The process of generating or "writing" ( as it is commonly referred to in Australia ) a personality involves a number of steps and a certain level of background Traffic Signalling knowledge and some reference information known as "tables".
Generally, a user writing a personality needs to know about road traffic signalling theory and what are the accepted local traffic road rules, a detailed plan of the intersection to be signallised and the expected operation of the signals including any pedestrian movements expected.
Requirements
- A PC or Laptop computer with MS-Windows with at least 1 USB port.
- A Licensed copy of NGEN Software with hardware dongle.
- Intersection Plan Layout Drawing.
- A Licensed copy of WinTRAFF Single Software with hardware dongle OR a TSC/4 Traffic Signal Controller cabinet with loads, inputs and pushbuttons that will simulate that specific intersection's configuration.
- A USB Personality Burner if a physical Traffic Signal Controller is used to test the personality,
- Cardbus Cards to store the newly written personality.
Please refer to "Traffic Signalling" for background on how road traffic signals work in Australia, however, SCATS® and NGEN cater for many of the commonly used signalling systems used around the world.
Writing personalities is a task that needs to be checked and reviewed by peers that have a traffic signalling background and then once completed needs to be tested in a workshop to ensure that any issues are resolved. Once a personality is running without faults, it can be tested within a real traffic signal controller and an Operational Sheet is written that documents what the "personality" will do.
The Operational Sheet is a very important document as this provides many details of what signals operate in a given phase, how demands can alter the operation of the signals if present. Both the personality and the Operational Sheet document should be reviewed and checked before implementing the personality in a Traffic Signal Controller in the field.