SCATS 6 is an area traffic management system consisting of hardware, software, and a unique
control philosophy that operates in real-time, adjusting signal timings in response to variations in
traffic demand and system capacity as they occur. Rather than changing individual intersections in
isolation, SCATS manages groups of intersections that are called ‘subsystems’, the basic unit of the
system. Each subsystem will consist of between one and ten sets of signals, and contain just one
‘critical’ intersection.
SCATS 6 adapts and coordinates the signals within each subsystem, and is able to coordinate a
subsystem with adjacent subsystems. This coordination aims to divide the traffic on major roads
into ‘platoons’ (groups of vehicles), and to allow just enough time for each platoon of vehicles to
enjoy a smooth journey while allowing the needed green time for competing flows. This maximises
the network capacity for the benefit of all.
Improvements of the New Generation SCATS
The SCATS 6 development team has always applied the latest improvements in technology for the
benefit of SCATS users over the world. We now proudly introduce SCATS 6, which provides far
more flexibility—for the decision maker, the Traffic Engineer, and the accountant!
This new generation features:
• The use of a PC platform;
• an increased number of intersections that can be connected to a PC;
• improved data collection resources, reporting facilities, and even better management and
monitoring methods.