www.strasseninfo.ch: new web map for the TCS traffic Information

Since the end of December the TCS is presenting online traffic Information on a new platform. The new application is based on a GoogleMap, that’s to say on the product "Webmap" from Viasuisse.

The traffic information on the TCS website (www.tcs.ch) is a popular source of information. Over the year this generates about 30% of all traffic information. If snow is predicted, during holidays or national holidays, this can peak at 40–50%.

A real improvement for the user
The publication of the newly designed Traffic-Info Map is at the same time the first step towards the re-launch of the entire TCS website in the spring. Currently it is being worked on at high speed. Objectives are an optimised user guide and the offer of real multiple applications. Intentions which will be fulfilled also with the new Traffic-Info Map. Those responsible for the project at the TCS, Patrick Strössler (Director of E-Channels) and Fabien Zurbriggen (Director of Content Management) are very satisfied: "This solution offers more functions and is – exactly as we wanted it to be – really user-friendly and quick to use."

Really easy to use
Using the new traffic information map is uncomplicated. The sought-after region can easily be selected with the zoom. The GoogleMap loads very quickly. It is simple to use. All detailed information can be either separately or simultaneously blended into the same map. There are five information categories: Traffic jams and road conditions, road works, passes and tunnels, car parks and webcams. The optimised usability was the challenge at the technical level: Five categories in three languages and the corresponding coloration of the road sections had to be prepared. Sladjan Petrovic, in charge of projects with Viasuisse, explains the solution: "36 modules were installed onto the Viasuisse servers, so that the Webmap could be supplied with the correct data. For this special filters had to be used to allow the traffic information to be presented in its current form. You can imagine these filters as rules. They determine into which category a news item fits. The most difficult of all is the correct categorisation of unusual situations."

Two months from concept to publication
The Webmap from Viasuisse is a standard product, which can be modified for individual use according to the needs of the customer. That is why the requirements of the TCS could very quickly be fulfilled. For the TCS adaptation certain picture symbols of our own were integrated for the different categories of information: Road work icons for example light up in a strong pink, snow on the road surface is shown bright blue, open tunnel routes or passes appear in a gentle pine green. Naturally the new Traffic-Info Map offers its users much more than just understandable pictorial information. The detailed description above of how the map can be set up for  simultaneous use of different categories of information, is important for simple handling.

And when out and about: the TCS-App
For traffic information in real time on the mobile there is an app available. For iPhones the link is and for Android. The traffic reports on the TCS Website and on the TCS-App all come from the Viasuisse editorial desk and are delivered in a media conform format.