The Project Consortium

Consortium Partners, roles and competences

Peter Brett Associates, PBA (Reading)

PBA was established as a private partnership in Reading in 1965 and over the last 40 years has grown organically to more than 500 staff. PBA is an integrated, multi-specialist consultancy, which offers a broad range of engineering, transport, land development and environmental services to market-leading organizations worldwide which have an interest in the implementation and management of sustainable development, regeneration and infrastructure projects. For every project, we adopt an individual, innovative and integrated approach because we recognise that every project is different and clients’ needs vary.
The Transport Technology Group integrates expertise from transport planning, modelling, assessment and ITS to develop cost effective and deliverable transportation solutions for the client. Closely cooperating with other divisions we are able to deliver integrated solutions for both small and large scale projects. PBA have a close working relationship with Reading Borough Council in developing forward thinking and innovative transport strategies and have a strong track record of working with RBC to develop, project manage and deliver these schemes.

Reading Borough Council

Reading Borough Council has an excellent record in both partnership working and delivering change, which will be crucial to this project. We have gained considerable experience through participating in the DfT’s Urban Traffic Management & Control programme as one of four demonstrator sites. This has given us an opportunity to develop expertise in the specification and design of “open systems architecture” solutions and applications that will be beneficial. In recognition of our record in local transport delivery, Reading has been awarded Centre of Excellence Status for Improved Transport Choices.

Metranet Communications Ltd (Brighton)

Metranet is an experienced systems integrator and network operator, the “Brighton Metranet”, a metropolitan intranet being Europe’s first fully-integrated pre-WiMAX network, constructed in association with Brighton & Hove City Council and The University of Sussex. This achievement, which feeds the internet to thousands of students and many businesses in Brighton, was recognized in SEEDA’s eCommerce Awards 2005. The build of the Reading Metranet presents for the first time how local authorities can take control of their network infrastructure through investigating the feasibility of a licensed municipal wireless network.

Role within the project: WiMAX systems development, integration, deployment and operation.

University of Southampton (UK), Transportation Research Group (TRG)

The Transportation Research Group (TRG) at the University of Southampton is a multi-disciplinary group. Major activities relate to all aspects of the development, application and understanding of the impacts of a wide range of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), for which TRG has an international reputation. These include areas such as motorway traffic operations, congestion and incident prediction and management, access control, real time traveller information and GPS applications for highway safety and traffic management. In addition there is fundamental research in the areas of Traffic Management, Safety, the Environment/Sustainability, Public Transport Operations and Freight and Goods movement. Results from many of the studies have been incorporated into Government Advice Notes and Technical Memoranda as well as into computer programs.

Role within the project: Evaluation of the benefits of applications and services.

Telematix (Czech Republic)

Role within the project:

Development of their existing vehicle navigation package, Dynavix, to integrate with RBC’s UTMC system for real time data and to develop their software for in-vehicle navigation and pedestrian navigation trials.

Transept Consulting (Theale, West Berkshire)

Transept Consulting is an independent specialist public transport and transportation-planning consultancy advising local authorities, major employers and transport providers. Transept has particular expertise in the specification and introduction of leading edge information and ticketing systems in the context of promoting the use of public transport.

Role within the project: Consultancy advice.

Connexionz

Orange

Orange has been a supplier to businesses since 1994 and has a strong foothold in the UK and international business markets. We aspire to be a market leader by marrying innovation, reactivity and dynamism with an absolute commitment to delivering against the needs of our business customers. With our wirefree heritage and the broad spread of assets of our parent, France Telecom, we have a unique opportunity to work with our partners to deliver converged communication services that add value for businesses of all sizes.

Role within the project: Supplier of 3G and enhanced 3G mobile phone equipment including datacards and GPS modules, support and airtime.

Euro-Baltic Software Alliance (UK & Estonia)