The Model Of Urban Network, namely MOUN, is an open and configurable platform that represents the urban traffic network allowing the easy integration of heterogeneous traffic devices (local controllers, sensors, actuators, etc.), subsystems (UTC, legacy systems, etc.) and network-wide traffic applications (emergency management, fleet management, etc.).
Traffic monitoring and control is traditionally carried out by vertical, legacy systems, that manage all the different components, both hardware and software. This situation leads the users to a total dependence to the vendors and their proprietary technologies, and asks for significant re-installation each time a new application should be introduced. MOUN is basically an object-oriented software model, device- and application-independent platform that supports the co-ordination and concurrent functioning of different applications and subsystems. MOUN deals basically with traffic information: it exchanges, stores and updates information about traffic conditions. The model reports the real-time evolution of the urban traffic network, and it also provides the suitable control mechanisms to act directly on the road equipment, to set the control strategies and to co-ordinate the network management. MOUN is a software model that runs on widely extended platforms (PCs). It could become a standard for integrating traffic control/monitoring devices with traffic applications. The adoption of MOUN would facilitate a healthy growth of the ITS market as well as the easy integration of new applications based on advanced technologies, enabling users independence and traffic systems flexibility. MOUN platform has been developed and widely tested in three demonstration sites, Valencia, Chania and Milan, plus a virtual site in Paris, integrating a wide range of applications, devices and subsystems.
The result is presented in the way of an easy-to-install software packages, accompanied by a user manual that explains how to install, to configure and to use the MOUN, as well as how to make MOUN-compliant components.