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CourseCivil, Rail & Smart Cities Applications open

Urban Traffic Control Center Operation Course

Online course of 300 hours in urban traffic control centre operation: 6 modules covering the traffic control centre, field equipment, traffic signal control, incident and event management, data and continuous improvement, and a traffic control centre project, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Describe the architecture and functions of a traffic control centre.

02

Configure field equipment and traffic signal controllers.

03

Design coordinated and adaptive traffic signal control strategies.

04

Manage incidents and events using predefined protocols.

05

Use traffic data to support operational decision-making.

06

Organise the centre's human and technical resources.

07

Develop the project for an urban traffic control centre.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Traffic control centre operators
  • Traffic engineers
  • Control room supervisors
  • Traffic signal technicians
  • ITS systems managers
  • Road emergency coordinators
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to move into local government
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Directive 2010/40/EU (intelligent transport systems)
  • UNE-EN 50556 (road traffic signal systems)
  • UNE-EN 12675 (traffic signal controllers)
  • UNE-EN 12966 (variable message traffic signs)
  • Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/670 (real-time traffic information services)
  • Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (NIS2 cybersecurity directive)
  • EN 16157 DATEX II (traffic data exchange)
  • PTV Vissim
  • TRANSYT
  • SCOOT
  • Milestone XProtect
  • QGIS
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Functions of an urban traffic management centre
  2. 1.2Architecture of systems and subsystems
  3. 1.3Video wall, operator workstations and ergonomics
  4. 1.4Shift organisation and roles
  5. 1.5Operating protocols
  6. 1.6Coordination with police and emergency services
  7. 1.7DGT and municipal control centres
  8. 1.8Evolution towards mobility centres
  9. 1.9Service continuity and redundancy
  10. 1.10Case study: analysis of a municipal control centre
  1. 2.1Traffic signal controllers and their functions
  2. 2.2Inductive loops, radar and counting cameras
  3. 2.3CCTV cameras and automatic incident detection
  4. 2.4Variable message signs
  5. 2.5Road weather stations
  6. 2.6Field communications and protocols
  7. 2.7Access control systems
  8. 2.8Preventive and corrective maintenance
  9. 2.9Inventory and asset management
  10. 2.10Lab: configuring plans in a traffic signal controller
  1. 3.1Fixed-time plans and time-of-day selection
  2. 3.2Arterial coordination and green waves
  3. 3.3Traffic-actuated control
  4. 3.4SCOOT and SCATS adaptive systems
  5. 3.5Priority for public transport and emergency vehicles
  6. 3.6Pedestrian and cyclist phases
  7. 3.7Optimisation with TRANSYT
  8. 3.8Measuring traffic signal performance
  9. 3.9Cybersecurity of signal controllers
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: optimisation of a coordinated arterial
  1. 4.1Incident detection and verification
  2. 4.2Predefined response plans
  3. 4.3Diversions and alternative routes
  4. 4.4Special event management
  5. 4.5Communication with drivers and the media
  6. 4.6Management of roadworks on public roads
  7. 4.7Pollution episodes and restrictions
  8. 4.8Emergency and evacuation situations
  9. 4.9Post-incident logging and analysis
  10. 4.10Workshop: simulation exercise for managing a major incident
  1. 5.1Management and integration platforms
  2. 5.2Operational indicators for the centre
  3. 5.3Public information and open data
  4. 5.4Data publication in DATEX II
  5. 5.5Use of floating vehicle data
  6. 5.6Traffic digital twin
  7. 5.7Analytics and decision support
  8. 5.8Operator training
  9. 5.9Continuous improvement and audits
  10. 5.10Case study: monthly operations report
  1. 6.1Analysis of the municipality's needs
  2. 6.2Functional architecture of the centre
  3. 6.3Required field equipment
  4. 6.4Traffic signal control strategies
  5. 6.5Incident management protocols
  6. 6.6Information systems
  7. 6.7Organisation and staffing
  8. 6.8Budget and phasing
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

Delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PTV Vissim, TRANSYT, SCOOT, Milestone XProtect and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: incident management simulation exercises, optimisation of signal plans and analysis of detector data. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: Directive 2010/40/EU; UNE-EN 50556; UNE-EN 12675; UNE-EN 12966; Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/670; Directive (EU) 2022/2555; EN 16157 DATEX II.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of Directive 2010/40/EU, UNE-EN 50556 and UNE-EN 12675 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:PTV Vissim, TRANSYT, SCOOT, Milestone XProtect and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:the project for an urban traffic control centre, from needs analysis and field equipment to signal strategies, incident protocols and staffing, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Control centre analysis
Analyse the architecture and operation of a real municipal traffic control centre.
Signal controller configuration
Configure timing plans in a traffic signal controller.
Arterial optimisation
Optimise a coordinated arterial using TRANSYT.
Major incident simulation
Run a simulation exercise managing a major incident with predefined response plans.
Final project
Design a complete urban traffic control centre with budget, phasing and staffing.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Traffic control centre operatorTraffic engineerControl room supervisorTraffic signal technicianITS systems managerRoad emergency coordinator
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior qualification is required.
  • An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with PTV Vissim, TRANSYT, SCOOT, Milestone XProtect and QGIS, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

No prior qualification is required: you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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