Release Notes 3.0 – December 15, 2025
Installation note
If vs | studio or vs | mate is installed over an existing version (update by overwriting), existing desktop icons or manually created shortcuts may no longer work. These must be deleted manually and recreated if necessary.
1 What’s new?
1.1 New functions/enhancements
1.1.1 Complete vs | plus parameterization
With vs | studio in the mango version, independent parameterization of vs | plus is now possible for the first time: Parameters can now not only be created automatically by the vs | plus wizard, they can also be entered or adjusted directly. This enables both vs | plus newcomers and experts to parameterize optimal, traffic-dependent vs | plus controls.
1.1.2 Creating MAP files
With vs | studio mango, it is now also officially possible to create C-ITS MAP files in accordance with CROADS or DiMap guidelines. However, vs | studio not only allows you to create a MAP file. You also receive the corresponding kml file so that you can view it in a visualization tool of your choice (e.g., Google Earth).
1.1.3 All previous functions combined
With the release of 3.0 (i.e., vs | studio cherry & kiwi & mango), all previous features are combined in a single edition for the first time:
- Node management
- Import OIVD
- MAP/C-ITS
- Planning/parameterization of vs | plus traffic signal control
- Testing and simulation options
- Export or supply of controllers
1.1.4 Preparation for intermediate time calculation
Driving lines, traffic types, and conflict points are required for MAP file creation. These objects are also necessary for intergreen time calculation. In vs | studio mango Release 3.0, everything is now prepared (tile topology) to add the intergreen time calculation to the application.
1.1.5 Good basis for open vs | plus
Preparations have also been made in version 3.0 for the scripting options in “open vs | plus”. Similar to the intergreen time calculation, this functionality will be added in a later release. It will make it possible to supplement the already very extensive standard functions of vs | plus with user-defined logic, automations, and extensions.
This creates an open, flexibly expandable system that can be adapted even better to project-specific requirements and offers users new freedom in the design of their traffic control systems.
2 Improvements/benefits for users
2.1 Flexibility
Compared to the classic vs | workSuite, vs | studio offers a whole range of improvements and modern working mechanisms:
- vs | plus Assistant – advanced intelligence at the touch of a button
The integrated vs | plus Assistant allows you to generate an initial traffic-actuated vs | plus control with just one click. In Release 3.0, the Assistant has been further expanded and refined. This produces practical, roadworthy results that serve as a solid basis for further parameterization. - Tile-based navigation & validation – quick overview, fewer uncertainties
Modern navigation with tiles and clear status icons makes work much easier. Users can immediately see which elements still need to be defined, where parameters are missing or incorrect, and which dependencies exist. This makes planning and parameterization of vs | plus more intuitive, secure, and ultimately more transparent. - Import existing supplies – flexible, robust, and compatible with third-party manufacturers
Existing vs | plus supplies can be easily imported, customized, and optimized. Basic supplies from other tools or manufacturers can also be imported, provided they are available as OIVD files in OCIT-C format. Even partially invalid OCIT files can be corrected to a certain extent in vs | studio mango and then imported. For the large-scale transfer of many nodes in a single step (bulk jobs), vs | pioneer will be available in the future – this application will be released at a later date. - Export valid OIVD files
Of course, vs | studio can generate fully valid OIVD files – both with and without vs | plus parameterization. This ensures that further processing in other tools or by project partners is possible at any time. - Integrated test bench & simulation – comprehensive testing before going live
The test bench integrated in vs | studio already offers extensive options for checking parameterization and detecting errors at an early stage. If a control system is to be tested additionally in a simulation tool such as PTV Vissim, the necessary supply files can be created directly from vs | studio. A vs | plus emulator is required for the simulation – this is also already available with the newly released vs | mate application. - Optimized reporting – a real novelty in traffic engineering
Reporting has been comprehensively enhanced in the “mango” flavor and now sets new standards. Particularly outstanding is the completely new function for comparing intersection versions – a feature that many users have been waiting for. The ability to automatically highlight differences in color makes version comparison surprisingly intuitive and enormously efficient. Whether for quality assurance, documentation, or coordination with project partners, the new comparison reports deliver in seconds what used to be a tedious manual task. Of course, all parameters, tables, and graphics can still be conveniently saved as individual or overall reports in PDF or Word format.
2.2 Bug fixes compared to Flavour kiwi
With Flavour mango, we have incorporated some feedback and our own findings from using kiwi and fixed them promptly. The focus was particularly on issues such as year automatic behavior, supply errors, reporting, and switch-on/switch-off sequences. In addition, general performance and stability have been further improved to ensure a reliable planning and parameterization process. Users now benefit from a working environment that remains robust.
3 Why is this release important?
With version 3.0, vs | studio is taking the next big step and finally evolving from a planning and testing tool into a fully-fledged traffic engineering workbench. At the same time, this release marks the beginning of the replacement of the long-established vs | workSuite, which has been used in many projects for vs | plus parameterization.
vs | workSuite was officially discontinued on December 31, 2025, and no further developments will be made to it. This means that the time is now approaching for existing vs | plus parameterizers to plan their transition to vs | studio and vs | mate. This transition can be carried out step by step – supported by the e-learning courses available for this purpose.
With the mango flavor, we are also laying the technical foundation for upcoming enhancements, including VMod and “open vs | plus.” This will enable vs | studio to grow into a future-proof, expandable work environment that combines all planning, parameterization, and testing requirements in a single tool for the long term.
4 Outlook
One of the next releases expands vs | studio with the key function of calculating intergreen times. In the future, this function can be used completely standalone—ideal for preparing intermediate times along with the associated basic information (signal groups, travel relationships, traffic types, etc.) and passing them on to other traffic planners or partners. At the same time, the calculated intergreen times can be used directly as a basis for vs | plus parameterization, which significantly improves the efficiency of planning and parameterization processes. This creates a flexible workflow that optimally supports different project processes and prevents duplication and media breaks.