Anthony Milner

In setting work goals for 2009 it’s worthwhile to look back and reflect on what we have achieved in 2008. So spending 5 minutes thinking about it I was able to put together quite an impressive list…

• Released 9 major product updates
• Developed 5 new products
  • Intranet Manager.NET
  • Training Manager.NET
  • Induction Manager.NET
  • Partner Portal.NET
  • Government Portal.NET
• Ran 2 product launches and 3 user groups
• Designed and implemented a completely new User Interface for the Community Manager platform
• Designed and developed a new corporate website and attained a PageRank 7
• Established a successful and highly trafficked Elcom Community Portal
• Major infrastructure updates including the implementation of a new phone system
• Improved our internal sales, development and project management processes

There is a lot to be proud of and it makes me wonder how we could possibly outdo that in 2009, but we’re definitely up for the challenge.

We recently launched a site for Aldridge Traffic Controllers and I have to say I was really impressed and proud to discover that Australian innovation is responsible for the research and development behind the world class SCATS Traffic Management System. SCATS stands for Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System. Basically SCATS is an adaptive traffic light management system, think Die Hard 4 where the Mac geek boy controls traffic lights giving guys a clear run of green lights while causing gridlock mayhem for others.

Essentially the SCATS system has the ability to analyse traffic flows and respond quickly by adjusting signals thereby changing traffic flows. Pretty cool. Using special software an operator can actually control a traffic light remotely if required but the system supposedly takes care of things automatically. Apparently we’ve exported and installed this technology in over 30 cities across the globe. In contrast to what Hollywood would have you think most cities across the US do not have systems like this. Their lights just have static signal controllers which cannot be controlled remotely and certainly can’t adapt to changing traffic flows.

There is not a whole lot of information out there about SCATS so if you’re interested in finding out more here are some sites…

• Powerhouse Museum
• Aldridge Traffic Controllers
• RTA

The Aldridge site has a page on the actual Traffic Signal Controllers which are the individual units which sit near intersections and are managed by the overall SCATS system, it’s a bit light on at the moment but we’re working on that.