Modernizing the complete solution and ensuring the continuity

Since 1991, the technical management of ITS and the inland waterways in Flanders have a centralised data management system to monitor their different type of equipments.

In 2013, Macq was entrusted with the task of managing and maintaining the monitoring system.
The application operates 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
In this way, all the technical managers of the Flemish Region have access to this application to fulfil their daily tasks.
The goal of the Flemish Region was to have a reliable partner for the management of this project, to ensure the continuity (taking back the control on 12 years of development - analysis, documentation...) and to modernize the application (integrating the last data-processing techniques, to be up and running with the latest state of the art techniques)!
The essential condition of the system is to be reliable and always in service!.

1. Macq recovered the complete documentation

To start, Macq recovered the complete documentation of the actual system by applying "reverse engineering" techniques (2014).
In a second step, meeting the most urgent user demand, a Web version (Webvisu 1.0) was proposed allowing each user to access the information from their own computer instead of the dedicated terminals. (2015)

2. Redundancy of the mainframe computers

Macq proposed to have redundancy of the mainframe computers so that the services remain guaranteed in case of a communication breakdown between the two main branches in Ghent and Antwerp. This redundancy offers also the service guarantees in case of performance degradation of a single system. (2016)
Subsequently, Macq set up a tool to create summary reports adapted to customer demands. These reports are also available in the web environment. (2017).

 

3. User friendly interface creation

In 2018, Macq introduced a new Webvisu 2.0 interface, completely redesigned and updated.

 

4. Integration of high resolution images captured by drones

Since 2013, various developments were proposed and carried out, which  are not only limited to the operator interface and the control of an existing system developed by a third party, but it also consisted on integrating new installations, new techniques and also new communication protocols.
The technical evolutions is not only taking place at the central station level, but also at the level of field equipment (programmable logic controllers, traffic light controllers, measurement systems...).

In 2019, new high resolution images captured by drone were integrated in the application to make the visualisation more efficient.

 

5. Map integration for an improved User eXperience (UX)

In 2019, a map was integrated in the application to make it even easier to use (intuitive) and to have a better interpretation of the location of stations.

 

6. Real-time video monitoring solution

The latest achievement is the integration of streams from cameras installed on the different sites, thus reducing unnecessary travel and to monitor real-time activity.

The integration of all the variable message signs ( VMS) of the Flemish road network and the optimisation of the management of speed limit signs in schools (Zone 30) are also part of this project.
More ideas are already in the minds of our engineers to tackle the evolution of the system for the years to come.
The customers (because they are numerous) are delighted with the evolution of this application and count on Macq!