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Key Traffic Systems Scale New Heights with Aston University
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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.” |
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AutoTURN 7.0 Released
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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. |
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Autodesk Release 2011
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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 |
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KTS Three Peaks Challenge
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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 |
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Autodesk Subscription Software Download
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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. |
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Ribbon Interface Makes a Great Impression
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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. |
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ICT Excellence Awards 2009
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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.
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AutoCAD 2010 Product Compatibility
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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.
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KeyOSC Prize Draw Winner
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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.
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Designing destination signs correctly with KeySIGN
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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.
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New Technology In KeyROADWORKS
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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.
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