Interac

	Interac Signworks is designed for rapid production of street works signing and guarding and diversion layouts for site personnel and clients. Make or modify a map using the programme, or use an existing map or one of the drawings supplied with the programme, drag up to 500 signs and objects into position, add your own text, and print or save the result. Square-shaped maps in .bmp, .jpg and many .tif file formats can be resized and rotated, and landscape sections selected and saved for use in Signworks and other programmes. The Square Maps feature is new in 2008. In the map-making part of the programme, existing maps in bitmap format can also be used as a background and traced or modified, and the result saved in similar format with or without the imported background map being visible. Or maps can be made from scratch using a choice of 300 objects which are dragged to position and resized and rotated as required:
	Interac Signworks presents the user with a stand-alone programme enabling traffic management designs to be created and saved as editable files, which can be re-opened by any user of the programme and the contents modified or added to, without the need to learn conventional CAD techniques and using only intuitive click-and-drag methods. New in Version 5.2 are an innovative map-making feature, full printing controls, and the ability to save all work as a flat image, or "picture" file, in bitmap format, as well as saving traffic management layouts in editable format.
	... part of a plan is illustrated here showing how both large and small object images and DIY text can be used to design layouts annotated with explanatory text and pictures. All objects other than explanatory text can be rotated by right-clicking whilst positioning. The programme produces and uses background maps and drawings in either .bmp or .jpg format and 1000 X 500 pixels in size.
	Signs and objects are presented pictorially and the user clicks once to switch between groups of objects enabling items of different types to be added easily to the same background map.
	A title and explanatory text can be dragged to any position on the layout. Text can also be written onto red, blue and yellow background plates, and rotated, enabling, for example, diversion signing to be customised:
	Saved layouts include all objects, positions, and orientations, and all text items created by the user. Layouts are saved as simple script files which are small enough to be quickly transmitted by email.
	Complex menus are dispensed with and a single click initiates the desired action:
	and it is easy to start again:
		Alternatively, select one of the ready-made signing and guarding plans built into the programme for the preset street layouts. All the signs and objects are positioned and re-positioned with a simple click-and-drag procedure.... ... and dimensions can be added.
		These new signs are included.
	Advance warning sign distances have been amended in the new Code of Practice; these are included in the programme. Previously they were 23-46m, 46-110m, and 275-458m.
	The programme includes these surfacing signs and plates.
		The programme contains 33 road and street layouts, 40 ready-made works layouts, and up to 500 signs and objects can be positioned at any one time.
		Interac Signworks is based on the Chapter 8 Traffic Signs Manual and the Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice 2001. It includes most of the standard layouts in the documents, and many which are not pictured there. The programme will shortly be updated in in accordance with the new 2006 Chapter 8 Traffic Signs Manual.
		The programme has 26 ready-made layouts for dual carriageways and motorways, including 2 and 3 lane dual carriageways without hard shoulders,
		2 lane motorways with hard shoulders,
		3 lane motorways with hard shoulders,
		with and without slip roads. All shown here in miniature.
		This segregated contraflow with buffer lane and HGV restriction in right hand lane can be assembled in six clicks, including the one to start the programme.
	In the map-making part of Interac Signworks you can drag-and-drop road sections into place to reproduce the majority of single-carriageway urban street networks, and add road closure and diversion signing as well as works signing and guarding...
	... or create and sign junctions which are not available elsewhere in the programme as standard sites.
		Interac Signworks has been in use by many organisations since 1998. Signs and layouts are in accordance, where relevant, with the Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice 2001, which had statutory backing with effect from 1st February 2002. More new features will be added to the programme.

Welsh flag by courtesy of ITA's Flags of All Countries; used with permission.

Contact us for more information about the programmes and who is using them. A demonstration CD is available for UK highway authorities, works departments, utilities, and highways contractors and consultants.