Traffic Message Channel Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Traffic Message Channel, or TMC, is a technology for delivering traffic and travel information to drivers. It is digitally coded using the FM-RDS system on conventional FM radio broadcasts. It allows silent delivery of high quality accurate, timely and relevant information, in the language chosen by the user and without interrupting normal services. Services, both public and commercial, are now operational in many European countries. When data is integrated directly into a navigation system, this gives the driver the option to take an alternative route to avoid the traffic incident.
The message is coded according to the Alert C standard. It contains a list of about 1460 events which can be translated by a TMC receiver into the language of the user.
Location code tables are maintained on a national level and assign numbers to locations on the road network.
The source of traffic information is typically police, traffic cameras, loops, Floating Car Data and others.
In the southern part of Belgium, Wallonia, a free test service is broadcasted by RTBF. The service is in collaboration with TMC4U.
L.I.N. publishes the location table, in collaboration with Tritel. The current version is 1.2 but a new version 1.4b, in which N-roads will be added, will start in December 2004.
CEDA is also responsible for the location table (current version is 1.36).
They are also responsible for the location tables. Since October 2003 version 6.0 of the location database is transmitted, but already a backwards compatible version 7.0 has been certified by the TMC Forum in June 2004. In case of changes they will transmit both the old and the new location code.
The free service is provided by the motorway operators and provides information on their toll-roads. The toll-road operators are AREA, ASF, ATMB, Cofiroute, ESCOTA, SANEF, SAPN, SAPRR, SFTRF and SMTPC. The TMC data is on the 107.7 traffic channel so it can only be received along the motorways.
The commercial service is provided by Mediamobile. It is a partnership between TDF, Renault, Trafficmaster and Cofiroute. The service, branded Visionaute is transmitted on the frequencies of France Inter. It includes the information off the motorways but also on Paris congestion. The service was first open but it is now a pay-service, but it is not encrypted: by using a different location table number they can restrict the use. This method is TMC Forum 's Interim encryption method. They have about 60000 customers and the service costs currently €61 per car. The service can be received nationally.
Location tables are released by the government agency SETRA and includes about 20000 locations. The current version 0.4 includes both inside Paris and outside Paris.
The other service is a pay service provided by T-Mobile Traffic, which is part of Deutsche Telekom. The service went life from March 2004 across Germany. It is an encrypted service, based on the conditional access specifications made by the TMC Forum.
BAST, Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen, is releasing location tables. The current version is 3.0, which is on air since January 2004. It includes 28.000 locations and is backwards compatible with previous version which had 21.000 locations.
Regarding the transmission, Sweden is divided into 8 broadcasting zones in order not to transmit traffic information that is not usefull at that location. They cover the European, national and major county highways and contain information about traffic accidents, road works and road weather.
The service is broadcasted on Swedish Broadcasting Corporation P3 radio station and cover 98 percent of Sweden.
B+S Ingenieur (Bundesamt fur Strassen) makes the location tables. Version 5 is on air from September 2004. It is backward compatible with version 4.5 as most changes are additions.
A second TMC service provider is Vialis. They are transmitting on the FM channels of Noordzee and Radio 538.
Location tables come from AVV Transport Research Centre and are supplied by TIC Nederland. The current version is 2003.a.
In China they are currently investigating on which technology their traffic information system will be based. The main choice is between the Japanese system VICS and the European TMC.
This is an Article on Traffic Message Channel. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Traffic Message Channel How it works
Each traffic incident is sent as a TMC message. One message consists of an event code and a a location code in addition to time details. TMC Services in Europe
Following countries provide a TMC service:
Austria
A TMC service is available in Austria. ORF is responsible for the free service and ASFINAG is responsible for the location table, currently in version 1.0.
Belgium
A free service is available in the Flanders region. It is provided by Verkeerscentrum Antwerpen and broadcasted by VRT.Czech Republic
Currently, there is no regular service in the Czech Republic. A test service, coordinated by CEDA, was carried out in 2003. Regular broadcasting with coverage limited to certain areas (Prague, ...) are to be launched in mid 2005. ATT is the planned service provider of the free service.Denmark
The free TMC service in Denmark is operated by Vejdirektoratet or DRD (Danish Road Directorate). It is broadcasted on DR3 and DR4.Finland
A free service is available in Finland. Both the service and the location tables are provided by the FINNRA, the Finnish National Road Administration. The current version is 1.31.
France
Both a free public service and a commercial service are available in France.Germany
In Germany both a public and a commercial service are available. The public service is an open, free service that can be received by the public radio stations.Italy
A TMC service is available in Italy, but only in the northern part. CCISS is providing the service. The location table, provided by Mizar Mediaservice is in its version 1.1 but a new version 2.0 has already been certified.
Norway
A TMC service is available in Norway. Statens Vegvesen is releasing location tables. The current version is 1.2002, but a new version V1.2.0.2004 has been delivered for certification.
Spain
A TMC service is available in Spain. Location tables are coming from DGT, Dirección General de Tráfico. The current version is 1.6 (previously called 6.0) and contains about 5000 locations. A new version is expected in 2005 and will contain about 9000 locations (but it will be backwards compatible with the current version).
Sweden
A free service is available in Sweden. SNRA, the Swedish National Road Administration or Vägverket, is responsible for the free service and for making the location tables. The previous version 1.2003 contained about 9800 locations. Since Octobre 2004 version 1.1.2004 is transmitted. New versions are always backward compatible.Switzerland
A TMC service is available in Switzerland. The broadcaster is SRG SSR idée suisse or Swiss Broadcasting Corporation who transmits TMC on FM chain 1 (general, services) and FM chain 3 (pop/rock) all over Switzerland.
It is Viasuisse, a daughter company of it, that operates the service.Netherlands
The service provider TMC4U is delivering a TMC service in The Netherlands. Currently it is free, but they plan a pay-service including local information. TMC4U is a collaboration between Siemens and ANWB. The transmissions are on the radio channels of SkyRadio, Classic FM, Radio 1 and Radio 3.United Kingdom
The private company ITIS Holding is providing a commercial TMC service in the United Kingdom. The price of the service can be included in the price of the car or of the navigation system. ITIS is also responsible for the location tables, currently it is version 4.5. New versions are always backwards compatible.
Other Planned services
It is also planned in Portugal, Hungary and the rest of Italy. In Ireland and Luxemburg no service is currently planned. In Poland a private radio station did some tests but General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKIA) didn't decide yet on a real implementation.External Links