The control centre enables collaboration between the public transport, traffic signals, CCTV monitoring, public relations and local police teams.

Collectively they try to keep the public safe, manage incidents on the transport networks and look for ways to improve operations.

CIHT members were given an introductory presentation from various teams within TfGM about what they use the centre for and how they hope to provide new systems in the future as technology and data sources develop.

This was followed by a 90-minute tour of the facility, which had two large video walls of live and recorded footage from an extensive range of CCTV cameras, and desk bays for the various teams that work within the centre. 

Of particular interest was the latest drones they have available to monitor events, incidents, traffic flows and surveys, using state-of-the-art components.

Members were invited to chat to many of the teams within the centre in small groups, to enable more in-depth conversations and learning and observe demonstrations. Many asked questions about what there major challenges are and how they tackled previous ones. 

The centre operates 24-7, 365 days of the year and members had to leave by 8pm with many more questions to ask, as those remaining were dealing with a live incident in the city centre and were planning ahead for the Oasis reunion concerts. 

TfGM were happy to accommodate CIHT and agreed to host similar events in future years for those that couldn’t be accommodated this time.