By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
VICROADS has not ruled out continuing to use the same model of wireless traffic-detection sensors found to be unreliable in an internal report last year.
The Sensys Networks sensors could be part of an “intelligent transport system” controlling traffic flow on the Monash Freeway from Clyde Road-High Street, which was granted $88.5million in recent state and federal budgets.
VicRoads road operations director Dean Zabrieszach did not comment on whether the troubled sensors would be used.
He said the new project was an extension of the “motorway management system” already in use on parts of the M1 between Williamstown Road-High Street, and which was also being used on the Western Ring Road.
“Victoria was the first state in Australia to implement the motorway management system and continues to lead the country in this initiative to reduce the cost of congestion to the community.”
A VicRoads product evaluation report last year found a “serious problem” with Sensys Networks sensors, of which 2372 were installed as part of a $100 million freeway management system in 2009-10.
The report stated it could cost more than $10 million over 10 years to maintain and replace the faulty devices. Sensys claimed the sensors had a shelf-life of 10-plus years and were “virtually maintenance free”.
The report revealed that almost one in five surveyed sensors maintained by VicRoads, City Link and Main Roads Western Australia had been replaced within two to four years for failing to give data or due to manufacturing faults.
It’s believed non-functioning Sensys studs are still being regularly replaced on the M1.
VicRoads chief operating officer Bruce Gidley last year defended use of the sensors, saying the report was the view “of one individual, and does not represent VicRoads’ position”.The technology had not been given ‘type product approval’ prior to installation.
Mr Gidley said new products were often used prior to type-approval and were trialled before being rolled out.
“The report … assumes that a single faulty batch will be repeated on an ongoing basis, which has not been the case, therefore it [the report] is flawed and incorrect.”
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