Siemens has secured a contract from Transport for London (TfL) in the UK to develop software for the implementation of the city’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

Set to be integrated with existing roadside sensors and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras deployed by Siemens, the software will monitor and control the movement of highly polluting vehicles through designated geographic areas.

By providing a broader set of data, the software also identifies vehicles that do not comply with the standards of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ).

Siemens plans to carry out the work over the next year to enable software deployment for service preparation activities, leading up to the scheme going live from April next year.

“Our long-term partnership with TfL is supporting the urban and sustainable development of London and its surroundings.”

TfL Road User Charging general manager Paul Cowperthwaite said: “By April 2019, all vehicles, barring some exemptions, will need to meet exhaust emission standards or pay a daily charge when travelling in central London.

“We are working to ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place by 2019 and assigning projects to contractors such as Siemens will ensure we meet this deadline. London’s air quality isn’t a part-time issue so once the ULEZ goes live it will be in operation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”

Exhaust nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions are expected to decrease with the introduction of the ULEZ.

Siemens Mobility division CEO Michael Peter said: “Our long-term partnership with TfL is supporting the urban and sustainable development of London and its surroundings, thanks to our proven traffic monitoring equipment.

“It is used by TfL as part of the London-wide LEZ, the first of its kind in the UK and the largest in the world, to encourage public transport and non-polluting vehicles, to improve air quality and health across the capital.”