Freeway Traffic Management System
COMPASS, also referred to as Freeway Traffic Management System, is a system run by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario to monitor and manage the flow of traffic in Ontario.
COMPASS uses pairs of in-road sensors to detect the speed and density of traffic flow. This data is fed to a central computer at the MTO Downsview office and analyzed by operators, who also view the feeds of traffic cameras placed along the highways. Changeable Message Signs then display messages to motorists on the highways, advising them of upcoming collisions, closures, detours and traffic flow.
Algorithms
The primary algorithm used by the Ministry is known as the McMaster algorithm, designed by Professor Fred Hall of McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario. Incident Detection algorithms have also been widely used throughout the COMPASS-enabled area.Research on new algorithm developments and evaluations is performed at the ITS Centre and Testbed, at the Civil Engineering department of the University of Toronto. The ICAT is equipped with direct fibre-optic links to the Ministry of Transportation, and received both traffic camera and loop detector data on a live basis. Visual data can be used to confirm the presence of incidents detected by the various algorithms.
COMPASS cameras
Images from most COMPASS cameras are available online via MTO website.COMPASS has some dedicated cameras used by MTO Enforcement Officers to monitor and manage truck queues at locations such as the Putman Commercial Vehicle Inspection Station. Images from these cameras are not available online.
Highways with COMPASS cameras:
[Queen Elizabeth Way] (QEW)
- QEW from Thompson Rd to Bowen Rd
- QEW from Mountain Road to 7th Street
- QEW from Fifty Rd to Highway 427
[Highway 400]
- Highway 400 from Highway 401 to Highway 9
- Highway 400 at Highway 89
[Highway 401]
. One of the highest-volume highways in the world- Highway 401 from near Ojibway Pkwy to near 9th Concession Rd
- Highway 401 from Wellington Road South to Putnam Rd
- Highway 401 from near Norwich Ave to near Highway 403
- Highway 401 from Homer Watson/Fountain St South to Highway 6
- Highway 401 from near Martin St to Holt Rd
- Highway 401 from Gardiners Rd to Highway 15
- Highway 401 from near Reynolds Rd to near Highway 137
Highway 402">Ontario Highway 402">Highway 402
- Highway 402 from Mandaumin Road to Front Street North
Highway 403">Ontario Highway 403">Highway 403
- Highway 403 from Aberdeen to QEW
- Highway 403 from QEW to Highway 401
Highway 404">Ontario Highway 404">Highway 404
- Highway 404 from Highway 401/Don Valley Parkway to Stouffville Rd
Highway 405">Ontario Highway 405">Highway 405
- Highway 405 from QEW to Queenston-Lewiston Bridge
Highway 406">Ontario Highway 406">Highway 406
- Highway 406 South of QEW
Highway 407">Ontario Highway 407#Highway 407 East project">Highway 407
- Highway 407 from Brock Rd to Highway 35/115
Highway 409">Ontario Highway 409">Highway 409
- Highway 409 from Highway 427 to Highway 401
Highway 410">Ontario Highway 410">Highway 410
- Highway 410 from Highway 401 to Queen St
Highway 412">Ontario Highway 412">Highway 412
- Highway 412 from Highway 401 to Highway 407
Highway 417">Ontario Highway 417">Highway 417
- Highway 417 from Walkley Rd to Highway 7
Highway 418">Ontario Highway 418">Highway 418
- Highway 418 from Highway 401 to Highway 407
Highway 427">Ontario Highway 427">Highway 427
- Highway 427 from Evans Ave/Brown's Line to Major Mackenzie
Non 400-series Highways
- Highway 7/8 from Fischer-Hallman Rd to Homer Watson
- Highway 58 from Pine Street to Thorold Stone Road
- Thorold Stone Road
- Adolphustown/Glenora Ferry Terminals
- Wolfe Island Ferry Terminals - Kingston and Wolfe Island
- 1000 Islands Parkway - Ivy Lea
- E.C. Row Expressway - COMPASS uses images from City of Windsor.
- City of Windsor - Images from both City of Windsor and COMPASS are available on MTO website via COMPASS interface.