Road Manager

ROAD MANAGER JOINS ATSSA

Traffic planning software company Road Manager today announced it had joined the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) as part of the expansion of its US operation.

Road Manager continues to grow its international footprint in cities including Atlanta, Boston, Seattle, London, Vancouver and Sydney.

Co-founders and managing directors Christine Keyes and Brendan McNally said joining ATSSA was a must for the traffic software company as it looks to increase its profile in the USA.

“ATSSA is the key peak body for the traffic industry and we want to work with other organisations in the USA to make traffic management safer,” Ms Keyes said.

“We are looking to learn from ATSSA members as well as share our extensive international experience with our new colleagues,” she said.

“We have more than 40 years’ experience in managing major projects and international events such as New Year’s Eve in Sydney,” Mr McNally said.

“The software we have developed – Road Manager – makes the disruption that comes with infrastructure delivery and events as easy as possible on road users and helps keep workers safe.”

“We’re transforming the existing pen and paper system into an affordable cloud based plan that can be drafted, approved and adjusted live,” he said.

“It’s a long overdue change for the sector and a change strongly validated when you see a traffic worker’s face light up as she learns what Road Manager can do,” Ms Keyes said.

About Road Manager

Road Manager is available in the USA, Canada, Australia, UK, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa.

Say goodbye to drawing traffic plans over a white page or importing expensive maps to develop transport management plans. Road Manager is the new traffic management software that connects you to the power of Google Maps.

Draw your traffic plans over live maps, then manage your road works in real time. Know exactly where your resources are and implement your plans live from your mobile or tablet.

Road Manager is now the preferred cloud based traffic management software used for government approved training in Australia.

To sign up for the free trial visit roadmanager.com or email info@roadmanager.com

IMPROVING DRAWING TOOLS

Road Manager is always improving. Our development team has been busy adding new features to Road Manager. Thanks to all our customers who have made suggestions. This month we have made it easier to delete single vertex points. We’ve also made improvements to printing, allowing you to choose between high and low resolution printing.  Keep reading to see the full list of updates, some handy shortcuts and what we’re working on.

Updates:

  • Search map locations on the blue screen
  • Print quality selection between low and high resolution
  • Live mode can be turned on and off from all screens through a button
  • Right click on line and polygon to delete single vertex points
  • Taskbox preview panel now displays the dates and times of plans
  • Road pavement and imported images can be locked to make it easy to draw over with tools and signs
  • Added colour selection on additional basic tools including the circle number and pin location
  • Distance and angle display can now be added to any line tool through the Elements Properties panel with the ability to change the colour of the text display
  • Locate Latitude and Longitude coordinates through the new coordinates tool in the top toolbar or through the map search window
  • Surveying tools additions in the basic tools section

Shortcuts and tools to remember:

  • After placing objects on the map right click anywhere on the map to automatically select the ‘Select tool’ in the top toolbar
  • Copy and paste by Control C and then Control V
  • Select multiple objects at once to move or copy by:

– Using the multi select tool in the top toolbar

 – Windows – Ctrl + Mouse click on objects  

– IOS – Command + Mouse click on objects

  • Once finished importing images or drawing your road layer press the lock in the top toolbar so you don’t keep selecting it when adding your infrastructure
  • Go through and select your tools and set your defaults that work for you so you don’t have to keep changing your settings.
  • Use the print region in the top toolbar for your plans to make the printing fit your plans easier.

We regularly make improvements to Road Manager based on customer feedback. Please keep the suggestions coming in to info@roadmanager.com.

Bug fixes:

  • Imported images shifting when printed
  • File downloads on iOS mobile devices

Updates to come:

  • Enhanced ability for the selection of objects on the map
  • Flip objects on the map
  • Multi resize of similar objects
  • Rotate of multiple objects at once
  • Copy and paste of objects between plans
  • Link base map opening on the blue screen to the user selected view
  • Update to inventory display so it can be added to the plan automatically
  • Additional paper format selections for printing
  • Additional road drawing tools for quicker road drawing
  • Favourites tab and grouping for tools and signs
  • Snapshot tool
  • Legend tool
  • Custom signs tool
  • File structure changes for moving files between folders and plan sets
  • KML/KMZ (GIS file) import feature

 

Example of how to delete a vertex

ROAD MANAGER EXPANDS INTO SOUTH AFRICA

Australian traffic planning software company Road Manager today announced the expansion of the program into South Africa.

Co-founders and managing directors Christine Keyes and Brendan McNally said South Africa was a key location for the traffic software company as it looks to expand its profile in growing markets.

“Traffic planning in South Africa just got easier, with Road Manager now on the market. You need Road Manager if you close roads for events or road work,” Mr McNally said.

“Road Manager will totally streamline the way you manage your roadworks and events. You can plan your event quickly then also manage all your resources in the field,” he said.

Ms Keyes said Road Manager continues to grow its international footprint in cities including London, Dublin, New York and Sydney.

“We’re transforming the existing pen and paper system into an affordable cloud based plan that can be drafted, approved and adjusted live,” she said.

Road Manager is the revolutionary new traffic plan software powered by Google Maps. Draw your traffic plans over live maps, then manage your road works in real time.

Cut the time it takes to draw plans from two hours to 15 minutes. Know exactly where your resources are and implement your traffic plans live from your mobile or tablet.

To sign up for the free trial visit roadmanager.com or email info@roadmanager.com

Road Manager now in South Africa

Road Manager is available in Australia, USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, New Zealand and now South Africa.

Say goodbye to drawing traffic plans over a white page or importing expensive maps to develop transport management plans. Road Manager is the new traffic management software that connects you to the power of Google Maps.

Draw your traffic plans over live maps, then manage your road works in real time. Know exactly where your resources are and implement your plans live from your mobile or tablet.

Road Manager is now the preferred cloud based traffic management software used for government approved training.

NEW PRINT REGION FEATURE & TRAINING VIDEOS

We’ve been working hard here at Road Manager to add new features that you have asked us for.

Many of you would like more control over your zoom levels when you print, so you can define the exact area you need on your plan.

This week we have rolled out part one of our new Print Features.

New Print Region Feature

The new Print Region function allows you to set a print region directly on the map so you can be more exact about the area you print.

But this is only stage one. Next we will roll out a feature to allow you to change the print quality and print at higher resolution.

We will then work on developing a tool to select multiple print regions on the same plan.

New Training Resources

We have also updated all of our training resources. There are new Training Videos as well as updated User Guides 

We take your feedback seriously so get in touch if you have ideas about how we can improve Road Manager.

TOP 5 QUALITIES OF A GOOD TRAFFIC PLAN

“On time and on budget” is a phrase every project manager wants to be able to report to his or her executive team.
we’ve become accustomed to hearing construction companies and governments promote this KPI but it doesn’t happen easily. It requires sound planning, timely adaptability and effective communication.
From the drafting stage to feedback, changes, approvals and delivery, one of the biggest variables is the way traffic in and around the work site is managed, according to Road Manager’s Managing Director Brendan McNally.
“During construction, communities think about the vehicles delivering supplies and removing waste from a worksite but traffic plans impact pedestrians, cyclists and motorists at the same time,” Mr McNally said.
“Add local residents and businesses to the mix, and a good traffic plan is essential for ensuring your corporate brand doesn’t suffer during the disruptive months and years of delivery.
“With more than 40 years experience in operational traffic management, our team has identified 5 elements that make for a good traffic plan,” Mr McNally said.

1. Up to date and detailed maps.

The map in your traffic plan is your foundation for quality.

Make sure it’s up to date, detailed and provides quality information on other key infrastructure in the area.
The good news is you don’t have to create or buy an expensive map today. Powered by Google Maps, Road Manager has this step covered in a simple process that takes just seconds.
Simply type in your street address in the set up menu and your map is set and live.
Your view and zoom is adjustable but our location pin will get you back to the home screen if you veer off course.
The benefit with a plan that lives in the cloud is its connectivity with everyone who needs to see it and provide feedback, at any time.
It doesn’t live in an isolated drive off the grid: it’s in the cloud whenever you need to change it and make those changes visible to your entire team.
Print it with all the normal customised features including contact people and your logo if you still need a hard copy. But we’re sure once you try digital plans, you’ll wonder why you didn’t make the switch sooner.

2. The right elements

Every nation, and in the case of the USA, many states, have their own guide to traffic management in various scenarios.
From the correct signage to the right number of controllers, ensure your plan is compliant.
Reducing commercial risk is in part linked to following the advice of your local authorities.
At Road Manager, every state’s local signs automatically upload during log in, depending on your location.
If you need to have your plans approved by a local authority, as part of a road occupancy licence or another process, you can share your digital version easily or save it as a PDF and print it.
In the event they make changes, you don’t have to go back to the literal drawing board, click and drag on your icons to make the necessary changes in seconds and resubmit the plan within minutes.
Every road works location has the potential to improve or erode public safety.
Being able to see your plan in satellite view in Road Manager, brings vehicle and pedestrian flows to life and helps ensure your team can visualise the plan in action.

3. Manageable costs and resources

Good traffic planners know how to balance the level of safety required with the right mix of resources.
More signage and more controllers doesn’t necessarily mean better safety. Good traffic plans make sense and are intuitive with the right visual, human and written cues.
Having oversight and control over your budget is easier with Road Manager.
Your traffic plans should enable you to see your inventory in the one place, with a clear list of all the resources you plan to have on site.
This should be approved and discussed with the rest of your team and contractors well in advance.
The feedback function in Road Manager enables you to take comments from the rest of your team and cross check with external stakeholders no matter their location.
If preparation is the key to success,then ensuring all members of your division have reviewed your approach gives you confidence if there are surprises down the track.
Getting approvals from across the team is now easier than ever with our cloud based plans.

4. Adaptable during construction

From undocumented utility lines to unearthing historic artefacts, we’ve all experienced an unexpected issue mid construction.
The priorities here are always the safety of the public and the safety of the people working for you.
Under these circumstances, managing a possible blow out in your time and budget can come down to whether you can adjust your resources within minutes.
Instead of sending your traffic management team home, Road Manager gives you the flexibility to make changes from on site, to your boundaries, crew, hours of operation or even location.
Why return a team to the office when you can activate another traffic plan along the project corridor or make changes to an exisiting one and get work moving again as soon as possible.
The adaptability in Road Manager is a feature cities tell us will give them an edge in emergency management.
In these situations, when crews are on standby to clear an incident, city authorities can have the traffic plan drafted and sent to them while they are on location.
It works just as well in a controlled construction zone as when an immediate solution is required.

5. Connected to your city

A positive experience for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists around your site safeguards your businesses brand.
Their experience will colour your ability to deliver another project in their community – or if poorly managed, another project in their city.
We know communities get construction fatigue. Major game changing projects take years to complete and during that period certainty around journey time makes all the difference.
Knowing a 20 minute journey will take 40 minutes helps them plan their day and their expectations.
It’s your decision whether you want communities to get information about your road and lane closures. Road Manager won’t automatically share your traffic plans, it is your data.
Our world class program gives you the option of intergrating your work zones with the city transport managers so they can see how you fit with the network.
For corporations wanting to take this integration to the next level, that work zone information can fed into Wayfinding apps to give commuters live detail of any disruption.
“Talk to us about how we can give you connectivity if you do business with a smart city,” Mr McNally said.
“To get started sign up for our free 15 day trial, use our training videos or contact us to ask for an in person information session with your team.”
“One of the great qualities about Road Manager is its accessibility. Make the shift and get good traffic plans ready every time,” Mr McNally said.
Road Manager Google Maps

Road Manager traffic plan in use in the field.

HOW TRAFFIC CREWS FIND ROAD MANAGER

No one recognises the benefits of Road Manager quite like operational traffic workers.

As unique as our software is by enabling people to draw traffic plans with Google Maps, its benefits really come to life out in the field in real time.

Along with decades of experience in traffic management, our managing director Christine Keyes is also a qualified traffic controller.

Ms Keyes completed her training with one of Road Manager’s key training partners Accelerated Training.

“Accelerated Training is at the forefront of traffic training in NSW, using Road Manager to train the current and next generation of traffic professionals,” she said.

Ms Keyes recently went out to a work site which was using Road Manager to see firsthand how the crew was finding the software.

“We are always open to feedback from our customers and spending time in the field helps us better understand how people with varying levels of experience in traffic control, use our program,” Ms Keyes said.

“It’s a really important aspect of what we do, to make sure we are providing our customers with the support they need to get the best out of Road Manager.

“This is a program built out of a passion and commitment to solve a problem. If we need to vary a measurement tool in our system or provide a customised sign, we get straight onto it.

“The beauty of dealing with Road Manager is that we are problem solvers who know you need to get on with your business and keep the travelling public moving.

GETTING THE MOST FROM THE ROAD MANAGER EXPERIENCE

“People are at the heart of everything we do at Road Manager. Our story is a result of asking ourselves why there isn’t a better way to help people develop and manage control plans.

“My most treasured moments are the ones when traffic planners see what our program can do for the first time.

“Seeing their excitement is a genuine validation of all the hard work and commitment we have put into this program.

“For anyone who isn’t sure whether Road Manager is the right solution for their business, I encourage you to sign up HERE for our free two week trial, with no lock in contracts or hidden charges.

“We’ve also got a training VIDEO publicly accessible to help you on your way.

“At any stage you can also contact us at info@roadmanager.com and we will support the process,” Ms Keyes said.

 

Road Manager Managing Director Christine Keyes directing traffic.

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES AND THE NEW RACE

There is no doubt the creation and testing of autonomous vehicles is one of the most thrilling innovations in the world. It is defining cities of the future and how they will provide greater mobility and opportunity for their residents.

Reminiscent of the ‘race to space’ period, nations are keeping a close eye on developments amongst their competitors, according to our Vice President Communications, Marie Scoutas.

“By the looks of work in the United States from companies like Zoox and Tesla, creativity is going hand in hand with the development of the hardware and it’s fascinating to watch their progress,” Ms Scoutas said.

“As engaging as the images of these new cars are and what they mean for our day to day lives, there is another vital phase we can’t be distracted from.

“It is far less shiny and interesting but its about getting our current cities ready and educating our communities about how we can make the old infrastructure and the old systems compatible with the future.

“They can be made compatible in a number of ways, and one of them is with Road Manager.

“You don’t need expensive new sensors to tell you where there is disruption on the network. You can bring road, lane and footpath closures into real time management with our live Google Maps based program.

“For business, capital cities, major events and even small towns Road Manager is the enabler.

“It provides an easy, affordable, quick solution to bring your traffic into your future management system. It’s not just a place to use a map and draw your traffic plan on it, Road Manager enables you to share, change and manage your crew even in the field, mid-job.

“That immediate adaptability and real time information is what gives transport management centres the most possible control over what’s happening remotely and the information they feed those people stuck in the gridlock.

“We know there are traffic management companies all over the United States and we also provide a value add for their business, so they can get on with contracting crews, deploying barrels and programming VMS signage.

“We are an ideal partner. There are other businesses who close lanes such as paving, plumbing and construction companies who think they don’t have the budget or the time to go digital. But their relatively small projects can and do make those daily deliveries, school runs and commutes to work that little bit more stressful at those times of the day when every 10 minutes counts.

“The one comment that has motivated us more than any other was “we don’t have any use for Google Maps”. Our immediate thought was: “just give it time”.

“One of the WORLD’S top 10 apps, Google Maps is so widely used there is a great benefit in seizing on its already widespread integration into how people are already planning their journeys.

“The issue we are noticing as we speak to people around the United States is timing.

“At the current pace it could take us a generation to bring everyone along the journey in time.

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES WILL BE READY BUT WILL WE?

“We have to bring communities along every step of the way. There are many stages between where we are today and the self-driving cars we imagine our children and grandchildren will find are the norm.

“Bringing planned traffic disruption onto the information grid and off the isolated systems it operates in at present is vital to making cities AV-ready.

“Communities need to be included in the conversation about tangible changes that can happen in the short term, to give them additional confidence we can be ready when the cars are ready.

“The practical shifts we make today, reforms that give communities good real time information about what is happening bring the next stage of mobility even closer.

“It takes good communication and vision from business and political leaders. Otherwise there will be little motivation to bring everyone onto the information grid.

“Cities need to take all those practical and tangible steps to position their communities for the quantum leap we are expecting to take. America’s leading smart cities are creating strong environments for companies like Road Manager to be seen and tested.

“Road Manager will keep having these conversations across America to help ensure all cities get there in time. We’re partnering with training providers also, to help ensure the traffic managers of tomorrow are already thinking about how to future proof their practices.

“Contact us if we can partner with you or help you define where your business can make that jump to cloud based traffic plans,” Ms Scoutas said.

Road Manager is powered by Google Maps, one of the WORLD’S most used apps.

BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE PRICE OF PROGRESS

There is a huge backlog of ageing infrastructure across the United States which will require significant investment to ensure the livability of towns, cities and municipalities into the future.

In many cases the funding arrangements for delivering these projects is unclear but there is one element which is a certainty.

“Whenever infrastructure is built, no matter how badly that new subway line or motorway is needed, there is the headache of disruption,” according to our Vice President Communications, Marie Scoutas.

“The inevitable price of progress includes roadworks, delays and detours. This is additional to any disruption that is part of daily life such as replacing power poles or apartment construction, before you get to an ambitious nation rebuilding program.

“At this point, communication with your community becomes paramount. While everyone hates traffic, people can deal with it better if they know whether it’s a 10 minute or 40 minute delay they are facing and if they can plan ahead with confidence in the information they are getting.

“Alongside an ambitious infrastructure program needs to be an ambitious communications program. Each state or city’s success in keeping its people informed and satisfied their daily lives are being considered, will determine how much more of that city’s vision for the future can be rolled out.

“It means you need all the right information, live and in real time and in a format that is nimble and compatible with a city’s live traffic apps.

“That is where Road Manager plays a vital role not just for governments with big, long running projects but anyone who needs a traffic plan like a major event that will only impact the network for one day.

“Large and smaller road closures need to be managed with the same standard of real time information because in a city under construction every piece of the puzzle becomes vital.

Road Manager provides the affordable solution for towns, cities and SMEs to move their traffic problem onto the grid and make sure it’s visible to everyone.

“We have the opportunity to make that shift now, today, with Road Manager. It’s time to end the unexpected traffic surprises and end pen and paper traffic plans. If we all shift into a secure real time, digital plan then communities, motorists, freight companies and other businesses can get on with what they do best – and plan for the disruption.

“In a nation as vast as the United States, this could take years. We are seeing cities in Europe taking up technology that’s made for America. They can see the benefit, we will continue knocking on doors here at home to ensure they reap the benefits too.

“All too soon, these major pieces of infrastructure may see autonomous and trucks that will most certainly need the sort of accurate and reliable information everyone can get in place now in an easy and affordable way,” Ms Scoutas said.

Sign up for our FREE two week trial with no lock in contracts or hidden fees, or email us at info@roadmanager.com

Delays and long queues can be minimised with well coordinated traffic plans and real time management, enabled by Road Manager.

START UPS HITTING THEIR STRIDES IN THE USA

Road Manager’s VP Marie Scoutas was recently asked to address a group of Australian start ups visiting New York University’s Leslie Entrepreneurs Lab. The group from the New Venture Institute at Flinders University asked some vital questions about how to do business in America.
We have been asked several times what it’s like sending an Australian to head up a new American company.
In major American cities you don’t have to travel far to hear an Australian ordering a coffee or speaking on the phone. But the most welcoming responses to our Vice President’s Australian accent have been in smaller towns, where the twang has not just been accepted but people have offered to go that step further to help a newcomer.
There is no doubt the United States is open for business to innovators. While some cities are more accommodating to start ups than others, there is a wealth of assistance ranging from tax breaks on health insurance through to online support communities for capital raising.
There are some serious requirements to fulfill along the way. We drew on the advice of an experienced tax attorney and an immigration lawyer to ensure we were meeting our legal and regulatory obligations including compulsory insurance.
These are, despite their importance, invisible tasks that won’t help a business find new leads. Marie told the group that a key measure of a successful day in the office is to identify what tasks helped you drive outcomes, separate to any necessary administration.
Before stepping foot on Qantas flight 11 to JFK Airport, Marie had drawn up a list of priority cities to target in the first 100 days to ensure she stayed on course during the early days of house hunting and social security queues.
As she told the E-lab, the secret is: there is no secret. The hustle is not a mystery waiting to be unpackaged. Make the call, set up the meeting, work nights. If a single mother from Sydney with two young children can launch a start up in New York City, then we live in fantastic times.
Her key message was that the basic principles of life, are the principles of running a start up: work darn hard and be respectful to everyone who crosses your path.
She didn’t miss the opportunity to recommend the entrepreneurs see Billy Joel in concert during their stay in Gotham, but we know enough about our VP to know that was inevitable advice.
Marie has been travelling to various states to get a better handle on the different approaches to tackling traffic. It’s always an interesting conversation as our company is at its core: disruptive. Road Manager doesn’t always fit neatly into the way bureaucracies and businesses are structured. But those who are ready to innovate jump at the chance.

Road Manager takes traffic plans off paper and converts them into digital, Google Maps based plans you can adjust in real time.

It’s a small but necessary change for any city preparing for new technology such as autonomous vehicles coming down the line and for any nation with a major infrastructure delivery agenda that has years of roadworks in planning.
It’s a program that was made for the USA but developed in Australia. When we approached spatial technology experts and Google Premium Partners NGIS, we weren’t sure it could be delivered. With US developers in demand in a large market, Marie urged the group at the E-lab not to overlook Australian operators. What we found in NGIS Australia was a can-do attitude that made delivering our vision a joy and a relationship we continue today.
We are very proud to have committed our experience and energy to the United States. We are proud to stand alongside them to help ease the pain that comes with construction because in the end you don’t build for places, you build for people.
For American start ups there can be no better time to seize on the uses of technology to make your contribution.
Australian start ups

Marie Scoutas with the crew and talking to Australian start ups

ROAD MANAGER USA AT AMERICAN TRAFFIC EXPO

Road Manager USA has received a strong endorsement from delegates at one of the foremost traffic expos in the United States.

Managing Directors Christine Keyes and Brendan McNally have promoted the newly established company during the American Traffic Safety Services Association’s 48th annual convention and national traffic expo in Texas.

“As the leading national association for this sector, the ATSSA includes the most innovative organisations in traffic management in the United States and Road Manager was proud to be amongst them,” Ms Keyes said.

“We have urged delegates to take advantage of the free trial period currently in place and see for themselves how Road Manager can transform their traffic management planning.

“Our attendance at the ATSSA’s conference comes after the official launch of our company’s operations in America,” Ms Keyes said.

“Road Manager is steadily growing its international footprint but nowhere more so than in the United States where infrastructure construction is picking up pace,” Mr McNally said.

We’re pleased to be headquartered in New York with a permanent support team for our American clients lead by our Vice President and former government adviser Marie Scoutas.

“There is a smarter, more efficient way to draft traffic management plans and that is by using Road Manager – whether you are a government, a business or a developer take a look at how we can transform your delivery experience,” Mr McNally said.

To sign up for the free trial visit roadmanager.com or email info@roadmanager.com

Media inquiries: +1 (347) 652 9537 USA +61 (405) 249 425 AUSTRALIA

ATSSA with Christine Keyes and Brendan McNally

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