Key Traffic Systems Scale New Heights with Aston University
  A team made up of staff from Key Traffic Systems and Aston University recently turned their attention from developing leading edge highways and traffic management software to the slightly more physical 3 Peaks challenge; this involved scaling the three highest mountains in the UK, Ben Nevis (1334m), Scafell Pike (978m) and Snowdon (1,085m), in a target time of 24 hours in aid of CARE International. A total of 17 teams from the IT industry entered the event on the 12th/13th June.

After starting well on Ben Nevis with an impressive time of 4 hrs 49 mins the team then headed to Scafell Pike where the weather was against them and tiredness started to creep in. However, they managed to ascend and descend the mountain in under 5 hours, albeit by only one minute, thus keeping their chances alive of succeeding in under the 24 hour goal as they carried on to the final peak, Snowdon. It was sheer will power and determination that powered the team up the steep Llanberis path whilst a torrential rainstorm battered them on the way down the mountain and across the finish line in 3 hrs 56 mins giving them a total time of 23 hrs 44 mins and a very respectable overall position of 3rd out of the 17 teams.

Dr Jeremy Ellis, Managing Director of Key Traffic systems, commented “It is fantastic to see each individual translate the team skills they have from working closely in an office environment to achieving success in what was a very different and physical challenge – it wouldn’t have been possible without the determination of every member of the walking team and the support crew”. The KTS team have raised in excess of £6,500. Anyone wishing to support the team can do so by visiting the KTS justgiving website, http://original.justgiving.com/keytrafficsystems.

CARE Challenge Manager Neil Munro says, “The CARE IT 3 Peaks Challenge is one of CARE’s most important events in terms of fundraising. Over our series of 13 outdoor events in the 2010 CARE Challenge Series, we hope to raise £1 million, and we’re extremely grateful to the Key Traffic Systems/Aston University team for taking part.” 
     
   
AutoTURN 7.0 Released
  Support for Specialized Transport Systems leads the List on New and Updated Features in AutoTURN 7.0

Transoft Solutions, developers of industry leading software for the engineering and architectural communities world-wide, announces the launch of AutoTURN 7.0. The newest version of Transoft Solutions’ CAD based swept-path software has added features and enhanced functionality.

Building on its legacy as the industry leading swept-path analysis software, AutoTURN 7.0 supports specialized transport systems in its SmartPath tools. This includes a library of specialized vehicles that includes: Wind Tower Trailer, Wind Blade Trailer, 19-axle Heavy Haul, Beam Transporter I, Beam Transporter II, and a Booster Trailer. These specialized vehicle configurations allow Independent Rear Steering (IRS). Click here for more information on AutoTURN.
     
   
Autodesk Release 2011
  Autodesk have announced the release of the 2011 suite of products. This release helps to power design projects from concept through to completion. Ideas can take shape with greater clarity and accuracy than ever before, thanks to new surface modeling tools and point cloud support. New inferred constraints capabilities make working with parametrics easier, and updated productivity tools help deliver final design documentation faster than ever. Major updates to materials and surfaces help communicate design intent with greater impact than ever. With these and many other new capabilities AutoCAD 2011 helps take design and documentation further. For further information click here
     
   
KTS Three Peaks Challenge
  Key Traffic Systems has entered a team to take part in this year’s Care 3 Peaks challenge supported by Computer Weekly (http://www.carechallenge.org.uk/IT). In a nut shell the team are aiming to climb Ben Nevis, Scarfell Pike and Snowdon within 24 hours, which also includes travelling time between the mountains!

The event takes place over the weekend of the 12th/13th June 2010 and the team are aiming to raise £6000 for CARE International to help them carry out their vital work. If you are able to sponsor the team it would be very much appreciated by the team and can be done on-line at http://original.justgiving.com/keytrafficsystems
     
   
Autodesk Subscription Software Download
  In 2010, Autodesk will make software download the default method of delivering software upgrades to Autodesk Subscription customers. As a result, Autodesk will begin phasing out automatic boxed shipments of software upgrades to Subscription customers. If a DVD/CD is preferable, the delivery preference can be set by signing into Subscription Center and Autodesk will ship a box at no additional cost.
     
   
Ribbon Interface Makes a Great Impression
  The latest releases of software from Key Traffic Systems saw the adoption of the GUI based ribbon interface for accessing commands rather than the traditional menu dropdown. Feedback received from customer’s shows that the introduction of the ribbons has been a great success, many users who are now used to using the ribbons find the layout of commands more logically grouped and more clearly laid out. Comments from users suggest that they would not wish to go back to the previous pull down menu system and that the investment in time required to learn the new position of commands in the ribbon is well worth it.

The ribbon interface is available in all KTS software running on AutoCAD 2010 and above.
     
   
ICT Excellence Awards 2009
  Key Traffic Systems Ltd has beaten off stiff competition to be highly commended in the Best Knowledge Transfer category of the prestigious ICT Excellence Awards 2009.

The growing and successful company was recognised for the Knowledge Transfer Project (KTP) that took place between Key Traffic Systems and Aston University. It was an excellent example of the way in which KTPs should be run, from the management of the project right through to the completion of the deliverables at every stage of the project, the original objectives were surpassed. Dr Jeremy Ellis, Managing Director, Key Traffic Systems (KTS) said “The successful outcome of the Knowledge Transfer Project between Key Traffic Systems and Aston University has left the team members already feeling like winners, however, the team’s formal recognition from the ICT Cluster is certainly the icing on the cake to what has already been a successful collaboration.”

“Achieving recognition through this industry award will enhance the feeling of company pride within KTS. It will also be useful to showcase the background work KTS undertake with leading research establishments such as Aston University” he concluded.
 
     
 
   
AutoCAD 2010 Product Compatibility
  Key Traffic Systems has released AutoCAD 2010 compatible versions of its product range for the UK market. This release sees the addition of the Ribbon in all products which makes the navigation around each product much simpler. Chris White, Product Development Manager, said “We have completely redesigned all our product icons to take advantage of the ribbon technology. The result is stunning giving the products a totally new look and feel whilst making them even easier to use.” Distribution of the upgrades is currently taking place to all customers with a valid service agreement. Alternatively, use the Logged In side of this website to download full installations.
 
     
 
   
KeyOSC Prize Draw Winner
  All delegates who participated in a demonstration of KeyOSC on the Key Traffic Systems stand at the recent Traffex 2009 exhibition were entered into a prize draw. We are pleased to announce Brian Smith of Coventry City Council as the winner. Brian was presented with his prize of an 8GB iPod nano by Will Baron, KTS technical director, at this year’s KeySIGN User Group. KeyOSC is an application to allow the seamless viewing of MasterMap data inside of AutoCAD, for more details click here Link to KeyOSC Page. We would like to thank all delegates who participated in a KeyOSC demonstration, anybody who requires further information on KeyOSC please do not hesitate to contact us.
 
     
 
   
Designing destination signs correctly with KeySIGN
  The sign design rules as, stipulated in chapter 7, can be complicated. One acknowledged area of complication is designing direction signs. When designers create a destination list they have to correctly take on board the spacing rules. The rules specify two groups of vertical spacing, block spacing and line spacing; block spacing has six different vertical spacing rules, line spacing has four vertical spacing rules – making ten possibilities in total. Designed manually this leaves plenty of room for error.

A recently added feature of Key Traffic Systems KeySIGN software is the ‘Destination Block’ routine. This feature automatically works out both line spacing and block spacing rules, yet remains simple to use.

‘Destination Block’ works by allowing the designer to input route by route whilst previewing the destination list on-screen. There are many other features within the ‘Destination Block’ interface; the route number syntax is automatically corrected, the route numbers are placed in patches where necessary and patches are positioned within the list with the correct spacing. It also has the ability to remind and add brackets on occasions where they may have been omitted by the designer. ‘Destination Block’ benefit is that the correct transport font is applied automatically when the type of sign being designed is detected.

There is always a balance to be struck in sign design software between how much the designer has control over each step of the process and whether a finished design is automatically presented. The ‘Destination Block’ feature strikes the right balance by helping with complicated rules but still allowing designers room to create a sign design.

‘Destination Block’ within KeySIGN eases the complications of sign design for designers and leads to major benefits in cost and time when completing a full sign design.
 
     
 
   
New Technology In KeyROADWORKS
  The latest version of KeyROADWORKS, from Key Traffic Systems, includes functionality for a Signing Corridor (SC) object. This development ensures new Chapter 8 design methodologies can be implemented with ease.

The new Signing Corridor (SC) object provides a dynamic interface, allowing repeatability of design, particularly suited to creating Temporary Traffic management (TTM) layouts on ‘real’ map base. Signs, lines of cones or any other traffic control can be positioned accurately along the SC.

The SC can be manipulated to fit any shape of road, and signs drag-and-drop edited to suit local circumstances. This is also ideally suited to rolling works as the datum (start point) of the works can easily be moved along the road corridor, all signs, cones and road markings will follow this at the chainages from the datum, as required. The new Chapter 8 refers to the ‘Zones’ within any TTM layout, and the SC object is ideally suited to that as users can select from and build any number of pre-defined zonal sigining, and join these to create any layout required.

Lionel Boyes from Associated Asphalt Traffic Management told KTS that “The drawing production routines and sign libraries have increased productivity and inspired the development of more complex yet more user friendly drawings.” This is even before trying out the new SC methodology. And at the cutting edge, Brian Welsh of Forest Traffic Management, prefers KeyROADWORKS as it is better laid out, simpler to use and more flexible overall, allowing for any local circumstances to easily be designed in.

Even at the testing stage Chris Cutting from Carillion-URS found that he had ‘been using the new command now for a little while and found it to be extremely useful despite only being a beta routine’, thus proving the concept and application of the new technology. In combination with Autodesk technology, the new KeyROADWORKS puts KTS at the forefront of Computer Aided Design software.  
 
     
  Archived News Items  
     

 
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | EULA
© Key Traffic Systems Ltd. All Rights Reserved.