In 2009, Advanced Transport Systems Ltd. (ATS) invited designers from around the world to submit their visions of how ULTra PRT could be adapted to the context of Bath, a city of unparalleled historic value. The final results of this competition can now be seen online.
PF Urban's station design
"When we launched the competition last year we didn't really know what to expect", said Dr. John Hammersley, ATS research scientist. "Would we get any designs? Would any of them be popular with the residents in Bath? I think what we've achieved with this far surpasses our original hopes – the success of the event in Bath is testament to that, both in the variety of designs we had to exhibit, and in the support and encouragement we received from the public."
The designs were assessed by the public in an exhibition held in Bath in November 2009. An independent jury, chosen for both their technical expertise and their local knowledge of Bath and its cultural and historic environment, also gave its critique.
ARUP's station design
Their marks and comments have been collated, and ATS is proud to announce the winners of the design competition, whose high-quality designs have demonstrated a wide variety of solutions to the question of how to adapt PRT infrastructure tp Bath.
"The imagination and creativity shown by the entrants – coupled with the obvious effort that has gone into producing the submitted material – is really amazing, and shows what huge potential PRT has for adapting to different environments," said Dr. Hammersley. "The top infrastructure designs (ARUP and PF Urban) highlight this in particular, giving visualisations of two very different ways in which the ULTra system could be adapted to a historic environment like Bath."
"As the organisers of this competition, ATS wishes to thank the entrants, judges, and those members of the public who visited the exhibition in Bath and left feedback – we greatly appreciate the time taken and contributions made to this competition. On a personal note, having met a number of the designers at the exhibition, and spoken to the others either on the phone or via email, I want to say a big thank you to them for their efforts – and for their wonderful ideas and enthusiasm!"
The roster of shortlisted competition entries can be seen at:
As a continuing part of the CIVITAS Renaissance study, ATS has incorporated images from the competition entries into an online perception study, which all members of the public are encouraged to take part in:
Further information on the Bath study itself can be found at:
