TraSiCAD

Traffic Sign Computer Aided Design (TraSiCAD) is an easy to use Windows application developed by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads to interactively design and draw road signs.

Fully dimensioned guide signs that conform to Australian Standard 1743 (Road Signs Specifications) can be created using a "wizard" tool, or alternatively, non-standard signs can be created from first principles. Australian Standard arrow types, roundabouts, diagrammatic direction symbols and route marker shields are provided as well as a comprehensive selection of service and tourist symbols. Non-standard images can also be imported.

TraSiCAD can export to *EMF, *BMP and *JPG files.

The TraSiCAD wizard enables the following signs to be quickly created:

• Advance direction signs (G1-1, G1-2, G1-4, G1-5 and G1-6)
• Intersection direction signs (G2-1, G2-2, and G2-4)
• Road name boards (G2-3)
• Rural road name finger boards (G3-3)
• Reassurance direction signs (G4-1)
• Sign face templates are provided for kilometre plates, warning signs, give way signs, stop signs, pedestrian crossing signs and route markers.

TraSiCAD is now widely used by Queensland Main Roads and the NSW Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), as well as sign manufacturers and design consultant engineers.

TraSiCAD application is protected by a software locking tool. New installations will operate for a 30 day free trial period, before expiring and prompting the user for an 'unlock code'. The software can be licenced (unlocked) at any time, either during or after the trial period, by completing and submitting the 'TraSiCAD order form'. It is important to specify the software serial number on this form, in order to enable a personalised unlock code to be generated and supplied.

TraSiCAD has a single machine licence, however it can be installed on any number of personal computers and transferred as required with a simple transfer process (refer to Chapter 3 - Licensing, found in the TraSiCAD User Manual).

TraSiCAD Version 2.9 is made available to accommodate specific changes to fonts and sign corner / radii made by Australian Standards which hare to come into effect from July 2017.

As with previous versions, the TraSiCAD download is now available in two separate install options.

• The RMS NSW version that has a pre-defined group of services symbols and a RMS determined set of clearance rules.
  If required this RMS version also has access to clearance rules that more closely aligned to the Australian Standard 1743_2017. (Refer to Item 2 below).
• The Transport and Main Roads Qld version that has a larger group of wizards and services symbols with a reliance on a clearance rule which is aligned to the Australian Standard 1743_2017. (Refer to Item 2 below).

Version 2.9 can be installed directly over a currently installed version without any effect to licenced conditions or validity.

The TraSiCAD version 2.9 upgraded enhancements include three major changes:

1. The acceptance of the newly adopted AS1744 fonts (FHWA Series 2000). As of July 2017, the Series 2000 fonts should be considered as the primary fonts to be used for traffic sign design, over the previous and superseded AS1744 highway fonts.

Please note: As in all previous versions of TraSiCAD, the registered fonts are not included with the TraSiCAD installation. The newly required FHWA Series 2000 fonts may be sourced from the distributor GraphixDirect.

Font information can also be found in the TraSiCAD order form details below.    

2. An option to additionally select one of two new AS1743_2017 clearance rule sets controlling:

• sign face element to element clearances
• sign corner radius selection
• sign edge border selection

TraSiCAD Version 2.9 now allows it to be possible for selection of either of the two newly added Australian Standard (AS1744) rule set options. This enables designers to specifically design sign with either:

• Light legends on a dark sign face sign as per Table 4.2 and Table 4.3 in AS1743.
  (Select specific ruleset As1743-2016_Update-Light_on_Dark.rls).
  or
• Dark legends on a light sign face sign as per Table 4.1 in AS1743.
  (Select specific ruleset As1743-2016_Update-Dark_on_Light.rls)

Simple selection of a required ruleset can be made by selecting the 'Options' dialogue box found with the 'Tools' category of the TraSiCAD desktop. Refer to the TraSiCAD 2.9 User Manual.

3. In alignment with the Australian Standard AS1743_2017, the ability, if required, to install internal corner radii on individual panels within the sign face.

Installation

For Transport and Main Roads QLD version

New installation

1. Download the "Intall_TraSiCAD_v2.910.exe" file to a temporary directory.
2. To install TraSiCAD, run 'Install_TraSiCAD_v2.910.exe" from the previously created temporary directory. A default program group "Trasicad" will be created in C:\Program Files\Main Roads\Trasicad.
3. This will then install the new version 2.9 containing all signs and symbols.

TraSiCAD Upgrade installation

1. Download the "Install_TraSiCAD_v2.910.exe" file to a temporary directory.
2. To install TraSiCAD, run "Install_TraSiCAD_v2.910.exe" from the previously created temporary directory. The program will overwrite the old TraSiCAD version and placed in the same location. TraSiCAD will be created in C:\Program Files\Main Roads\Trasicad
3. TraSiCAD will then be installed containing all signs and symbols.
4. All licence time available from the previous version will be transferred to the new version.

For RTA version

New installation

1. Download the "Install_TraSiCAD_v2.910.exe" file to a temporary directory.
2. To install TraSiCAD, run the "Install_RMS _TraSiCAD_v2.910.exe" from the previously created temporary directory. A default program group "Trasicad" will be created in C:\Program Files\Main Roads\Trasicad however if another location is desired, an option to browse is offered during this setup to install to a nominated location.
3. This will then install the new version 2.9 containing all signs.

TraSiCAD upgrade installation

1. Download the "Install_TraSiCAD_for_RMS_v2.910.exe" file to a temporary directory.
2. To install TraSiCAD, run "Install_TraSiCAD_for_RMS_v2.910.exe" from the previously created temporary directory. The program will overwrite the old TraSiCAD version and placed in the same location. TraSiCAD will be created in C:\Program Files\Main Roads\Trasicad
3. TraSiCAD will then be installed containing all signs.
4. All licence time available from the previous version will be transferred to the new version.

Note for RMS version additional symbols

Only the Main Roads version of TraSiCAD 2.8 has a larger modified symbols library incorporating a number of new symbols included in the Queensland TC signs register.

If any RMS version users wish to add the extra Main Roads version symbols to their symbols library:

• Download the Extended Symbols Library file (ZIP)
• Select the Symbols.zip file and extract the files to a directory.
• From that directory select either the whole symbols directory, any particular number of symbol folders or just the symbol files required.
• Add them to the "Symbols" directory, found in the TraSiCAD program location (the default is C:\Program Files\Main Roads\Trasicad).

Download

Traffic Sign Computer Aided Design (TraSiCAD)

• TraSiCAD TMR Qld application (EXE, 11.1 MB)
• TraSiCAD RMS NSW application (EXE, 1.87 MB)
• TraSiCAD order form (PDF, 1.86 MB)
• TraSiCAD 2.9 user manual (PDF, 2.76 MB)
• Extended symbol library (ZIP, 8.88 MB)

System requirements:

• Windows NT
• Windows 2000
• Windows 98/ME
• Windows XP
• Windows Vista
• Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit)

For more information contact Traffic Engineering & Road Safety Branch: