priority - simple standardised recall/extension strategy

  • Tram/ Bus Priority - network manipulation, zero delay for infrequent buses

  • Tram Recovery - manages the transition from local LRT tram priority back to fixed time UTC without stage skipping and allows compensation.

  • Fire Priority Green wave - using AVL technology gives Fire Appliances gren waves with route choice options.

  • Isolated Network Linking - allows the linking of networks that benefit from having one or more running isolated under VA or MOVE control, the strategy allows adjacent junctions to be linked accordingly.

  • Traffic Condition Response - using flow and queue detection, cycletimes, green splits and offsets are adjusted at a single or network of junctions.

  • Bespoke Strategies - there have been numerous other strategies designed and implemented to tackle more specific network problems.

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