Appendix D - Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)
Overview
The Traffic Scotland Service (TSS) is underpinned by our Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) assets, encompassing physical roadside assets and underlying software and hardware IT solutions. These assets proactively monitor, capture and communicate traffic and travel information to enhance safety, minimise disruption and support resilience of the transport network.
Transport Scotland has contracts in place with an ITS infrastructure contractor to ensure that our roadside assets are appropriately inspected, monitored, managed, maintained and repaired, and with a specialist systems contractor to provide the appropriate regime is in place to maintain the software and hardware estate. Where our roadside assets are gantry or structure mounted these are the responsibility of the relevant operating company for the area and our supply chain work closely to ensure coordination of maintenance activities.
This section of the RAMP describes asset-specific information that is used to develop the life cycle plan for trunk road ITS assets, as detailed in ‘Making Asset Life Cycle Decisions’.
Asset Knowledge
The ITS Assets
‘ITS Asset Groups and Quantities (Roadside)’ (see below) details the physical roadside ITS assets, their definitions and quantities. The inventory records held for the ITS assets comply with the requirements set down in Traffic Scotland Infrastructure Contract (TSIC).
ITS asset information management is well-developed but is at an earlier stage than the other asset classes included in the RAMP. This means that less data is available for analysis. Improving data availability for these assets is one of our priorities.
Aircraft Warning Light
Gantry-mounted warning lights used to alert aircraft pilots of the presence of a tall structure. We have 3 aircraft warning lights across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
Cabinet & Pillar
A cabinet or pillar, usually containing electronic and/or communications, traffic signal equipment or similar equipment. We have 5,124 cabinets and pillars across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
Cables
Multi-pair copper and fibre optic cabling, power cables and composite CCTV cables. We have 1,474 km of cables across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 25 years.
CCTV Cameras
CCTV camera, speed camera, or other camera. We have 468 CCTV cameras across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
CCTV Cameras – Mobile
A trailer-based CCTV camera or post mountable camera for occasional use. We have 12 mobile CCTV cameras across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
Communication Device
Various communications devices. We have 2,892 communication devices across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
Electric Vehicle Charger
Electric vehicle charging equipment. We have 2 electric vehicle chargers across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 10 years.
Emergency Roadside Telephones
SOS telephone located on motorway class and other special roads for use in an emergency. We have 917 emergency roadside telephones across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
Fuel Cell
Hydrogen based electrical energy source for off-grid applications. We have 1 fuel cell across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 10 years.
Gantry – Electrical Installation
Electrical control equipment supplying energy to motorway gantries. We have 269 gantry electrical installations across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 25 years.
Generator
Electrical back-up power supply for various ITS installations on the Trunk Road Network and Control Rooms. We have 6 generators across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
Masts & Posts
Mast or Post for mounting closed-circuit television camera, speed camera or other camera and other ancillary equipment. We have 621 masts and posts across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 25 years.
Meteorological Installation
Equipment, consisting of sensors, and controllers reporting on meteorological conditions. We have 6 meteorological installations across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
Motorway Electronic Signs
Electronic signs located on the motorway network providing lane specific information. We have 1,092 motorway electronic signs across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
Multi-Purpose Controller
Communications device used to control multiple roadside devices. We have 456 multi-purpose controllers across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
NTDS Traffic Counters
Traffic counting and classification equipment. We have 704 NTDS traffic counters across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
Ramp Metering – Infrastructure
Motorway slip road control equipment providing traffic signal controlled entry. We have 6 ramp metering infrastructure units across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
Solar Panel Installation
Solar panel installations to provide alternative power source. We have 674 solar panel installations across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
Traffic Detection Infrastructure
Equipment used to detect the presence of traffic. We have 2,472 traffic detection infrastructure units across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
Traffic Scotland Monitoring Unit
Equipment used to monitor traffic flow, speed and direction and incident detection. We have 518 Traffic Scotland monitoring units across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
Transmission Building – Other Electrical
Specialised roadside building used to house communications and control equipment. We have 10 transmission buildings across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 25 years.
Uninterruptible Power Supply
Battery based equipment to maintain power in the event of electrical supply loss. We have 79 uninterruptible power supply units across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 10 years.
Variable Message Signs
Electronic variable message sign used to disseminate traffic and travel information directly to the roadside. We have 326 variable message signs across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
Variable Message Signs – Mobile
A trailer-based variable message sign for occasional use i.e. during events or temporary situations where no permanent installation exists. We have 8 mobile variable message signs across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
Voice Gateway
Equipment used to manage and route roadside telephony from SOS telephones. We have 70 voice gateways across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 10 years.
Weigh In Motion – Infrastructure
Equipment used to dynamically measure the weight of passing traffic. We have 36 weigh-in-motion infrastructure units across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 15 years.
Wind Turbines
Wind turbine used to generate power at off-grid locations. We have 10 wind turbines across our network. This asset has a lifespan of 10 years.
The following Table D-1 details the equipment that comprises the systems estate. The inventory records (2734 assets) held for the ITS assets comply with the requirements set down in the second Traffic Scotland Systems Contract (TSSC2).
| Asset Type | Quantity | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|
| Modem Hardware | 87 | 10 yrs |
| IP Router | 275 | 10 yrs |
| Server | 84 | 7 yrs |
| IP Switch | 1017 | 10 yrs |
| IP Server | 28 | 7 yrs |
| Network Gear | 180 | 10 yrs |
| IP Firewall | 24 | 10 yrs |
| Hardware | 142 | 10 yrs |
| Computer | 609 | 7 yrs |
| Windows Server | 62 | 7 yrs |
| Miscellaneous IP Equipment | 226 | 10 yrs |
Inspections and Surveys
Condition Assessment
Condition rating of the present condition of Traffic Scotland ITS for the purposes of making decisions for planned maintenance or replacement are undertaken in accordance with ‘Intelligent Transport Systems Condition Categories’ (see below).
Intelligent Transport Systems Condition Categories
A Condition Rating shall be performed in accordance with the frequencies set out in the Planned Maintenance Task Schedules. See the Traffic Scotland Operations and Infrastructure Services Contract for more information.
Condition Category A
Installed or refurbished within last six (6) months.
Condition Category B
Functioning in accordance with the Manufacturer’s Documentation, shows slight wear, or minor damage and unlikely to result in disruption to the Traffic Scotland Service.
Condition Category C
Functioning in accordance with Manufacturer’s Documentation, shows increased wear or damage and has the potential to result in disruption to the Traffic Scotland Service.
Condition Category D
Not functioning in accordance with Manufacturer’s Documentation or is subject to Repeat Faults and likely to result in disruption to the Traffic Scotland Service at any time.
Condition Category X
Added to Condition Ratings C or D above to indicate it is impossible to function in accordance with the Manufacturer’s Documentation, or Spares are unavailable or obsolete, or Records confirm less than two (2) years Economic Life Expectancy.
A Condition Rating shall be performed in accordance with the frequencies set out in the Planned Maintenance Task Schedules. See the Traffic Scotland Operations and Infrastructure Services Contract for more information.
Monitoring Performance
The state of the ITS asset base is not calculated solely from its condition. As many assets are related to technology, it is not always possible to get a condition score and they typically will have a relatively shorter life expectancy compared to other assets found on the road network such as pavements, which can be operable for decades. Renewal strategies to improve the asset include the identification and phased renewal of obsolete technology, sites past economic life expectancy, under-performing technology and substandard or hazardous infrastructure.
Obsolescence of technology assets is a major factor which we monitor, to ensure that our systems will be able to communicate with one another and interact with our hardware. Unlike condition, obsolescence is more difficult to track as assets may become unsupported by a provider at relatively short notice.
The Traffic Scotland Infrastructure Contractor (TSIC) provides the management and maintenance of the ITS assets and for the provision of traffic information to the public. Our contracted supplier provides us with an annual summary report with key asset information and analysis which is used during our asset management planning processes.
Further detail on current ITS asset condition can be found in ‘Intelligent Transport Systems Condition’.
Customer Satisfaction
Transport Scotland’s ongoing customer survey of users of the trunk road network has a question covering satisfaction with the provision of electronic message boards, with 50% either ‘very satisfied’ or ‘fairly satisfied’ as per the 2025 results. User survey results indicate that 34% of users have used the Traffic Scotland website for the provision of information.
Maintenance
Full details of the maintenance requirements for ITS assets are provided in our ITS contracts, (details of which are provided in ‘ITS Contract’). Maintenance activities cover the following:
ITS Roadside Assets
Routine maintenance activities typically include electrical testing, structural testing, cleaning of CCTV Cameras and Emergency Roadside Telephones.
Reactive maintenance is typically identified through self-reporting or inspections but may also arise from reports from the Police or public. Faults are categorised dependent on severity and responded to in accordance with contractual requirements.
ITS Systems Estate
Routine maintenance activities typically include server maintenance, software patching of IT equipment, licence renewals and other duties required to ensure to the system is operating as expected.
Reactive maintenance is typically identified through systems user reporting on observed performance levels or routine / regular inspections and monitoring.
Analysis
Historical Trends
Funding since 2021 is outlined in Figure D-1 below.
Current State of Our Assets
The condition of our ITS assets, aggregated under eight asset groups is presented in Figure D-2. Currently 81% of comms assets, 77% of power supplies, 73% of data collection assets, and 66% of cables are in ‘excellent’, ‘good’, or ‘fair’ condition.
Investment Scenarios
Further detail to the investment scenarios outlined in 'Investing in Our Network’ is provided below, with a focus on ITS assets. Figure D-3 visually compares the different investment options and is supported by additional commentary on the removal of backlog and maintenance of condition scenarios.
Budget Required to Remove Backlog
This scenario seeks to remove the £91 million maintenance backlog within ten years. An average investment of £22 million per annum is required (excluding CPF). (See Figure 5-7 in the RAMP for more information on the backlog).
Budget Required to Maintain Current Condition
The investment required to maintain Traffic Scotland assets at current condition levels is £16 million per annum (excluding CPF), which is in line with the 2026/27 indicative budget.
Baseline Budget Required to Meet Core Commitments
The minimum funding necessary to ensure road safety for users, in line with statutory obligations and national standards.
Scheme / Programme Development
An annual process of developing works programmes is applied, with draft programmes developed on a rolling one year and three-year basis.
Transport Scotland then review the draft programme with both the TSIC and TSSC2 and indicative budgets are allocated on an annual basis. Both contracts have an element of lump sum works and separate works that are agreed on a task-by-task basis.
Transport Scotland are undertaking a significant upgrade of roadside assets, particularly motorway signal units and variable message signs. Similarly, an investigation into the future of the TSS will necessitate a specific programme of investment to be developed. This investigation offers the opportunity to deliver a step change in the efficiency and effectiveness of the TSS and enhance its important.