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Key Technology Questions

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This page answers some important who, what, and how questions related to technological practice and knowledge on the smart motorway project.

There are some important technology questions to answer about the smart motorway project.

Who started the smart motorway project and what was the need they were trying to address? 

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) manages and develops the state highway network. In a 2009 Ngauranga to Airport study, NZTA found that the section of State Highway 1 between Ngauranga and the Terrace Tunnel had: 

  • heavy congestion 
  • unpredictable journey times 
  • a relatively bad crash record.

NZTA investigated the issue further and thought about potential solutions. The smart motorway was the best solution as it addressed the initial need but with some additional ideas that would ensure the finished outcome was fit for purpose.

The smart motorway: 

  • offered a fourth northbound lane within the existing motorway footprint of land
  • managed any additional risk put in place by removing the road shoulder to make way for the fourth lane
  • makes best use of the existing asset without the need to build a whole new road
  • is a proven and effective system
  • builds on Wellington’s existing intelligent transport system.

What are the key stages and resources required to turn the existing motorway into a smart motorway?

The system chosen to develop this project is the ECI (Early Contractor Involvement). This differs from the usual process of investigation, design and construction where each stage is a decision gateway before it can proceed. 

Involving a team including contractor, civil designer and other technical specialists in the early stages of a project brings their expertise and experience into its development. This can create innovation and savings in the project; for example repurposing the Kaiwharawhara Bridge instead of demolishing it and rebuilding a whole new one.

It is rather like being part of a project at school, in that rather than simply being told when to do your part and what your role will be, you are instead involved at the beginning to give your opinions and other input on the best way to get the project done.

How do you plan and keep track of a project like this?

The contractor uses several planning tools to manage the construction phase. People use whiteboards but also software like spreadsheets to help them. NZTA receives an agreed work plan and meets weekly with the contractor and design consultant to ensure the project is on track, risks are identified and any issues are managed quickly and efficiently.

What reviews of progress have happened and why are they an important part of this project?

Weekly meetings ensure progress is well monitored and managed. Financial forecasting is important, as is accounting for costs. Regular financial audits occur. NZTA has a team dedicated to monitoring project expenditure and progress. Also, government auditors (Audit New Zealand) can and do select projects to review.

What kinds of functional modelling were used in the design phases of this project?

Functional models are representations of potential technological outcomes. They exist in many forms for example; thinking, talking, drawing, physical mock-ups, or computer aided simulations. The purpose of functional modelling is to test design concepts to see if they are suitable for use in the development of an outcome.

Designers use special computer programmes called traffic models to simulate the number of vehicles on a road and how they flow. This information helps them assess what will happen when they apply different solutions to a problem. For example what will be the effect on the whole road network if a roundabout is built, or would traffic lights give better results? Three traffic models have been developed for the smart motorway project:

  1. SATURN model

    This model is called the Wellington Traffic Model (WTM). It has been used for all Wellington urban motorway projects, including the design phases of the current Ngauranga to Aotea Quay (NtAQ) project, for the economic assessment of benefits such as travel time savings and reducing congestion.

  2. METANET model

    This is a mathematical model developed for “real time” traffic simulation. 

  3. VISSIM model

    This model simulates each individual driver’s behaviour to replicate the traffic conditions in the study area.

 

Who started the smart motorway project and what was the need?

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) looks after the state highway network.

In 2009 they found that State Highway 1 between Ngauranga and the Terrace Tunnel had: 

  • traffic congestion 
  • uncertain journey times 
  • too many crashes.

NZTA thought the smart motorway combined with some extra ideas was a good way of solving the problems and would make sure the finished outcome was fit for purpose.

The smart motorway:

  • would provide a fourth northbound lane 
  • did not need a whole new road to be made
  • is a known system that works
  • builds on Wellington’s current intelligent transport system.

What are the key stages and resources needed to turn the current motorway into a smart motorway?

The system chosen to develop this project is called ECI (Early Contractor Involvement). This is different from the usual process of investigation, design and construction, where each stage is decided on before the project can go ahead. 

Involving a mixed team including contractor, civil designer and other technical specialists at the beginning of a project can create innovation and savings. One example is re-using the Kaiwharawhara Bridge instead of building a whole new one.

It is rather like being part of a project at school, but instead of being told what part you will have in it, you are involved at the beginning to give your ideas about the best way to do the project.

How do you plan and keep track of a project like this?

NZTA is given an agreed work plan and meets weekly with the contractor and designer to make sure the project is on track and that any issues are sorted out. Project managers use whiteboards to track progress, diaries and shared calendars to organise meetings, as well as spreadsheets and other software.

What reviews of progress have happened and why are they an important part of this project?

Weekly meetings make sure progress is well monitored and managed. NZTA has a team dedicated to looking after project expenses and progress. 

What kinds of functional modelling were used in the design phases of this project?

Functional models show ideas of possible technological outcomes.

They have many forms, like:

  • thinking
  • talking
  • drawing
  • physical mock-ups
  • computer aided simulations. 

The purpose of functional modelling is to test designs to see if they will be right for the project.

There are special computer programmes to model traffic systems. These simulate the number of vehicles on a road and how they flow. This information helps designers test what will happen when they use different solutions for a problem, like seeing if a roundabout or traffic lights gives better results.

Three computer programmes have been developed to model traffic for the smart motorway project:

1. SATURN model

This model is called the Wellington Traffic Model (WTM).

It has been used for all Wellington urban motorway projects:

  • for the design phases of the current Ngauranga to Aotea Quay (NtAQ) project
  • for the economic assessment of benefits such as travel time savings and reducing congestion.

2. METANET model

This mathematical model was developed for “real time” traffic simulation. 

3. VISSIM model

This model simulates each individual driver’s behaviour.

 

Māori keywords: 
   
   
   
   
   
   
Samoan keywords: 
 ituaiga  model
 faatulagaina o le polokalame po o se vaega  system
 aogā  effective, useful
 iloilo/su'esu'e  investigate
 toe vaai, toe siaki  review
 faatonu, tapena  manage
 masini  technology
 fuafuaga  plan, design
 fa'atino, fa'atu, fai po'o fau  construct
Tongan keywords: 
 motolo  model
 sisitemi  system
 aonga  effective, useful
 fekumi, fakatotolo  investigate
 toe vakai, toe fakasio  review
 fakamā'opo'opo  manage
 misini/tekinolosia  technology
 sipinga fa'u, fa'ufa'u  plan, design
 langa  construct
Cook Islands Maori keywords: 
 akara'anga  model
 akano'ono'o'anga  system
 puapinga  effective, useful
 kimikimi  investigate
 akara akaou  review
 akatere  manage
 anga  plan, design
 anga  construct
Niuean keywords: 
 fakatai  model
 tau puhala fakagahua  system
 aoga lahi  effective, useful
 kumikumi  investigate
 liu kikite  review
 fakamaopoopo/fakakatoatoa  manage
 tekenolo  technology
 palana, hatakiaga  plan, design
 talaga  construct

You might like to look further into what functional modelling is and how you could apply it to a school technology project.

You might like to find out more about functional modelling and see how you could use it in a school technology project.



Heavy congestion and uncertain travel times was the initial need being addressed by NZTA for this project. Image: NZTA.

The smart motorway was a good idea because it looked at the initial need with some extra parts that would make sure the finished outcome was fit for purpose. Image: NZTA.

NZTA has a team dedicated to looking after project expenses and progress. Image: NZTA.