Julian Yip - Traffic Signal Services Cadet
Meet Julian Yip, one of our new traffic signals cadets as part of the Smarter Roads program. He explains how the work of the signal services team is not only benefitting cars, bikes, and freight, but also Victorian pedestrians.
What’s your work background?
I recently graduated from RMIT University in Civil Engineering and worked in the structural engineering and freight/logistics industry throughout my studies.
How did you come to join the Smarter Roads program and what was your interest in the program?
I joined the Smarter Roads program as part of a traffic signals engineering cadet program. Over the past 10 months, I’ve received extensive training to understand how Victoria’s traffic signal network operates and how we can contribute to ensure that all road users are able to travel safely and efficiently. It’s highly rewarding knowing the work we do greatly impacts the daily lives of people across Victoria.
What are your impressions of the program?
The Smarter Roads program has given us the opportunity to find new and innovative ways to optimise our road network and make travelling throughout Victoria more efficient. We’re able to implement and use new technologies to improve the way our traffic signals operate, including new sensors to collect data which help us making informed changes to make the journeys of all road users safer and more efficient. This also helps us to keep road users up to date with reliable travel information such as travel time and road closures.
You’re a Network Optimisation Engineer. What does that involve?
As a Network Optimisation Engineer, I am responsible for the design and optimisation of traffic signals and traffic management systems to ensure simpler, quicker, and safer journeys for all road users. As part of the Signal Services team, we have been working on implementing and installing pedestrian occupancy detectors (AGD Detectors) at numerous intersections across Victoria.
The main application of these pedestrian detectors is to efficiently adjust traffic lights based on pedestrian occupancy especially outside schools or busy train stations. However, they can also be used to improve safety of our pedestrians when they share the road with turning vehicles.
At these intersections, the detector can hold red light turn arrows for longer when pedestrians are detected as they walk across the pedestrian crossings. Once there are no pedestrians left, the detectors will allow the red arrow to drop off and let the vehicles turn. This is just one of many innovative technologies we are implementing as part of the Smarter Roads program.
How will the work you’re doing make it easier for people and freight to move around Melbourne’s roads?
As traffic signal engineers, we are always trying to ensure that the operation of the network is as efficient as possible. We are always reviewing traffic signal networks across Victoria and making changes where necessary to keep journeys simple and safe. We’re also keeping up to date with new innovative technologies that might help us make moving around Melbourne easier for all road users.
Get to know more of our Smarter Roads team here.