Intertraffic

INFRASTRUCTURE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ROAD SAFE T Y PA R K I N G SMART MOBILIT Y
2024
WORLD
AI
From the publisher of
connectivityThe mobility sector is harnessing artificial
intelligence like never before – find out how you can
take control of the new technology supercharging
city management and connected systems
| Intertraffic Awards | Cellular connected vehicles | Net-zero construction

Meet the transport experts who decide Discover how Europe’s NordicWay project is Get inspirer by the UK’s Lower Thames
on the winners of the industry’s most creating a platform enabling real-world V2X Crossing, which is leading the way towards
prestigious awards for new technology use cases via existing mobile data networks a low-carbon future for road building
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CONTENTS
Exclusive features 042 Solar dreams

The Technical University of
008 The big one Eindhoven’s Stella Terra project is one
Joyce De Winter, director for Intertraffic of several solar-powered cars aiming
Worldwide Events, picks highlights
“The Intertraffic Award from the biggest Amsterdam show ever
to break into the consumer market
winners are always proud 050 Avoiding conflict

012 Meet the jury
and for two years benefit The Intertraffic Awards are
As the potential for drones to change
the mobility landscape increases,
from additional industry among the most prestigious in the so does the necessity of creating
recognition” industry, but who are the experts dedicated traffic management systems
that decide on the winners?
Jorrit Weerman, founder and CEO, 058 The road to zero
The Parking Network 020 Green leaders The planning stages of the UK’s
Discover some of the ways in which Lower Thames Crossing enabled
the Netherlands is leading the world some groundbreaking new ways to
in promoting low-emissions mobility deliver low-carbon road building
“Machine learning 026 Hazards ahead 068 Loud problems
algorithms are becoming Europe’s NordicWay project AI is helping to deliver a new kind of
a bigger part of our decision- is connecting vehicles across enforcement detecting excessive noise
borders using cellular data
making processes, so bias created by inconsiderate drivers
will become and even more 034 Learning from our mistakes 074 Slowly does it
As we train AI to make decisions
important factor going on our behalf we need to be careful
All across Europe there is a growing
trend for lower speed limits in
forward. This increases the it isn’t skewed by data bias urban centres. But just how effective
need for a rigourous set of are they at improving safety?
guidelines to be in place” 082 Latin lessons
Mark Bell, senior statistician, TRL Enabling more efficient mobility on
crowded streets Rio de Janeiro, and
other Brazilian cities, is requiring
smarter traffic management
“We were so exited that we and public transit systems
were able to complete the 156 Advertisers’ directory
journey completely on the A full guide to all the technology
suppliers in this edition, along
power of the sun, and we with useful contact details
even had a lot of energy left
162 Staying safe
in the battery” Neomi Jiménez-Redondo, project
Bob van Ginkel, technical manager, coordinator for the EU’s OMICRON
Stella Terra solar car project research project gives her tips on
creating smarter infrastructure
Annual Showcase 2024 | Intertraffic World 003

CONTENTS
Infrastructure 112 Changing the safety landscape

Solar Intelligent Speed Enforcement
088 Modern mapping Radar is just one of the innovative
A new asset management tool from solutions from Alliance Traffic Systems,
HR Groep Streetcare creates a
that will enhance road safety
digital map of singage and more,
throughout the Netherlands 114 Direct enforcement
Intercomp has developed
090 Safety in visibility weigh-in-motion sensors accurate
3M’s highly retroreflective road enough to support the issuing of
markings improve safety in fines, even when measurements
dark and wet conditions are taken at high speeds
092 Pioneering safety, 116 Intelligent Synergy

marking the future Sprinx technology and expertise
Geveko Markings helps to create is helping to optimise traffic
dedicated lanes for micromobility, management in tunnels in Italy
thereby improving city safety
118 Providing precision
094 Life-saving signs weighing in France
Triplesign’s prismatic VMS are easy When an exceptionally heavy loads
to install and control, adapting to live needed to use French roads authorities
traffic situations to create safer roads turned to Haenni for fast, portable
and accurate weighing technology
Traffic management
“A human can tolerate 096 Seamless operations 120 The safety of society
Jenoptik provides enforcement
a collision with a modern An innovative Software-as-
solutions for speed, distracted
a-Service solution from Periallos
car if the maximum speed is supports contractors throughout
driving and tolling – as well as an
around 30km/h. If a higher a project’s lifecycle
award-winning self-cooling housing
speed is desired in an urban 100 Low-cost ANPR Road safety

area, the only viable solution Automatic number-plate recognition 122 Urban crossings
is to adapt the infrastructure systems from Carrida can help cities A new smaller road stud from
manage every traffic challenge from
by separating pedestrian smart parking to clean air zones
Sernis is improving crosswalk
safety, with easy installation and
crossings from traffic”
102 Saving lives minimal environmental impact
Paul-Herni Renard, CEO, Parifex
Multifunctional automated traffic 124 Powerful investments
enforcement from Idemia can Saferoad Group is helping to drive
influence driving behaviours innovation making progress in road
and improve road safety safety through advanced LED signage
104 The benefits of lidar 126 Safety first
Data from a high performance lidar Expertly engineered steel guiding
systems from VanJee can optimise systems from Heintzmann Traffic
traffic data collection, weigh-in-motion Systems are proven to improve
and tolling applications safety around bridges and tunnels
106 Deeper than data 128 A smart solution
Traffic modelling and analytics from Innovative moveable road barriers
Aimsun can help transport authorities from Lindsay improve safety and
to make smarter decisions mobility in tunnel work zones
108 Why bridges need our attention
Kistler’s weigh-in-motion technology is
delivering systems to protect bridges
from damage from overloaded vehicles
110 The road safety debate

In an exclusive Q&A, Paul-Herni
Renard, CEO of Parifex discusses
the technology that can help to
prevent fatal crashes on our roads
004 Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2024

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CONTENTS
130 Installation made easy 140 How AI and CVs are Welcome
A vacuum-powered lifting machine transforming ITS In recent months there has been an
from Opitmas makes light work of Artificial intelligence and connected explosion of interest in artificial intelligence
roadside guardrail installation vehicles are making roads safer, (AI). Large language models such as Chat
greener and more efficient, as GPT have excited the imaginations of
131 Plastic protection experts from Q-Free explain futurists and unsettled the predictions of
A fully recycled and recyclable doomsayers in equal measure. But in the
robust and versatile plastic road 142 Eye on AI world of smart mobility systems, the advent
curb from Ecolsystems improves Vitronic investigates some of the new of AI is not so very new. Many companies
safety for all types of road users artificial intelligence technologies that have been incorporating AI and machine
can be of assistance to traffic managers learning into their products for several years
Parking now. It has enabled functions such as road-
144 Urban solutions user classification from video feeds as well
132 The future is now Lidar technology from Outsight as creating advanced, predictive traffic
Navigating the transition to can facilitate safer, smarter models. That said, it is also true to say that
ticketless parking solutions using transportation in city centres we are now seeing an exponential growth in
a felxible approach to entry, exit
146 Joint forces ITS applications for AI. This is reflected in
and payment by Designa
Christian U Haas, CEO of PTV the pages of this magazine. AI is the most-
134 Parking and powering Group and Econolite on the unique mentioned acronym you will find. And the
Circontrol is making it easier for benefits of collaborative technology Smart Mobility section, which begins on
parking facility owners to invest page 136, is the largest it has ever been.
in the EV charging infrastructure 148 Let’s make Europe green But are there risks in the rapid adoption of
that will attract new customers Swarco has embarked on a tour of AI? I believe there are. But not because super
Europe to showcase how its solutions intelligent systems are about to take our jobs.
Smart mobility can help cities to reduce emissions Ask AI to create something from scratch and
the results are always mediocre, inaccurate
136 Trend radar 150 Smart intersections and sometimes just bizarre. But that doesn’t
Yunex Traffic gives us a glimpse Artificial intelligence from Teledyne stop people doing it. And herein lies the risk.
into the future, looking at the FLIR has is paving the way for a more AI is an incredible new tool at our disposal
key technologies that will data-driven approach to that can assist in providing new creative
shape the ITS industry intersection control frameworks, streamlining data analysis,
152 Overcoming challenges detecting new patterns and so much more.
But, like any tool, it must be used correctly
Intelias traffic systems give valuable
and not relied on to do things it cannot. Chat
traffic insight via advanced data
GPT understands language, but that’s not the
collection, processing and analysis
same thing as understanding the world. AI’s
154 The future of V2X understanding of the world is limited to
In an exclusive interview Alfredo what data we train it with. Using this tool in
Escribá Gallego, CTO at Kapsch the correct way means not only knowing its
TrafficCom gives insight into the limits, but ensuring it does not fall victim to
growing use cases for V2X and AI our own data biases (you can read more
138 Sustainability toolbox about this on page 34). The AI debate is sure
Etra takes a look at the electric and to continue for years to come and here in the
automated mobility technologies pages of Intertraffic World, we’ll continue to
that are improving road safety bring you all the latest on it. Enjoy the issue,
and reduce emissions and don’t forget, if you like, our AI assistant
can read it to you in the digital version.
Tom Stone, editor
IN F R A S T R U C T U R E TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT R OA D S A F E T Y PA R K IN G SMART MOBILIT Y Editor: Tom Stone www.markallengroup.com © MA Business Limited 2024. All rights material has been used inadvertently
2024
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The mobility sector is harnessing artificial
From the publisher of
intelligence like never before – find out how you can
take control of the new technology supercharging Amsterdam, Netherlands MOVING ON?
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city management and connected systems
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| Intertraffic Awards | Cellular connected vehicles | Net-zero construction
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Meet the transport experts who decide Discover how Europe’s NordicWay project is Get inspirer by the UK’s Lower Thames
on the winners of the industry’s most creating a platform enabling real-world V2X Crossing, which is leading the way towards
prestigious awards for new technology use cases via existing mobile data networks a low-carbon future for road building
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2024
WHAT’S NEW
The big one

It’s a massive year for Intertraffic with its
flagship Amsterdam show set to be the largest
ever. We get the inside story from the organisers
Words | Tom Stone
I
f 2022 was the Covid comeback year Transportation Authority, and Ali Mortazavi, artificial intelligence, digital twins and
for Intertraffic Amsterdam, 2024 is senior business development manager at sustainability. Intertraffic events are built
the year when the event will cement its Amazon Web Services, San Francisco. to make sense of these changes and ensure
reputation as the world’s largest and most “We are very proud that Intertraffic attendees stay ahead of the curve.
important expo for the mobility sector, Amsterdam 2024 will be our largest event “We all know our industry is getting more
with over 35,000 visitors expected at the ever with stakeholders coming together and more connected and smart,” says De
event, which takes place 16-19 April 2024. from all different disciplines of the traffic Winter. “The ecosystem is changing because
Over recent editions the event has technology and mobility industry,” says Joyce of the implementation of new technologies,
attracted more and more attendees from De Winter, director of Intertraffic Worldwide which brings new stakeholders and new
outside Europe, with 140 different countries Events. “Some countries in the world are collaborations. At Intertraffic Amsterdam
predicted to be represented in 2024. This further ahead in smart mobility solutions 2024, we bring these stakeholders together
international flavour is also reflected than others, mostly because implementation to share their knowledge and case studies.”
in the expanding knowledge is done faster and more easily. They are
programme which basically in the next phase of the transition Looking to the future
will feature a host of and Intertraffic Amsterdam is the place they But Intertraffic isn’t just about making
international speakers, can share their insights and experiences. We sense of current trends, it’s also about
including Tim Haile, bring all these parties together to speed up predicting what’s around the corner and
executive director the mobility transition around the world.” preparing for that future. As we look to the
of Contra Costa The rate of change in the industry is second half of the decade, there are reason
almost mind to be optimistic about what technology and
bogglingly innovation will make possible, providing
We all know our industry is getting more fast, with rapid smart, safe, and sustainable mobility for all.
connected and smart… we bring stakeholders innovations “I believe that by 2030, 70% of all vehicles
together to share their knowledge and case studies being seen in will be electric,” says de Winter. “City
automated vehicles, centres will be greener, with reduced car
Joyce De Winter, director of Intertraffic Worldwide Events
electrification, traffic on the streets, making way for smart,

WHAT’S NEW
for Intertraffic Amsterdam, Esther de Waard.

Intertraffic “This will feature presentations organised
Amsterdam 2024 by exhibitors and stakeholder organizations
such as European Parking Association,
in numbers: International Road Federation (IRF), European
900+ exhibitors and partners Cyclists’ Federation and the MaaS Alliance.”
140+ nationalities expected The MaaS Alliance is planning a
120+ content sessions workshop on creating an overarching
ecosystem for mobility management,
200+ speakers
while the IRF will host workshops on
35,000 attending professionals traffic management and safety, as well as
4 Theatres creating smart, climate-adaptive roads.
There is also more knowledge content from
the Netherlands than ever before, with Dutch
sessions on the Friday. “The Dutch Road
operator Rijkswaterstaat will present various
road safety projects and will start a discussion
on the future role of road authorities in
traffic management,” says de Waard.
Some of the topics Rijkswaterstaat experts
will cover include: data-driven solutions for
CCAM; inclusivity; active travel; interoperability
in parking; kerbside management; smart
cycling infrastructure; and preparing road
infrastructure for automated driving
All in all Intertraffic Amsterdam is an
essential event for anyone in the mobility
sector. “You can keep up-to-date with
the latest trends and developments in the
worldwide industry on the show floor
and in our large free-to-attend summit
programme in Hall 7,” says De Winter.
“The event has everything to offer to both
private and public organisations. Meet
STOCK-ADOBE.COM
Amsterdam, the capital your peers coming from all around the
city of the Netherlands world. And, of course, enjoy the lovely city
is Intertraffic’s home of Amsterdam and its spring colours.” ■
Below, left to right: Marijke Jansen (senior operations

micromobility solutions. There live demonstrations outside in manager, Lena Jacobs (intern), Barbara Tjen (senior
will be more charging front of the venue. And some business consultant), Ruwengelo Doran (intern),
Joyce de Winter (director intertraffic worldwide events),
stations everywhere, and static demonstrations
ITSUP
Carola Jansen-Young (senior brand marketing manager),
smart logistics hubs in the summit area,” Lars Kloppenburg (business consultant), Touria Abahai
located around city confirms De Winter. (brand marketing manager)
centres. Urban air
mobility will be used Start-ups are encouraged Insider knowledge
for the delivery of to visit the Intertraffic Another rapidly
goods and movement growing area of the
of people. Travellers
website for more on joining Amsterdam event
are already using MaaS the ITSUP start-up is its knowledge
apps, and that will only event, powered by programme,
increase, leading to more Swarco which in 2024
shared mobility options.” features over
Attendees of Intertraffic 100 presentations,
Amsterdam, and other Intertraffic workshops and
events around the world, which in discussions across three
2024 also includes Intertraffic China theatres during the four
in Beijing in May, can not only discuss days of the event.
future focused trends with peers, but also “There is also an
witness the technology of tomorrow up additional open stage,”
close in live demonstrations. “We have reveals programme manager
Registration now open at intetraffic.com/amsterdam – Complimentary until 15 March 2024

INTERTRAFFIC AWARDS
Meet the jury

At the opening ceremony of each biennial Intertraffic Amsterdam, the Intertraffic Awards
are presented to the most groundbreaking new technology to be launched since the
last event. We meet the industry insiders who have the difficult task of deciding
on the winners, from well over 100 entries to each edition
Words I Jack Roper

INTERTRAFFIC AWARDS
PIETER LITJENS,
general director, CROW, and chairman of
D
the Intetraffic Awards Jury
espite chairing the jury for the 2024
Intertraffic Awards, Pieter Litjens
does not consider himself a traffic
expert. But the former Amsterdam
alderman is extremely adept in understanding
the societal impacts of transport innovation.
“For 20 years, I was a politician,” says
Litjens. “Now, I am general director of CROW,
a knowledge platform for infrastructure and
mobility – with the emphasis on ‘general’.
In many areas, I am no expert. But I see the
wider picture and how mobility, sustainability
and spatial planning are connected.”
Litjens served in local government, including
spells as Mayor of Aalsmeer in the Netherlands
and an Alderman of Amsterdam, where he was
responsible for construction of the €3.1 billion
(US$3.4 billion) Noord-Zuidlijn subway. For two
years, he was a Member of Parliament, but found
the work abstract compared to the transformative
materiality of mobility and infrastructure.
“The Noord-Zuidlijn was only 10km, but it
revitalised northern Amsterdam by connecting
it to the city-centre,” says Litjens. “Similarly,
the Erasmus Bridge connected lower-income
communities in southern Rotterdam, where
previously, kids never visited central Rotterdam
because crossing the river was too hard. That’s
the beauty of infrastructure: it creates physical
connections and gives people new possibilities.”
CROW, too, is all about connections. For
40 years, it has served as a repository for collective
expertise, enabling better infrastructure. While
essentially a national endeavor, CROW publications
like the Bicycle Traffic Design Manual inform
urban planning far beyond the Netherlands.
“We don’t have an army of researchers,”
says Litjens. “We connect engineers,
Amsterdam
RAI – the venue
contractors, government representatives and
for Intertraffic academics and combine their knowledge into
Amsterdam guidelines, standards, recommendations and
dashboards. We’re independent and neutral,

INTERTRAFFIC AWARDS
Above: The so companies can share knowledge with us specific parts of cities. Here, data provides a potent
Noord station without risking their market position.” tool, for instance informing pedestrianisation
on Amsterdam’s Litjens takes a broad view of sustainability, of Amsterdam’s continually gridlocked
newest metro line,
52, which Litjens
which embraces not just Vijzelgracht, where analysis
helped oversee emissions and circularity, but showed 70% of cars represent
the construction of the long-term sustainability avoidable through-traffic.
during his time as of whole systems. He speaks Litjens believes many
an alderman of passionately of work needed people fail to recognise real
the city at the intersection of mobility innovation. Companies
Right: Thanks to and spatial planning. often focus on profit, but
the Noord-Zuidlijn
“By 2040, building the genuine innovations can be
subway line, the
RAI now has its 240,000 new houses needed applied and scaled to the
own metro stop, in Amsterdam will increase wider good of society.
Europaplein, mobility demand by 20%,” he “People who enter the
creating a fast says. “Our infrastructure simply Intertraffic Awards are rarely
connection to the can’t handle that if we continue driven by solely financial
city centre
doing things as we always have reasons,” he says. “Usually, they
– adding lanes just leads to traffic jams on more have a personal drive to contribute to a better
lanes. We need new solutions that accommodate mobility system, and thus a better world.”
growth within sustainable use of public space.” 2022 Inspiration Award winner Acusensus
He believes governments are obliged to act provides a case in point. The Australian
when scarcity arises, so that scarcity of public company developed its Heads Up solution
space may justify excluding private cars from to detect illegal phone use whilst driving
after a friend of founder and CEO, Alex
Jannink, was killed by a distracted driver.
People who enter the Intertraffic Awards are rarely driven “His focus wasn’t earning big bucks,
by solely financial reasons. Usually, they have a personal drive but preventing other tragedies,” says Litjens.
to contribute to a better mobility system, and thus a better world “That connection between personal interest
and societal good means scaling an invention
Pieter Litjens, general director, CROW, and chairman of the Intetraffic Awards Jury
benefits both the business and society.”

INTERTRAFFIC AWARDS
because that’s not achievable,” says van Schijndel.

“Faster transition is achievable, but not easy.
It requires work on technology, policy and
behaviour, to understand which technologies
users may not only accept, but truly adopt.”
For van Schijndel, Intertraffic Amsterdam
is an opportunity to see innovations that
companies are proud of and compare how they
interpret the needs of the industry. It provides
a sense of future innovations, since companies
are often several steps on in development from
the solution they exhibit. She believes the
Intertraffic Awards promotes reappraisal of
innovations in terms of the value they create.
“A true innovation makes a difference,”
she says. “As a jury, we ask: Why is it relevant?
It helps the entrants ask themselves: How
does it make a difference? What societal,
sustainability or safety impact does it have?
Is that something I can quantify? It means
thinking beyond their market value to consider
the societal value of what they’re doing.” A true innovation
MARGRIET VAN SCHIJNDEL, Likewise, van Schijndel encourages academic makes a difference.
programme director, colleagues to see the broader picture. She As a jury, we ask: Why is it
Responsible Mobility, TU/e mastered in mechanical engineering at TU/e relevant?… It means
Words matter to Margriet van Schijndel, and worked on production technologies at thinking beyond market
because words frame our aspirations. Dutch research institute, TNO. She moved
This is why the former Smart Mobility into mobility research, coordinating European value to consider the
Program she coordinates at Eindhoven projects and serving as European Automotive societal value
University of Technology (TU/e) is Research Partners Association (EARPA) Margriet van Schijndel, programme
now called Responsible Mobility. secretary-general. She was drawn to a field whose director, Responsible Mobility, TU/e
“We have people working on sustainable challenges demand multidisciplinary solutions.
mobility, accessibility and inclusivity,” she “People at TU/e are willing to be surprised by
says. “How do we make mobility accessible how others’ research could influence their own,”
to older people, or those with difficulty she says. “We have student teams working for a
reading? How do we make it equally useful full year on a multidisciplinary challenge, such as
for all people? Responsible expresses developing Eterna, the car which lasts a lifetime.”
something beyond smart: not only what we Digitalisation can only improve
do, but what we really should be doing.” transportation through a systems approach
As manager of the Eindhoven Artificial – for example, to vehicle autonomy, where
Intelligence Systems Institute (EAISI) Mobility words once more make a difference.
Lab, van Schijndel works to transition “Autonomous vehicles don’t follow a
perception technology from sensing towards systems perspective,” says van Schijndel. “In
understanding and actuation. The Lab Europe, we work towards automated driving.
collaborates closely with NXP, which develops AVs working just for themselves aren’t that Below: The Eterna
solutions based on semiconductor technology. smart. Navigation systems that optimise car is a TU/e
“Founded 68 years ago by companies individual journeys create problems across project to create
a ‘car for life’
like Philips, our university develops networks. We must combine my interest thereby reducing
technologies that industry can use,” she with your interest and consider throughput, the environmental
explains. “Industry is willing to move towards safety and energy as part of one whole.” impact of vehicles
automated driving – which requires not
just sensing an object, but understanding
how it will move and affect my path.”
Day-to-day, van Schijndel ensures that
collaborations between researchers and industry
run smoothly. She is often in Brussels, engaged in
identifying the research Europe’s future requires
and the words that most optimally frame it.
“Woolly sheep are not focused,” she says.
“Sharply-phrased objectives mean our researchers
can produce sharply-focused research useful
to industry or regional governments.”
The EAISI Mobility Lab’s objective is to
speed transition to an accident-free mobility
system. “It doesn’t say zero accidents by 2030,

INTERTRAFFIC AWARDS
JORRIT WEERMAN,
founder and CEO, Parking Network
“People typically complain about finding a
parking spot, parking charges or fines,” says Jorrit
Weerman. “But once their needs are met, they rarely
consider the business model behind the industry.’
As founder and CEO of Parking Network,
a leading online platform, Weerman considers
it a lot. Founded in 1996 and headquartered
in Maastricht, Parking Network reaches
35,000 parking professionals each month.
Parking is always a large part of Intetraffic
Amsterdam and in 2022, the Intertraffic User
Experience Award went to parking solution
provider Toogethr, whose software platform
manages parking capacity for employers
and allows employees to book a parking
spot before they arrive at the office.
“If people are working hybrid or travelling, it
allows spots to be reused by other companies,”
says Weerman. “It means employees know
they will have a spot and won’t have to pay to
park somewhere. It creates better expectations,
which is key to a better parking experience.”
Weerman regards Intertraffic Amsterdam as
the world’s leading event in bringing together
perspectives from across the whole mobility
value-chain. “It’s nice to evaluate ideas from
outside your own area,” he says. “The award
Apps integrated into cars will

find a spot based on your
personal profile, stating whether you
prefer to pay more or walk further.
Everything is becoming integrated
Representing the media… and therefore transparent
L
Jorrit Weerman, founder and CEO, Parking Network
ast, but not least, Adam Hill (below), “The final stage takes a full day at
editor of ITS International, and Tom Stone Intertraffic HQ in Amsterdam, with
(pictured overleaf second from left), editor nominees invited to give presentations,” winners are always proud and for two years,
of Intertraffic World and Traffic Technology says Stone. “Eventually, a winner is chosen benefit from additional industry recognition.”
International, take their places on the in each category, often after heated debate Innovation is prevalent in parking. In the past
Intertraffic Awards jury of five. among jurors.” few years Weerman has seen parking systems
“The remarkably high standard of This year’s winners will be announced on quickly transition from hardware to software,
Awards reflects the importance and the opening day of Intertraffic Amsterdam: enabling a barrierless future where physical
popularity of Intertraffic Amsterdam,” says 16 April 2024. While the editors keep assets are redundant. Customer experience
Hill. “Choosing a category winner is often abreast of innovation through their day- is all about apps which offer personalised
a genuinely difficult task involving much jobs, both are animated by the opportunity convenience. An industry once dominated
argument and counter-argument.” to engage with the industry’s best by traditional operators transformed by
Each year, over 100 initial innovators at first-hand. digitalisation and start-ups in a few short years.
entries are assessed by “In 2024, I look forward to seeing “The traditional players struggled must now
each jury member on a how entrants embrace newer trends compete with small, lean and mean software
points-based system. in transportation, such as road user companies backed by venture capital,” says
Typically, three or four charging,” says Hill. “Of course, I expect to Weerman. “Instead of owning carparks and
leading scorers are then read an awful lot about AI this year, too.” dealing in 10-year contracts, they offer managed
announced as official “The award winners always become parking based on software and say, “Hey, try it
nominees in each of stars of the Intertraffic Amsterdam show,” for a month – you can cancel at any point”.”
the three categories says Stone. “They not only earn extra “Apps integrated into cars will find a spot based on
of Green Globe, User visitors to their stands, but an increased your personal profile, stating whether you prefer to
Experience and profile for their offerings far beyond the pay more or walk further,” he continues. “Everything
Inspiration. Amsterdam event.” is becoming integrated and therefore transparent.”
Consolidation has proceeded in mergers
and acquisitions, some illustrative of an

Smart
City
Smart
Roads
Tolling
Traffic & Safety
Management Infrastructure
Management
Digital engineering
for smart and
sustainable mobility
Visit us at Intertraffic Amsterdam 2024
Hall 1 - Stand 01.228
Autostrade per l’Italia Group movyon.com

INTERTRAFFIC AWARDS
The 2022 Intertraffic

Award winners pose
with their awards and
the members of jury
The 2022 Award winners upended world. In October 2023, Metropolis,

a startup launched just seven years ago,
acquired leading US operator SP-Plus for
Intertraffic Green Globe Award when it first became commercially available a reported $1.5 billion (€1.4 billion).
WINNER: Traffipole by Jenoptik, Germany at the start of 2020, providing inspiration for “How was that possible?” asks Weerman.
The TraffiPole was the winner in the enforcement solutions that is still felt today. “Because of outside-the-box thinking and a
Green Globe category. Its innovative It richly deserved recognition in the 2022 software platform with venture capital behind
design which enables ITS hardware to awards as they spanned four years’ worth it. We once listened to cassettes and CDs; now
function in hot climates without the need of entries, due the cancellation of the 2020 we all have Spotify. Good solutions often catch
for air-conditioning impressed the judges event due to the Covid pandemic. on more quickly than anyone could predict.”
as a simple, easy-to-deploy concept, Existential change may result from
with instant benefits in reducing energy Intertraffic User Experience Award vehicle automation and sharing. Weerman
consumption, and thus CO2 emissions. WINNER: Toogethr Parking by Toogethr, considers his own children unlikely to own
Netherlands cars and believes carparks built for private
Intertraffic Inspiration Award The easy-to-use interface for parking facility cars (which spend 96% of an average lifecycle
WINNER: Acusensus Heads Up by owners and customers alike earned Toogethr parked) may eventually be repurposed.
Acusensus, Australia Parking the User Experience Award. The “People are thinking ahead and building
Acusensus was the first to introduce an jury was particularly impressed by dynamic, carparks with higher ceilings, which could
automatic detection system that addresses demand-responsive interface that can one day become logistics hubs,” he says. “But
the growing safety problem of mobile phone also help to enable multimodal travel and AVs will still need somewhere to be charged,
use at the wheel, and therefore was chosen ridesharing. The solution helps organisations cleaned and serviced. In future, the parking
by the jury as the winner in the Inspiration and parking operators make more efficient industry may be less about vehicles than about
Award. The jury felt the solution led the field use of existing capacity. moving people who no longer pay for parking
but for the access to an airport or city.” ■

Civil Security Vision Zero
Traffic
Flow
Sustainable
Road Mobility
Safety
Emission
Control
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Full Analytics
Service
Road User
Charging
Enabling Safer and Smarter Mobility.

Jenoptik provides innovative and sustainable smart mobility
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technology and services. See you erdam
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Intertraf 19.04.2024
As an end-to-end solution provider, we support our customers with the provision of roadside 16.04. – oth 416
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equipment and software, including integration and installation through to full-service operation. Hall 1 B
Our strong global presence and installation base is supported by a reliable partner network.
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Green
SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY
leaders
The Netherlands, host nation for Intertraffic Amsterdam,
has long led the world in promoting active travel and
multimodality. We take a look at the initiatives now
underway in its two largest urban centres in the drive
towards net zero, and find out how policy makers are not
only focused on improving mobility but enhancing liveability
Words: Eugene Gerden
A
msterdam and Rotterdam, being the first
and second largest cities in the Netherlands,
are leading the way for urban traffic
management in the country. Both benefit
from advanced intelligent transportation systems
and multimodal infrastructure, promoting active
travel and public transport usage in a way that is
inspirational to cities all around the world.
Now, as UN emissions targets for net zero by 2050
come into focus, the pressure is on like never before
to deliver sustainable mobility, even as populations
grow – both Amsterdam and Rotterdam are each
now estimated to have over one million residents.
Rotterdam has a track record of inspiring green
transportation technology that has been rolled out across
Europe. In 2018 it became the first urban centre in the
world to test BMW’s geofenced eDrive Zones scheme.
The Electric City Drive pilot, which was conducted
in partnership with the city’s Erasmus University, used
a smartphone app activated by geofencing in the city
centre to recommend when drivers of hybrid vehicles
should switch to electric-only mode. The pilot was so

The Electric City

Drive pilot involved
plug-in hybrid
BMWs and Minis
within a defined
area of Rotterdam
Sustainable urban mobility, the

reduction of logistical movements,
and the transition to greener transportation
are key objectives
Richard van der Wulp, senior urban mobility planner,
Municipality of Rotterdam

of Rotterdam. “Efforts are

being made to provide
more space for cyclists,
pedestrians, and public
Above left and right: successful that transport in the city centre
BMW’s eDrive Zones
the technology is now and at transportation hubs.”
function is now available
in cities around the world, built into BMW hybrid As well as the park-and-
including Amsterdam cars, automatically ride scheme, Rotterdam has
Inset: Bicycle parking switching them to deployed other intelligent
in Amsterdam emissions-free modes parking systems within the
when travelling in over 130 city centre itself, such as smart
European city centres, and more sensors that create real-time data
than 20 other cities worldwide. to guide drivers to available parking
All over Europe, we The partnership with BMW wasn’t spaces, reducing the time spent searching
see a paradigm limited to simply reducing emissions from cars, for parking spots. Additionally, the city has
shift towards interoperability it also looked at ways of getting citizens out of implemented dynamic pricing strategies to
and uniform use of tolling their cars altogether. “We have explored ways to incentivise off-peak parking, reducing congestion
schemes, especially as tax inform drivers about alternative travel options, and encouraging the use of public transportation.
such as park-and-ride facilities, encouraging To further encourage modal shift,
fossil fuel tax a shift towards more sustainable modes of Rotterdam is facilitating collaboration
income decreases transportation,” says Richard van der Wulp, between public transport operators such as
Luís Nunes, CEO, A-to-Be senior urban mobility planner at the Municipality Dutch Railways (NS) and Rotterdam’s RET to
help provide multimodal travel information
through MaaS (mobility as a service) apps.
Tolling and RUC in the Netherlands Rotterdam’s public transit network has real-
time passenger information systems, enabling
commuters to access up-to-date schedules,
Outside of urban centres, the Netherlands “All over Europe, we see a paradigm shift route options, and estimated arrival times.
is increasingly turning to tolling to control towards interoperability and uniform use This helps to encourage public transit usage,
vehicle traffic and raise revenues to of tolling schemes, especially as the means meaning more residents opt for sustainable
reinvest in sustainable mobility. to assure tax revenue by states due to transportation options, thus reducing the
Recently Via Verde has been awarded a the decrease of fossil fuel tax income.” overall reliance on private vehicles.
contract for the management and collection With public revenues in mind, traditional
of tolls on the A24 Blankenburg Connection, tolling schemes can begin to form the Amsterdam: mobility and beyond
a highway that serves the Rotterdam area. groundwork for more extensive pay- Amsterdam’s extensive canal network
As part of this contract, A-to-Be will serve per-kilometer road user charging. “The means small streets are under extreme
as Via Verde’s critical technology partner Netherlands has been quite active in pressure as the population grows, so there
and provide its MoveBeyond back-office developments towards the implementation is a great focus not only on managing car
system to RDW, the Netherlands Vehicle new tolling schemes for trucks, which and bicycle flows, but also pedestrians.
Authority National Roads Traffic Agency. will come to all vehicles in the future,” Robbin van Pelt, spokesperson for the
“This project represents a major says Nunes. “A-to-Be views the City of Amsterdam, explains: “We have
leap forward towards the possible Netherlands market with the utmost many sophisticated systems in place, such
implementation of tolling schemes in a interest and sees it as a potentially as highly optimised traffic lights and crowd
broader sense in the Netherlands,” says Luís large market for further development in management during big events, such as King’
Nunes, chief operating officer at A-to-Be. years to come.” Day [the annual street party to celebrate
the King’s birthday on 27 April].”

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futureproofing the city for extreme weather and

other ecology related aspects. Here, there is a
lot of room for innovative new approaches.”
This means mobility decisions in the city
can be highly political. “We’re work closely
with local government on making decisions,”
says Van Pelt. “We will need to break the silos
of organisation around modes and topics and
work towards a more holistic approach.”
In Rotterdam promoting active mobility has
long been a priority, with cycling lanes equipped
with sensors that detect and respond
to the flow of cyclists, optimising
traffic light timings and ensuring
safe passage for cyclists.
But as with Amsterdam,
larger considerations than
just modal change are
coming into focus.
“Sustainable urban
mobility, the reduction of
logistical movements, and
the transition to greener
Amsterdam has transportation are key
historically organised objectives,” says Van der Wulp
We are actively itself around mobility. “Rotterdam aims to enhance
working with But increasingly, impacts its economic potential through
many partners (public and of transportation are being improved accessibility to national
private) on improving how assessed not only for how they and international economic sectors
we use the public space affect other modes, but also for their and enhanced interconnectivity between
impact on other potential uses of urban space areas to boost competitiveness and innovation.”
Robbin van Pelt, spokesperson, such as recreation, parking and utilities. “Urbanisation within the city and around
City of Amsterdam “We are actively working with many high-quality public transportation is prioritised
partners (public and private) on improving to enhance accessibility for a larger population,”
how we use the public space,” says Van Pelt. continues Van der Wulp. “The city also emphasises
“These partners include research institutes, the importance of future-proof neighbourhoods,
global tech leaders and national industry with strong socio-economic foundations and
parties. Recently we’ve seen a shift from mere appropriate mobility options. Rotterdam’s major
optimisation of traffic flows, to a more social urban challenges from now until 2040 focus
and ecological approach to traffic management. on creating a healthy, green, and attractive
The focus is on quality-of-life aspects and living, working, and recreational space.” n
Above main: Since 2020

all BMW hybrids have
been equipped with eDrive
Zone which switches
to all-electric mode in
designated urban centres
IMAGES: BMW, ADOBESTOCK.COM
Above inset: Planners are

now carefully considering
other uses beyond
transport for urban
spaces, such as this ice
rink in Amsterdam
Right: Bicycle parking
facilities in Rotterdam

How can we transform
city roads to smart
traffic networks?
AI based traffic systems
can be the facilitator of
the traffic transition.
VITRONIC offers intelligent

traffic enforcement
solutions to shape a safe
and sustainable mobility.
CONNECTED VEHICLES
Hazards
ahead?
The NordicWay project is proving that safety-
improving connected vehicle systems are
achievable using just the cellular network, but are
all parties equally committed to Vision Zero?
Words: Christopher Court-Dobson

CONNECTED VEHICLES
Z
ilch. Zero. Nada. That is the number
of fatal traffic accidents that the
backers of Vision Zero are aiming
for. This ambitious aim is backed by
the EU and municipalities in the USA and
Canada. In Sweden, the birthplace of Vision
Zero, it’s a matter of principle: the value of
human life should not be calculated as part
of a cost-benefit analysis, everything possible
must be done to prevent deaths on the road.
NordicWay is a network of flagship projects
dedicated to bringing connected, C-ITS
(Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems)
online throughout Norway, Denmark, Finland
and Sweden, currently in its third stage (see
NordicWays 1, 2 & 3). As well as improving
overall traffic efficiency, a major aim of the
initiative is road safety. It’s a partnership
between traffic authorities such as Sweden’s
Trafikverket and Norway’s Vegvesen,
OEMs like Volvo and Scania, roadworks
contractors such as Mesta, and software
developers like Carmenta Automotive.
“The whole idea with this ecosystem is
that there’s not one actor that could own the
whole process. It is really a collaboration, even
in deployment, not only in the project phase.
There needs to be private partners, there needs
to be public authorities,” said Anna Johansson
Jacques, senior ITS advisor at Trafikverket.
The vision
C-ITS vehicles communicate with one another
(V2V), with roadside infrastructure (V2I),
vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) and the cloud.
After significant debate in the industry about
whether cellular data or WLAN (wireless
local area network) would be the most
appropriate medium for these data flows,
the answer appears now to be cellular in
most cases, with projects like NordicWay
convincingly proving its viability. WLAN
(ITS-G5 in Europe) connections may still
be used occasionally where safety critical
maximum redundancy is required.
Part of the big-picture vision of NordicWay
is that drivers and their vehicles should have a
host of useful, possibly lifesaving, information
at their fingertips. A crashed vehicle or
stationary roadworks up ahead can be flagged
on the in-vehicle console. If conditions are
icy or otherwise hazardous, C-ITS can alert
drivers long before they are in danger. It is also
intended to enable a variety of streamlined
approaches to roadworks management for
operators and public traffic authorities.
Use cases
Ketil Dahl is in charge of business development
at Mesta, one of Norway’s biggest contractors
PIC: STOCK.ADOBE.COM
with up to 1,000 workers engaged directly on

the roads. They help maintain the country’s
vast stretches of highway, as well as snow
Connected
vehicles can
ploughing in winter, and salting operations.
exchange vital “It’s more than a little good or bad
safety messages luck if it results in personal injuries or

CONNECTED VEHICLES
You are driving on the road, you get

information or a warning in your display,
just maybe five or 10 seconds before you’re
approached by the emergency vehicle
Kristian Jaldemark, head of development at Carmenta Automotive

CONNECTED VEHICLES
death. We have had several fatal accidents Above: Road Works

Warning (RWW)
during the last years,” he says.
aims to enhance
Road works warnings (RWW) could help. traffic safety and
Today, traffic warning trailers are used to flow by reducing
visually alert drivers to upcoming obstructions. accidents and
However, at high speeds this is, all too often, traffic jams caused
insufficient. RWW involves a C-ITS transmitter by road works
inside the vehicle or signage trailer, that Below: The
provides data to the cloud. This results in an NordicWay
countries
in-vehicle warning in compatible vehicles.
The situation for large, slow moving, snow
ploughs and salting vehicles is, if anything,
more dangerous. They do not have the
benefit of visual signage, and Dahl
believes they too will benefit
from RWW technology.
“We have roads of
110km/h, where we
are legally required
to plough at 40km/h,
which means that the
traffic from behind
is actually moving 70
to 80km/h faster than
our vehicles,” he says.
Another beneficial use
case is termed emergency
vehicle approaching
(EVA), which operates
on the Swedish National
Public Safety Access Point
(PSAP) managed by SOS Alarm.
“You are driving on the road, you get
information or a warning in your display, just
maybe five or 10 seconds before you’re approached
by the emergency vehicle. That means that you
have the opportunity to be a bit more prepared
and plan your actions,” says Kristian Jaldemark,
head of development at Carmenta Automotive.
The pilots were conducted throughout the
first four months of 2023, and studies have shown
that EVA contributes significantly to emergency
vehicle response times. Other use cases already
proved out include traffic signal priority (TSP)
in which emergency, public transport and heavy

CONNECTED VEHICLES
The Interchange
Each data provider runs a backend for the
FCD associated with its products, but these
rely on a publicly funded platform – known
as the NordicWay Interchange Node – to
communicate with other actors in the
ecosystem, via the cellular network.
“What we identified was that we needed some
type of system where we could share data without
having a one-to-one connection between each and
every actor involved. We needed some kind of hub-
spoke based system,” says Christian Skjetne, senior
engineer at the Norwegian Transport Authority.
A federated data approach allows for
each data supplier in the network to operate
independently, using different protocols.
With AMQP, a protocol whose strength is
interoperability, the interchange allows these
Above: The freight vehicles can request priority at a signalised separate databases to be treated as one. Any node
Interchange
intersection. With the TLEX I2V platform on the network can access all the other data, so
Node enables
information to be installed on signals by NordicWay partner long as they have the relevant subscriptions.
shared between Monotch, two-way communication is established “I can only speak for Norway,” says Skjetne.
stakeholders via the cellular network with low enough latency “We will keep the servers running. Hopefully
to service these critical use cases and also provide other countries will join us as well in maintaining
timing information to all drivers to enable riding this platform. Private and public actors can
of ‘green waves’ thereby improving traffic flow. trust that this service is something they can
rely on to operate continuously in the future,
so they can start building services on it.”
NordicWays 1, 2 & 3 The flexibility, interoperability and public
authority backing of the platform means
T
that it is likely that it will be used by more
he current NordicWay project is NordicWay 2, which ran from 2018- jurisdictions as they bring C-ITS on board.
the third part in a series that 2020, took the project further by looking “There will be no one player that has all the
began almost a decade ago in at specific potential use cases, enabling data, it will always be a combination of different
2015. NordicWay 1, which ran until 2017, vehicles, infrastructure and network actors, authorities, companies, that each has
tested and demonstrated cellular C-ITS operators to communicate information a piece of the puzzle, and you need to put that
(cooperative ITS), helping to break down from roads in the Nordic countries between together,” says Jaldemark, at Carmenta.
interoperability barriers across the borders different stakeholders. It received €18.9 He emphasises that the Interchange, and the
of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. million (US$20.6 million) in EU funding. work done by public authorities to maintain
NordicWay 1 followed the policy guidance NordicWay 3 has taken the project to it, is the backbone of the entire ecosystem.
of the European Commission, and was the next level by looking at real-world
supported via the Connecting Europe deployment of technology and services, The OEM data challenge
Facility (CEF) programme managed by and including more cities and urban Currently NordicWay’s initial use cases – RWW,
INEA, receiving €5.2 million (US$5.7 million) areas. It began in 2019 with €19 million EVA, TSP and even geofencing – run well, but
in funding. (US$20.6 million) in funding. getting more data direct from vehicles could move
it to the next level, creating

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CONNECTED VEHICLES
NordicWay’s
stated aims
• Enhance traffic safety and
fluency and reduce CO2
emissions
• Scale up existing C-ITS
services by supporting
cloud to cloud hybrid
communication
• To create the potential
for C-ITS to reach high
penetration without further
infrastructure investments
• To contribute to European
CCAM (Cooperative,
Connected and Automated
Mobility) harmonisation
through C-ROADS a highly intelligent and streamlined operation, Samuelsson has since stepped down, and
• To explore the use of existing with all the public benefits that entails. according to multiple sources, the status quo
mobile communication for Floating car data (FCD) is information on the sale of FCD safety data has radically
C-ITS services, including harvested directly from vehicles. At a most basic shifted. “All OEMs are charging and also
on rural routes with poor level it is time-stamped geolocation and speed they don’t share raw data, they will interpret
cellular connectivity. data. But it can also include more granular data their data before selling it,” says Dahl.
• To promote interoperability such as road friction, potentially indicating ice What’s more, it appears that the pricing
of C-ITS services or oil slick, and camera images, which can be is unjustifiably high – especially considering
• To assess the infrastructure automatically assessed to determine weather most project partners are in the testing
readiness for connected and conditions and visibility or the presence of phase. “We can’t say today that the economic
automated driving hazard lights in other vehicles. However, benefits justify the price they are demanding
• To demonstrate and crucially, this is data supplied by OEMs rather for their current data,” says Dahl.
highlight future services than public authorities or road operators. “I don’t think it’s sustainable that you need
and challenges connected In 2017, Volvo Cars CEO Håkan Samuelsson to actually pay for the information, not when it’s
to vehicles with higher appeared to rule out the monetisation of safety an accident on the road, or if it’s an ambulance
automation levels (SAE data, telling the European Commission: “We that needs to get quick to someone in need,” says
levels) think this type of anonymised data sharing Jaldemark.“It’s a matter of safety. Limiting access
should be done for free, for the greater good to that kind of data could be a big problem. If you
and to the wider benefit of society. do that you don’t get the beneficial effects at all,”
It saves lives, time and taxpayer money.” It raises the unwelcome possibility that lives
might be lost, or long-term injuries sustained, that
could otherwise have been prevented had safety
data been made available. This is made all the
more uncomfortable by the fact that considerable
public money has been diverted towards the
C-ITS infrastructure, both at the state and EU
level, while OEMs make use of it for free.
The current situation raises a variety of
ethical and legal questions in terms of the next
stage for connected vehicles. Data practices by
OEMs are still in their infancy, and the next few
years will be a test run for things to come. ■
Above: Traffic
signal information
on a vehicle display
Left: Vehicles
receive a
warning when an
emergency vehicle
is approaching

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Why connect your road network?

The benefits are clear-linking infrastructure
and road users lead to:
Fewer accidents
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Reduced congestion
Smarter routing
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AI LEARNING
Learning
mistakes?
from our
Decisions based on artificial intelligence could end up being flawed

because AI is being taught using biased data. While machine learning
algorithms have the potential to enable greater safety, better access
to mobility and more effective traffic management, data bias can
lead to negative consequences, such as discrimination, unfairness
and unreliability of data. We ask the experts how we can avoid
unintended consequences in smart data management
Words | Lauren Dyson
T
ransportation planning decisions are usually made
based on data collected from a variety of sources,
such as traffic counts, surveys, and census data.
“The transport sector has a long history of using
data to formulate travel plans and strategies,” says Peter
Lindgren, head of digitisation of transport at TRL. “Data
is collected at various points in the transport network, for
example at induction loops in the ground, which collect data
on the vehicles that drive over them. Transport planners
combine this data with other datasets such as the Census
data. The transport industry has had to piece together these
fragmented datasets for a long time. Strategies have been
created to deal with that, but the data is still flawed.
“We are now seeing new datasets that can help plug into
existing data, for example mobile networks, which provide
data on the movements of people. From this data you can
derive insights into where someone might have started and
ended a journey, and even the modes of transport used.”
This data can also be used to teach intelligent machines
to think for themselves. The machines use algorithms and
statistical models to analyse and draw inferences from patterns
in data. Most algorithms in transport AI are now based on
‘supervised learning’. This means that the model is trained
using data that has already been labelled in some way.
“Computer vision algorithms are a good example of
this,” says Lindgren. “The machine is shown millions of
images and videos that have already been classified by a
human and eventually it learns to classify to object itself.
In automated vehicles, these algorithms are being used to
identify objects such as pedestrians or other vehicles.”
“Lots of models in machine learning and statistics study
data to make certain conclusions,” adds Mark Bell, senior

AI LEARNING

AIAILEARNING
LEARNING
Above: Journey statistician, TRL. “We call it training data because machine learning algorithm. Sampling bias
planning is an
the model is looking at the data and trying to is where training data is not representative
area where
demographic work out what relationships are present in this of the population or target sample. So, for
bias can have particular data set. There’s a myth that because example, if the training data only includes
a potentially datasets are getting bigger, bias is becoming less data from mobile phones, that’s only
negative effect important. It’s actually the opposite. If anything, sampling people who own mobile phones.
bias is becoming more important. If the training Temporal bias is where the training data is
data has biases in it, the model and the results skewed by a particular time period. “The census
from the model will carry that bias forward.” data is a great example of this,” says Lindgren.
With machine learning, the quality and “It’s only collected once every 10 years and the
accuracy of the model is determined by the last census was in 2021, when we were in the
quality of data that is fed into it. “If the data middle of the pandemic. The key question within
hasn’t been classified correctly or is weighted the census is ‘how do you normally travel to
towards a particular demographic, the model work? So, of course, that data set is only going
won’t know that,” says Lindgren. “It will create to reflect how people were travelling - if they
its inferences based on the data that it is fed. were travelling at all – when Coronavirus was
Therefore, it might not be accurate and it might preventing people from moving around.”
not be fair. Also, these models are constantly Other biases include measurement bias, where
learning, so even when actions are taken the method of measuring may not be
to minimise these biases, the models are representative, or selection bias, where
susceptible to becoming biased later the training data is not randomly
on. This is known as model drift.” selected, or is biased towards a
certain type of data. Geographical
Types of data bias bias is also important, where data
There are several different types of is skewed towards one particular
bias that can impact the quality of a region, as is demographic bias, where
Models are constantly learning, so even when actions are taken to

minimise these biases, the models are susceptible to becoming
biased later on. This is known as model drift
Peter Lindgren, head of digitisation of transport, TRL

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AI LEARNING
We know the
model has
identified an object as
a pedestrian, but we may
not know why that is”
Mark Bell, senior statistician, TRL
Above: Correctly the data doesn’t reflect the demographics of resistance to them. Transportation is an enabler
identifying the
the population. Demographic bias includes in society, so we need to make sure that the
huge variety of
road users is vital gender bias, which Bell says is inherent in the outputs of these models and the technologies we
in order to obtain transportation industry (For more on gender bias are producing are serving the whole of society.”
high quality data in transport don’t miss Intertraffic World 2024).
“If datasets are biased towards one group or Mitigating data bias
another, they may not meet the needs of other It is important to be aware of the potential for
groups,” says Lindgren. “If we take journey bias in machine learning models, and to take
planning for example, we know that women often steps to mitigate it. “It all comes down to ensuring
feel safer on certain routes, and they’ll choose the quality of the data and the approach,” says
different routes to men. If the systems we’re Lindgren. “It’s about making sure that there
creating don’t take these things into account, then aren’t biases in the data, or that biases are being
the outputs that they suggest may not be suitable addressed. And that the people involved aren’t
for some groups. Therefore, those groups may willingly — or otherwise — imposing biases in
not adopt those technologies or may have more the system through their own subconscious bias.”
There are several ways to do this. The
first is to use a diverse training dataset. This
What is data augmentation? will help to ensure that the model is exposed
to a wide range of features and experiences.
In transportation, the data is not always
Let’s say you have a sample dataset that expand a data set. For each data point in available, so to address holes in data sets,
contains information about individuals’ a sample dataset, randomly select one Lindgren suggests using data augmentation.
travel behaviour, including attributes such or more augmentation techniques and This is where you take one real world example
as destination, mode of transportation, apply them to create variations, thereby and you use other processes to create loads
duration, and purpose of travel. To augment generating new synthetic data points. of other plausible examples. “You also need
this dataset, you can use various techniques An important step is to validate the to make sure that you’re processing the data
to generate new data points that are augmented data; to evaluate its quality correctly, before feeding it into your machine
similar to the existing ones. One common by ensuring it aligns with the original and that you’re cleaning it correctly, you’re
technique is data augmentation through dataset’s patterns and distributions. The using the right pre-processing techniques,”
perturbation. For example: statistical properties of synthetic data he says. For more on data augmentation
Time perturbation: Modify the departure can be compared with the original dataset methods don’t miss Intertraffic World 2024
or arrival times of the trips by adding or to confirm the validity and quality of the “It is also important to use fair evaluation
subtracting a random duration. synthetic data. metrics,” adds Bell. “This will help to ensure that
Location perturbation: Create new Data augmentation is particularly the model is not being biased towards certain
destination coordinates by introducing important in computer science when groups of people. A vital part of this is making
random noise or shifting the locations dealing with images or vision, when the sure that you have a lot of diversity within the
based on a knowledge of places. sample of images is limited. With the right group of people working on these models to
Mode perturbation: Change the mode of augmentations, a relatively small dataset make sure biases don’t creep in that way.”
transportation for a given trip randomly of images can be increased considerably It is essential to be transparent about the
while ensuring that it aligns with the in size, and although augmented data is model’s development process and to monitor the
original distribution of transportation generally not as good as original data, it can model’s performance over time. “It is important
modes and plausibility. still be very useful in training a model. to have regular reviews and audits to help identify
Purpose perturbation: Modify the purpose A classic example of this comes from biases and ensure the model is performing as
of travel by randomly selecting from a training computers to recognise hand intended,” says Lindgren. “Even once a model has
predefined set of purposes, taking into written digits. From a small sample of been trained and has been put into production,
account plausibility. images of hand written digits, you can it’s constantly learning and so can change its
Data augmentation can also be used to create more examples by rotating or inferences and we need to make sure then that
generate new synthetic data points and shearing the original images slightly. biases don’t creep in. Consistently applying the
best practices, as they evolve, is important as well.”

AI LEARNING
Gender bias in transport

Research by TRL shows that women are taking children to school,” says Lindgren.
more likely to be discriminated against “These kinds of responsibilities call for a
by transport AI and machine learning different way of travelling around than just
algorithms. This is due to a combination of a commute to an office. So, when a census
factors including skewed training data and is asking people ‘How do you usually travel
the biased labelling of training data, which to work?’, that question is going to capture
can be due to a lack of diversity in both the more data from one part of the community
IMAGES@STOCK_ADOBE.COM
transportation and AI/ML industries. than another.” why the model has behaved in a certain way.
“On average, a male driver will drive more Transportation decisions are often made “They are known as ‘black box’ algorithms,”
miles in a year than a female driver,” says by people who are not aware of gender says Bell. “If we try to look under the hood to
Bell. “So that means that any data we use bias in transportation data. This can lead to explain what’s going on, it’s not easy. We know
is inherently biased. Particularly when we transportation plans that are not responsive that the model has identified an object as a
think about tracking cars on the road with to the needs of women. “According to a pedestrian, but we may not know why it’s saying
detector loops, if we have more males 2018 LinkedIn survey, women only make that. Machine learning can vastly outperform
driving with greater exposure, driving more up 22% of the global AI workforce,” Bell classic statistical approaches. It’s an approach
miles, then any data from these detector explains. “They also only make up 20% of that makes sense in lots of ways. But because you
loops carries biases forward.” the transportation sector workforce. If can’t explain what’s going on under the hood,
“Also, commuting is more typical for a you’ve got fewer women working on these that often makes you less able to quantify and
man than a woman, who often perform algorithms, this means that gender bias can understand any biases that the model may have.”
other duties like unpaid care work and creep in at the coding stage as well.” “It’s important that we try to understand
what the models are doing, and are able to
explain and assess this,” adds Lindgren.
Above: When Data transparency “At the moment engineers write the code,
we look to the Bell believes it’s important to note the difference but the models train themselves and create
future do we
between modern machine learning algorithms their own connections, which are opaque
see ourselves?
Or a distorted and traditional statistical modelling techniques, to everyone else, even to the engineers.”
version based on particularly with regard to transparency.
inaccurate data? “A statistical model will usually want to Setting standards
understand the relationships that you have,” he TRL believes there is a need to implement
says. “For example, if I was asked to model the a set of standards in the AI and machine
relationship between the volume of traffic on learning industry, to overcome data bias.
the roads and the number of KSIs [people killed “A set of standards would allow everyone to
or seriously injured], the model would be very benefit from best practice,” says Lindgren. “It
explainable – if we increase the traffic flow this would mean that entrants to the market have
much, we would expect this many more KSIs. a starting point. It would also help to prevent
You get a concrete and explainable output from organisations going down paths that appear to
the model in terms of that relationship. You can be generating results, but end up being wrong
also validate the model using historical data. due to biases that they didn’t know about.”
“With machine learning, there’s less of a focus “A set of guidelines is important now
on quantifying relationships. Machine learning and will becoming increasingly important
models are mainly judged on their predictive as datasets grow and we rely on them more
accuracy. To assess how good that algorithm and more,” adds Bell. “All of these machine
is, it will be heavily trained and then tested on learning algorithms are becoming a bigger
previously unseen data, and if it performs well on part of our decision-making processes, so bias
the unseen data, that will be taken as a success.” will become an even more important factor
One of the challenges with machine learning going forward. This increases the need for a
algorithms is that it is difficult to always know rigorous set of guidelines to be in place.” n

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Solar
SOLAR VEHICLES
Stella Terra, Solar Team Eindhoven’s (STE’s) 4x4

sun-powered concept car has completed road
testing in Morocco and is set for a visit to Intertraffic
Amsterdam. But are cars powered by the rays
Dreams
of the sun really the future of mobility?
Words I Christopher Court-Dobson
PHOTO: BART VAN OVERBEEKE

SOLAR VEHICLES
Stella Terra
overcame
challenging terrain
on a test drive in
the Sahara desert
S
tella Terra doesn’t look like any vehicle
you’ve ever seen, with a wider, longer
bonnet and roof to accommodate greater
surface area of solar panels, a lightweight
frame and fiberglass chassis, an aerodynamic
profile and low ground-hugging design.
STE technical manager, Bob van Ginkel is
not long back from the Sahara, where the 4x4
Stella Terra finished its test run over 1,000km
(621 miles) of difficult and varied terrain. The
team is composed of 22 T/U Eindhoven students
who took a year out to work on the Stella
Terra, none of whom had built a car before.
“The mood was very good in the team,”
says van Ginkel. “We were so excited that we
were able to complete the journey completely
on the power of the sun, and we even had
a lot of energy left in the battery.”
Next stop for the Stella Terra is Intertraffic
Amsterdam, which takes place at Amsterdam RAI
exhibition centre in April 2024. It’s much closer to
home than Morocco – it’s just 119km from the T/U
Eindhoven campus where the vehicle was built.
Plans are afoot for a VIP to be riding in the car
for this auspicious journey, as part of an initiative
to raise awareness of the EU’s commitment
to SEVs and the future of electric mobility.
708km
The daily range of the
Stella Terra on-road,
or 548km off-road
(440/340 miles)

SOLAR VEHICLES
1,200kg
The weight of the Stella
Terra, less than half
that of BMW’s
4x4 EV
The design The low air resistance is achieved by

Many of the Stella Terra’s components a distinctive aerodynamic design, that
are built from scratch, for optimum tends towards the ideal ‘teardrop’ shape,
performance. For instance, its solar converter while balancing the need for as great a
is 97%-efficient, with the panels themselves surface area as possible available for solar.
achieving a respectable 24.4% efficiency. Solar panels built in to the bonnet and roof
“We needed to make the car very lightweight,” can be further augmented by panels stored
says van Ginkel. “It needed not only a low rolling within the vehicle and assembled onto the
resistance – the amount of energy you need to sides and back while stationary. This gives
go forward – but a minimal amount of drag.” 16m2 of solar panel area. The back panels
also raise in a pop-out roof, which provides
We aim to inspire everyone to accelerate the a better angle for capturing sunlight.
transition to a sustainable future. We encourage Rather than a steel chassis, Stella
Terra has a fiberglass frame. The weight
the markets and individuals to accelerate that future savings are immense; fiberglass is about
Bob van Ginkel, technical manager, STE 1,500-1,800kg/m3 versus steel which is 7,850kg/m3.

SOLAR VEHICLES
Camping out
T
he Stella Terra and its forerunners are designed
to compete in the cruiser class for the World
Solar Challenge. Other categories tend towards
ultra-minimalist SEVs that sacrifice everything for
the lightest weight possible.
But the cruiser class was envisioned as a move
towards more practical vehicles, and are judged on
how many people they can carry and pragmatic amenities.
STE and the Stella family has won every challenge event in
the category since 2011.
As such, the Stella Terra has a variety of camper van
features that would make it suitable for long periods
in the wilderness.
“You can live in it, so you can fold the bed down and
you can sleep in it,” says van Ginkel. “You can cook from the
back, so the possibilities are almost unlimited to what you
can do with the car. Providing care with it is also an option.”
Just prior to reaching Morocco, the country was hit by
a significant earthquake, which turned large parts into
a disaster zone. There are clear benefits to disaster
relief in having infrastructure independent vehicles.
The battery has a mere 60Kwh, a lot less than torque, and weighs only 9kg – for a total of Main: Solar panels
comparably sized EVs, and this is one of the 36kg. Each is a very compact 43.3 x 12.5cm. cover the roof and
many elements that helps keep the weight down. This design gives further weight savings, bonnet of the
The Stella Terra is less than half the weight of as it forgoes an extremely heavy component: Stella Terra
similar sized 4x4 EVs. The BMW Xi for example the driveshaft. The brakes are integrated Above: The car’s
rear roof can fold
is approximately 2,500kg, while the Stella Terra and it’s also direct drive, which means
out to provide
weighs in at 1,200kg. Its top speed is 145km/h no gears, so yet more weight reductions. extra charging area
(90mph) and it has a daily range of 708km “In-wheel motors really shine for solar vehicles when parked
(440 miles) on-road, and 548km (341 miles) off. because they reduce the weight of the vehicle,”
IMAGES: BART VAN OVERBEEKE
says Luka Ambrozic, chief commercial officer

Watt’s in a wheel? at Elaphe, which supplies in-wheel motors for
Stella Terra’s off-road capability is in large part another Dutch solar car, the Lightyear. “They
due to its in-wheel motor design. Rather than increase the space available, which helps in
a central electric motor running by driveshaft making the vehicle more aerodynamic.
to four wheels, each sports a Protean pd18, “They are also very efficient. Much
which has 80kw of peak power, 1400Nm of more so than any ICE equivalent.

SOLAR VEHICLES
They’re much better optimised for long Only a few of the pre-orders made it off
range cruising at highway speeds.” the assembly line, and for financial reasons,
But there are trade-offs involved. The focus has shifted to the more affordable
weight of the motors is not born by the vehicle’s Lightyear 2, priced at €40,000 (US$43,000).
suspension, but by the wheels themselves. “If you’re looking to build a solar car for the
“It’s unsprung mass, which means you masses you need a low cost technology,” says Luka.
add weight to the wheel,” says Ambrozic.
“This means that the ride is, in theory, less Teething pains
comfortable. But that is largely manageable.” Arval, owned by BNP Paribas, placed a 10,000 unit
Another issue is the currently higher cost. order for the Lightyear 2, calling the technology
“It’s a new technology,” says Ambrozic. “Typically, “proven, affordable and environmentally friendly.”
Main: Aptera three-wheeled solar buggy
we’re not dealing with the components that have But Atlas Technologies, the operator of
design concept been cost optimised for the last 50 years.” the Lightyear startup, was forced to declare
Above: Elaphe’s vehicle motion-control
bankruptcy in January 2023. Nevertheless,
platform The cost of solar parent Atlas Technologies Holding is still
Below inset: Elaphe builds in-wheel
The Lightyear Zero came in at €250,000 solvent and owns the IP, which has allowed
motors for electric vehicles (US$270,000), although as a proof-of-concept Lightyear to reboot, with the intention
this does not necessarily reflect the final cost of eventually fulfilling preorders. They
of SEVs, which might, when fully mature, have are now also focusing on manufacturing
a lower overall cost due to the smaller battery. solar bonnets for mainstream OEMs.
The Lightyear Zero has a drag coefficient Elsewhere in the burgeoning SEV industry it’s
of 0.19, and a 60Kwh battery gives it a similar shaky picture, with Sono Motors, the
a range of 625km (388 miles) builders of the Sion solar car, filing for
before the solar element is insolvency in May 2023; and Aptera,
added, with a further creator of a futuristic three-wheeled
40-100km range solar buggy, only resurrected in
extension per day, 2019 via crowdfunding, having
Overall, if the vehicle dependent on weather. been declared bankrupt
provides good In the EU, only in 2011. As of June 2022
economics, everyone will one in five workers Aptera was said to have
have a commute over 22,000 orders on its
drive them. It’s a simple higher than 30km books, but still no word
equation of what’s your total (19 miles). So this on whether production
cost of ownership in the end would place charge- has begun in earnest.
Luka Ambrozic, chief commercial free driving in the None of these are large,
officer, Elaphe hands of the majority. well-funded OEMs, but

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SOLAR VEHICLES
compared to the ceiling of potential, which is

currently being pushed by solar vehicles. The
efficiency gains will of course have huge impacts
outside the SEV market,” says Ambrozic.
Green impact
Concept cars such as Stella Terra show
that the solar vehicle project is feasible
– but the struggles of the commercial
sector illustrate the scale of the task.
“Overall, if the vehicle provides good
economics, everyone will drive them. It’s
a simple equation of what’s your total cost
of ownership in the end,” says Ambrozic.
And with fuel costs of zero on a sunny
day, the benefits are certainly enticing.
“But it is more of a matter of time.
And maybe some integration challenges that
PHOTO: BART VAN OVERBEEKE
arise with increasing use,” says Ambrozic.

SEVs have the potential to accelerate the
journey to net zero because the availability
of charging infrastructure ceases to be
a limiting factor, especially important
for the most densely populated cities
and the most remote rural locations.
“We aim to inspire everyone
to accelerate the transition
to a sustainable future. We
Above: Stella Terra drove along varied rather enthusiastic startups encourage the markets and
145
terrain, including dry sandy roads,
attempting a mammoth individuals to accelerate that
mountain trails and forest areas on
its 1,000km test run project, with an extraordinary future,” says van Ginkel.
variety of entirely new parts And Luka Ambrozic
Below: The Stella Terra team working
on a converter for the solar panels to manufacture. They rely on The top speed of is also emphatic about the
Below right: The Stella Terra team
angel investors, community Stella Terra in km/h importance of the mission.
crowd funding, and pre-orders “In reality, we’re not saving
drove the car from Northern Morocco
as well as conventional finance. (90mph) the planet, we’re saving the
to the Sahara
The difficulties haven’t human race – our children and
been due to any underlying our children’s children.” ■
issue with the technology, nor for
lack of enthusiasm by backers, but rather
the challenges in producing a whole host of
novel or underused components without the
developed supply chain of the big OEMs.
Future design philosophy

What’s clear is that the likes of Stella Terra and
Lightyear are not simply EVs fitted with solar
panels. Rather, achieving viable SEVs means
rethinking the car concept from the ground-up.
At each stage of the process, every component
has been optimised for weight and efficiency.
“The Stella design philosophy is to build
a car that consumes as little energy as possible in
manufacturing, but also needs as little energy
as possible to drive,” says Van Ginkel.
There is already a small and highly
motivated network pushing forward this
lightweight, energy-efficient paradigm.
IMAGES: BART VAN OVERBEEKE
“The vehicles really need to

be designed in a holistic way,”
says Ambrozic. And he is certain
that this design philosophy has
a lot to offer the wider industry.
“What emerges is just how inefficient
ICE vehicles, and even the latest EVs are

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TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT DRONES
conflict
Avoiding
Urban air mobility is widely believed to be the next era of transportation
– with Intertraffic Amsterdam in April 2024 collocated with Amsterdam
Drone Week. But before we can all start zipping around at low altitudes,
the challenges of managing this new kind of traffic must be solved
Words | Jack Roper

T
he drone industry aspires to a future
of high-frequency operations in low-
altitude airspace shared by multiple
operators. Today in Singapore,
drone operator Skyports Drone Services
relies on an informal daily sharing of flight
plans for strategic deconfliction with other
operators. However, the company recognises
the need for a more automated system to
support a scalable commercial ecosystem.
“Well-programmed systems make fewer
mistakes than humans,” says Jef Geudens,
head of technology at Skyports. “Commercial
success will require each pilot to monitor
10-20 aircraft, becoming an airspace manager.
We can only reach that scale with a fully
automated system for deconfliction. Neither
are narrowly segregated operations likely to
prove viable. If drones only operate in narrow

Above: Drones are corridors, we may as well use delivery vans. “We help the ANSPs responsible for crewed
already performing
Commercial operations require wider areas of aviation understand the framework needed to
some duties at the
Port of Rotterdam, airspace controlled by automated systems.” control drones in their airspace,” explains Chris
though not goods Hence the development of Unmanned Aircraft Kucera, head of strategic partnerships at OneSky.
System Traffic Management (UTM) systems to
deliveries, yet “Our UTM system passes authoritative ANSP
deconflict airspace shared by many drones data to drone operators. It can represent the
and potentially, manned aviation. operator’s flight-plan and get it authorised by the
Skyports’ UTM partner is OneSky. ANSP. It is essentially a broker of data between
20
The company’s dynamic UTM the drone and air traffic management (ATM).”
system grew out of the same OneSky’s Operations Centre meanwhile
technology used to prevent provides an interface for drone operators to
The number of drone collisions between commercial plug into the system. Strategic deconfliction
satellites. OneSky’s UTM between multiple operators is achieved solely
operators already system integrates manned by sharing flight plans over the internet.
performing functions and unmanned aviation by “Drones come into a world built for larger
in the Port of providing an interface between aircraft and devoid of infrastructure supporting
drones and ANSPs [air navigation low-altitude flight,” says Kucera. “NASA invented
Rotterdam service providers] that enables UTM to avoid building infrastructure everywhere.
the latter to manage drone traffic. People who want to fly safely should communicate

ADDITIONAL IMAGES: STOCK_ADOBE.COM

their intent. If everything in the sky is networked, 10 years, our mature systems for strategic Inset: The Airwayz
team at the Port of
we can do strategic deconfliction by sharing that deconfliction have been proven in operations.”
Rotterdam
information. In time, that may evolve into tactical The European Union Aviation Safety
deconfliction based on real-time tracking.” Agency (EASA) defines U-Space as a set of
digital and automated services to enable
Drone air traffic control safe integration of drones and manned
OneSky first flight-tested its system in Australia, aviation in a volume of airspace.
then in Singapore for three years. In the USA, In October 2022, the Port of Rotterdam
it participated in four NASA pilot programmes Authority (PoR) assumed control of its
and further FAA trials to mature the technology. airspace from LNVL, the Dutch ANSP,
NASA’s advanced tests involved upwards for a two-year U-Space prototype project
of two dozen drones flying simultaneously, using the Airwayz Dynamic UTM system.
though some are more real than others. “Rotterdam is the largest seaport in
“Early tests had just one or two live the Western world,” says Airwayz
vehicles,” says Kucera. “Later, we had eight CEO, Eyal Zor. “They already have If drones only operate in narrow
UTM companies each controlling their own 20 drone operators doing search and corridors, we may as well use
drones and doing strategic deconfliction. rescue, inspection, asset monitoring
But flying drones is costly, so tests usually and policing. Previously, the approach delivery vans
involve both live and simulated vehicles. After was segregation and hoping for Jef Geudens, head of technology, Skyports

Drones come into

a world built for
larger aircraft and devoid of
infrastructure supporting
low-altitude flight
Chris Kucera, head of strategic
partnerships, OneSky
Above: OneSky’s the best. This project aims to improve safety ATM integration. In Rotterdam, drones may
UTM delivers real-
and enable a greater volume of activities.” avoid collisions with helicopters flying at low
time, dynamic,
4D situational Integration into the Airwayz UTM requires altitude by dynamic airspace reconfiguration.
awareness and each operator to adopt a software layer called When a helicopter communicates its
decision support the unmanned aerial vehicle operating system intended flight-path, the UTM system will
Below: BVLOS drone (UAVOS) to manage multiple drones. The temporarily close that section of airspace to
testing in the UK UAVOS submits flight plans to the UTM for drones until the helicopter has passed.
checking and approval. The UTM also monitors Planned integration with Harbormaster
in real time to prevent potential crashes. systems will help the UTM understand the
“We don’t believe in static corridors or position and movement of ships, not merely as
segregation, because you quickly run out of obstacles but as targets for inspection or landing.
airspace,” says Tomer Sorek, business manager Airwayz aspires to extend its drone services
at Airwayz. “Dynamic airspace is complex to anchored ships in the English Channel.
and requires constant monitoring. The Launched in November 2022, U-Elcome
UAVOS communicates with our server and is a European project, involving 51 partners
we connect to the PoR Robin radar system. If across three countries, aiming to support the
something changes, we recalculate everything implementation of services for the safe and
in proximity and if necessary reroute one of secure integration of drones. It will run for three
the parties. It’s like a control tower talking to years. In 2023, it created three national clusters
pilots, but with systems talking to each other.” enabling iterative development of local ecosystems
and expects flight testing to increase in 2024.
Shipping opportunities In Spain, U-Elcome has seen flights
Airwayz is working with LVNL and the associated with firefighting, police and harbor
Dutch Aerospace Centre (NLR) on UTM- applications while in Italy, a flight campaign
to include antenna inspections is underway.
U-Elcome’s end goal is to ensure routine
drone operations across Europe by 2026.
Meanwhile in the UK, Project Skyway aims
to establish a 165-mile (265km) BVLOS (beyond
visual line of sight) drone corridor. It is led by
It’s like a control Altitude Angel, whose UTM platform will handle
tower talking to flight approval and deconfliction in conjunction
pilots, but with systems with ground-based sensors to detect and identify
drones. UK telecoms provider BT previously led
talking to each other Project Accelerate, a precursor to Skyway, and will
Tomer Sorek, business explore how its extensive telecoms infrastructure
manager, Airwayz could be leveraged to support U-Space operations.

“Our masts and structures could carry

detection devices looking at the sky to provide
situational awareness,” says BT’s drone director,
Dave Pankhurst. “That information
could be communicated over our
network then ingested and fused
51
with known information by
Altitude Angel’s platform.
“If something has changed,
they begin deconflicting
The number of flight plans. Our existing
partners involved in mobile network can
Europe’s U-Elcome provide communications
to the drones themselves for
drone project command and control and
returning video imagery.”
BVLOS flights could be
tracked using drone-mounted
devices or through software integration
between UTM platforms and drone control
stations. But another solution is the deployment
of ground-based surveillance infrastructure,
which has the advantage of detecting non-
collaborative vehicles. This could be achieved
by radar or so-called sniffers, which detect
radio frequency signals from drones.
Interactions with other aircraft

In the UK, BVLOS flights are only permitted
Above: Whereever for three-month periods in segregated temporary
drones fly they must
danger areas (TDAs) after an approval process
avoid conflicts with
other airspace users taking many months. Skyports is working with
the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to
Right: Skyports
drones have been transition TDAs to a temporary reserved areas
used for medical (TRAs) shared by drones and other aircraft, then
services transponder mandatory zones (TMZ) where any
suitably-equipped aircraft may fly. Project Skyway
likewise aims to reduce BVLOS entry barriers.
“Once we prove one level of safety, the CAA
may consider the depth of detect-and-avoid
technology required for given locations,” says
Real-world use cases

Pankhurst. “Eventually, operators could obtain
approval to fly because they’re using a UTM
S
system proven to be safe, rather than gathering
kyports Drone Services has operated into boxes which are flown by Loganair two years of safety evidence and building their
three BVLOS projects for the UK from Aberdeen to Kirkwall, where own ground-based detect-and-avoid systems.”
National Health Service (NHS) Skyports puts them on drones for European ATM overseer Eurocontrol notes
since 2020. It has collected Covid-19 onward delivery to specific islands. a need for early collaboration with national
test samples from Scottish islands, “We’ve demonstrated we can deliver authorities usually approving BVLOS corridors
conducted 14,000 BVLOS flights parcels with a 90% availability rate,” for the first time. But often underfunded
collecting laboratory samples from Scottish says Geudens. “Every Friday, we deliver regulators are trying to chase a fast-
hospitals and most recently, transported fish and chips on the islands. We started evolving drone market. This results
pathology samples in Newcastle. delivering 2kg and now deliver 20kg in chicken-and-egg roadblocks.
“We’ve trended towards more complex every week. Virtually everyone there “A drone using UTM solves one side of
missions,” says Skyports’ head of is having our fish and chips.” the problem. But it’s hard to fly drones unless
technology, Jef Geudens. “In Newcastle, The Orkney drones operate under we also know where manned aircraft are,”
we flew up to 80km with dangerous goods BVLOS with visual mitigation (BVLOS-VM) saus Kucera. “That may require electronic
approval. Instead of driving two hours to conditions. “We daisy-chain people on each conspicuity mandates stating that any aircraft
hospital, it could mean cancer patients island to maintain visual contact and see flying below 400ft must report its position.
can receive chemotherapy at home.” that no one else infringes the airspace,” Not all aviators want that, but it’s the only
Skyports is also delivering Royal Mail Geudens explains. “BVLOS-VM requires way to ensure safety. Everything is based on
parcels to Scottish Islands in the Orkney filing an operational safety case, but assumptions. It’s about how we make small steps
I-Ports project. Royal Mail sorts the parcels no operational change.” with a little chicken, a little egg, a little more
chicken until eventually, we get there.” ■

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LOW-CARBON INFRASTRUCTURE
The road to
If it gets the final go-ahead, the Lower Thames Crossing will be the largest road-building scheme
in the UK for 30 years, but that’s not the most significant thing about it – what really sets it apart
is the fact that it is pioneering new low-carbon techniques that can inspire other projects right
now, no matter how long we have to wait for construction to begin
Words | Jack Roper

A computer generated
image showing how
the northern tunnel
entrance will look
for the Lower
Thames Crossing,
east of London
T
he Lower Thames Crossing is Britain’s most
ambitious road-building scheme in three
decades. It will connect Kent and Essex with
14.3 miles of three-lane highway crossing the
Thames Estuary in two 2.6-mile (4.2km) tunnels,
which will be Britain’s longest and among the widest
bored tunnels on earth. It will take six years to build,
cost an estimated £8.3 billion (€9.7 billion) and
be the greenest road-building project ever seen.
“The Lower Thames Crossing is a pathfinder
project for the industry,” says Lower Thames Crossing
sustainability director, Andrew Kidd. “We aim to
achieve net zero construction and maintenance
emissions by 2040. This £8bn government-funded
project has a powerful market signaling effect
and will drive commercialisation and scale-up of
low-carbon road-building from 2026 to 2030.”
The new road will relieve congestion at Dartford,
currently the only Thames road crossing east
of London, which consists of two tunnels and a
cable-stayed bridge. Designed for 135,000 vehicles
per day, Dartford carries 180,000 on peak days
and sees 3,000 incidents per year, one of the UK
network’s highest rates. Dartford is subject to
perpetual delays, which spill onto local roads and
requires a 300-strong team to keep traffic moving.
“We have more people managing one mile of
road at Dartford than our whole southwest regional
network,” says Kidd. “The southbound bridge makes
freight susceptible to high winds and we have to

Above: The design escort certain vehicle-types through the older predictable and enable new and different
for the proposed
tunnel. The problem for drivers isn’t just the journeys on a free-flowing 70mph crossing.”
southern entrance
to the crossing speed of journeys, but their unpredictability.
Local journeys, like collecting the Emissions limits
kids from school, are continually Lower Thames Crossing is the
impacted by problems on the first UK infrastructure project
6,000
strategic road network.” to commit to legal limits on
Because Dartford is on construction emissions in its
the shortest route linking development consent order.
Britain’s channel ports to The metric tons of Its procurement asked
the Midlands and North, tenderers to commit to these
40% of the 50m vehicles hydrogen planned to be limits and demonstrate
crossing annually are procured by National how they would eliminate
goods vehicles. The Lower Highways to fuel low- emissions. Its contracts
Thames Crossing will incentivise them to continue
siphon this traffic off to the carbon construction at reducing emissions across
east and create growth by the Lower Thames the project’s lifetime.
connecting Kent and Essex. Crossing “We don’t have targets,
“Essex and Kent are sizable but limits,” Kidd explains. “We
regional economies that don’t have a long construction period
really talk to each other,” says Kidd. with technology quickly evolving. If we
“Fewer than 1% of people commute across set a target now, it risks seeming difficult and
the river today. By taking 13m journeys putting people off, but by 2030, appearing too
away from Dartford, the Lower Thames easy. Our methodology is to set initial limits,
Crossing will make existing journeys more then continue driving emissions downwards.”

Contractually, the project is split into three “With 32 major structures within just Above: Traffic
congestion at the
components: Roads North of the Thames, 10 miles, the Roads North package presents
Dartford Tunnel,
Tunnels and Kent Roads. Roads North is exciting opportunities to rethink traditional which the Lower
awarded to Balfour Beatty and Kent Roads approaches from the outset,” says Balfour Beatty Thames Crossing
to Skanska, with a Tunnels decision shortly sustainability director, Geri Straine. “We are aims to relieve
expected. Early contractor onboarding exploring techniques and solutions such as
maximises opportunities to embed low-carbon modular construction to deliver the project
technologies and develop local supply-chains. with the lowest possible carbon footprint.”
“The successful tenderers all committed to National Highways expects supply-chain
better limits than we asked,” says Kidd. “That engagement and detailed construction-planning
delivers a 50% emissions-reduction versus to drive emissions down beyond its 50%
a conventionally-built equivalent starting-point, with contractors
scheme at no extra cost to the incentivised to deliver continuous
taxpayer – just as a starting-point.” reductions. Balfour Beatty will
Balfour Beatty will focus on empower supply-chain partners
delivering its tender commitment with tools and guidance and
across four carbon-reduction require them to formally
priority areas of design, plant, steel quantify their carbon impacts.
and concrete and expects to adopt Fundamentally, savings are
alternative fuels including hydrogen. achievable in three ways.
The Lower Thames Crossing is a pathfinder project for the industry. We aim
to achieve net zero construction and maintenance emissions by 2040
Andrew Kidd, sustainability director, Lower Thames Crossing, National Highways

We are exploring techniques and

solutions such as modular
construction to deliver the project with
the lowest possible carbon footprint
Geri Straine, sustainability director, Balfour Beatty
Above: The visual

impact of roads
leading to the
crossing is planned
to be reduced
with extensive
landscaping
Low-carbon concrete How CO2 savings are achieved

“One way is to build less of something and thus
A
use less materials,” says Kidd. “Digital design
fter water, concrete is the second production process invented by University and off-site construction can help deliver really
most-consumed substance on earth of Cambridge researchers. smart engineering and design. Secondly, we can
and a major source of emissions. “The Cambridge Electric Cement reduce the carbon-intensity of materials, which
Concrete contains cement, whose process allows us to recycle cement means attacking steel, concrete and diesel.”
production is energy-intensive and emits from demolished buildings, bypass the A third important pillar is that National
CO2 as a chemical by-product. emissions-heavy calcination process and Highways also aims to eliminate diesel machinery
“Every tonne of cement we produce reclinker in electric arc furnaces familiar in from its construction sites within the project’s
creates an equivalent tonne of CO2,” says steel-making,” Connelly explains. “C2Z aims timescale. Construction equipment consumes
Mark Connelly, chief engineer for transport to demonstrate the structural, regulatory far more power than a passenger car and its
at AtkinsRéalis, an international design, and economic viability of recycled concrete.” duties are much more demanding, making
engineering and project management Partners include AtkinsRéalis, Balfour it harder to wean off fossil fuels. Essentially,
organisation. “Moreover, we pay insufficient Beatty, CELSA and Tarmac. Connelly there are three approaches to this…
attention to end-of-life concrete disposal. considers proactive co-ordination vital “One is battery-electric, for smaller, mobile
As rising populations drive construction to overcoming barriers in a risk-averse equipment,” says Kidd. “Cable-electric will be
demand, producing cleaner concrete industry. “The pathway to low-carbon more efficient for cranes or piling rigs, whose
becomes increasingly critical.” construction is paved with collaboration,” work is often stationary. They may track across
Cement 2 Zero (C2Z) addresses the twin he says. “C2Z shows that shared site on a battery, then plug in to work. Finally,
challenges of decarbonisation and recycling. commitment, cross-sector problem-solving for excavators over 20 tonnes and articulated
Led by the UK’s Materials Processing and enterprising leadership can steer haulers, we expect the solution to be hydrogen.”
Institute, C2Z is focused on a novel cement construction towards a sustainable future.” Remarkably, National Highways has launched
a procurement for 6,000 tonnes of hydrogen to

Intelligent
Transportation Systems
Traffic Management
Safety Systems &
(Safe Cities)
Face
Recognition Solutions
ANPR Monitoring and
Tr a c k i n g S y s t e m s
Awareness
Public Warning Systems
Smart
Telecommunications
Speed and Red
Light Enforcement
Pedestrians Safety
and Exit Control
Parking
Management
Systems
intensity of steel production. Concrete presents

an altogether more complex picture.
“Concrete gets very technical very quickly,”
says Kidd. “There are millions of recipes, but they
all contain cement, which produces about 8%
of global emissions. Both the energy consumed
and the chemistry itself contribute to emissions
from cement production. Fundamentally, we can
either reduce the carbon-intensity of cement,
or displace it with other materials, which
enhance the concrete’s binding properties.”
Eventually, Kidd foresees the application
of carbon capture and storage technology to
cement production, though this would inevitably
cost more than simply releasing CO2 up a
chimney. In the nearer term, ground
granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS)
or calcined clays may offer feasible
Seven
cement replacements in lower-
carbon concretes. Kidd believes
cement and concrete producers
The number of ‘green are awake to challenges they
bridges’ planned in the must solve to continue doing
Above: ‘Green supply its delivery partners business in the coming decades.
bridges’ across
and combine demand across Lower Thames After all, road-building’s green
the new roads will
connect wildlife all three Lower Thames Crossing scheme future will not stop at UK shores.
habitats contracts. In doing so, it aims to “Globally, Europe is leading
Below: JCB is one create a hydrogen economy across the way,” says Kidd. “We’ve looked
of the construction the Thames Estuary and a hydrogen at how the Netherlands has focused
vehicle OEM’s capability across UK construction. on getting operational emissions to zero.
pioneering “It’s part of what it takes to be a pathfinder,” On embodied carbon, Oslo in Norway has
low-emissions says Kidd. “Going to market early gives forged ahead with bullish requirements for the
machinery such
as this hydrogen
hydrogen suppliers time to get in shape, construction sector. They have numerous sites
combustion relative to construction. The major equipment using only zero-emissions equipment. Certainly,
excavator manufacturers all have hydrogen programmes. that provided some inspiration for us.”
Procuring our own hydrogen takes a major
reason not to adopt off the table.” Protecting nature
Steel’s carbon-intensity depends entirely Biodiversity is a major focus. The new roads will
on how it is manufactured and UK producers be 80% underground or behind embankments
are already transitioning from coal-burning while building tunnels instead of a bridge
blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces. Because will safeguard protected wetlands. Lower
the end-product is exactly the same, the only Thames Crossing will plant a million trees,
variable to consider is the relative carbon- create seven green bridges, two public parks,
Low-carbon asphalt
I
f National Highways is to achieve net zero demonstrated a 23% reduction to asphalt’s
construction and maintenance operations carbon footprint across material extraction,
by 2040, it must decarbonise the asphalt processing and manufacturing.
which covers 96% of strategic UK roads. Given the 77,300 tonnes of asphalt-
National Highways thus commissioned related CO2 emitted on Britain’s strategic
AtkinsRéalis to research asphalt road network in 2020, there is scope
incorporating biogenic materials, or bio- for bio-asphalt to deliver substantial
binders. Bio-binders absorb atmospheric carbon savings.
carbon, which remains locked in even “Construction contributes over 10%
through asphalt recycling, potentially of global emissions,” says AtkinsRéalis
turning roads into carbon sinks. chief engineer for transport, Mark
In February 2023, two asphalts Connelly. “Construction is the backbone of
containing polymer modified bitumen development worldwide, but labyrinthine
bio-binders were installed by project industry structures, complex supply-
partners Heidelberg Materials on the A30 chains and long project timelines present
near Exeter, Devon. This first formal trial formidable obstacles to decarbonisation.”

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10%
The proportion of global
carbon emissions
created by
construction
Above: This 22 ponds, 12 miles of hedgerow and a 95-hectare says Kidd. “Beyond that, we will just need the
new 2.9km (1.8 community woodland. Overall, it will create green light from government to get started.’
mile) cycling and three times more woodland than it removes. The Lower Thames Crossing will nearly
footpath is planned,
completely separate
“We’re connecting existing wildlife double Thames-crossing road capacity east of
from any of the new habitats and providing new ones,” says London. Based on standardised regional traffic
roads for the Lower Kidd. “We’re creating almost 40 miles of models, National Highways believes it will divert
Thames Crossing footpaths, cycle-paths and bridleways – 13 million journeys from Dartford, especially
three miles of new pathway for every goods vehicles headed north from channel ports.
mile of road. Alongside strategic It may reduce emissions from stop-start driving in
infrastructure, we think holistically about congestion, though Kidd is cautious on this point.
the legacy we leave in the landscape.” “Generally, improving traffic flows
Design was shaped by the most extensive increases vehicle efficiency and yields a carbon
consultation exercise ever undertaken for a UK reduction,” he says. “But the Lower Thames
road scheme, eliciting over 90,000 responses. Crossing may open in 2032, by which time
This resulted in moving tunnel entrances the vehicle fleet will look quite different.
further from the river, lowering the level of Over the asset’s 60-year accounting or 100-
roads, redesigning junctions, changing most year operational lifespan, the vast majority
of the route from two to three lanes in both of journeys will be net-zero journeys.”
directions and widening tunnels accordingly. The scheme is not without detractors,
But still, the Lower Thames Crossing awaits who claim more roads simply create more
approval for work to commence in 2026. traffic, or that the UK would be better-served
A development consent order application was moving freight by rail, or using northern
submitted in 2022 with an examination process ports for northern destinations. But National
with the Planning Inspectorate concluding at the Highways’ remit is limited to making roads
end of 2023. “Based on their report, we expect a as sustainable as possible in supporting
decision from the Secretary of State next summer,” the journeys people need to make.
“Even doubling rail network capacity would
barely move the dial relative to freight movements
We’re connecting existing wildlife habitats and providing new by road,” says Kidd. “Extreme congestion at
ones. We’re creating almost 40 miles of footpaths, cycle-paths Dartford really makes the case on its own.
and bridleways – three miles of new pathway for every mile of road From an economic or a driving perspective, we
haven’t modelled any scenario where you regret
Andrew Kidd, sustainability director, Lower Thames Crossing, National Highways
building the Lower Thames Crossing.” ■

NOISE CAMERAS
Just a few years ago the prospect of being able to catch the drivers of
vehicles making excessive noise was remote, with ways of accurately
recording and processing such infractions extremely limited. But
recently technology has become available to enable authorities to do
just that. How does it work? And should it be deployed?
Words | Christopher Court-Dobson

NOISE CAMERAS
M
odified exhausts, overrevved engines,
pops, bangs and tyre screeches: all signs of
anti-social driving and the excessive noise
associated with it. Common complaints for
the city dweller, but also increasingly for the residents of
normally quiet villages and towns. Now there is a potential
solution as ‘noise cameras’, the sonic equivalent of speed
cameras, are being deployed in the US and Europe
Several big name ITS suppliers are now beginning
to offer noise camera technology, but there are also
some start-ups in this field, including one based in
the UK that is having notable success. Intelligent
Instruments was only established in 2019 but is already
gaining an international profile with its SoundVue
noise camera system, with deployments to Kensington
and Chelsea Council in London, Manhattan in New
York and the City of Knoxville, Tennessee.
“This technology is used to detect excess sound from
nuisance vehicles. So, road vehicles, motorcycles and cars,
which may have modified exhausts, or any car really that
may be driven aggressively with excess revving,” says
Reuben Peckham, co-founder of Intelligent Instruments.
Several design challenges emerged in the course
of development. The question was not only how
to determine with high accuracy if legal sound
levels have been breached, but which vehicle in
a small area is the source of the offending sound,
and what kind of sound is being produced.
“It’s a precision noise monitor. So, it measures
sound levels very accurately, when combined with three
cameras and microphone array. It records video and
audio until it triggers. It uses algorithms that trigger
on exhaust noise, music and horns,” says Reuben.

NOISE CAMERAS
The microphones are Class 1 accuracy
How does noise

(European IEC 61672-1 Standard rather
than the USA’s ANSI), which is the highest
precision available outside of a laboratory. This
is an important feature because only a Class 1
recording is fully reliable as evidence in court. affect animals?
Currently in on-street applications the
algorithm does not trigger for loud music When it comes to the effects of noise on
(although that capability has been developed). wildlife, Dr Marinez admits that research is
“The microphone array also detects the still in its infancy. “What we know is that when
offending vehicle. So if there’s multiple vehicles animals are exposed to noise they can change
in the video, then the microphone array is their behaviour, they can change the way they
able to determine which is the vehicle that communicate, they can change where they are
has caused the extra sound,” says Reuben. located,” he says.
This is known as passive acoustic location and These effects are, as yet, poorly
relies on four small microphones set in a dish. understood. In some cases the animals
Small differences in the timing of the sound are adapt, with urban songbirds increasing their
used to determine the position of the sound source. pitch so as to be heard above the lower
“And that in turn enables the camera frequency rumble of the traffic. Bats on the
system to read the registration plate of the other hand need relative quiet to hunt due
offending vehicle and that’s captured as well,” to echolocation. Noise is bad for them, but
says Reuben. This relies on a straightforward good for their prey. In other cases, animals
ANPR system, comparable to that used in are unable to communicate effectively in the
speed cameras and some tolling applications. presence of noise. But the most common
There is a patchwork of laws in different result is that fauna change their behaviour
countries governing noise exposure at work, patterns to avoid noisy areas, resulting in a
but it is generally agreed, via bodies such as the shrinking habitat.
World Health Organization (WHO), that no one
should be exposed to noise above 85dB, even in
an industrial setting, during their working day. and Birmingham are underway. However, the
This is roughly equivalent to what a person would system remains under effective human control.
hear while pushing a petrol engine lawnmower. Unlike a speed camera, it is not automatic, and
Recommended levels for other settings are lower. the final decision to issue a fine for breached noise
The WHO’s Environmental Noise Guidelines ordinances must be made by an enforcement
state that traffic noise in Europe should not officer, who is asked to discern between anti-social
exceed 53dB in the daytime and 45dB at night. In driving and legitimate breaches of the limit.
general night-time noise should be below 40dB. “When the system triggers it records a clip,
uploads it to the cloud, and enables the user to look
Human factors at the data remotely through a web interface. So,
In the UK, ‘boy racers’ – a term for nuisance they can look at the video, they can hear the audio,
drivers – face public disapproval. Polls conducted they can look at the noise level,” says Reuben.
by RAC put support for noise cameras at 58% Part of the reason for keeping humans
and opposition at 22%. It is estimated that involved in the decision-making process is that
more than 18% of the UK’s urban population sometimes there is a perfectly good reason for a
is exposed to harmful levels of noise. loud noise, and determining whether this is the
The Kensington and Chelsea noise camera trial case is a very subjective process, not suited to
was well received, and the borough now boasts automation. Vehicle noise created at a vintage
a total of eight cameras issuing £100 (US$126) car event, for example, might be perceived very
fines. Trials in Bradford, Bristol, Great Yarmouth differently from similar noise on a normal day.
Can noise affect school grades?

Other research has found evidence of sub-health “There is evidence of cognitive impairment
effects, such as a negative impact on children’s due to noise exposure in schools. Some studies
academic performance. “The obvious concerns of find a delay of two months in learning between
noise impact on children is loss of concentration, children in noisy areas compared to children
and also actual speech intelligibility. So, the ability in quiet areas,” says Dr Torija-Martinez.
for a child to hear what a teacher is saying if there’s In one study, conducted in Barcelona,
somebody roaring past in a Ferrari,” says Reuben. researchers found that noise pollution in
The location of the noise cameras can be crucial. the classroom was associated with slower New York City
Busy intersections, and near areas of particular development of working memory, complex procured its first
concern such as schools are the top priorities. memory and attentiveness. SoundVue system in the
summer of 2021

NOISE CAMERAS
1
million
The estimated premature
deaths per year in Western
Europe due to long term
environmental noise
exposure
Source: WHO
If there are multiple vehicles in

the video, then the microphone
array is able to determine which is the
vehicle that has caused the extra sound
Reuben Peckham, co-founder, Intelligent Instruments

NOISE CAMERAS
Main: SoundVue camera

installed in New York
Below: SoundVue uses
algorithms and AI to
automatically detect
excess noise and
identify the vehicle that
is making it
“Noise could be a Harley Davidson motorbike bring down noise levels as part of the European
for you, but not for me,” says Dr Antonio Green Deal, with the goal of reducing the share
Torija-Martinez, associate professor of acoustic of people “chronically disturbed by transport
engineering at Salford University. “And that’s noise” by 30% before 2030. However, initial
both the beauty and the complication of it. Two reports suggest they may fall short of this target.
subjects might be exposed to the same sound level “We have studies connecting noise with
expressed in decibels, but there are other factors physiological effects such as heart diseases and
influencing perception. That could be acoustic sleep disturbance. We have quite a lot of solid,
factors such as temporal characteristics, the robust evidence quantifying health effects due to
frequency, and where the source is located; but a noisy environments,” says Dr Torija-Martinez.
also non-acoustic factors such as the importance The WHO has calculated that there are
and value of the sound of noise for us.” at least 1 million premature deaths due to
Flexibility and human oversight are therefore long term environmental noise exposure
important. While ordinances are couched in per year in Western Europe alone.
terms of a breaching a certain decibel level, not The experience of unwanted noise
every loud sound is considered noise, and there is one that everyone can relate to. The
are legitimate reasons to exceed sound limits difference between life in a peaceful and
such as sounding a horn to avoid a crash. quiet neighbourhood, compared to one that
is plagued with unwanted sound is clear.
Health impacts “So again there’s evidence that in terms of
“A passing car that’s revving or popping quality of life noise could modify your pattern
and banging, particularly at night can cause of activities. For example, it might be the case
sleep disturbance. And that’s probably that in summer time you don’t want to spend
obvious. But what’s slightly less time in your garden, because of aircraft flying
obvious is the health effects over you, or you have a railway line nearby; and
Two subjects might be exposed from that,” says Reuben. these noisy events could also affect our sleep
to the same sound level The WHO has identified noise creating disturbance,” says Dr Torija-Martinez.
expressed in decibels, but there are pollution as the second most Reuben Peckham explains that to him it’s not
harmful environmental cause of just about law enforcement, but about bringing the
other factors influencing perception ill health; only fine particulate tangible benefits of peace and quiet to residents.
Dr Antonio Torija-Martinez, associate professor of air pollution has greater impact. “It’s there to improve the lives of residents living
acoustic engineering, Salford University The EU is actively working to in areas in which this is a problem,” he says. n

Slowly
LOWER SPEED LIMITS
does it
Across Europe, from Spain to the Netherlands, Finland and Wales, there is a
growing consensus that lowering speed limits in urban areas to 30km/h, or
20mph, will not only improve road safety, but also reduce air pollution and
enhance quality of life. But what evidence is this based on and what are the
challenges with the implementation and enforcement of this new thinking?
Words | Lauren Dyson
E
very year more than 1.3 million people maximum road travel speed of 30km/h [19mph]
are killed in road traffic collisions around in areas where vulnerable road users and
the world. That is one person every 24 vehicles mix in a frequent and planned manner,
seconds. The World Health Organisation except where strong evidence exists that higher
(WHO) says that excessive speed is “at the core speeds are safe, noting that efforts to reduce
of the road traffic injury problem”, revealing speed in general will have a beneficial impact on
that high speeds are responsible for one in air quality and climate change as well as being
three road deaths in high-income countries. vital to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries.”
The WHO also says that more than half For a long time, 30mph (48km/h) has
of all these road deaths and injuries involve been considered a safe speed to travel in
vulnerable road users (VRUs), such as built-up areas. In the UK, the speed limit on
pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, and secondary roads has been 30mph since 1934.
that the most effective way to improve their However, 2022 police force figures show that
safety is to reduce the speed of vehicles. 51% of collisions happened on 30mph roads.
“The higher the vehicle speed, the more Also, evidence shows that a person is around
likely you are to have serious and fatal injuries five times more likely to be killed when hit
especially among vulnerable road users like by a vehicle travelling at 30mph than they
pedestrians and cyclists,” confirms Shaun are from a vehicle travelling at 20mph.
Helman, chief scientist for behavioural
sciences at TRL. “But higher speeds mean Time for change
higher injury risk for drivers and passengers On 17 September 2023, the statutory speed
in motor vehicles too. Higher speeds limit in built up areas in Wales was reduced
bring more risk. It’s as simple as that.” from 30mph to 20mph (32m/h). While 20mph
In 2020, The Stockholm Declaration was limits have widely been implemented in
put together at the 3rd Global Ministerial individual cities and zones for some time,
Conference on Road Safety to improve global this is the first national scheme in the UK.
road safety over the next decade. The document The new legislation, which was approved
calls on member states to contribute to reducing by the Senedd (the Welsh parliament) in July
road traffic deaths by at least 50% by 2030, with 2022, has been controversial, to say the least.
a focus on speed management, to “mandate a While safety campaigners are praising the

LOWER SPEED LIMITS

LOWER SPEED LIMITS
20mph
The new statutory speed limit
in built-up areas in Wales
(32km/h) reduced from
30mph (48km/h)
Above: The
move, more than 400,000 opposing motorists phrase ‘war on motorists’ they not only offend,
Millennium have signed what has become biggest petition in but they draw attention away from the substantial
Stadium sits at Senedd history. Meanwhile, the British Prime injury burden imparted by road traffic collisions.”
the heart of Welsh Minister, Rishi Sunak, has called 20mph zones A public health study has estimated that
capital Cardiff, “a war on motorists” and has pledged to put the 20mph default speed limit in Wales could
a new 20mph city
a stop to such “hair-brained schemes”. result in 40% fewer collisions every year, which
Helman feels that calling lower speed would mean 1,200 to 2,000 people avoiding
limits ‘a war on motorists’ is deeply injury and six to 10 lives saved. The Senedd
misguided and perhaps even offensive. says the change will also make urban streets
“The only war really is on those people safer for playing, walking and cycling, improve
who die or are seriously injured in road health and wellbeing, reduce noise pollution
collisions,” he says. “By advocating and encourage more people to walk or cycle.
for higher speed limits, politicians are “There are huge benefits for all road users of
advocating for lower speed limits in terms of injury reduction,”
Higher speeds mean higher injury risk for drivers more collisions says Helman. “We know that by introducing
and more lower speed limits in places where you have
and passengers in motor vehicles too. Higher severe injury motor vehicles and other road users mixing, you
speeds bring more risk. It’s as simple as that outcomes. get big gains in terms of safety, in terms of the
Shaun Helman, chief scientist for behavioural sciences, TRL By using the liveability of those roads, and big improvements

LOWER SPEED LIMITS
Amsterdam is
famous for its
canals, but it
also has some
busy roads and
intersections
Amsterdam goes 30km/h

in quality of life for those people who live in those
areas. The survivability at 15-20 miles an hour,
O
is much, much better than the survivability and
injury risk at speeds in the late 20s, early 30s.” n 8 December 2023, the speed limit city council is hoping the move will make
People that oppose slower speed limits say that on 80% of the roads in Amsterdam Amsterdam a quieter and a more pleasant
they will cause more congestion and that the cost was lowered to 30km/h (19mph). place, with noise pollution cut in half.
of implementing and enforcing them is too high. It The change was accompanied by new road As public transport is permitted to
has been estimated that the implementation of the markings and approximately 4,400 new continue travelling at 50km/h, the city
20mph speed limit in Wales is costing around £32 signs. A campaign has also been launched, has installed lane dividers, to separate the
million (US$39 million) but the Welsh government with the slogan: ‘We drive 30 for each other’. public transport lane from the 30km/h lane.
says that his cost is outweighed by the casualty According to the City of Amsterdam, the Other cities that have implemented city-
prevention savings, including the reduced impact braking distance at 30km/h is 13m, which is wide 30km/h limits include: Graz (Austria);
on the NHS (National Health Service in the UK). less than half of that at 50km/h (27m). The Grenoble (France); Helsinki (Finland);
One study estimates these savings could amount city’s authorities say that the new speed Valencia (Spain); Zurich (Switzerland); Lille
to up to £92 million (US$113 million) every year. limit should result in 20-30% fewer serious (France); Paris (France); Brussels (Belgium)
One possible downside to a lower speed accidents. They also say that the probability and Brighton (England). London already has
limit is a slightly longer travel time for some of a pedestrian surviving an accident where many 20mph limit areas, but the scheme is
motorists, however, the Welsh government the car was moving at 30km/h is 95%. The not yet city wide.
says that this amounts to an average of only

LOWER SPEED LIMITS
Above: Some one extra minute per journey, and in many Reports in the Spanish media say that the
segregated, dual-
cases lowering the speed limit to 20mph will 30km/h speed limit on single-lane urban roads
lane urban roads
like this one in have little or no impact on journey times. in Spain reduced the number of deaths between
Barcelona are May and December last year (2022) by 14%, with
among the very Slower in Spain 38 fewer deaths than in the same period in 2019.
few in the city to The default 20mph speed limit across Wales “The benefits of implementing a 30km/h limit
still permit travel may seem like an extreme measure, but it is are scientifically proven,” says Perez. “Reducing
over 30km/h
not the first country make this move. Spain speed reduces injuries, particularly severe injuries.
has been enforcing a similar limit since 2021. This is well established and well known.”
“On 11 May 2021 the government established Perez says that the slower speed limit
a 30km/h [19mph] speed limit in all of Spain,” has been well accepted in Barcelona, mostly
explains Catherine Perez, researcher at the because there are a lot of narrow streets, so it is
Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB). “But difficult to drive faster than 30km/h anyway.
the measure had already been put in place in Meanwhile, Álvaro Gómez, head of the National
Barcelona, in two phases beginning in 2020. The Road Safety Observatory in Spain, has said that
limit covers the whole city now, on all secondary drivers, cyclists and pedestrians across Spain
roads. This covers around 100km of roads.” are “very comfortable with the new limit”.
This decision to apply the limit to the whole of
Spain came after a study in 2019 revealed that in Changing behaviour
Spain’s cities, four out of every five people killed The new speed limits in Wales will be monitored
in accidents fell into the vulnerable category and enforced by GoSafe mobile enforcement
and that percentage was growing each year. vehicles and fixed cameras. The Welsh
“We had previous pilot experiences government has also provided additional funding
of implementing a 30km/h per speed to the GoSafe casualty reduction partnership
limit on some streets,” says Perez. “We to support roadside engagement, alongside
evaluated this in terms of effectiveness police and fire service road safety teams.
of road safety and we were able to prove According to Transport for Wales,
that there was enforcement of the 20mph limit is about more
a reduction than simply reducing traffic speeds. It is also
We were able to prove that there was a reduction about 30% intended to be ‘a major behaviour change
about 30% of traffic injuries [from reducing the of traffic programme, which will benefit communities
speed limit to 30km/h], so it was quite effective injuries, so and the wellbeing of people in Wales’.
it was quite “The thing you want enforcement to do is
Catherine Perez, researcher, Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB)
effective.” convince people of the change in behaviour,”

Whether we’re reconguring lanes to mitigate collisions, improving road construction efciency, or designing
innovative barriers that reduce repair time for workers, Lindsay continues to provide sustainable and efcient
innovations that make a difference. Together, we can keep roads — and the people on them — moving safely.
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LOWER SPEED LIMITS
says Helman. “You don’t want people only

The new 30km/h driving at 20mph when they think they’re
speed limit on
going to be caught, you want them to drive at
single-lane urban
roads in Spain 20mph because they know it is the right thing
reduced the to do. We need to get to a place where people see
number of deaths inappropriate speed as socially unacceptable.”
between May and Helman says that the best thing you can do
December 2022 to change people’s driving behaviour is to make
by 14% compared
to before the limit
the system automatically encourage or require
in 2019 the right behaviour. “A very simple way to do
that is to adopt a technology called intelligent
speed assistance [ISA], in vehicles,” he says. All
vehicles now sold in the European Union are fitted
with this technology. “ISA technology knows
where it is and it won’t let the driver exceed the
speed limit,” Helman explains. “The next thing
you can do is you can have enforcement that’s
effective. We know that helps nudge people in
the right direction. And then the least effective
thing you can do is just educate people about
the risks of speeding. That that might help some
people but it’s not going to help many. And it’s
not going to change behaviour very much.”
Speed limits are just one pillar of the ‘safe
system’ approach to road safety management,
which is based on a belief that no one should be
killed or seriously injured while using the road
network. The Safe System approach comprises
five pillars, which are: safe roads, safe speeds, safe
vehicles, safe road users and post-crash care.
Ultimately, human error has to be taken into
account. “People make mistakes,” says Helman.
“Even the most highly skilled drivers with the
best intentions will occasionally make mistakes.
And we know that when people crash into things
at high speeds, anything above about 20mph,
they are very likely to be seriously injured or
killed. Safe speed is fundamental. You have to
keep speeds down to survivable levels if you want
to eliminate death and serious injury. If you had
really safe vehicles, really safe roadsides and
people who are really highly trained and really
aware of the risks, but you still allowed everybody
to drive at high speeds, you will still have loads
and loads of death and serious injury because
speed is going to trump everything else.” ■
Carbon factors
R
esearch by in terms of driving style and particulate causes a lot of carbon to be released,” says
Imperial College emissions associated with that. The research Helman. “The vehicles involved might need to
London into the showed vehicles tend to move more smoothly, be scrapped, and there’s a carbon cost to that.
impact of 20mph with fewer accelerations and decelerations, in You might have ambulances and fire engines
speed limits 20mph zones than in 30mph zones. and police vehicles attending the scene that
found they do “One particularly bad thing for emissions is there’s a carbon cost with that. There are
not lead to an lots of stopping and starting in traffic,” says carbon costs associated with people being
increase exhaust TRL’s Shaun Helman. “Lower speed limits can in hospital having their injuries treated. There
emissions. In keep traffic moving at a steady rate.” are carbon costs associated with people
fact, their results When thinking about emissions, it is visiting people in hospital… the list goes on.
showed clear also important to consider the carbon cost So, by reducing collisions, you’re also saving
benefits associated with road collisions. “A road collision carbon emissions as well.”

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ITS IN BRAZIL
Latin
lessons
Brazil, like much of Central and South America, has significant
challenges in meeting the mobility needs of citizens in rapidly
growing urban areas. But help is at hand in the form intelligent
transport systems and smarter public transit
Words | Eugene Gerden
Transport
planners are using
technology to
improve mobility in
Rio de Janeiro

ITS IN BRAZIL
C
ongestion caused by growing use of
private cars in the sprawling Brazilian
metropolis of Rio de Janeiro demands
solutions. There are many possible
answers, but two that are being particularly
focused on are the roll out of more effective
traffic management as well as the upgrading
and streamlining of public transport systems.
A major issue for public transit in Brazil
is that ridership and therefore revenues have
not fully recovered from the Covid pandemic,
meaning much of the focus is on encouraging
passengers back onto services by improving
efficiency, usability and affordability.
The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio marked
the beginning of an overhaul of its mass
transit system. In order to effectively serve the
multiple venues built for the event, a bus rapid
transit (BRT) service was created, running on
dedicated lanes it transported around 2.2 million
passengers over the course of the Games, which
were generally agreed to be a huge success.
BRT systems have a huge cost advantage
over building underground metro networks,
however where their dedicated lanes must
cross other roads they can still be subject
to delays, moreover in Rio high fares were
a disincentive to the use this service over shorter
distances. Change required top-level action.
“In 2021 a court agreement between the
city government and transport concessionaires
resulted in changes to the regulations of the public
transport sector,” says Maína Celidonio, transport
secretary for the City of Rio de Janeiro. “The
calculation of fares is now based on the distance
travelled by buses. For this, real-time location
information has become essential. As a result, new
tools have emerged to monitor compliance with
regulations, including pipelines, data lakes, and
automatic fine dashboards. These technologies
monitor compliance with established trips,
irregular route deviations, and other parameters.”
BRT vehicles also now have sensors and
embedded technologies that allow remote
communication with an operational control
centre, transmitting real-time information such
as temperature, position, speed, images and audio.
“This abundance of information allows for
a variety of applications, including real-time
interaction with users through bus loudspeakers
and mobile apps,” says Vera Ferreira, of CET-
Rio, a leading traffic engineering company in
the city. “It also allows drivers to interact with
the control centre through audio messages and
panic buttons, enabling immediate interaction
with security and civil defence agencies.”
There are plans for more video analytics, There’s an app for that
AI tools for traffic management and Live location data for public transport doesn’t just
IMAGE: STOCK_ADOBE.COM
integrated solutions for more effective response benefit public authorities, it also has significant
to planned events and incidents advantages for passengers, who are able to access
Carlos Wiedmaier, vice president of solution consulting for Latin the information via apps, such as Moovit.
America, Kapsch “Our app displays the live location of public
transit vehicles via icons moving across the
map in real time, providing users with greater

ITS IN BRAZIL
Above: Rio’s insight into their chosen route’s progress,” says traffic management system to improve the
BRT vehicles Marcelo Tavela, communications manager for operational processes in southern Brazil.
provide real-time Moovit Brazil “Alongside the real-time arrival There are also plans for more video analytics,
information to predictions, this feature decreases uncertainty, AI tools for traffic management, integrated
an operational enabling the user to choose the best route.” solutions for more effective response to
control centre
Available in 30 cities in Brazil, including Rio de planned events and incidents, connected
Janeiro, live location has proven to be a useful tool vehicle systems, and many other technologies
for users in places where transit data is not readily aiming to improve road-user experience and
available from other sources, but it isn’t the last reduce accidents and vehicle emissions.”
word in route-planning assistance from Moovit. It Another ITS giant, PTV, has ongoing
has also recently rolled out its Smart Cards feature operations in Brazil and is looking to develop
with dynamic and personalised predictions about systems alongside academics in the region. “Apart
routes most suitable to a particular user at any from helping our clients in their daily activities,
given time. “The suggestions follow each person’s we are creating a strong, connected, academic
needs and habits, based on the previous use of the network,” says Luisa de Moura Chaves, senior
Moovit app,” explains Tavela. “The plan is to keep business development manager at PTV. “We
expanding local partnerships, so more users can support professors, researchers and students
benefit from a smart and frictionless commute.” studying ITS solutions to improve mobility. Their
projects include, among others, prioritisation of
Upgrading traffic management pedestrians using intelligent signal controllers, use
For those stuck in gridlock in private cars, of driving simulators to predict driving behaviour
however, knowing the live location of local to improve safety, studies in demand-responsive
bus services if of little use or comfort. transit, autonomous vehicles, and big data.”
While city managers would prefer drivers PTV is also preparing the next generation of
In 2021 to leave their cars at home, they are not transportation professionals via a competition.
a court abandoning traffic management, with “The champion of our 2nd Academic Competition
agreement between significant investments being made in ITS.
“Brazil’s market is evolving in urban and
in Vissim of Latin America was from Brazil,” says
Chaves. “The project, presented by the University
the city government interurban areas, where we are implementing of Santa Catarina, uses microsimulation to solve
and transport technology to improve mobility,” says Carlos road-rail conflict in the southern city of Joinville.”
concessionaires Wiedmaier, Kapsch’s vice president of Ultimately the mobility solutions for Rio and
resulted in changes solution consulting for Latin America “For Brazil’s other large cities as they attempt to cater
to the regulations example, 10 Brazilian cities are integrating
ITS field equipment into our EcoTrafix urban
for growing populations in the 21st century will
be multimodal. The aim must be to maximise
of the public traffic control platform for purposes such as fluidity, comfort, order and safety for pedestrians,
transport sector traffic optimisation and road monitoring. cyclists, passengers and drivers alike, with the
Maína Celidonio, transport “In interurban areas we are currently aim of guaranteeing safe coexistence between
secretary, City of Rio de Janeiro implementing solutions such as a tunnel all kinds of transportation in urban spaces. n

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PRODUCTS & SERVICES
On the following pages you'll find information from leading companies who are delivering smart mobility
solutions for 2024. It's your directory to the technology that will help to build better networks
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088-095 Infrastructure 132-135 Parking

096-121 Traffic Management 136-155 Smart Mobility
122-131 Safety

INFRASTRUCTURE SIGNAGE |
Modern mapping adjustments in the outdoor environment.

IPSm is highly suitable for maintenance
processes and insight and is easily
integrated with placement services via
the mobile version of IPSm.
Inspection reports: The digital
A new asset management tool contains a digital map of all legal and inspection of signs have cost-saving
law-related signs and beacons throughout the Netherlands benefits. Damage and misalignments can
be detected, making it easy to have the
Words | Aliaksandra Pirazhenka, brand manager innovations, HR Groep Streetcare, The Netherlands maintenance plan and budget to get signs
T
in order. The traffic report is based on
he world of traffic is changing Above: The and associated information in the BABW regulations/CROW
rapidly, with road industry digitalization of Netherlands. The company has digitally specifications. Users of the platform can
customers increasingly public space mapped signs in the country into the immediately use the inspection report
demanding digital and traffic sign database. The location of as a delivery file.
sustainable asset management, smart these signs and related information are Sustainability: There are often too
management and maintenance of public visible through the IPSm platform. HR many signs in a specific area, so reducing
objects. The ideal public space is a safe Groep Steetcare offers IPSm as a license the number of signs contributes to both
and comfortable environment that can or bundled with inventory, inspection, sustainability and safety. With digital
be managed sustainably in a cost- maintenance and management. The tool analyses, it is possible to detect
efficient way. HR Groep Steetcare helps road managers follow EU redundant boards so that they can be
designed its Intelligent Public Space regulations such as RTTI, ISA and Data recycled or reused.
management (IPSm) tool to help road Top 15. This way, they save costs and Intelligent speed assistance: As of
authorities optimise sustainability, achieve sustainability objectives. January 1, 2025, road authorities must
remediation, cost-efficiency, traffic supply crucial data and comply with
safety and sensory solutions, and to Key applications of IPSm intelligent speed assistance (ISA)
‘bridge the gap’ between steel and digital. Management: The IPSm tool provides regulations. By 2023, 90% of traffic sign
Through IPSm, HR Groep Steetcare has insights into the location of RVV and data should be in order. IPSm helps
an up-to-date digital overview of all RVV RVV-related signs and detailed authorities comply with the impending
(Reglement Verkeersregels en information via the sign passport. It is legal regulations. Users receive a
Verkeerstekens) and RVV-related signs possible to record and manage ready-made report for crucial data and

| INFRASTRUCTURE
any traffic advice. This can then be (zone) signs and other relevant signs such
submitted directly to the ministry as priority signs. After installation, the
(NDW) or can be submitted via HR sign is registered in IPSm, and a
Groep Streetcare. notification is sent to the national road
Geofencing: The tool provides sign database. Within the database,
detailed data on environmental zones navigation providers can use the data for
and school zones, to enable authorities to smart mobility purposes.
properly implement road safety measures After the inventory, HR Groep
and ensure quality of life. Data includes Streetcare installed 4,400 new signs and
locations, window times, diversions, and removed 850 signs. The company reused
environmental and logistics signage. most of the signs in the municipality of
Users receive personalised data to meet Amsterdam or for other projects. Other
specific mobility challenges. signs will be refurbished or recycled.
IPSm is unique in the Netherlands.
HR Groep Streetcare can provide insight ISA requirements
into the current signage area per zone/ Before July 2024, new cars in Europe
per client. The IPSm tool can digitally must be equipped with intelligent speed
detect signs that are no longer relevant so assistance (ISA). ISA is a tool that
that those signs can be removed and ensures that the driver does not –
reused. Many municipalities, such as unknowingly – exceed the applicable
Amsterdam, Den Bosch, Groningen, speed limit. Den Bosch has become the
Tilburg, Heerlen, and Apeldoorn, already first municipality to be ISA-proof, thanks
use IPSm services. Using QR codes on to IPSm traffic sign data.
the back of the signs, information about Research shows that image
the sign, including support design data, traffic and, above all, the most cyclists in Above: IPSm recognition of signs does not always
ECI (environmental cost indicator) the country. The reduction in the app showing a work. That is why the ISA system works
impact and reuse, is registered. Then, maximum speed also makes traffic in screenshot of the with the help of traffic sign data. The
HR Groep Streetcare records the capital quieter, according to selected area system gets confused when signs are
the exact location of these the municipality. The board Below: A missing (for example, an end 30km zone
signs. If a sign is also assumes that the project with the sign). The technology also does not see
Municipality
damaged, the sign can measure will somewhat of Amsterdam
that, for example, a residential yard sign
4,400
be replaced discourage car use. saw speed limits is, in fact, also a speed sign. These
immediately and The municipality reduced to 30km/h, conflicts can be mapped in IPSm.
safely, in a targeted of Amsterdam from 50km/h Based on the ISA-relevant data from
manner and without The number of new enlisted the help of the IPSm dashboard, an analysis could
unnecessary driving. HR Group Streetcare be made of the bottlenecks, and thus,
All maintenance
30km/h signs in to make an inventory gaps could be uncovered. The
activities are recorded Amsterdam of the current sign area municipality then started working on
through the IPSm app, and subsequently install the advice of HR Groep Streetcare about
where policymakers and the new signs. Using IPSm the signage.
public organisations can see traffic sign data, the company The objective was to comply with ISA
all signs visualised on the map. made a selection of all 50km, 30km regulations by October 2023, and this
Changes can be made directly on the was achieved. Many municipalities are
platform via a QR code or manually. The still waiting. They want help from the
company also provides road managers government to comply with ISA because
with added peace of mind by transferring the desire for digitalisation comes from
the necessary data to the NDW platform. their side. HR Groep Streetcare thinks
that municipalities should look at this
Amsterdam differently and should take responsibility
The municipality of Amsterdam has for road safety in their region. ISA will
recently replaced 50km/h signs with help with road safety. IPSm helps to
30km/h signs on approximately 500 support additional road safety by making
roads. Reducing the speed limit in an explicit situations visible and having an
area from 50km/h to 30km/h can yield a up-to-date digital overview.
significant safety gain. Internationally, HR Groep Streetcare
The greater the decrease in actual offers a collection of images made with
driving speed, the greater the safety 150-megapixel cameras, which can be
effect. In a study in the early 1990s, when placed on vehicles. From the images, the
the introduction of 30km/h zones took company generates attributes and
shape on a larger scale, an average presents object data in the IPSm
decrease of 22% in the number of platform. Linking with other platforms is
injury-causing crashes was found. possible. The company’s domain
It is logical that Amsterdam is the knowledge helps to get projects moving
first municipality in the Netherlands to quickly and to deliver quality in time,
take this step, as the city has the most based on applicable regulations. ■

INFRASTRUCTURE RETROREFLECTIVE MATERIALS |
Safety in visibility
Highly visible retroreflective road marking technology reduces
the risk of driving in dark and wet conditions
Words | Gernot Sauter, senior regulatory affairs specialist,
3M Commercial Branding and Transportation Division, EMEA, Belgium
T
he world is slowly recovering Above: Profiled mobility mix has increased in many intelligent-speed-adaptation, work
from the global Coronavirus pavement marking Member States, the trend in the number properly, road markings and traffic signs
pandemic and the related tape for enhanced of cyclists killed on EU roads poses a must be designed and maintained at
nighttime visibility
societal and economic serious problem. This is the only group good performance levels. By improving
during wet and rainy
consequences such as lockdowns, conditions of road users where there has been no the performance levels of the road
disrupted supply chains and inflation. significant decline in the number of infrastructure, ADAS will become more
In terms of mobility, we saw accident victims in the last 10 years - reliable. Drivers will also have greater
reductions in road traffic volume of up mainly due to the still poorly developed levels of visibility and higher
to 75% during the Covid-19 lockdown infrastructure. For example, preliminary pre-warning times to safely maneuver
in 2020, and roughly a 30% overall figures from France for 2022 show that their vehicle.
reduction in 2021. Even in the first half the number of fatal cycling accidents has
of 2023, Germany saw a 9% decrease in increased by 30% compared to 2019.”2 Retroreflective technology
traffic on motorways compared to Further, the European Traffic Safety and road safety
pre-pandemic levels. Council ETSC revealed in its most recent In France, crash data studies have been
Unfortunately, road safety figures are report on Road Safety Performance that carried out over the past 12 years.
not reflective of these changes. there were 20,678 deaths on EU roads in Adjusted for the average traffic density in
According to the German federal 2022, a collective increase of 4% France (90% of traffic occurs during the
highway research institute BASt, fatality compared to 2021. It says that to reach day), the statistical analysis shows that
rates (the number of people killed in road the 2030 EU target, road deaths should the risk of being involved in an injury-
traffic accidents in relation to the decrease by 6.1% on average in each year causing crash is 3.5 times higher at night.
mileage of motor vehicles) increased in of the 11 years between 2019 and 2030.3 The risk of a fatal crash is six times
2022 compared to 2021, despite As part of its drive to achieve greater higher at night, compared to driving in
significantly less overall traffic.1 road safety and support the EU target to the daylight. On rainy nights, these
Regarding vulnerable road users like halve the number of road deaths by 2030 numbers increase to 7.7 times and 10
pedestrians and cyclists, the road safety (based the 2019 level), more and more times respectively.4
data is even more alarming. A February ADAS (advanced driver assistance Increasing the visibility of pavement
2023 press release from the European systems) are mandated for new cars. markings, especially in dark or rainy and
Commission states: “While it is very However, to make ADAS, such as wet conditions, has been proven to
welcome that the share of cycling in the lane-departure-warning and reduce crashes.5 3M is dedicated to

| INFRASTRUCTURE
improving road safety and (volatile organic compounds). Even the

transportation infrastructure so that adhesive used on the backside of
road users can arrive at their destinations reflective sheeting for traffic signs is
safely. 3M’s all weather retroreflective coated in a solvent-free operation. 3M’s
road marking technology is one example innovative production processes bring
of its innovative systems. environmental benefits. In comparison
Retroreflective markings with to glass bead retroreflective sheeting, the
proprietary 2.4 index optics provide company’s microprismatic reflective
continuous retroreflectivity and visibility sheeting is produced with significantly
during wetness and rain at night. The lower energy consumption, without the
high-profile diamond pattern of 3M’s use of aluminium and solvents.
pre-formed tape ensures maximum 3M’s high-performance products also
retroreflectivity in rainy conditions. Pre- offer opportunities for road operators to
formed tape offers fast application and is improve their environmental impact.
tougher, brighter and longer lasting than One example is the Diamond Grade DG³
conventional road marking materials. A full-cube retroreflective sign sheeting,
selection of application methods such as which makes external sign lighting Above: The in-lay materials combine with innovative
in-lay, primer or bitumen offer tailor- obsolete. A case study in Abu Dhabi in application of systems and services to develop the safest
preformed tapes
made options for various road surfaces the UAE demonstrated that overhead and best roadways systems.
on new asphalt
and environmental conditions. guide signs manufactured with Diamond means roads can be 3M’s retroreflective technology has
In 2015, the US Federal Highway Grade DG³ sheeting provide excellent opened for traffic raised the bar on visibility and durability
Authority conducted a rigorous, nighttime visibility without the need for quickly in road traffic signage for the modern
before-and-after evaluation of wet external sign lighting, saving both world. As it continuously improves its
retroreflective markings used in energy and maintenance.8 products, it will evolve with changing
Minnesota, North Carolina and Durable pavement marking tape modern technology to help keep roads
Wisconsin to develop recommended also offers significant sustainability safe, day or night. 3M’s high-
50%
crash modification factors (CMF). The advantages. 3M’s Stamark 380 performance retroreflective
recommended CMF for crashes with tapes have proven durability of sheeting can help efficiently and
injuries on multi-lane roads is 0.595 and 6-10 years, depending on traffic effectively improve traffic safety
on expressways is 0.881, suggesting a volume. This often eliminates by serving more drivers. ■
40% and 12% reduction respectively in the need for marking renewal
The reduction in wet
these types of crashes after implementing during the life of the asphalt, night fatalities with wet To find out more about 3M road-
wet retroreflective pavement markings.5 while conventional markings weather pavement marking technology, sign up for
Likewise, a 2018-2019 study by Texas need to be replaced in one or markings its on-demand webinar series at
A&M Transportation Institute evaluated two-year cycles. On top of engage.3m.com/en_pm_expand_
the effectiveness of wet-weather savings in material, transport and discover
pavement markings in TxDOT’s Atlanta labour, there are additional benefits
District. They looked specifically at for road users such as less frequent References:
rainy, night crashes on approximately traffic jams and reduced risk of accidents (1) Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen BASt:
630 miles of roadway where wet-weather during re-marking operations. Voraussichtliche Entwicklung von
pavement markings were installed. The Unfallanzahlen und Jahresfahrleistungen
study found implementing wet weather Save travels Below: Durability in Deutschland, Ergebnisse 2022
pavement markings on those roads For more than 80 years, 3M has been for the life of the (2) EU press release 21st Feb 2023: Road
asphalt with 3M
reduced wet night crashes by about 30% dedicated to improving transportation Stamark High
safety in the EU: More traffic deaths on
and wet night fatalities by about 50%.6 infrastructure and mobility so motorists Performance Europe’s roads again after the pandemic
can arrive at their destinations safely. Pavement Marking (3) European Traffic Safety Council ETSC :
Sustainability goals The company’s high-performance tapes series 380 RANKING EU PROGRESS ON ROAD
The European Green Deal will transform SAFETY - 17th Road Safety Performance
the EU into a modern, resource-efficient Index Report - June 2023
and competitive economy, with the target (4) Data collected from BAAC (French road
of zero net emissions of greenhouse gases traffic database, government open data)
by 2050. The transportation (5) US DOT Federal Highway Administration,
infrastructure segment will have to Safety Evaluation of Wet-Reflective
contribute, and the revision of the Pavement Markings, Dec. 2015, FHWA-
Construction Product Regulation (CPR) HRT-15-083
will introduce measures to quantify the (6) Park, ES., Carlson, P., Pike, A., “Safety
environmental impact. Effects of Wet-Weather Pavement
3M, as global corporation, has Markings.” Transportation Research
ambitious sustainability goals that are Board 2019 Annual Meeting, Available
specific to product design and from: https://trid.trb.org/view/1572259
manufacturing, and often go beyond (7) 3M Global Impact Report 2023
EU targets.7 (8) Gernot Sauter, Khaled Jabbar (3M
The Transportation Safety division of Company), Nighttime Visibility of
3M has almost fully moved away from Overhead Signs in Abu Dhabi, IRF World
manufacturing processes that use VOC Meeting & Exhibition, Dubai, 2021

INFRASTRUCTURE ROAD MARKINGS |
Pioneering safety,
marking the future
From a simple idea to a fundamental road safety tool, road markings continue to
play a pivotal role in ensuring safer and smarter roads around the world
Words | Henrik Bøgesvang Basse, business development director, Geveko Markings Group
T
he invention of road markings the industry’s history in general. As horizontal markings. Even today, these
Above: Made of
can be traced back to a humble Geveko Markings’ Geveko Markings celebrates its markings are the primary source for
incident – a leaky milk wagon PlastiRoute centennial, the company is reflecting on guiding traffic.
leaving a trail down the street. Rollplast, this red road markings’ ever-growing A good example is advanced driver
The story goes that this mishap served as cycle lane lightens significance. assistance systems (ADAS), which have
inspiration for Edward N. Hines at the up the streets of assumed a central role in contemporary
Frankfurt, Germany.
dawn of the 20th century. It was this It is a good example
Markings that are future-proof vehicles - a role that is only looking to
everyday occurrence that sparked the of a micromobility To most people, road markings may seem expand further in the future. For ADAS
idea of painting a line down the centre of measure that makes like unassuming lines and symbols on to perform optimally, relies on clear,
a road to separate traffic moving in a big difference our roads. But that is not how Geveko highly visible road markings. This puts
opposing directions. This seemingly in terms of traffic Markings sees see it. The company sees great demand on the marking material
safety supplied today, which should be tried,
simple concept has since emerged as one the bigger picture, where markings
of the most fundamental traffic safety guide, protect people, and increase tested, and certified so that it is
innovations in history. safety in traffic. guaranteed to live up to national
Not many years after the concept of For the past 100 years, Geveko regulations and performance standards.
road markings was first introduced, Markings has put its passion into helping
Gunnar Bergendahl founded the people around the world get safely to Moving ahead with
company known today as ‘Geveko where they need to be. Although the micromobility
Markings’. From small beginnings in landscape of technology and daily life Aside from the evolution of technology,
Gothenburg, Sweden in 1924, many has undergone huge transformations the way, or rather where, we choose to
chapters have been added to the since the first simple line was painted on live is also changing. As urbanisation
company’s story, but more importantly to the road, road users still rely on continues to surge, cities worldwide are

| INFRASTRUCTURE
implementation of well-defined spaces themselves with real-world scenarios in

and dedicated lanes promoting complete safety, before having to face
micromobility, and it is well-documented real traffic.
that horizontal markings play a pivotal The next step is of course to make
role in ensuring the feeling of safety sure that real streets are safe for them to
among vulnerable road users. cycle on. To accommodate this, school
streets are being implemented in more
The horizontal potential and more places. In London, UK more
Research conducted by the Swedish than 383 school streets were
research institute RISE underscores this implemented by 2021. With some schools
argument. According to the researchers reporting over 50% fewer children
studies, cyclists tend to focus a lot of arriving by car, it has become a key part
their attention on the road surface – 48% of the city’s strategy to reduce congestion
to be precise.1 This means that when and create better areas. Another example
symbols, signs, and guiding markings is from the city of Odense, Denmark,
are placed on the roads as horizontal where the local municipality has
65%
markings, they are more likely to be replaced on-street parking with
noticed by cyclists. play equipment, traffic
Dedicated micromobility calming, and colourful road
infrastructure including markings, outside certain
coloured areas, clearly marked
The percentage of schools, and now sees four
routes, and guidance symbols is non-cyclists who would out of five children cycle,
therefore the most effective way consider taking up walk, or scoot. Local
of separating micromobility cycling if there were politicians boast that it has
users from larger vehicles on the made them the most child-
roads. This clear separation defined cycle lanes friendly city in Denmark.4
provides an increased feeling of
safety – something that is crucial if we The journey continues
want to encourage more people to choose There is no doubt that road markings
the bike over the car. have come a long way since their
Cycling Industries Europe (CIE) inception in the early 1900s. As the
reveals that the feeling of safety is in fact above examples show, they have evolved
the most significant barrier to cycling, from basic functional aids to
with 70% of respondents stating sophisticated, safety-enhancing tools
that unsafe roads keep non- that cater to the demands of modern
cyclists from taking up transportation systems.
cycling. In contrast, 65% Therefore, when Geveko Markings
of non-cyclists talks about being passionate about road
expressed interest in Left: Ensuring markings, it is not just about the lines on
cycling if there were safety for the future the road. It is a passion for future-
protected cycle generations: The proving traffic with ADAS. A passion for
right markings help
lanes, emphasising sustainable development with
children feel safer
the importance of when taking their micromobility. A passion for children’s
facing a pressing dedicated bike to school safety with traffic playgrounds. Geveko
need to adapt and micromobility Markings is confident that the journey of
update their infrastructure.2 road markings continues at full speed,
infrastructure to promising a future where safety,
accommodate the Starting small is efficiency, and sustainability remain in
increasing amount of the way forward the front seat. ■
traffic in city centres. Another way of ensuring the future
One solution is to get more people to generation of cyclists is by encouraging References:
switch from cars to smaller, more eco- children to take up cycling from an early 1. Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), 2019:
friendly means of transportation – often age. By doing so, we create a habit that ‘‘Model for measuring the distribution of
referred to as micromobility vehicles. will benefit us throughout our lives. Yet, vulnerable road users’ attention as a function
This includes bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, over the years, there has been a of the design and standard of traffic
and other human-powered or lightweight significant decline in the number of infrastructure’.
modes of transport. children cycling to school.3 To reverse 2. CIE Consumer Research 2023, 8,319
However, for these types of vehicles to this trend, one effective approach is the respondents from eight countries.
become reliable alternatives to creation of bicycle playgrounds as they 3. McDonald, N.C., 2012, Children and cycling,
traditional transportation, people must can help any inexperienced cyclist get a p235-257 in Cycling City, Pucher, J. and
feel safe driving them – and just as safe, fun, and engaging start on their Buehler, R. 2012, City cycling, MIT, Cambridge,
importantly, other vulnerable road users cycling lives. MA.
including pedestrians should feel safe By using scaled-down versions of 4. Guthold, R., et al. (2019) Global trends in
sharing the streets with these vehicles. well-known facilities for pedestrians and insufficient physical activity among
The key to achieving this lies in the cyclists, children are able to familiarise adolescents, The Lancet

INFRASTRUCTURE SIGNAGE |
Life-saving signs
Energy- and cost-efficient variable
message signs from Triplesign swiftly
adapt to real-time traffic dynamics,
updating within three seconds to provide
timely and accurate information
Words | Triplesign System, Sweden
V
ariable message sign (VMS) Above: Highway the need for cable excavations (and Fast updates in changing
solutions are used worldwide re-direction ahead subsequent CO2 emissions) while traffic environments
to improve traffic flow and of large bridge in allowing for precise installation at In today’s traffic environment, an
Sweden
increase traffic safety. They optimal locations. increasing amount of information is
can be used to caution drivers about Below: Traffic flow/ “Cabling and connectors are the main generated via sensors. Triplesign’s
direction in Poland
hazardous weather conditions, cause of disruptions for traffic prismatic VMS can be integrated with
flooded or slippery roads, heavy traffic authorities worldwide. With our Solar various existing systems. The company’s
congestion, wildlife, or unattended VMS solution, no cabling is required for intelligent signs can also in turn be
railway crossings. Alternatively, they can the signs, which in turn minimizes equipped with sensors that collect data
also enhance road flexibility by allowing maintenance costs. Our VMS signs can on temperature, humidity, current traffic
alterations in traffic direction, speed also increase safety, prevent accidents, flow, etc. For example, if dangerous flood
limits, or road use. and ultimately save more lives. Imagine levels occur, Triplesign’s VMS can be
Currently, the most widely used VMS signs that are activated when the train updated with flood warning messages in
system is based on energy-intensive arrives at unguarded railway crossings. less than three seconds.
LED technology. The VMS solutions Reliable and at reasonable costs,” “The power consumption to display
from Triplesign System – a Swedish explains Hans-Ivar Olsson, CEO of traffic messages is zero as reflective
family-owned company – consumes Triplesign System, which exports its sheeting is used to display the message.
significantly less power than the LED innovative VMS signs to some 40 The energy consumption including
solutions, and is also more cost-effective, countries around the world. communication is as low as 1Wh, which
reliable, and robust compared to the corresponds to a fraction of the energy
electronically powered VMS. consumption of an LED VMS.
Opting for a Triplesign VMS instead “This gives our VMS a clear
of an LED VMS could lead to savings competitive advantage over electronic
of up to €60,000 per sign over a 25-year signage systems, which are both
lifespan. How? significantly more energy-intensive and
The system operates at an incredibly more sensitive to external influences,
low power consumption of only 1Wh, such as harsh climatic conditions,”
regardless of the sign’s size. This comments Olsson.
efficiency allows the signs to be powered
by solar energy, utilizing a small solar Exceptional product lifetime
panel and battery seamlessly integrated Triplesign’s VMS systems are robust and
into the sign’s frame. Additionally, reliable. They are engineered for
wireless communication capabilities enduring performance in challenging
enable cable-free operation, eliminating climates like extreme heat, strong winds,

| INFRASTRUCTURE
or extreme cold. A Triplesign boasts an Sustainable traffic solution

impressive lifetime, with a minimum life “Information from prismatic VMS
expectancy of 20 years and minimal contributes to lower environmental
maintenance requirements. Moreover, impact through fewer accidents and
employing a straightforward patented more efficient traffic flows. Since
method to replace active components can Tripelsign’s VMS is the most energy
further extend the system’s service life efficient, is the easiest to install, requires
for an additional 20 years. the least maintenance and has the longest
“We are continuously developing our product lifetime, it is the most
world-leading technology. We are sustainable product in all aspects,”
currently developing traffic signs that are comments Olsson. presented an ideal option that was not
Above: A solar-
even more energy-efficient than their “The affordability of both signs and powered variable
only cost-effective but also had a
predecessors, which means that the sign’s installation combined with a speed sign installed
minimal CO2 footprint. While many
in Belgium
energy supply can be managed using straightforward installation process, clients typically request LED VMS, this
solar panel foil that is integrated in the provides the opportunity to deploy customer chose the more sustainable
sign frame,” explains Olsson. additional signs with traffic safety Triplesign VMS.
Since Triplesign’s VMS do not require information exactly where they are The installed signs operate based
a stationary power supply, which in turn needed. This initiative aims to on a programmed annual
requires costly wiring, the installation establish a secure traffic calendar, changing the sign face
0.14Wh
cost is up to 90% lower compared to environment, ultimately at specific hours and designated
other traffic sign systems on the market. saving more lives,” he adds. days of the week. Beyond
Due to a short and efficient installation being fully autonomous, these
time with limited impact on traffic flow, Recent use cases The power consumption signs offer superior visibility
a new Triplesign VMS can be up and In Belgium, the local of Triplesign’s new with an extensive viewing
running within a few hours. The government opted to VMS solution, which is angle compared to LED VMS,
innovative solar and battery solution implement temporary speed which has a limited viewing
means that a Triplesign is immune to limitations during rush hours due to launch in 2024 range. Opting for this
power outages. The low power in specific areas to enhance sustainable solution involves a
consumption also minimizes the cost traffic safety. The client sought a modest investment that can result
of running the sign. sustainable solution, and Triplesign in saving numerous lives. ■
ST
Ensuring Road Safety 01AN
.5 D N
19 O
through sustainable solutions .
r
o we
P -Down to 0,14W-
lar
So
-IOT Ready-
-Durable-
-TRS Compliant-
-Manitenance free-
On/Off application
With an affordable and
autonomous Triplesign
VMS, you can implement
more warning points,
exactly where needed!
www.triplesign.com - info@triplesign.com - +46 8 626 7350
095
1078491_ITW_Triple Sign System AB.indd 1 13/10/2023 11:34
Annual Showcase 2024 | Intertraffic World
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE |
Seamless operations
An innovative SaaS solution supports contractors throughout a project’s lifecycle, while
establishing a transparent and cooperative environment between contractors and clients
Words | Andreas Gkikas, president & CEO, Periallos Software Solutions (PSS), Greece
C
ontractors worldwide Above: A fleet the calculation of overhead costs, acumen, leads to costly misjudgements.
encounter a range of challenges of line-marking particularly when operations are Despite their eagerness to learn, the lack
and obstacles in their daily vehicles equipped conducted remotely for extended of specific guidance forces them to turn
operations and project with Highway periods, which can lead to outdated to online forums for advice, where they
management. In Europe, particularly Software for equipment maintenance practices. often find only generic information.
enhanced project
during economic downturns, companies management
A significant challenge for many
struggle with securing new tenders and companies lies in effectively monitoring A software solution
managing cash flow, all while keeping client satisfaction and the corresponding The inception of Highway Software
their businesses, workforce, and payment processes for completed work. was driven by the ambition to devise
equipment in optimal condition. Additionally, disseminating detailed a comprehensive solution capable
For those involved in road information among the workforce of addressing these challenges.
construction activities, such as line remains a hurdle. This software was developed with a
3
marking or asphalt maintenance, Securing tenders is difficult in dual purpose: to guide new professionals
working remotely from their itself, but crafting a competitive in the highway construction sector,
headquarters often leads to and accurate project bid is even whether they are independent operators
communication barriers. This The number of more challenging, especially or part of larger entities, and to bolster
can cause delays in relaying vital components that when tenders require existing companies of any size by
information between the head assurances of quality. addressing ongoing challenges and
make up the Highway
office and field operations, Increasingly, authorities enhancing various aspects of their
resulting in delayed timesheet Software system demand participants to operations, including daily management,
processing and subsequent payment substantiate and detail their work work quality, and client relationships.
issues, which can frustrate staff. methods to ensure quality standards. This vision materialised into the
Managers frequently grapple with the Newer companies often struggle to creation of a versatile three-way Software
complexities of material and stock identify the most suitable materials and as-a-Service (SaaS) system. The software
management, as well as with accurately suppliers for their projects. The influx of integrates seamlessly across different
determining the total cost of long- new professionals in the construction operational spheres: the company’s main
duration projects. Equally challenging is industry, often lacking in business office via cloud-based desktop software,

| TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
the on-site workforce through a streamlining project planning, Top: A worker Upon completion of work, detailed
spreads asphalt,
dedicated mobile application, and the enabling precise calculation of daily while Highway
daily work reports (Day Work Details)
clients, who have access to both desktop project costs, and facilitating effective Software are generated and sent to the project
and mobile app interfaces. management of machinery and streamlines project manager. These reports include
A key feature of this system is the equipment. It also focuses on tracking and comprehensive data on completed work,
Highway Community, a platform that enhancing client relations and coordination in the material usage, equipment utilisation,
background
empowers all users, regardless of their promoting staff development. daily expenses, personnel timesheets,
company affiliation, to engage and The system offers two distinct Above: As road and visual documentation. This
workers apply
communicate directly within the software approaches for project cost estimation, information is then automatically
new line markings,
environment, fostering a collaborative aiding companies in managing staff Highway Software integrated into the project folder,
and interconnected community. payments, ordering materials, and captures and along with maintenance schedules,
calculating overall company expenses. It organises every stock levels, and personnel calendars.
The best working environment also serves as a secure platform for stripe for quality Highway Software excels in providing
Highway Software is an innovative three- disseminating health and safety control and client detailed reports tailored to individual
reporting
way SaaS system, encompassing the core regulations and company procedure projects, companies, personnel, and
Highway Software, the interactive forms to staff, with a built-in mechanism equipment, facilitating the creation of
Highway Community Agora, and the for tracking acknowledgment of these comprehensive profiles for companies,
Highway Community Lounge. communications. staff, and machinery.
Highway Software can accommodate Each project operates within its Beyond its operational capabilities,
an unlimited number of users from each own dedicated environment within Highway Software enriches the highway
company, with each having access to the system, where every aspect of the construction community by offering the
specific, pre-defined features. This project is monitored and controlled in Highway Community Lounge. This
ensures a secure environment, bolstered real-time. Users can generate work feature acts as a social media platform
by robust data protection measures. All orders that are automatically dispatched exclusive to software users, effectively
data within the system are fully encrypted. to relevant personnel through the mobile connecting the global community.
The primary goal of this software app, ensuring swift information flow Highway Software also offers the
is to optimise user experience by to the workforce. Highway Community Agora, a dynamic

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT |
marketplace that serves as a hub Above left: A gallery facilitating employment opportunities Highway Software’s Steady Speed
for various business activities. This within Highway and aiding in talent acquisition. Console (HS-SSC). This console
includes purchasing materials and Software showing effectively overrides the vehicle’s
photos and videos
machinery, trading used equipment,
of road markings
Innovative technology autopilot, allowing for controlled
and participating in auctions. The line marking sector, a notably movement at the required lower speeds.
Above centre:
Additionally, the Agora provides challenging domain within the highway Both the MSE and DPC are
Calendar interface
a platform for seeking and creating of Highway industry, faces stringent requirements innovative features with patents pending,
subcontracts, as well as accessing Software, with and a vast array of material options. reflecting the software’s commitment to
monitored tender opportunities. This a user-friendly To navigate this complexity, Highway advancing technology in the line
feature represents an invaluable resource design for selecting Software has introduced the Material marking industry.
for businesses looking to expand their work dates Search Engine (MSE), a cutting-edge Highway Software is a comprehensive
operations and streamline their Above right: feature designed to help users identify solution that is designed for the
procurement processes. Mobile interface of the most cost-effective and suitable highway industry, adeptly addressing
Highway Software,
In parallel, the software enhances showing current
materials for any given tender. every aspect of business management.
professional development and job projects and Furthermore, the software It brings peace of mind to owners, boosts
opportunities through the Highway displaying options incorporates the Daily Productivity the company’s operational capacity, and
Academy and a dedicated job portal. The for adding new Day Calculator (DPC), a tool that enables also simplifies the complexities of
Academy offers specialised training and Work Details both engineers in the office and machine project planning and management.
educational resources, fostering skill operators on-site to estimate the The software’s real-time functionality
development and career growth in the potential daily output of their machinery accelerates decision-making
highway construction sector. Meanwhile, for specific projects. This feature is processes and shortens payment
the job portal connects employers and complemented by the capability to adjust cycles, contributing to more efficient
job seekers within the industry, the Paint Speed (PS) through the business operations. ■

MARCH 2023 MAY 2023
EVENT SPECIAL!
SHOW SPECIAL!
MARCH 2023
Your indispensable guide to Not-to-be-missed expo
MAY 2023
all that’s happening in Texas highlights and insider tips
this April
TRAFFIC TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL

THE GAME
CHANGERS
MANAGING
MICROMOBILITY
Meet the women in transportation who are leading the industry The e-scooter and bicycle rental boom is creating new traffic management
and striving to improve diversity for the good of all and safety challenges – we uncover the innovative solutions
Published by MA Business Ltd
Pothole-free roads Signals of the future Russian ITS in crisis A fourth traffic light? Weigh-in-motion Automatic for the people
Novel road surfaces are bringing the The next generation of adapative As sanctions bite, a once-thriving The academics looking to harness the As Brazil approves direct enforcement, Connecticut DOT is enabling automated
promise of lower maintenance costs traffic control systems is upon us industry is in emergency mode power of CAVs to control intersections how close is the rest of the world? enforcement for the safety of its citizens
TrafficTechnologyToday.com TrafficTechnologyToday.com
TtCover_1_23(1)acd.indd 1 02/08/2023 16:25 TtCover_2_23(1)acd.indd 1 02/08/2023 16:26
SEPTEMBER 2023 DECEMBER 2023
AUTONOMOUS
VEHICLE SPECIAL! TOLLING SPECIAL
• FHWA’s new framework for
SEPTEMBER 2023
testing automated driving systems • How to benefit from third-party

DECEMBER 2023
service providers in tolling

• The world’s largest capacity
autonomous public bus service • Meeting the challenges of
implementing RUC in Europe
SATELLITE
TOLLING The challenges of implementing
pay-per-mile road user charging
with global positioning systems
SIXTH SENSE
The next-generation 6G cellular data network will enable not only
1TBps speeds, but also object sensing in the physical world
Tribal road safety Eric Sampson MBE Join the tolling party! TRB Annual Meeting Lidar for ITS Interview: Scott Belcher
How a Native American tribe is using As the industry legend retires we look IBTTA Annual Meet industry leaders who will be The latest developments and use The ITS stalwart is on a new mission to
ITS to gather vital traffic data back with him over his 30 year career Meeting special presented with awards in Washington cases for the laser-based sensors ensure autonomous vehicle safety
TrafficTechnologyToday.com TrafficTechnologyToday.com
TtCover_3_23(1)acd.indd 1 06/09/2023 14:10 TtCover_4_23.indd 1 06/12/2023 10:33
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TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ANPR CAMERAS |
Low cost ANPR

Carrida Technologies’ ANPR solutions, including software, smart traffic sensors and a new
and affordable camera with onboard data processing, can help cities tackle congestion and
better manage resources and space
Author: Jan-Erik Schmitt, CEO, Carrida Technologies, Germany
T
he average London driver lost
156 hours stuck in congestion
in 2022, according to the
INRIX 2022 Global Traffic
Scorecard. Chicago follows with 155
hours, and Paris in third with 138 hours.
Looking at Germany, drivers spend an
average of 41 hours a year trying to find
a parking space, according to the same
source. Let’s face it – this is way too
much wasted time.
We urgently need to find ways for
smarter traffic and parking management
to effectively reduce waste of time and
resources. Nevertheless, the importance
of individual mobility is enormous.
Achieving this balancing act requires
smart technologies and so-called
cooperative intelligent transportation
systems (C-ITS), which enable vehicles
to be networked with each other and
with the infrastructure. In addition, this
provides comprehensive traffic statistics
to be utilized in real time.
NPR data
Number plate recognition delivers the
perfect data for this. The use of time
stamps and anonymized license plate Above: All Carrida only small amounts of data need to be data security, public key authentication
data captured by NPR sensors, as well as devices feature the stored or transmitted. With a network for FTP actions and certificate-based
additional information, for example on powerful Carrida of such smart traffic sensors, travel authentication for HTTP data
software and
vehicle type, make and model, enable us time measurements for transmission are implemented.
utilize the same
to collect comprehensive data on the library, feature set individual vehicles can be
actual traffic situation. and programming performed between two Smart cities, tolls,
However, this procedure is subject to interface, whether or more sensors. parking, and
156
stringent data protection requirements. edge device, PC Especially for enforcement
They can be fulfilled when intelligent or server/cloud this, Carrida The possibilities
application
NPR cameras detect the license plates of supports MQTT and application
all passing vehicles and then encrypt the for publishing areas of NPR
sensitive information directly and reading results
The number of hours the technology and
immediately on the edge device, using a and images. The average London driver was intelligent
hashing process with a unique, protocol enables stuck in congestion in 2022 vehicle-to-vehicle
non-reversible identifier. This ensures connection to and vehicle-to-
Source: Inrix Global
that the data is stored and processed additional IoT infrastructure
Traffic Scorecard
completely anonymously. devices and communication
integration into solutions are not
Hashing and MQTT networks. A system for limited to the collection
Carrida has implemented a hashing path time measurement can of traffic statistics. NPR and
process in its NPR library from Carrida also be configured from several time-stamp recording can be used
version 4.8 onwards. The processing NPR sensors or the data can be to detect and process routes taken by
takes place directly on the smart sensor integrated into complex traffic individual vehicles, for example, for fully
running the Carrida software, so that infrastructure. To further improve automated calculation of a route toll or to

calculate average speed for law

enforcement applications.
Additionally, AI and big data
can be used to observe trends
and developments and to initiate
appropriate measures for traffic
planning and management.
Number plate recognition can
also be used to find, share, and
manage parking spaces, with
booking of a parking space for a
specific time and checking
whether the registered vehicle is
parked there, etc. Both NPR cameras can be configured
quickly and easily via web GUI or REST
Easy integration on any device API. Image capture, license plate
Carrida offers the NPR library as recognition and, for example, license
software for easy integration into any plate list management take place entirely
Above: The Carrida
stationary or mobile device. It can be on the camera.
Plate-i is an
implemented easily, quickly, and cost- extremely cost- The Plate-i costs from €389 for orders
effectively and supports all common effective ANPR of 1,000 units per year and including
camera types. It can be installed and ANPR cameras. They are aimed at OEM camera, priced a full-featured Carrida software license.
used on PCs running Windows or Linux partners and available ready-to-use or as from €389. It It enables standalone applications for
as well as on ARM-based devices and an electronics kit for individual designs. reads license plate parking management, access control
data onboard and
mobile devices running Linux and Two hardware versions are on offer: The thus requires no
with and without barriers, automatic gate
Android. The software recognizes license Carrida Dragon+, with high performance external PC for NPR openings, as well as for the management
plates from all countries worldwide. and image quality, that reads license processing and authentication at e-charging stations
plates at car speeds of up to 300km/h. and other on-street and off-street
Low-cost and ready to use And the new Carrida Plate-i, that has applications. The camera is designed to
Carrida also offers the software in been designed for NPR applications with capture license plates at a distance of one
combination with specially developed optimized cost structure. to seven meters. ■
IoT Applications for Smart Cities

Powered by technologies for number plate and vehicle recognition
Smart Parking Smart Traffic

Automate and manage parking facilities Control traffic flow to reduce congestion
more efficiently. and traffic volume.
Clean Air Zones Road Safety Management

Identify vehicles that do not fulfill emission Recognize and reduce risks on roads for
standards. increased safety.
Are you developing an IoT solution for smart cities?

www.carrida-technologies.com
101
1075513_ITW_Carrida Technologies GmbH.indd 1 07/11/2023 15:20
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ENFORCEMENT |
Saving lives
Multifunctional automated traffic enforcement systems
can influence driving behaviours and improve road safety
Words | Jean-Paul Baldacci, senior product manager, IDEMIA, France
T
here are currently almost Above: The ATES
and not respecting safe distancing have • Video surveillance coupled with
1.5 billion vehicles in the of tomorrow will also increased. image processing and AI for vehicle
world and over 250 million be a versatile and This has pushed governments classification and phone usage detection
of those are used on European adaptable solution around the globe to apply stricter • Dual infrared and white-triggered
roads. The impact of having so many that merges measures for the safety of drivers, flash illuminators
vehicles in circulation is clearly visible. cutting-edge passengers, pedestrians, two-wheelers The new generation of ATES must be
technologies
In 2022, 20,600 lives were lost in the and other road users through the able to take ultra sharp photographic
European Union alone, where the implementation of automated traffic evidence to capture license plates and
average driver (depending on the enforcement systems (ATES). These ensure clear in-cabin vision in all
country) is between 35 – 75% over systems are considered crucial to limit weather conditions at any time. They
the speed limit. Pedestrians, cyclists, road collisions and prevent traffic-related also need to cover multiple lanes at the
and motorcyclists are among the most deaths and injuries. same time and classify the different types
vulnerable and represent 70% of fatalities of vehicles.
and severe injuries on roads in Europe¹. Multifunctional solution
The increasingly complex road safety Addressing new challenges
The emergence of new landscape necessitates a combination The automated traffic enforcement
driving behaviours of technologies that work concurrently. systems of tomorrow, as envisioned by
One of the main contributing factors These include: IDEMIA, is a versatile and adaptable
of road accidents is speeding vehicles. • Doppler radar for precise and reliable solution that merges cutting-edge
However, in recent years, other speed measurement and tracking technologies. It addresses specific road
violations such as red-light running, • Lidar and video for short-range safety issues depending on the customer’s
stop-line crossing, forbidden turns detection and tracking needs and target markets.

IDEMIA’s MESTACompact Focus Zero tolerance

Edition is an all-in-one multi-violation IDEMIA’s mission is to make the world
solution. It combines the best available a safer place. Its range of Mesta solutions
technologies to meet and anticipate ever help create a more secure road
more dangerous road situations. The environment for all users, tying in
advanced capabilities of MESTACompact perfectly with the international Vision
Focus Edition help to keep all road users Zero strategy. Started in Sweden, the goal
safe regardless of traffic conditions, of this strategy is to achieve no
both today and in the future. This fatalities or severe injuries
solution contains GPU-based involving road traffic. All road
video tracking, an FMCW 3D collisions can be and must be
1.5bn
ultra-high-definition Doppler prevented through better
radar, and high-resolution driving behaviours.
cameras that are unrivalled on Today, thanks to is
the market (equivalent to The number of vehicles vision, Sweden has the lowest
a 50MP 4/3 sensor). rate of traffic fatalities in the
MESTACompact Focus
currently in use in world. Edmonton in Canada
Edition’s platform classifies up the world followed Sweden’s footsteps by
to 10 vehicles. It also detects adopting Vision Zero. In 2006,
speeding vehicles, red-light there were 8,246 people injured
running, stop bar crossing, forbidden and killed in collisions on the streets
trajectories at crossroads, not wearing of Edmonton. Despite the population
seatbelts/helmets, and phone usage. growth since then, by 2018, there
This compact solution is easy was a 60% decrease with 3,307 people
to install/mount and deploy. Its injured or killed. This decrease
unique dummy function allows the was largely due to Edmonton’s
interchangeable inner modules to implementation of ATES. ■
be easily moved from one location to
another. The automatic alignment of Reference
the inner modules means they can be https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/
activated in less than 30 minutes. detail/en/ip_23_953
MESTAcompact
MESTAcompact
Focus edition
Focus edition
IDEMIA’s latest high-end multi-functional traffic monitoring system
Simple tolatest
IDEMIA’s installhigh-end
and suitable for all environments
multi-functional traffic monitoring system
Simple to install and suitable for all environments
State-of-the-art performance with

incomparable resolution
State-of-the-art opticswith
performance
incomparable resolution optics
Monitor for multiple traffic offenses
Monitor for multiple traffic offenses
Compact, easy to deploy and maintain
Compact, easy to deploy and maintain
13,000+ traffic law 60% reduction in road

+50 years
enforcement systems fatalities with IDEMIA’s
of experience 13,000+ traffic law 60% reduction
+50 years delivered worldwide safety productsinsince
road2003*
enforcement systems fatalities with IDEMIA’s
*in France
of experience
delivered worldwide safety products since 2003*
103
1087168_ITW_Idemia.indd 1 *in France
08/12/2023 15:34
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT LIDAR |
The benefits of lidar

Data from a high performance lidar system can optimise traffic data collection,
weigh-in-motion and tolling applications
Words | Zhai Zhao, director of international business development, VanJee Technology, Beijing, China
F
or many years, lidar has proven
to be invaluable to the ITS
industry, providing critical data
and performing essential
functions, while saving costs, with
minimised disruption for installation
and maintenance. Lidar outputs high-
density point cloud data and realises
real-time scanning in complicated traffic
scenarios including data collection,
multi-lane free-flow (MLFF) systems,
weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems, toll
plazas and tunnels. Lidar has strong
detection capabilities to cover more than
four lanes and collect accurate vehicle
information in high-speed scenarios.
The VanJee lidar WLR-711 is a high-
performance mechanical lidar system.
The lidar has a high scanning frequency
of 100Hz, a 30m range (10% reflexibility),
±3cm ranging accuracy and IP68
protection class. The lidar has high
point density and small divergence to
achieve high digital image quality. Above: VanJee lidar been used in several countries around perform system triggering, vehicle
in a mutilane free
In the ITS industry, lidar performs the world, including Mexico, Brazil, counting and vehicle classification with
flow environment
important functions, including vehicle can carry out Thailand, Saudi Arabia and countries axle detection level.
classification for tolling, traffic data system triggering in Europe.
collection (vehicle counting, speed and and vehicle Automatic vehicle
vehicle types), dimension measurement classification, with Traffic data collection classification for tolling
(length, width, and height) and axle detection level Lidar WLR-711 collects different types of Toll road operators are losing millions of
triggering systems. VanJee lidar WLR- Below: Lidar 3D traffic data in high-speed scenarios. This dollars due to the mischarging of vehicles
711 has been used in many ITS systems point cloud data for
data includes traffic volume, vehicle and revenue leakage. VanJee lidar creates
vehicle types
including tolling systems, WIM sites and speed, vehicle classification, lane significant business benefits for toll road
tunnels to guarantee accurate vehicle occupancy, and time headway. This data operators by eliminating cheating
detection. The lidar has high is valuable for traffic research, behaviour and reducing manpower.
compatibility, which means it can maintenance planning, monitoring, This lidar system can achieve vehicle
easily be integrated with existing operation, infrastructure planning classification with a 99% accuracy rate
30m
systems. Additionally, VanJee and congestion measurement. using a machine learning algorithm,
lidar supports remote software Researchers and policy makers 3D vehicle profiles and key vehicle
commissioning and upgrading. use traffic data to study regional characteristics.
It is important to note that The range of the economic activities and logistic VanJee lidar can help toll operators to
lidar is a non-intrusive VanJee lidar activities. Furthermore, when calculate the correct tolling amount with
technology that does not infringe used in a muti-lane free flow lidar classification, vehicle class rate and
people’s privacy. VanJee lidar has WLR-711 (MLFF) system, VanJee lidar can mileage. VanJee uses local vehicle class

Vehicle dimension
detection in WIM
For WIM systems, VanJee lidar can
measure vehicle length, width and
height. The technology can provide high
standards to develop 3D vehicle models a between single and dual tyre vehicles. Above left: VanJee accuracy for dimensions measurement,
lidar is used in
database, including vans, SUV, sedans, VanJee can also integrate lidar with with width and height errors of less than
toll stations to
motorcycles, hatchbacks, and various automatic number plate recognition perform vehicle 10cm. VanJee lidar is used to regulate
type of trucks with different numbers of (ANPR) to make sure that no vehicle can classifications to oversized trucks, in order to prevent
axles. When a vehicle passes by the cheat the toll system. The lidar maintains calculate the toll fee tragic accidents as well as damage to
scanning area, lidar acquires a 3D profile the same high level of accuracy in both Above right: VanJee bridges and tunnels. It is an important
of the vehicle and captures key night-time and daytime, so tolling HSWIM lidar tool in assisting traffic agencies to
information including axle count and operators do not need to worry about a guarantee traffic safety and the safety
vehicle size and it can distinguish higher error rate at night. of public assets. ■
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1077000_ITW_VanJee Technology.indd 1 12/12/2023 11:42
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT DATA ANALYTICS |
Deeper than data

A comprehensive suite of mobility solutions can help transport authorities make informed
VIDEO
EXTRA
decisions based on data analytics and simulation

Words | Aimsun
W
hat is the value of data
analytics in the mobility
sector? Historical data is
usually the starting place
to find mobility recurrences and trends
in a transport network, but if you have
real-time data feeds, then you can go
much deeper. Real-time data processing
can help you understand the current
traffic situation, detect incidents, and
even predict how the traffic will evolve
in the future. The real magic happens,
however, when we combine historical
and real-time data analytics with
simulation: this combination helps
traffic managers understand how they
can intervene most effectively to keep
people moving and keep emissions
within thresholds.
As we live our lives and travel Above: Aimsun Live
interventions should be planned. change, it is probably due to a special
around, data about our movements model of traffic flow This is the focus of Aimsun Insight. event affecting the demand. If we add
comes flowing in from sensors, in Perth short-term prediction to the mix, we can
phones, enforcement cameras Below: Model of Aimsun Predict quickly determine whether that gradual
and connected devices. Paris If we use AI to complement the analysis change is going to become a problem
An unprecedented amount of data of historical data with real-time later, and - this is the important part -
is now generated every second, which processing of the same data, we will go we can prevent it from happening rather
presents immense potential for the beyond understanding the current traffic than solving it once it has occurred.
mobility sector. However, the raw situation (also known as ‘situational This is the focus of Aimsun Predict.
data only becomes valuable when awareness’) to being able to see if there
it is filtered, cleaned, systematised, is a problem that deserves immediate Aimsun Plus
and then intelligently leveraged to attention: if there is an abrupt change of Once we have identified a traffic
drive decision-making. conditions at a certain location, chances situation where we need to intervene, the
Aimsun offers a comprehensive are that an incident has occurred in the following question is, “What do we do?”
suite of five digital mobility solutions, vicinity; if there is a gradual or general This is known as “What if” analysis, i.e.,
launched in 2023, that can assist
transport authorities at different
levels along this process. This is
a walk through the ‘flow’ of the
path through the solutions, which
form an interconnected ecosystem
of AI and simulation technology.
Aimsun Insight
Artificial intelligence (AI) can analyse
several months of historical data from
different sources to identify patterns and
trends. This helps us to understand the
recurrent or ‘normal’ behaviour of
travellers on their habitual trips.
However, it can also spot recurring
problems in the transportation
infrastructure or mobility services,
and pinpoint where some mid-term

What if I divert traffic? What if I activate

a ramp meter? Choosing the best option
becomes easier if we know in advance
what impact each action will have
and which one is more effective.
“What if” analysis is the most
typical use case for a mobility model,
but it will be a struggle if you are
depending solely on AI, because
you are unlikely to have enough past
observations of exactly this type of
situation in this location to understand
all the necessary correlations.
If Aimsun Insight has helped you to
spot a recurring problem and you want
to solve it with a mid-term change in the
infrastructure or services, you can run
simulations of those situations to assess
the effect of different interventions and
therefore pick the one that performs the
best. This is the focus of Aimsun Plus.
Above: User
Aimsun Start Specification (GTFS) for the public interface showing
Aimsun Live
What if you don’t have any data? Not transport services, and then use it traffic congestion Finally, if you combine real-time big
a problem. There are still some decisions to assess the current accessibility data processing using AI with real-time
you can make by building a high-level of hospitals by public transport. simulation, you get a comprehensive
model based on open-source data. For This model would be fast and system that allows you to spot both
example, you could create a model economical to build, and able to show recurrent and unexpected problems,
using publicly available data like us how modifying routes or schedules and to find the best way to mitigate
OpenStreetMap (OSM) for the might improve accessibility. This is them. A true digital twin for the mobility
network and General Transit Feed the focus of Aimsun Start. system, which is called Aimsun Live. ■
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TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT BRIDGE MONITORING |
Why bridges need

our attention
Kistler Group’s weigh-in-motion and structural health monitoring technology can
help protect sensitive infrastructure, such as bridges, extending their service life
and, in a worst-case scenario, preventing their collapse
Words | Christoph Klauser, business development manager, traffic solutions, Kistler, Switzerland
B
ridges connect people. They Above: The Great an approximately 135-meter-long three- where heavy traffic is involved. The
promote mobility and enable a Belt Bridge span steel bridge over a forest ravine, strain experienced by the structure
rapid exchange of goods and in Denmark collapsed on 28 January 2022. increases exponentially as vehicles
is monitored
services. As part of vibrant Fortunately, no fatalities occurred, become heavier, with trucks and heavy
continuously
arterial routes crossing rivers, valleys, for structural although several vehicles, including a commercial vehicles in particular
buildings, or estuaries, they stimulate changes with the bus, were involved in the collapse. How causing excessive stress to roads and
enterprise and prosperity. aid of K-Beam can accidents of this nature be avoided, bridges. However, speed and weight
Since it became possible to calculate accelerometers and which technologies are available to restrictions unfortunately only have
bridges with increasing accuracy in the Below: WIM protect bridges more effectively? a limited effect as they are frequently
19th century and new materials also for traffic data not observed.
became available – beginning with cast acquisition and Observing weight limits A weigh-in-motion system is
preselection
iron and steel, then reinforced and of overloaded
with WIM particularly effective in ensuring
prestressed concretes – the number of vehicles, and Restrictions relating to velocity and compliance with regulations. In addition
bridges constructed increased all over Structural Health vehicle weight are frequently to measuring the overall weight of the
the world. It is evident today that many Monitoring of encountered on bridges, particularly vehicle, sensors integrated directly in the
of these have aged considerably. This is the bridge road surface also determine the real
partially due to their abundance, with extent of significant axle loads. This is
five-digit numbers existing in many achieved in moving traffic at normal
industrialized countries. It is also due to speeds (heavy traffic up to 120km/h,
the fact that, during the construction vans up to 140km/h) and in several lanes.
boom following the Second World War, The acquisition of weight-related
it was impossible to anticipate the vehicle data provides an accurate basis
enormity of traffic volumes in the 21st for calculating the actual load on the
century, volumes that continue to grow bridge and the remaining service life
in many places. (instead of estimates). Furthermore,
These conditions often lead to the overloaded vehicles that exceed the
collapse of bridges, despite regular permissible overall weight can be
inspections and repairs. The Fern prevented from crossing the bridge
Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh, USA, (so-called preselection). The collection

Older and smaller bridges can also be Above: Weigh-in- information on the actual condition of
protected with WIM systems. A solution motion solutions the structure. Further technologies
of this kind was used in Austria for a from Kistler, frequently associated with condition
including sensor
road traffic bridge spanning a very busy monitoring and structural health
technology, data
long-distance line operated by Austrian acquisition, a user monitoring (SHM) therefore play a
Federal Railways (ÖBB). Due to the interface and significant role. This involves the
presence of a sawmill nearby, the bridge software, protect installation of sensors at key positions on
had already been damaged by heavy bridges against the bridge to, for example, record
timber transports. KiTraffic Statistics overloading and vibrations or changes in the construction
provide accurate
helped to reliably detect trucks that were material. The quality of data is decisive
heavy traffic data
frequently massively overloaded and, in for reliable condition monitoring.
Below: Installation
cooperation with the authorities, of Lineas sensors
The entire measuring chain from
these were ordered to pay from Kistler for sensor to software must be examined in
a fee. Overloading of WIM: dynamic axle this respect to ensure that what is seen on
the bridge reduced load measurement the monitor is as accurate a
in moving traffic
226m
correspondingly representation as possible of what is
of fees is also within a short enables efficient currently happening on and, indeed, “in”
bridge protection
possible, period of time. the bridge. Regarding real-time
depending on monitoring, particular attention must be
domestic The height of the El Carrizo Structural paid to the achievement of high-quality
legislation in a bridge in Mexico – North health signal transmission and data acquisition.
particular America’s second-highest monitoring In addition to strain sensors and
country. Despite the accelerometers as individual
Finally, the
bridge – which is monitored usefulness of components, the Kistler Group also
WIM system can using a WIM system WIM systems in provides complete solutions from sensor
be combined with from Kistler providing modern to cloud. K-Beam accelerometers from
further sensors and bridge protection, they Kistler have been installed in the piers of
cameras to, for cannot provide any the Great Belt Bridge in Denmark, a
example, detect speed, the structure which has spanned the Great
condition of tires and vehicle Belt strait in the Baltic Sea since 1998.
dimensions, thus contributing to These compact sensors continually
increased road safety on the bridge. record changes in natural frequency that
could indicate a possible deterioration in
WIM for bridge protection the condition of the bridge.
KiTraffic series WIM systems from Turnkey systems consisting of sensor
Kistler are deployed for this reason on technology, the KiDAQ data acquisition
many bridges around the world, system and a customized software
collecting traffic data and ensuring dashboard are also increasingly
applicable rules are observed. A WIM employed. Solutions of this kind enable
system from Kistler has been monitoring authorities and bridge owners to monitor
the spectacular El Carrizo bridge in the condition of these structures
Mexico since summer 2018. vehicles are continuously and reliably, and they
preselected and prevented from crossing provide support when planning
the structure that, at 226m meters, is the everything from maintenance
second-highest bridge in North America. management to new constructions. ■

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CEO Q&A |
The road safety debate

Paul-Henri Renard, CEO of Parifex, discusses the key causes of fatal accidents in France and
looks at how innovative speed measurement and monitoring solutions can help save lives
Author: Parifex, France
H
ow urgent is the road Above: Parifex’s injuries” on the roads. We still have a lot become aware of the associated dangers.
safety issue in France? Nano-cam mobile of progress to make in our country. It is It is less present on motorways where the
The Cour des Comptes – the speed camera and therefore an urgent matter in France. speed limit is 130km/h.
country’s supreme audit data collection Driving under the influence of
system
institution – recognised that enormous What are the main causes of alcohol or drugs is the second most
progress has been made over the past few accidents on French roads? common cause of death on the roads,
decades in its report on public road More than 90% of accidents are the result after speeding. 43% of deaths occur in
safety policy in 2021. Indeed, we have of a malfunction linked to the user, accidents with at least one driver under
gone from more than 18,000 deaths on whether it is a human failure linked to the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is a
France’s roads in 1972 to less than 3,500 the complexity of the task or a deliberate scourge that is difficult to eradicate other
today. But the institution warns that the refusal to respect the rules. than through prevention measures and
results are stagnating. Excessive or inappropriate speed is driver awareness, because we do not
Since 2013, the number of deaths has the leading cause of fatal accidents. The currently have a similar technology like
stopped falling and France’s position in police identify this factor in one in three automatic speed control. This is
relation to its European neighbours has fatal traffic accidents. For this type of evidenced by the number of licence
deteriorated, falling from 7th to 14th accident, this speed factor occurs more points withdrawn in 2017. 70% of these
place in ten years. Some countries, such often than average on roads limited to were lost for speeding, compared with
as Sweden with its “Nollvisionen” Vision 70km/h, which probably reflects the 0.9% for drug use and 5.2% for driving
Zero project, are well ahead in achieving difficulty for drivers to perceive the under the influence of alcohol. Finally,
the goal of “zero deaths, zero serious specific nature of these sections and to driving a vehicle requires the driver to be

highly concentrated on the task in

hand to react as quickly as possible
3,500
The number of
and make the right decisions. In
France in 2021, “inattention or use deaths on France’s
of a telephone or technological roads in 2021, down
distractors” is identified as the from 18,000 in 1972
cause of accidents in 23% of cases.
Source: Cour des Comptes
What are the most
important safety measures
to take on the roads?
Given that 90% of accidents are
generated by a malfunction linked to the
user, it is essential to continue to improve
behaviour through awareness and
prevention operations. Of course, we can
continue to communicate on the dangers
of excessive speed, alcohol, or drugs at
the wheel. But this will not be enough.
The evolution of technologies and modes
of mobility generates new accident-prone
situations. There is, of course, the use of
telephones at the wheel, but also
multimedia screens in cars, which
provide new functionalities for drivers,
but which can also generate mental
overload in certain cases. As the HMI of
some vehicles is particularly complex
and overloaded, there is an urgent need
to simplify the landscape.
It is also essential to educate
drivers about the specificities of
the different means of mobility
and the measures that are taken
to facilitate their coexistence. I
am struck by the fact that few How does Parifex help Above: The running. This equipment operates non-
people really understand the to improve road safety? Parifex Nomad invasively, without the need to install
function of the cycle lane and Over the past 15 years, solution is capable loops or strips in the roadway of the
of monitoring
that many are unaware of the Parifex has delivered more intersection. The camera visually
both speed limit
penalty for occupying the zone than 500 speed cameras to compliance and monitors the signal heads, which means
with a car or truck. enforce the limits set to red-light running that it is not necessary to physically
Similarly, limiting the road ensure the safety of Left: Parifex’s connect the traffic lights to the
safety debate to the enforcement motorists and the flow of Double-Side VIGIE monitoring system, which is a significant
of speed limits has become traffic. Our innovation solution, which is advantage for towns that want to equip
counterproductive. As high activities have made us used for highway themselves with this system.
speeding has become the pioneers, for example with speed monitoring All these mature solutions are a daily
and enforcement
exception, we now need to focus our Vigie speed camera, in support to the state’s operations to
our efforts on adapting speed to new technologies such as the improve compliance with the rules of the
the context and limits of the identification of the road. We are also working on the privacy
human body. For example, a offending vehicle when the and energy efficiency of our products.
human can tolerate a collision road is multi-lane, the The use of a LiDAR sensor to detect the
with a modern car if the classification of the vehicle presence of vehicles allows us to activate
maximum speed is around to apply the correct speed our camera and infrared projector only
30km/h. If a higher speed is limit or the taking of when an offending vehicle is present,
desired in an urban area, the pictures from the front and which avoids filming and flooding the
only viable solution is to adapt the rear of the vehicle to environment with light at all times.
the infrastructure by separating also identify offending Similarly, our speed camera cabinets
pedestrian crossings from two-wheelers. are double walled to allow efficient air
traffic. And the situation is More recently, we have circulation, eliminating the need for air
becoming even more complex developed a multi-infraction conditioning even in very hot climates.
with the increasing use of Nomad solution capable of This special design specification
bicycles, scooters, and other monitoring both speed limit significantly reduces energy
soft mobility. compliance and red light consumption and thus CO2 emissions. ■

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SPEED ENFORCEMENT |
Changing the
is meticulously designed to enhance
safety and traffic management, even in
the most adverse conditions.
One of the standout features of the
Solar Emergency Warning System is its
safety landscape
weather-resistant high-efficiency solar
panels. These panels are engineered to
withstand a wide range of weather
conditions, ensuring optimal energy
conversion, even when faced with
challenges like rain, snow, or extreme
temperatures. This resilience is a crucial
factor in the system’s ability to reliably
function in any situation, providing
A range of innovative and versatile safety systems have been designed to uninterrupted service and ensuring that
safety is never compromised, regardless
make highways safer and more efficient for all road users of the weather.
Words | Eisa Al Shamlan, chairman, Alliance Traffic Systems, UAE The Solar Emergency Warning
A
System is not just about physical
n innovative Solar Intelligent robustness, it also offers real-time
Speed Enforcement Radar monitoring and control. With built-in
(Solar ISER) has recently 3G/4G/LTE connectivity, users can
proven its performance on the remotely assess the performance of these
streets. This cutting-edge technology, systems, making adjustments as needed.
developed by Alliance Traffic Systems This level of remote accessibility not only
engineers, combines solar power saves valuable time and resources but
generation with advanced speed also guarantees that the warning systems
monitoring capabilities, paving the way remain in peak working condition. This
for a more sustainable and efficient constant connectivity ensures they are
approach to traffic control. The clever always ready to deliver crucial safety
design and features of this new radar alerts when they are needed the most.
system provide increased accuracy, The integration capabilities of the
reliability, and versatility, ultimately Solar Emergency Warning System are
enhancing road safety and minimising another aspect worth highlighting. These
traffic violations. systems can seamlessly integrate with
A notable feature of this radar system existing emergency management
is its adaptability and versatility. With its systems, thereby enhancing overall
compact design, more than nine different emergency response capabilities. This
violation detections and recognitions, integration streamlines coordination
eight lanes of coverage, a highly accurate between various agencies during
24/7 ANPR (automatic number plate emergencies, significantly improving
recognition) system, anti-vandalism public safety.
protection and wireless connectivity, the Furthermore, these systems operate
Solar ISER can be easily installed and on clean and renewable solar energy,
deployed in various locations, including which not only reduces operational costs
highways, residential areas, and school but also minimises their environmental
zones. Furthermore, its user-friendly footprint. This aligns perfectly with
interface and compatibility with existing sustainable practices, making them a
traffic management systems make choice that is both efficient and
integration easy and operation seamless environmentally responsible.
for law enforcement agencies and Flexibility is a key attribute of the
transportation authorities. Above: Emergency Safety in adverse conditions Solar Emergency Warning Systems.
Moreover, the integration of early warning In today’s fast-paced world, traffic They are highly scalable, capable of
artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms in solution management and safety have become adapting to different locations and
the radar system enables intelligent data paramount concerns, especially in needs, making them suitable for
analysis and reporting. This feature challenging conditions where a wide range of applications. Their
provides valuable insights into traffic visibility is low, traffic jams occur minimal maintenance requirements,
patterns, identifies hotspots prone to frequently, accidents are a common primarily periodic cleaning, ensure
driver speeding violations, and aids in occurrence, or roadworks disrupt the long-term reliability. By demanding
the formulation of targeted enforcement flow of vehicles. minimal upkeep, these systems are not
strategies. By utilising this data-driven In such scenarios, Alliance Traffic only cost-effective but also guarantee
approach, traffic authorities can optimise Systems offers a solution that combines extended service life, which is an
their resources, effectively deploy cutting-edge technology with important consideration for those
enforcement measures, and improve sustainability – the Solar Emergency who are responsible for road safety
overall road safety. Warning System. This innovative system and traffic management.

Left: Traffic safety

solution (TOTEM)
Right: Solar
Intelligent Speed
Enforcement Radar
(ISER)
Enforcement and security One of TOTEM’s most compelling behavior, and consequently ensuring
In the realm of modern highway safety, features is its adaptability. It offers safer roads for all users.
the multifaceted challenges of traffic flexibility in customising security
management and security demand protocols, allowing for tailored access Driving safety forward
highly innovative solutions. Alliance control, delineation of security zones, Alliance Traffic Systems is dedicated to
Traffic Systems has designed TOTEM and setting alarm triggers. This creating a safer and more efficient future
(Traffic Safety and Management Tower), adaptability ensures that the system can for road users worldwide. Founded in
a new multifunctional highway safety be finely tuned to cater to the specific 2008, the company has evolved from its
system, to comprehensively address safety needs of different regions and origins in R&D to become a pioneering
these challenges. scenarios, reinforcing its effectiveness. force in smart traffic enforcement
TOTEM seamlessly integrates The safety of TOTEM extends systems, AI-driven security solutions,
enforcement, security, and alerting into a beyond enforcement and security solar-powered technologies, and much
unified system. This all-encompassing to include proactive measures. more. Solar ISER, Solar Emergency
approach ensures that all facets of road
safety are meticulously managed and
harmonised. TOTEM is not just a
The system employs strobe
lights and messages to warn
drivers, actively preventing
99%
The accuracy of the
Warning Systems and TOTEM
represent the company’s
commitment to innovation and
standalone solution. It is also a holistic accidents and traffic sustainability, all while prioritizing
safety ecosystem designed to safeguard congestion, and most solar ISER ANPR safety on the road. These solutions,
busy highways. importantly, saving lives. system designed with precision and
At the core of TOTEM’s efficacy is its These advanced warning tools advanced technology, address the
integration of cutting-edge technologies, play a pivotal role in alerting multifaceted challenges of modern
such as radar, AI cameras, facial drivers to hazardous conditions, road safety, from enforcement and
recognition, and automatic number plate prompting them to take necessary monitoring to emergency response and
recognition (ANPR). These advanced precautions, and ultimately fostering sustainable energy use.
technologies bolster enforcement safer road environments. Alliance Traffic Systems knows the
capabilities, enabling the system to detect In critical situations, the importance importance of customisation. The
a wide array of violations, from speeding of seamless coordination cannot be company understands that each region,
to reckless driving. The system can also overstated. TOTEM offers the ability to city, or situation may have unique needs.
undertake precise vehicle identification. integrate with emergency services, As a result, its solutions are highly
By discouraging unlawful behavior, facilitating collaboration during adaptable, ensuring they can be tailored
TOTEM contributes significantly to emergencies. This integration ensures a to specific client requirements. This
making roads safer for all. rapid and well-coordinated response flexibility enables clients to harness the
Efficiency and coordination are at when accidents or emergencies occur on full potential of these cutting-edge
the forefront of TOTEM’s design. the highway, minimising the impact on technologies, optimizing the impact on
Administrators can oversee the entire traffic flow and, most importantly, safety and efficiency.
safety infrastructure from a single public safety. As the world faces ever-evolving
location, simplifying operations and TOTEM employs advanced transportation needs and heightened
enhancing coordination. This centralised algorithms and machine learning to safety concerns, Alliance Traffic Systems
management approach streamlines the identify a wide spectrum of violations. will continue in its efforts to make
oversight of multiple different safety This intelligent violation detection highways safer and more efficient for all
components, ensuring a swift and system not only assists in law road users. The company believes that
effective response to incidents, ultimately enforcement but also serves as a powerful road safety is not just a commitment; it’s
leading to safer highways. deterrent, promoting responsible driving a shared responsibility. ■

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT WEIGHING SYSTEMS |
Direct enforcement
Intercomp explores the benefits of a highly accurate and reliable high-speed weigh-in-motion
system developed with Poland’s APM Pro, featuring the Strain Gauge Strip Sensors
Author: Leonardo Guerson, WIM product manager and application engineer, Intercomp Company, USA
I
n the realm of road transportation,
ensuring compliance with weight
regulations is an important concern.
High-speed weigh-in-motion (HS-
WIM) systems for direct enforcement
have emerged as a sophisticated solution,
necessitating a harmonious combination
of hardware and software. These high-
performance systems are meticulously
designed to offer the accuracy and
reliability necessary to ensure that all
WIM data used for vehicle overload
control is collected within the specified
accuracy parameters.
HS-WIM for direct

enforcement, globally
Around the world, governmental bodies
and road agencies and authorities have
set their sights on implementing
HS-WIM for direct enforcement. This Above: At an Reliable HS-WIM direct
visionary approach minimizes physical HS-WIM site in enforcement
infrastructure investments while Poland, ANPR and Besides the certified accuracy of the
CCTV cameras
fostering heightened control. capture license
WIM sensors, the efficacy of HS-WIM
Poland-based ITS integrator, APM plates and vehicle for direct enforcement hinges on one
Pro, offers a HS-WIM solution, based on images, as pivotal factor: reliability. These systems
Intercomp’s Strain Gauge Strip Sensors, trucks drive over must yield consistent results across time
which ensures that all valid Intercomp’s Strain and varying external conditions. APM’s
Gauge Strip Sensors
measurements adhere to stringent HS-WIM solution with Intercomp Strain
to record vehicle
tolerances. This is achieved by using weights Gauge Strip Sensors operates under the
WIM sensors that stay accurate over premise that enforcement-oriented HS-
Right: Strain Gauge
time, along with specific software Strip Sensors were different seasons of the year, regardless WIM systems must deliver performances
algorithms that process multiple chosen for their of external factors such as temperature verifiable for imposing overloading
variables for each vehicle weighing superior ability to variations and weather conditions. penalties. This can be achieved with the
record. These algorithms help identify hold calibration implementation of a reliability algorithm
and confirm the validity of the over time and to Stability in high-speed that processes multiple variables related
deliver consistent
automatically measured weight. By
output throughout
environments to the weight measurements and assigns
embracing these reliability strategies, different Existing research underscores the a reliability rate to each vehicle record.
this solution seeks to guarantee that no temperature significance of stability across diverse
overloading penalties are wrongly conditions sensor technologies and installations, Performance beyond hardware
delivered to compliant vehicles. particularly in high-speed road contexts. In the realm of direct enforcement, the
APM conducted a comprehensive study, development of real-time WIM-data
The pursuit of accuracy delving into the long-term stability of processing algorithms is an important
and reliability various HS-WIM sites and technologies. element. This involves assessing the
APM Pro undertook the ambitious task Among these, the HS-WIM sites reliability of vehicle records, critical for
of crafting a robust HS-WIM system for employing Intercomp Strain Gauge Strip enforcement decisions. Beyond hardware
direct enforcement. Rooted in a Sensors emerged with the desired levels stability, APM’s HS-WIM solution
commitment to reliability, it chose of stability. The sensors displayed a incorporates an advanced algorithm.
Intercomp Strain Gauge Strip Sensors as superior ability to hold calibration over This algorithm employs fuzzy logic to
the bedrock of its solution. APM Pro’s time and delivered consistent output assign reliability rates to WIM records,
selection was guided by the goal to throughout different temperature evaluating an array of traffic and
develop a HS-WIM system that would conditions, solidifying their position environmental variables. The algorithm
operate consistently throughout the as the technology of choice. sheds light on potential measurement

comprehensive understanding of each

Left: When used for
direct enforcement
passing vehicle’s characteristics.
efforts, HS- As vehicles traverse the HS-WIM site,
WIM sites
a composition of technologies unfolds.
minimize physical
infrastructure First, variable message signs
communicate the speed limits and traffic
investments while
strengthening rules of the weighing area as ANPR and
weight compliance
CCTV cameras capture license plates
strategies and vehicle images respectively.
Meanwhile, a 3D scanner measures
vehicle dimensions. Non-compliance
triggers alerts on VMS signs, prompting
drivers to pull over for administrative
weighing. Vehicles within the limits
proceed unhindered.
inaccuracies caused by external factors Poland’s overload control In the pursuit of high-
and identifies influencing elements, In Poland, APM Pro has deployed performance vehicle overload
quantifying confidence levels in a 44 lanes equipped with HS- control, APM Pro’s dedication
44
percentage score. WIM systems based on to innovation and reliability,
Intercomp Strain Gauge coupled with Intercomp
Deploying innovation worldwide Strip Sensors, which are Strain Gauge Strip Sensors,
APM’s innovative approach to HS-WIM used as a tool for road The number of lanes APM arises as a well-established
has reverberated globally. Particularly in transport compliance. Pro in Poland has equipped foundation toward
Europe and the Middle East where more These systems not only effective HS-WIM systems
than 100 lanes of high-performance HS- monitor overloading, but with HS-WIM systems for direct enforcement.
WIM systems have been recently also contribute to based on Intercomp The features of these HS-
installed. This extensive experience preselecting overloaded Strain Gauge Strip WIM systems can benefit
supports its direct enforcement HS-WIM vehicles for further weighing. end-users of any HS-WIM
system, enriched by insights garnered The integration of ANPR,
Sensors application, as they promote
from the operation in enforcement- CCTV, and 3D scanning higher quality data and lower
related activities. technologies yields a operating costs of WIM systems. ■
STRAIN GAUGE
TECHNOLOGY = PERFORMANCE
RELIABILITY
LONGEVITY
LS-WIM® HS-WIM®
WEIGH-IN-MOTION STRIP SENSORS
Ports | Border Crossings | Weight Compliance | Data Collection | Pre-Selection | Direct Enforcement
intercompcompany.com
+1 763 476 2531 Worldwide
+44 118 932 0578 UK
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TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AI ANALYTICS |
Intelligent synergy
A collaborative effort and combination of expertise led to a successful solution
that improves safety and optimises traffic management in Italy
Words | Roberto Tognacca, business development and key account manager, Sprinx Technologies, Italy
S
afety and efficiency are
paramount in Italy, where bustling
tunnels and highways are key
arteries in both the national and
international transportation networks.
Autostrade per l’Italia manages an
extensive network of more than 3,000km
of highways and 600 tunnels, serving as
vital connections between regions within
Italy and the rest of Europe, even
through challenging landscapes such
as mountains. This highway system is
one of the busiest in Europe. These
tunnels serve as crucial national and
international connections, seeing peaks
of around 111,000 vehicles per day, with
about 32,000 trucks and buses at their
busiest hours.
Autostrade per l’Italia turned
to Movyon to enhance safety and
optimise traffic flow on the network,
while also upgrading the CCTV and
AID (Automatic Incident Detection) Above: Tunnel Santa find a technology that provided top- smooth circulation, while minimising
infrastructure in several of the heavily Lucia in Firenze, notch detection capabilities as well inconveniences and service
travelled tunnels. With a reputation for Italy as quick response times in order interruptions.
its research and innovation in the Below: Tunnel to minimise service disruptions. In certain situations, there may be a
transportation sector, Movyon’s mission Sparvo in Bologna, Following this rigorous benchmarking need to utilise the existing infrastructure
Italy, is 2,574m long
was to find the best solution to guarantee process, Sprinx’s AI-powered video temporarily. This includes using
high detection rates while minimising analytics solution emerged in terms equipment like CCTV cameras, video
false alarms and disruptions to the of performance, thus inaugurating analysers, and servers already in place.
regular traffic flow. and establishing a valuable technological This approach also saves valuable time
collaboration between the two traffic and costs. Moreover, it allows for more
Unlocking success management solutions companies. efficient resource utilisation and can
Movyon performed an extensive One distinctive feature of Sprinx’s serve as a temporary solution while
comparative test on leading solutions in technology is its use of AI deep learning other more extensive infrastructure
the AID technology market. It needed to inference in the initial phase of video investments are being implemented.
analytics, setting it apart from the
companies that rely on validation tools, The solution
which can slow down response times. A combination of Sprinx’s field-proven
This approach paved the way for a AI algorithms and Movyon’s traffic
massive revamping project, involving management expertise created a unique
thousands of cameras inside the tunnels. solution. Sprinx addressed the challenges
with traffix.ai, a software platform for
Optimising safety and efficiency AID and traffic data collection. This
Movyon had a two-fold mission: to AI-driven platform incorporates custom
improve AID system performance by features developed in collaboration with
reducing false alarms and to minimise Movyon to meet the specific needs of
the impact of the revamping process on Autostrade per l’Italia.
the tunnels’ level of service. With The Sprinx AID analysis in the
such high traffic volumes, achieving traffix.ai software platform relies on
these objectives was challenging advanced and pioneering algorithms that
but crucial to ensuring safe and combine 3D object tracking technology

Left: At 7,724m deploying the innovative AID solution.

Tunnel Santa Lucia
The synergy has yielded remarkable
in Firenze, Italy is
the longest three- results by combining Sprinx’s AI
lane tunnel ever technology with Movyon’s extensive
built in Europe knowledge in traffic management.
Below: Calibration Movyon’s exceptional organisational
and configuration skills and meticulous planning have
client interface of played a crucial role in maximising the
the AID software effectiveness of Sprinx’s technology.
Integrating the advanced AI into
Movyon’s ITS solution has been
seamlessly executed, causing minimal
inconvenience for drivers on the
highway. Together, Sprinx and Movyon
have created a solution that enhances
traffic management and ensures
a smooth and uninterrupted
experience for all highway users.
The project’s success was marked
and a deep learning module. This of Sprinx’s solution is its ability to by a series of remarkable outcomes.
approach dramatically improves run artificial intelligence algorithms Performance enhancements: The
detection performance, reducing false on standard hardware platforms system was modernised with the
alarms. It also minimises system and even on existing servers. This latest generation AI technology,
configuration and calibration times. allowed the reutilisation of the significantly improving the
The neural network, designed for servers already on-site, a crucial performance, reducing false
111,000
smart road and smart tunnel time-saving measure. alarms and ensuring robust,
applications, enhances recognition The ease of configuration future-proof infrastructure.
capabilities, even in challenging has played a crucial role Streamlined and efficient
environments, further reducing false in optimising the The vehicles monitored implementation:
alarms while maintaining high detection implementation process, each day with Sprinx and Implementing new
rates. This is even more advantageous ensuring minimal Movyon’s traffic analysis technology on existing
when working with existing cameras disruption to tunnel servers and cameras
whose image quality and field of view operations during the
on the Autostraade per expedited the upgrade
may impact non-AI-based systems. revamping of the AID system. l’Italia network process, saving time
The system is highly flexible and and resources.
can run on standard hardware platforms, Improved traffic safety Hardware infrastructure
enabling even the utilisation of existing The collaboration between Sprinx optimisation: The use of AI
servers and expediting the upgrade and Movyon has proven to be highly algorithms on standard hardware
process. Another noteworthy feature successful in rapidly creating and platforms, even with existing servers,
streamlined the process and the
investment.
This ambitious project raises the
bar for safety in Italian tunnels and
paves the way for a brighter, safer future
on the roadways of Italy and beyond.
With AI at the helm, the possibilities
are endless, and the road ahead is
clearer and safer than ever.
“The collaboration with Sprinx will
undoubtedly strengthen our capabilities
in delivering efficient and intelligent
tunnel management solutions,” says
Lorenzo Maraia, head of traffic and
safety management systems at Movyon.
“By incorporating Sprinx’s advanced
algorithms into our ITS platforms, we
have full confidence in optimising traffic
flow, alleviating congestion, and
ultimately enhancing overall
transportation efficiency. This project
represents an additional milestone in
our ongoing mission to revolutionise
traffic management practices and to
improve the safety and efficiency
of mobility infrastructure.” ■

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT WEIGHING SYSTEMS |
Providing precision
weighing in France
Haenni Instruments discusses the growing challenge of heavy load vehicles on aging
infrastructure and shares details on a recent project in France which required
meticulous weight control measures
Author: Sukaina Osman, export and sales assistant, Haenni Instruments, Switzerland
equipment setup and teardown, and

precise material requirements, with
individual components weighing no
more than 20kg each, Haenni
demonstrated adeptness in streamlining
the process effectively and efficiently.
The heavy load convoy was skilfully
measured using the WL 104 portable
system, operated in dynamic mode.
Seven WL 104 scales were intricately
connected, forming a seamless weighing
strip spanning the lane. Levelling mats
ensured uniform wheel placement on
solid ground, guaranteeing consistent
measurements. The recorded values were
promptly accessible via an intuitive
interface, while further processing,
visualization, and printouts were
facilitated by a connected personal
laptop equipped with the EC 200
I
processing software.
n recent years, the steady rise in Above: Haenni loads, maintaining accuracy standards. With a total of four trucks dedicated
heavy load vehicles traversing our weighed 100 axles, In this context, Haenni Instruments to the transportation task, each of these
roads has posed significant as part of a convoy shines brightly as a beacon of hope, heavy-duty vehicles boasted a
of vehicles in
challenges to our aging France, in just
presenting accurate and dependable configuration of four axles. Laden with a
infrastructure. The wear and tear caused three minutes weighing systems that effectively tackle weight of around 33 tons per truck, they
by these oversized vehicles has become a the repercussions arising from the formed the backbone of the vehicle
pressing concern for transportation presence of oversized vehicles. convoy responsible for moving a turbine.
authorities and communities alike. The However, the complexity of the
increase is attributed to various factors, Extreme weighing challenge operation didn’t stop there. Two 14x3
including expanding global trade, An extremely impressive demonstration axle wheeled platforms were also
urbanization, and a growing demand for of Haenni Instruments’ flexibility and integrated into the arrangement, playing
bulk transportation. These vehicles, prowess came to light in France, as the a pivotal role in supporting the weight of
ranging from construction trucks to company was enlisted by a French the colossal turbine. These platforms
cargo haulers, often carry loads that push public agency, which sought expert utilized a hydraulic beam mechanism to
the limits of existing road regulations. assistance in managing a substantial distribute the load as evenly as possible
Law enforcement requires precise convoy of heavy-load vehicles, and ensure the stability of the entire
measurements to prevent incorrect which necessitated meticulous structure during transportation.
conclusions from tolerance differences. weight control measures. Understanding the magnitude of the
The effectiveness of mobile weighing In the face of this challenge, Haenni figures associated with this project is of
system sites depends on factors such as swiftly assembled a skilled team utmost importance. The collective
road shape, pavement qualities, and dedicated to executing this intricate weight of the convoy alone stood at a
careful setup of the system. These factors project. Confronted by significant risks staggering 870 tonnes. In terms of size,
are important for reducing differences posed by the bustling dual carriageway, the convoy stretched across
between axle impact forces and static strict time limitations for rapid approximately 110m in length, 6m in

870
height and Haenni’s Below: Each piece fraction of the cost of large weigh
spanned nearly weighing system of the portable WIM bridges, these scales are an efficient
7m in width. was pivotal in system weighs no solution for weighing vehicles at various
more than 20kg
Impressively, The collective weight in orchestrating this checkpoints, reducing congestion and
the entire remarkable delays, making them a versatile tool for
measurement
tonnes of the heavy-load achievement, monitoring weight compliance across
procedure vehicle convoy transporting demonstrating different routes.
concluded within a a turbine in France how meticulous As the influx of heavy-load vehicles
mere three minutes, planning and continues its unrelenting surge on our
encompassing all 100 technological roads, embracing a simple, cost effective
axles of the convoy, that ingenuity can overcome and lightweight solution, such as
is an average of two seconds even the most daunting of Haenni’s wheel load scales assumes
per axle. These statistics truly challenges in the realm of heavy- paramount importance in securing the
highlight the immense scale of the load weight measurement. The speed and sustainability of our transportation
logistical hurdles that were overcome. ease at which the system can be set up, systems and fostering the endurance of
with minimal labour resources at a our road infrastructure. ■
Accurate measurements
Amidst these awe-inspiring dimensions,
the role of Haenni scales became
paramount. These precision instruments
provided accurate weight measurements,
which were undoubtedly a critical factor
in determining the suitability of each
vehicle for bearing its assigned load. The
Haenni scales not only ensured that each
truck was within its weight-bearing
limits, but they also ensured that the
turbine’s weight was distributed
optimally across the axles, preventing
uneven strain and potential structural
instability during transport.
less CO2
less accidents
less road damage
less unfair competition
ality
Qu
s
Swis
sometimes...
less is more www.haenni-scales.com
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06.05.20 09:35
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ITS |
The safety of society

Complex, ever-changing surroundings can be managed with intelligent transport systems from
Jenoptik that tackle speeding, distracted driving, tolling challenges and intersection safety
Author: Felix Watermeyer, marketing and content manager, Jenoptik Smart Mobility Solutions Division
T
he world is changing Above: Distracted translates to about 3,800 fatalities every that use their mobile devices are four
continuously. Mobility, driver program in day [according to the World Health times more likely to be involved in an
connectivity, urbanization, and Victoria, Australia Organization], this is a number which is accident than non-distracted drivers.
security are some of the Below left: too high. The UN General Assembly set a In 2023, Jenoptik rolled out one of the
Current scenario:
megatrends that will shape all societies target to halve the number by 2030. With world’s first distracted driver programs
Complexity of
around the globe and influence our intersections and our technology, we contribute to this in Victoria, Australia. The relocatable
everyday lives. Governments and detections of illegal goal, make roads safer and help bring trailers are highly efficient, 24/7 self-
municipalities must cope with and driver behaviour people home safely all over the world. operating and contain all the necessary
prepare for an ever-changing Below right: We are committed to developing new enforcement camera equipment to detect
environment. One initiative that has Future scenario: solutions to continue this path,” says in-car mobile phone use as well as seat
evolved over time is Vision Zero. The Increased Tobias Deubel, vice president of global belt violations. The company further
goal is to establish preventive measures complexity of sales and service in Jenoptik’s Smart supports Victoria’s Department of Justice
intersections
in the road safety area to make roads and Mobility Solutions division. and Community Safety by providing an
and intelligent
means of transportation so safe that traffic mobility offences verification system. The trailers
there are no more traffic fatalities and applications Distracted driving and speeding are fitted with solar panels so that they
serious injuries. One of the leading causes of fatal are self-sufficient at any given location
“It is an ambitious, yet very important accidents is still speeding. However, with and thus make use of local conditions.
global objective. Having in mind that the rise of the smart phone and other
about 1.3 million people die each year devices, distracted driving is a growing The award-winning TraffiPole
because of traffic accidents, which concern. According to the WHO, drivers For Jenoptik, it is essential to develop

Left: Jenoptik’s which the states want to address. Next to

TraffiPole in the hardware delivery, staff of the local
Twinhead version authorities were trained by Jenoptik to be
proficient with the equipment.
Cost-effective ANPR
To maintain an established road
network, some governments impose tolls.
A Jenoptik system which is used for
monitoring whether tolls are paid is the
ANPR camera GardoVia. Introduced at
Intertraffic 2022, it is a cost-effective
camera that can be equipped with a
zoom, is suited for fixed and mobile
installations and complements
1.35m
Jenoptik’s ANPR portfolio. The
first projects and installations
making use of the system have
already been carried out. It
The number of people can be utilized for a variety of
who lose their lives tasks such as road monitoring,
each year in road clean air surveillance, or car
parking management.
crashes worldwide “We have different solutions
Source: WHO in place to help governments
create safer environments with
intelligent traffic safety systems. Our
services include the installation,
specific systems for a region or to adapt Left: Mobile
maintenance, training, operation, and
existing ones to local environments. In installation in several financing options so that
this way, the company can address the West Africa governments can better plan and
different needs and demands of its Below: One of the contribute to Vision Zero. Our service
markets. One example of such first installations of offerings are in line with our overall
development is Jenoptik’s TraffiPole. The new ANPR camera strategy of increasing recurring
housing that won Intertraffic’s Green GardoVia revenues,” said Danuta Eberle, vice
Globe Award in 2022 has a modern president of global sales services,
design, is sustainable and quick to set up. strategy, and product management of
One special feature is its oval head Jenoptik’s Smart Mobility Solutions
design with double walls, which render division. “Our purpose is to contribute
the use of an air conditioning due to an to the safety of societies, and we will
efficient air ventilation system and thus, continue developing state-of-the-art
makes it perfect for hot climates. It can products and offering end-to-end
be easily integrated into modern solutions to Governments, based on
architecture design. By offering a one their needs,” Eberle concluded. ■
head and a twin head version, traffic can To make those safer, road authorities
be monitored over multiple lanes in both limit driving behaviours. Sometimes,
directions, making use of the latest these are ignored, resulting in dangerous
traffic monitoring technologies. situations and even collisions. To cope
with this challenge, new radar-based
Intersection safety using radar systems are developed which can detect
Surroundings in cities become illegal driver behaviour next to red lights
increasingly complicated to manage. and speed violations.
With urbanization, more people live in
cities. As a result, complex traffic Tackling speeding in West Africa
scenarios arise due to the volume and Governments all over the world have
variation of vehicles and road users. New been tackling the complexity and
mobility solutions, such as e-bikes, security concerns in cities over the past
pedelecs and e-scooters add to today’s years. Both developed and emerging
traffic. Therefore, intersections, in countries are interested in contributing
particular, tend to be congestion and to Vision Zero and thus, support its
collision hot spots. Data from the US citizens. Jenoptik recently delivered
Federal Highway Administration shows systems to several countries in West
that more than 50% of the combined Africa. With an expanding
total of fatal and injury crashes occur at infrastructure and a new road network,
or close to intersections. speeding is one of the main concerns

SAFETY ROAD STUDS |
Urban crossings
A new, smaller road stud has been designed to improve crosswalk safety, whilst
enabling easy installation and minimised impact on the environment
Words: Fernando Afonso, CEO, Sernis, Portugal
T
he urban mobility paradigm is Above: The your full attention to the task of driving. research conducted by the University of
changing and smart cities have SR-CROSSLED-150 Any non-driving activity is a possible British Columbia. It warned that
to keep up with this change. is smaller in size distraction and raises your chances of a driverless automobiles may be misled by
The new mobility paradigm in but with the same road accident. distracted pedestrians’ actions and so be
visual impact. The
urban areas sees a lot of people Most individuals are aware that less able to stop and avoid a pedestrian.
reduced size allows
distracted, talking with others or looking easier installation. distracted driving is a serious issue, but The SR-Crossled range – a new
at their phones instead of paying This model can distracted walking is increasingly kind of road stud
attention to their surroundings. be installed in becoming a cause of significant personal
Although fatal car accidents have crosswalk entries injury. Distracted walking accidents are
declined in recent years, pedestrian and zebra crossings so widespread that the National Safety
deaths are actually on the rise. The fact Council in America included them for
that pedestrians and drivers are overly the first time in its annual injury
confident in their ability to multitask is statistics report in 2015.
the principal reason for this increase. Another unexpected impact of
You cannot drive safely unless you give distracted walking was revealed in

| SAFETY
developed by
Sernis – may be
the most promising
technology to reduce crosswalk
accidents related to distractions.
Urban design Ready

The company has recently developed its for the road
SR-Crossled-150 product: it is smaller in This solution features
size than the SR-Crossled-S and a robust and long-lasting
Crossled-L road studs, but provides the structure with high strength, as proven
same visual impact. The reduced size by a complete certification process
allows for easier installation. This model
can be installed in crosswalk entries and
for: LVD, EMC, photobiological
safety tests, EN124 class D400,
ENEC
zebra crossings. It is effective in alerting
distracted drivers and pedestrians when
including the most demanding
certification approval that is
certification
they are approaching the crosswalk. ENEC certification. ENEC is the
LVD, EMC,
The large lighted area makes it almost high quality European mark for photobiological safety
impossible for oncoming drivers and electrical products that tests, EN124 class consuming than other
pedestrians to overlook them. SR- demonstrates compliance with alternatives on the
D400
Crossled-150 has a low profile (flat on European standards and its market, minimising disruptions to
the surface), ensuring that it will not commitment to the highest safety circulation throughout this process.
disturb circulation. levels. The SR-Crossled-150 has a The structure of the SR-Crossled-150
The SR-Crossled-150 was engineered protection index IP68 and IK10. Above: The large enables easy and rapid maintenance and
with urban design in mind, to have The anti-skidding treatment on the lighted area has a replacement of the electronic module in
a minimal effect on the aesthetic of the surface will avoid slipping accidents on great visual impact, the crosswalk, without the need to drill
making it almost
road scheme/urban design. Its motorcycles and bikes. This road safety impossible to
holes and remove the entire device from
application in old historic towns and city solution is completely waterproof, with overlook them the ground. This is extremely critical in
centres increases the safety and visibility gel that protects inside elements. Below: Low profile
this sort of application since it eliminates
of crosswalks at night while also (flat on the surface) the need for roadworks and the
conserving the scenic character of the Easy maintenance ensures that it associated expenditures.
streets. Its simple design blends very well The installation procedure is will not disturb The SR-Crossled-150 has robust
with the urban environment. The straightforward, and maintenance is circulation construction, with a top made of
SR-Crossled-150 may also be used as less expensive and time- stainless steel alloy and
a decorative street lighting fixture for polycarbonate.
urban illumination, enhancing the The road stud
surrounding landscape. exhibits high
strength,
allowing it to
be used in any type
of traffic application.
Intensive LEDs
The SR-Crossled-150 is available
with white or RGB LEDs. The RGB
version will work according to traffic
lights. The wired system can be powered
by electric or solar energy. It has a very
low power consumption. ■

SAFETY ADVANCED SIGNS |
PHOTO: FRANK SKARE | VIK ØRSTA
Powerful investments
Technology is the driving force behind innovation and progress in the road safety industry
Words| Sara Sørlie, communications manager and Bernd Frühwald, CEO, Saferoad Group, Norway
T
echnology stands as the catalyst Above: Robotic technology and data-driven analysis have surveillance and sensors. Increasing the
of change, propelling us beyond welding cell become instrumental in enhancing road value and societal benefits of necessary
the constraints of conventional safety. Real-time data collection and safety equipment gives urban
methods, ushering us into an analysis enable us to predict traffic flows landscapers and architects opportunities
era where innovation meets legacy. and identify patterns, fostering more to enhance their projects.
Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, efficient, safer, and sustainable
sensors and automation have breathed transportation networks. Laser precision
new life into an age-old industry. Specialising in LED signs tailored for Technology empowers manufacturers to
As a representative of the traditional various applications, Saferoad delivers streamline production lines, minimise
road safety industry, boasting a rich variable messaging signs including waste, and significantly enhance overall
legacy of manufacturing robust steel sensors, traffic cameras and control efficiency in production. At Saferoad, the
barriers, resilient guardrails, sturdy software for efficient operation and conventional techniques of cutting,
poles, and signposts, Saferoad Group’s monitoring. A game-changer in the welding and handling light poles
work contributes to Vision Zero. The realm of mobile messaging signs is experienced a profound revolution when
aim: no fatalities or injuries caused in a solar powered energy system, which automated facilities were introduced in
road traffic. In this, it acknowledge the removes the need for battery change and 2016. The integration of laser technology
transformative power of technology and benefits the environment. The equipment and robotics facilitated seamless
believes that embracing it is not a choice and systems help manage congestion, integration and automation of the
but a necessity. speed and routing of traffic. operations into a singular, highly
The industry can go further. As an efficient process. The company
Tech-powered innovations example, in addition to illuminating experienced a remarkable reduction in
In the realm where road safety meets streets and communities, Saferoad’s welding time per light pole, a convincing
intelligent traffic systems, technology is multifunctional light poles can provide case that set a benchmark for efficiency
not just a tool but a visionary lens. Sensor practical benefits like charging, wi-fi, 5G, and productivity. But Saferoad says that

| SAFETY
Top left: Mobile LED Empowering road safety

variable message Roadworks often involve individuals
sign from Saferoad standing precariously close to moving
Bottom left: vehicles, presenting a significant safety
Overlooking risk. The peril arises from the human
automated
factor, both from the individuals
production facilities
at Saferoad working on the roads and the
drivers navigating them.
In this age of advanced technology,
solutions to mitigate the risks faced by
road workers exist. The potential for
innovative technologies to replace or
augment the human presence near
moving vehicles is immense. Yet,
despite these advancements, the
widespread implementation of such
technologies remains a challenge
PHOTO: SAFEROAD
in some markets. It is not a lack
of technological prowess but rather
the need for concerted efforts from
contractors, governments, and
stakeholders to integrate these
solutions effectively.
The transportation industry
stands at a pivotal juncture where
embracing technology is not just
an option but a moral imperative.
Technology is already at our fingertips,
waiting to be harnessed to ensure the
safety of those who work tirelessly
to maintain our roads.
PHOTO: SAFEROAD
Empowering people
Amidst the whirlwind of technological
evolution, the focus at Saferoad remains
on its people. The company firmly
believes that technology is a medium to
empower the workforce. In light of this,
Saferoad has launched an extensive AI
training programme tailored for its
2,500+
employees. This initiative is not just
efficiency is just the beginning; environmentally about acquiring new skills; it’s about
sustainability is its commitment. friendly. A notable instilling confidence.
Automation and robotics have shift is the Saferoad employees, Saferoad sees that the technology
streamlined the labour-intensive aspects transition from in 13 countries landscape is evolving at an
of production, ensuring consistent traditional diesel- across Europe unprecedented pace, and it remains
quality and safety. However, automation powered equipment to steadfast in its commitment to embrace
and robotics do more than just electric equipment. For technology to improve road safety. There
streamline labour-intensive tasks; they Saferoad, the shift to will be a future where safety, efficiency,
also pave the way for environmentally electric trailers for tasks like sustainability, and human ingenuity
friendly practices. They enable renewable road marking has shown clear converge. Saferoad believes that its
energy utilisation and waste reduction, benefits. They produce much less CO2 journey is not just a testament to its
ultimately lowering carbon emissions. compared to diesel ones, helping the past, but a roadmap to a future where
By weaving sustainability into the company to reduce its environmental tradition harmonises seamlessly with
fabric of its operations, Saferoad impact. Plus, workers appreciate that innovation, ensuring safer roads
demonstrates how technology can these electric trailers are quieter, for many generations to come.
drive not just progress, but responsible reducing noise and making their jobs Future transportation industry
progress. The future of production is more pleasant. Local communities also leaders will be those who embrace
a harmonious blend of tradition and benefit as they no longer have to deal the opportunities technology brings,
innovation, poised for greater efficiency with the loud sounds of traditional focus on continuous product
and environmental responsibility. machinery. This move towards electric development, possess a high degree
equipment shows how companies can be of flexibility, have expertise in creating
Electrifying equipment efficient, environmentally responsible, innovative solutions, and have the ability
Advances in technology are making and attentive to the wellbeing of their to produce sustainable processes, to
operations both more efficient and more workforce and communities. safeguard lives on roads and beyond. ■

SAFETY BARRIERS |
Safety first
Expertly engineered steel guiding systems are proven to improve
Heintzmann’s VLS traffic control
barriers comply with the ‘Guideline for
passive protective devices’ (RPS) in road
areas and can be brought into the desired
blocking position through remote
switching operated by the central control
panel. Depending on the requirements
safety around road infrastructure, such as bridges and tunnels and available space, the barrier can
Words | Joerg Zimmermann, Heintzmann Traffic Systems, Germany be moved horizontally or vertically,
blocking one or several lanes. The
T
here are, in general, four Above: Vertically
factors that can be defined to opened VLS barrier
significantly influence safety Right: Median
in tunnels: road users, their gate with vertical
vehicles, the infrastructure of tunnels opening (9m)
and prescient security measures inside
and outside the tunnel.
Safety measures begin at the tunnel
approach, where preventive elements
with automatic closure systems using
traffic lights and barriers at the portals
can mitigate a severe impact. The
Heintzmann Group offers a range
of solutions for this area, with
functional traffic control barriers
as well as emergency openings with
horizontal or vertical operation. These
products can be placed in front of the
tunnel so that tunnel sections can be
closed in the event of an accident or
technical malfunction.

| SAFETY
Left: Median Duo-Gate can be delivered

barrier with with manual control performance
colour-highlighted
or fully automated, with one or two
emergency gate
barrier booms. Duo-Gate is a further
development of the proven central
reservation system Gate-Guard.
If necessary, Gate-Guard can be
opened within a few minutes without
any special tools, thanks to its integrated
horizontal emergency opening.
Typical installations are in front
of and behind tunnels, or bridges where
there is a high demand for flexibility.
In addition to safety, Gate-Guard also
helps with traffic management when
there is maintenance work in these
areas. By optimising traffic flow,
it thus helps to reduce CO2 emissions.
The Heintzmann Group,
maximum width achieved has been are a classic example for the use with its roots in German and
18m across an entire road. The compact of these barriers. In its closed international mining, has
18m
barrier comprises a power unit in a position, the barrier fulfils been providing security
weatherproof case and the barrier boom. containment level H2, which solutions for 170 years and
A laser device for identifying obstacles is required on motorways, but protects the world’s most
permanently monitors the entire area it can be opened quickly in the The maximum width of sensitive areas - both
while the barrier boom is swivelling. event of an accident in the tunnel, underground and above
This helps to optimise traffic flow. thus enabling emergency services
the VLS traffic control ground. The company is
With its origins in vehicle restraint such as police and fire brigades barrier a creator of system solutions
technology, the Duo-Gate barrier offers to quickly change lanes. This for safety not only related to
an emergency opening with vertical means maximum flexibility road barrier systems but also
movement. Tunnel portals on motorways at the highest level of security. in the field of anti-terror. ■
Safety starts in front of the tunnel

Heintzmann provides system solutions for:
• Traffic guidance For further information,
• Blocking barriers with horizontal and vertical opening please contact us via e-mail: Visit us at
• Emergency crossings info@heintzmann-traffic-systems.de In rtraffic 2024
te
Booth 8.110
PART OF THE
www.heintzmann-traffic-systems.de
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01.12.23 12:19
SAFETY BARRIERS |
A smart solution
Innovative moveable road
barriers improve safety and
mobility in tunnel work zones
Words | Smita Sharma, senior manager,
application engineering, Lindsay, USA
T
imely rehabilitation and
maintenance of tunnels is
imperative to ensure safety
of road users, but the mobility
and safety impacts of such work zones
can be challenging. Work zone-related
traffic consolidation in conduits like
tunnels on major roadways can
cause congestion, freight delays
and safety concerns.
Strategic traffic management
planning and flexible interventions
can help avoid gridlock and community
outrage. A maintenance of traffic (MOT)
plan and construction sequencing for
high-volume, high-speed tunnel projects
address the work zone impacts of the
project. This plan includes minimising
traffic delays, maintaining motorist
and worker safety, conforming to
project schedules, maintaining
access for businesses and residents,
while also insuring safe access
to/from the work zone for workers
and construction equipment with
minimal impact on road users.
Non-peak lane closures or Above: The barrier Compared to channelising device MOT solution has been combined with
transfer machine
directional traffic crossovers using transferring the
lane closures, the Road Zipper provides accelerated construction methods in
Road Zipper moveable barriers reduce barrier by one lane flexible, positive protection and tunnel and bridge work zones to reduce
user delay costs by quickly establishing Below: Bi-directional
additional safety measures, while still project staging and duration. This
lane reconfiguration, with the benefit lane configuration allowing quick lane reconfiguration. combination also minimises mobility
of providing protection to increase created using the Additional benefits include reducing and safety concerns. The Road Zipper
traffic safety. Road Zipper system the risk of traffic queues during peak system is a crash-tested alternative for
to maximise tunnel travel times, compared to a static barrier flexible lane management (or dynamic
capacity
Innovation in Italy lane closure and potentially providing reconfiguration of travel lanes), which
Lindsay is pleased to share its recent increased workspace for contractors. enhances safety measures for motorists
partnership with Autostrade per l’Italia In the past, the Road Zipper-based and construction workers. The Road
(ASPI) and Amplia. The companies
will work together to enhance traffic
management and work zone safety on
the A26 highway tunnel rehabilitation
project. ASPI is committed to
implementing innovative solutions
that streamline traffic flow and
ensure safer journeys for all road users.
Showcasing this commitment, Lindsay
has announced two tunnel rehabilitation
projects in Italy. Projects in both
Manfredia and Lagoscuro will use
the Road Zipper to optimise traffic
mobility and improve overall traffic
and work zone safety.

| SAFETY
VIDEO management and highlight the

EXTRA importance of institution-based
initiatives to strategically address
safety and mobility concerns in
construction projects.
Data-driven approach
Both projects include a full closure of
the roadway or tunnel in one direction
for a complete separation of work zone
and moving traffic. This not only
increases overall work zone safety, but
also makes the work zone more efficient
for workers and equipment. The other
bound of the roadway is used for
bi-directional traffic using the Road
Zipper system as a moveable median.
Using a data-driven approach, the travel
lanes are reconfigured to maximise the
throughput during peak travel times.
With a top transfer speed of 8km/h
(5mph), the Road Zipper machine
helps reconfigure travel lanes quickly
to address daily travel pattern changes.
Lindsay and ASPI worked together
to identify the strategic locations and
applications of the Road Zipper solution
to develop a tailored solution to seamless
traffic management. The Manfrieda
project used 2km (1.2 miles)
of moveable barrier wall
to change travel lane
configuration four to
8km/h
five days per week while
Lagoscuro project uses
8km (5 miles) of moveable
barrier wall reconfigured
The top transfer speed
four to five times a week.
of the Road Zipper The Manfrieda project will
Zipper barriers are crash-tested be live until February 2024
to MASH TL 3, NCHRP350 and and the Lagocuro project will
EN 1317 H2 standards. continue until May 2024.
Both the Manfrieda and Lagoscuro “We are excited to be part
tunnel projects are located on the A26 of these groundbreaking projects with
Highway between Milan and the port Autostrade per l’Italia, as they exemplify
of Genoa in Italy. This A26 corridor Lindsay’s shared commitment to
is critical to both commercial and innovation and excellence,” says
noncommercial traffic. Taking away Fernando Ribeiro, VP and general
active travel lanes for tunnel work zones manager – infrastructure, Lindsay.
would likely create massive traffic queues “Stay tuned for further updates as
and freight delays. When planning for we continue to make strides in
these tunnel rehabilitation projects, revolutionising road traffic solutions.”
ASPI’s top priority was to ensure the “Tunnels and bridges offer additional
mobility and safety for all road users challenges for maintaining traffic
and workers when tunnel work zones mobility and safety during road work,”
are active. In line with ASPI’s priorities, adds Smita Sharma, senior manager –
the Road Zipper was selected as an applications engineering, Lindsay.
innovative MOT solution to minimise “Typically, there is very little additional
the impacts of work zones to road users. space so a work zone must be created
As part of the project planning, critical The Road Zipper from active traffic lanes. Flexible lane
machines are
sections of the A26 highway were management using the Road Zipper is
equipped with
identified for strategic use of the Road lighting to help a crash-tested alternative to help
Zipper to maximise existing roadway with precise barrier reduce work zone impacts to road
capacity. These projects showcase ASPI’s placement at night users and improve the overall safety
forward-thinking approach to traffic of construction projects.” ■

SAFETY GUARDRAILS |
Installation made easy

A vacuum-powered lifting machine makes light work of roadside guardrail installation
Words | Optimas, Germany
VIDEO
G
EXTRA
uardrail installation has Below: Crash The boom swivels 360 degrees and Save energy
traditionally been a labour- barriers are lifted has a working radius of 3m. It can lift, One decisive advantage
with the vacuum
intensive process, with several move and hold up to 140kg within this of the Optimas Vacu-
lifting unit of the
workers needing to physically Optimas Vacu- radius. A range of suction pads are Pallet-Mobil GI is that it
lift and move 80kg box profiles, adding Pallet-Mobil GI and available for the tube lifter to suit any greatly reduces the physical
up to many tonnes per week. then moved to the crash barrier profile and length. It does effort required of workers. The
The Optimas Vacu-Pallet-Mobile GI installation site not matter whether the crash barriers are effect is that workers remain productive
has a vacuum lifting arm that lifts any with the 3m long to be removed from the truck, from the for much longer.
articulated arm
type of guardrail, moves it to the escort vehicle, from the ground VSB Infra, based in Herne, Germany,
installation site and holds it there until it or from the mobile unit itself. is active in the fields of in-situ concrete
is secured. No physical effort is required The Vacu-Pallet- crash barriers, slipforming, concrete
from workers. All required power is Mobile GI itself weighs carriageways and steel protection
provided by the vacuum lifting unit 1,290kg and is powered systems. The company is currently using
of this mobile machine. by a Hatz Silent Pack the Vacu-Pallet-Mobil GI to install
The machine combines vacuum tube diesel engine with 13 several kilometres of steel crash barriers
lifting technology with a chassis that has hp/9.6 kW EU Stage V. A1 motorway south of Münster. “We
two rubber chains. Between the chains The transport dimensions have been using the Vacu-Pallet-Mobil
there is a pallet fork, which can be used of 2.26m, 1.85m and GI for some time now,” confirms Kay
to transport the crash barriers or 2.10m are such that the Petersen, managing director of VSB
auxiliary material to be installed. Vacu-Pallet-Mobile GI Infra. “It has noticeably reduced the
A separate trolley can be towed. is easy to transport. workload for our employees.” ■
Guardrail installation
easier than ever before!
NEW! Optimas Vacu-Pallet-Mobil GI
...lifts and moves any profile as light as a feather.
The vacuum lifting arm of the Optimas Vacu-Pallet-Mobile GI lifts any type of guardrail,
„The smile
moves it to the installation site and holds it there until it is secured –
on the face of
without any physical effort from the worker!
your employees:
the best proof...“
More Information:
Guardrail installation machines

Optimas Maschinenfabrik · H. Kleinemas GmbH
Industriestraße 12 · 26683 Saterland-Ramsloh
Work smart.
Tel.: +49-(0) 4498 / 92 42-0
info@optimas.de · www.optimas.de
Not hard. Visit us at
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Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2024
| SAFETY BARRIERS
Plastic protection
A robust and versatile plastic road curb improves safety for all types of road users,
while being fully recycled and recyclable
Words | Ecolsystems, Italy
E
colsystems offers a range Practical, sustainable and safe Simultaneously, the high resistance
of high-quality road curbs The curbs are easily fixed to the ground to impact allows for the redirection
suitable for the construction through an installation process that does of a vehicle accidentally colliding
of road safety infrastructure. not require the use of mechanical means, with a curb back onto the road.
Made from recycled and recyclable allowing for significant cost savings.
plastic material, the company’s road They are made entirely of recycled and Versatile and hardwearing
curbs are designed to ensure maximum recyclable material, derived, for example, The unique geometric configuration
safety and durability, finished with from the covering of electrical cables. allows for the longitudinal crossing
a special coating that protects from The innovative linking system, with of cables, service networks, pipes,
all weather conditions and the interlocking between the base and the or other elements. The curbs are
impact of traffic. upper element, allows for greater also designed for the insertion of
Ecolsystems was founded on structural rigidity compared to normal Above: The EPO vertical signage, such as poles, traffic
deep respect for the environment curbs. Variable heights from 15-25cm are patented road curbs lights, and signalling systems, and
and nature. With more than a decade ideal for protecting bike and pedestrian prevent collisions have a wide transverse slit to allow
between vehicles
of experience in plastic material paths or areas restricted to traffic. for the drainage of rainwater. The
and pedestrians
recovery, the development of Rounded external profiles minimise curbs have exceptional resistance to
circular curbs is a natural step in potential bodily trauma in the case of UV rays, salt, acids, ice, heat, and
expanding the company’s expertise. accidental falls by cyclists or pedestrians. remains maintenance-free for years. ■
ECOLSYSTEMS offers road safety infrastructure specialists a range of sustainable

road curbs of the highest quality.
Made of recycled - and in turn recyclable - plastic material, the curbs are
composed of high-strength aggregates.
ECOLSYSTEMS modular curbs are designed to guarantee maximum safety and
durability with different road safety functions.
www.ecolsystems.it | info@ecolsystems.it | +39734 340247

PARKING TICKETLESS TECH |
The future is now

Navigating the transition to ticketless parking solutions using a flexible approach
to entry, exit and payment by Designa
Words: Maxi Heese, content editor, and Phillip Veldten, CMO, Designa, Germany
A
gility is a critical element Above: The parking, especially in complex Ticketless parking
influencing both our modern Designa Group has environments such as airports, hospitals, For Designa, the future of parking is
society and the technology- implemented a shopping centres, and city garages. As ticketless. With ticketless solutions,
fast, high-traffic
driven parking industry. The the parking industry continually evolves, paper tickets become obsolete. This
hybrid solution at
parking landscape faces significant the terminals of Designa offers a modular and flexible transition brings numerous benefits for
challenges due to technological Hamburg Airport approach that enables the company to both customers and operators,
advancements and evolving individual in Germany. The grow with its customers’ needs. Its eliminating concerns about losing a
requirements. Staying agile and ahead of recently established commitment to flexibility ensures that parking ticket and reducing paper waste
these demands can be challenging. “Kiss and Fly Zone” the systems remain relevant in a rapidly and ticket costs.
offers a 10-minute
Designa, with over 70 years of changing landscape. Moreover, it enhances efficiency
grace period for
specialization, has consistently free drop-offs and For example, Designa’s scalable and during entry to parking facilities,
prioritized customer needs while ensures smooth future-driven Connect systems are open eliminating the need to open a window
strengthening the company’s proficiency entry and exit to change and offer unmatched flexibility and pull a physical ticket, for example.
in parking solutions. through license for upgrades and emerging technologies. Multiple software add-ons, such as pre-
According to Designa, two invaluable plate recognition With Connect, customers can choose booking, validation, discount features, or
detection. It
insights have emerged over the past is also already
between ticket and ticketless solutions unmatched third-party integrations, are
decades, emphasizing effective parking equipped for full for gated, semi-gated, free-flow, or available to customise the ticketless
management solutions. Firstly, flexibility ticketless options, hybrid environments. Furthermore, parking environment further. The aim is
and agility are crucial factors for success. ready for future various payment options are available, to provide a frictionless experience for
Secondly, it is always imperative to advancements including cash or card, pay in-lane, and parking customers with minimal
consider or anticipate future mobile payments. Moreover, multiple hardware involvement.
requirements today. software add-ons, such as pre-booking, In ticketless parking, an integrated
validation, LPR features, or unmatched license plate recognition system (LPR) at
Future-proof parking third-party integrations, are available to the entrance point captures the license
Designa presents a visionary approach to further customise each parking plate and entrance data, ensuring a
addressing the challenge of versatility in management environment. contactless entry – with or without a

| PARKING
barrier. The license plate then serves as everyone, even in the most complex
an identification medium for payment at settings. Customers can effortlessly
the automatic pay station or the exit. enter, pay, and exit a car park, with or
Customers can also opt for digital without a ticket. Another benefit of the
payment via a smartphone. At the exit, hybrid mode is that it is perfect for
the camera recognises the license plate, managing the change to ticketless. Since
and after verification, the parking system both modes are already installed,
opens the car park barrier upon detecting deactivating the paper ticket option is no
a payment event (for gated variants). hassle; when the time is right, a fluid
Ticketless solutions eliminate the transition into full ticketless is
hassle of physical tickets, possible.
ensuring seamless entry Gated mode: Gated
and exit for visitors, ticketless is perfect for
70
reducing hardware parking professionals
while increasing who want to get rid
flexibility. Designa of paper tickets but
offers different still want to guard still wants safety. It also gives customers a
variants and
The number of years the parking space
Top left: Fast and
efficient payment feeling of following a strict process. They
adaptations, aiming Designa has been active with gates. The capabilities at one must pay to leave.
to find the perfect fit in the parking gates still give the of the award-
winning PAY “pay
Free flow mode: There is no gate at all
for every customer. customer the feeling with free flow. Visitors can enter and exit
management sector on foot” checkout
of a closed area. stations (with touch the parking space without stopping at
Ticketless variants Semi-gated mode: screen and plate any entrance or exit. Still, they will be
Hybrid mode: Only some This option offers open search technology) registered by license plate recognition
environments are ready to access to the parking system, Top right: and are greeted by a digital information
change to a completely ticketless with no gate at the entrance. Congestion at the board, for instance. A digital information
system. However, Designa recognizes Again, the car’s license plate will be barriers, either on board is mandatory in this environment,
that the “now” for parking lies in hybrid scanned and remains the only distinctive external roads or showing that the customer’s license plate
inside the parking
solutions, seamlessly blending modern feature during the parking journey. The garages, are things
has been registered at the entrance and
technologies with traditional practices. exit gate remains the sole guardian of the of the past with the that the payment is completed at the exit.
Designa’s hybrid mode solution caters to parking space and remains closed if a Designa free-flow Free flow reduces the use of hardware
a diverse range of customers and ensures customer doesn’t pay. Perfect for anyone solution components to a minimum, but there
a streamlined parking process for who wants to spare the entrance gate but Far left: A hybrid might be a need for a payment
ticketless car park enforcement provider if customers drive
solution out without payment. However, operators
Left: A gated and car park customers benefit from
ticketless solution faster and smoother parking processes.
According to Designa, customers
should use the variant that fits best with
their needs and combine them with other
features from the company’s software
and hardware range to create the
customised solution that perfectly
matches their parking vision. ■

PARKING EV CHARGING |
Parking and powering

Investing in modern EV charging infrastructure and smart car park management tech is a
must for parking facility owners if they want to reduce costs, drive revenues and attract
new customers, Circontrol reports
Words: Roger Terricabras, communications specialist, Circontrol, Spain
T
he proliferation of electric
vehicles (EVs) presents a
significant infrastructure
challenge for cities and
municipalities. In the constantly
evolving urban mobility landscape, the
number of EVs on the roads is rapidly
growing and they are poised to become a
majority in the coming years. The public
and domestic charging infrastructures
alone could be insufficient for growing
demand. In this context, parking
infrastructures and operators are
essential for the future of the electric
charging infrastructure.
Following its ongoing challenge of
innovation, Circontrol, as a specialist
both in e-mobility, manufacturing EV
chargers with its own technology since
2008, and efficient solutions for car Above: A Circontrol especially in indoor parking eliminating the frustrating hunt for
parks, can integrate both worlds in one EV charging infrastructures. This dual benefit of public chargers. This not only enhances
installation within
platform, offering an intuitive, efficient, environmental appeal and operational convenience but also optimizes time
a car park in
and easy to manage solution. The fusion Stockholm, Sweden efficiency makes investing in EV management, as EVs can charge while
of two worlds, efficient parking and EV chargers a smart and sustainable choice parked, ensuring they’re always ready to
Below: The KSensor
charging presents several benefits. smart parking for parking facility owners. go whenever required.
device features For those parking owners who have The integration of EV charging
Adding value high-resolution already invested in Circontrol’s efficient infrastructure with parking facilities
For parking owners, incorporating EV image resolution parking infrastructure, the integration of offers the convenience of a ticketless
chargers represents not only a new and licence plate EV chargers becomes a quick and easy payment system for electric vehicle users.
recognition
revenue stream but also a strategic means technology that
process, thanks to their compatibility Thanks to license plate automatic
to attract new customers, specifically EV can record up to six with the CirPark platform. Furthermore, reading and recognition, EV drivers can
drivers. This move can significantly parking places via Circontrol’s versatility and extensive charge their vehicles without the
enhance the reputation of the car park, live streaming range of chargers, allow operators to necessity of generating any additional
making it more appealing to choose the ideal solution that perfectly tickets. This streamlined process makes
environmentally conscious customers aligns with their specific requirements. EV charging both easy and user-friendly.
and contributing to the car park’s overall Whether it’s a post or wall box, fast or
image improvement. semi-fast charging, single or double Smart management
Furthermore, the adoption of electric charging points, or installations in In addition to EV chargers (EVPark),
cars, being zero emission vehicles, brings indoor or outdoor facilities, Circontrol from home charge solutions and ultra-
about cost savings in ventilation systems, provides a tailored approach to meet the fast chargers, Circontrol also offers
operator’s unique needs and preferences. different smart devices for vehicle
Finally, EV charge points are ready to parking facilities, such as intelligent
be integrated with Parking Management guidance (iPark) and efficient LED
Systems (PMS) to use their own payment lighting (LEDPark). These solutions
system, such as with OCPP. seamlessly integrate into Circontrol’s
CirPark, bolstered by the integration of
Improving the customer the company’s software solutions, such as
experience its Dynamic Load Management (DLM).
Parking EV charging points provide The combination of all these solutions
flexibility for drivers. They can ensures the future-proofness of any
conveniently select the most suitable parking infrastructure while meeting the
location based on their needs, challenges of e-mobility.

| PARKING
DLM is
designed for
15-30%
The improvement in parking
managing
energy in occupancy rates following
multiple EV the roll out of smart
charging
infrastructures
guidance systems
working
simultaneously and
it is easily integrable
with CirPark Platform.
The system ensures that only the
available power of the installation is
used, and it will distribute the remaining
power in an equitable manner or
prioritize one or several charging points,
according to parking needs. This the parking, reducing the time it takes Above: The features, like for example the option of
solution is compatible with Building drivers to find parking spots by 50%. Circontrol semi-fast “Find your Car”. It not only enhances
EV charger eVolve
Management Systems (BMS), enabling Moreover, they contribute to a significant Smart in use in
security and occupancy management but
comprehensive energy management and improvement in parking occupancy rates Barcelona, Spain also elevates the overall parking
optimization within the existing with gains between 15% and 30%. experience for users.
infrastructure, avoiding, at the same Beyond conventional guidance On the other hand, LEDPark products
time, grid overloads. sensors, camera sensors, such as the contribute to reducing energy
Circontrol KSensor, provide more consumption and improving the
A 360° solution features and benefits for parking owners efficiency of the installation. Their low
Circontrol iPark solutions optimise the and customers. These sensors serve dual power consumption and long-lasting
traffic in car parks and provide a better purposes, doubling as surveillance equipment not only optimise operational
user experience. Thanks to its different cameras and license plate readers. costs but also lead to reduced installation
products, it can offer a real smart Furthermore, they provide real-time and maintenance costs. All these
experience. Smart guidance systems occupancy monitoring. This technology solutions combined with EV charging
manage the occupancy and the traffic of opens doors to a host of intelligent offer a 360° future-proofed solution. ■
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SMART MOBILITY FUTURE INSIGHTS |
Trend radar
While central management platforms
like this will remain critical, customers
will increasingly expect traffic
management service providers to offer
additional control capabilities, such as
A glimpse into the future: the key technologies environmental monitoring and
predictive analytics.
and trends shaping the ITS industry
Words: Johanna Boellmann-Thraen, head of marketing and communications, Yunex Traffic, Germany Joining forces for more
N
sustainable mobility
early halfway through this Above: Intelligent also neglects untapped potential. By A long-standing trend in mobility is the
eventful decade, the world solutions play connecting traffic management data ongoing shift toward more sustainable
a crucial role in
has undergone significant points, decision makers in cities can practices. The urgency is underscored by
minimising the
changes – wars, pandemics, risk of accidents anticipate and respond to situations and the state of traffic in global cities:
economic upheaval, and shifts in and enhancing the tailor solutions to meet the specific congested roads and air pollution from
political power. The global landscape safety of the most needs of residents. exhaust emissions. Despite ongoing
looks very different from its 2020 vulnerable road By providing comprehensive, efforts to address these issues, the
version. And the same is true for users all-in-one traffic management systems, environmental impact of mobility
mobility in cities around the world: industry leaders such as Yunex Traffic remains significant, contributing to
urbanisation, digitalisation, and offer solutions for cities to keep the almost a fifth of global emissions.
technological change are presenting traffic flowing and thus help to The encouraging news is that
cities with new challenges while opening reduce congestion-related emissions. technology enables cities to mitigate the
new opportunities to orchestrate today’s With its comprehensive traffic ecological footprint of mobility, a
transportation to meet tomorrow’s management platform Yutraffic contribution already in action today.
challenges. Four trends are hereby at the Symphony, Yunex Traffic enables cities Yunex Traffic, for instance, has been at
forefront and deserve a closer look. of all sizes to solve their individual traffic the forefront of efforts to curtail traffic-
challenges in one place – from urban related emissions and enhance air
Paving the way for holistic traffic control to multimodal traffic quality. With its GoGreen portfolio,
traffic management management. The system supports Yunex Traffic offers a wide range of
When tackling the many challenges of operators to make better and more customized traffic management solutions
traffic management, ranging from sustainable decisions, from simple tasks to help cities and traffic operators
reducing emissions to getting such as monitoring and maintaining worldwide to minimize the
infrastructure ready for autonomous field devices to complex solutions environmental damages and air
driving, traffic managers often resort to such as traffic management involving pollution caused by road traffic.
individual solutions. This fragmented environmental data, simulations, or even “We cannot lose any time to master
approach not only costs a lot of time, but connected vehicles. the transition to more sustainable

| SMART MOBILITY
Left: Connected connections, powered by 5G and the IoT,

traffic management will unleash the full power of this new
data points data economy era. To fully realize this
Below: Intelligent potential, seamless communication
controlling of between disparate data sources is key.
green waves with
Yutraffic awareAI
The revised EU ITS Directive (October
2023) is an important milestone in this
matter serving as a framework for
connecting vehicles, roads, assets, and
other devices. The directive advocates for
increased data availability and
interoperability among various
2040
mobility services, including
multimodal journey planners and
navigation services.
The year Yunex Traffic is As digital and physical
infrastructure increasingly
committed to achieving converge, cybersecurity will be an
mobility,” says Markus Schlitt, CEO of to detect, classify, and track net zero carbon elementary success factor to ensure
Yunex Traffic. “That is why we have everyone involved, green emissions within its the critical infrastructure is secured.
developed a dedicated portfolio to equip lights at intersections can be Cyberattacks and vulnerabilities in
own operations
cities and transport managers with all extended for larger groups of one area can have a cascading effect on
the tools they need to reduce transport- pedestrians, wheelchair users or numerous other areas. If they’re not
related emissions. And ultimately, to elderly people. Additionally, this already doing so, cities should embed
protect our planet.” system alerts motorized vehicles about cybersecurity as an integrated approach
The GoGreen portfolio encompasses vulnerable road users to increase safety. throughout the whole smart city
a 360-degree approach, including The insights allow traffic operators development process, from the planning,
solutions to decrease the energy to adjust their strategies and improve design, and transformation stages,
consumption of utilised traffic existing traffic management systems. considering industry standards, legal and
infrastructure, such as traffic lights, Furthermore, solutions like this can regulatory requirements.
strengthen greener modes of transport support autonomous driving vehicles by Ultimately, the interplay of these
and orchestrate mobility based on gathering environmental data from the advancements will redefine business
environmental parameters. road infrastructure perspective, and models and reshape the mobility
As part of this portfolio, the thereby providing an extra layer of safety landscape. Collaborative ecosystems in
Environmental Traffic Management and predictability. which disparate businesses share data
(ETM) system serves as a single point of The role of AI will extend from and insights through interconnected
contact, providing customers with all the simulate scenarios to predict traffic platforms will flourish, fostering new
data and tools they need to manage and trends. These predictions can be opportunities and reshaping traditional
optimise their traffic flow for the benefit integrated into adaptive traffic control industry boundaries.
of the environment by combining real- applications such as Yutraffic Fusion. Key players in the ITS industry have
time traffic and environmental This system uses data from multiple already underscored collaborations with
monitoring, traffic anomaly detection, sources and with this, new advanced other market entities, industry leaders,
air pollution forecasting, and traffic/air decision-making approaches control and or start-ups, with the anticipation of
pollution relationships. optimise road networks and transport more such partnerships in the future.
infrastructure for all road users. The
Real-world AI use cases system is adaptable and suitable for The future has arrived
Like the substantial integration of applications of any size and enables cities The technological solutions and
generative AI solutions such as ChatGPT to manage their complex road transport VIDEO opportunities are now all available and
into our daily lives, an increasing surge networks and to optimise traffic flow, EXTRA in place to shape a more sustainable
in AI investment is anticipated as supported by AI. mobility. The future of transportation
companies transition from experimental has already arrived, and it is now up to
phases to practical applications. The ITS Improved data connectivity the decision makers of city and road
industry is already witnessing a fuels new business models infrastructures to actively engage. ■
proliferation of sophisticated solutions By analysing massive real-time data sets
leveraging AI’s capabilities. As mobility and connecting IoT devices with
becomes increasingly prevalent, these comprehensive traffic management
solutions play a crucial role in platforms, the ITS sector will
minimizing the risk of accidents and increasingly offer tailored predictive
enhancing the safety of the most analytics services, and a shift towards
vulnerable road users. subscription-based business models can
One example is Yunex Traffic’s be expected. The power of data will
AI-driven detection system Yutraffic provide additional monetisation
awareAI, which anonymously analyses opportunities, for example, by offering
the movements of all road users in the valuable insights from IoT-generated
live image of intersections. By using AI data to third parties. Faster digital

SMART MOBILITY WEB TOOLS |
Sustainability toolbox
Electric and automated mobility technologies are powerful tools in the mission to improve
road safety and reduce transport-related emissions
Words: Antonio J Ortín López, general manager, ETRA I+D, Spain
T
he mobility of people and goods Above: The Mistral
pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. it is necessary to expand the operational
is a basic requirement for platform web Obviously, this is not a silver bullet. design domain (ODD) through
economic and social interface Simply replacing ICE vehicles with additional physical and digital
development. Studies suggest Below: The electric vehicles will not solve all infrastructure (PDI). In other words,
that a 10% decrease in journey times can web interface mobility challenges. However, at this smart mobility infrastructure must be
boost productivity by 2.9% and that, in for the vehicle point it has become abundantly clear that able to embrace the automated vehicle in
highly congested regions, free-flowing communications the electric vehicle is an indispensable a bidirectional, symbiotic interaction.
manager Aurora
traffic could mean productivity gains of building block within the wider picture Just like EVs, CAVs are a very powerful
up to 30%.1 This requirement for of greener, safer mobility. building block that need to be adequately
mobility contrasts with the negative side CAVs are expected to make mobility integrated in the right framework to
effects it can have, such as traffic safer. Their potential to save lives and deliver all their potential.
accidents, pollution and the emission of reduce injuries is rooted in one critical The Mistral platform is a good
greenhouse gases. Each year, 1.35 million fact: 94% of serious crashes are due to example of how the right building blocks
people are killed on roadways around the human error.5 However, in the current can be integrated in a common
world.2 Air pollution causes over 6.5 state of autonomous vehicle technology, framework and managed optimally to
million deaths each year globally, and achieve the goal of safer, greener, more
road transport generates 12% of sustainable mobility. Mistral
greenhouse gases.3,4 incorporates specific functionalities for
To tackle these important challenges, the management of EVs and CAVs. For
two powerful tools can be used: electric EVs, Mistral integrates the management
mobility, and autonomous and connected of charging infrastructure – both for
vehicles (CAVs). The large-scale adoption private vehicles and for public transport
of electric vehicles (EVs) will reduce busses. For CAVs, it integrates the PDI

| SMART MOBILITY
that allows for the extension of their Right: A graphical C-ITS systems were implemented
ODD. This includes sensors associated representation within the Compass4D project, which
with infrastructure, communications of the origin/ served as the basis for the generation of a
destination matrix
networks, traffic light signalling, virtual specific component for C-ITS
that Mistral can
signals, roadside units (RSUs), on-board generate using big communications, Aurora. C-ITS is also
units (OBUs), information shared by data and AI the basis for V2I communications in the
CAVs, information from vulnerable road EU-supported Podium and Augmented
users (VRUs) and high definition (HD) CCAM projects. Soon, Mistral will have
maps. Furthermore, Mistral offers new functionalities to help CAVs
specific aid for the management of navigate roadworks, areas with poor
autonomous buses, improving the safety GNSS coverage, adverse environmental
of VRUs and managing the interaction of conditions, with the aim of enabling the
CAVs with emergency vehicles. safe, green, mobility of the future, today. ■
Mistral manages all this information, mobility management at tactical and
relying on its digital twin of the road strategic levels. At a tactical level, Mistral References
network and all its actors. For uses algorithms that favour the 1. https://www.eca.europa.eu/lists/ecadocuments/
example, Mistral includes a vehicle circulation of certain types of road ap19_07/ap_urban_mobility_en.pdf
communications manager called Aurora network users, such as public transport 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
that manages the information related to buses, high occupancy vehicles, PMC10154805/#:~:text=Across%20the%20
cooperative intelligent transport systems emergency vehicles, micromobility and world%2C%20traffic%20accidents%20
(C-ITS) ETSI protocols. pedestrians. At a strategic level, it cause%20majorhealth%20problems%20
94%
Mistral enables mobility mangers considers the dynamic information and%20are,motorcyclists%2C%20or%20
and traffic authorities to apply the of the OD matrices to select the pedestrians%2C%20as%20vulnerable
most appropriate policies to each most appropriate strategies for each 3. https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/
case so that the correct demand situation. Mistral, in lanplh/PIIS2542-5196(22)00090-0.pdf
management of CAVs leads to The number of serious addition to managing supply, can 4. https://www.statista.com/topics/7476/
advantages to the whole of society, crashes due to manage demand, recommending transportation-emissions-
not only to the users of CAVs. human error the most appropriate routes for worldwide/#topicOverview
Mistral not only provides aid to connected vehicles and guiding - or 5. https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/
CAVs but also uses all the information even prescribing - the behaviour of tackling-human-error-to-stop-vehicle-
generated by connected vehicles for autonomous vehicles. accidents
www.grupoetra.com
Smart, sustainable mobility for all

Come join us at Intertraffic 2024
@grupoetra www.linkedin.com/company/etra
139
1073003_ITW_Grupo Etra.indd 1 06/12/2023 11:30
SMART MOBILITY AI |
How AI and CVs are

transforming ITS
Artificial intelligence and connected vehicles are making roads safer, greener, and more efficient
Words | Trond Christensen, Group CEO/CFO, Fredrik Nordh, tolling and AI, and Dan Skiffington, ATMS/traffic management, Q-Free, Norway
I
f you’re part of the ITS industry, Above: AI and generated today, intelligent transport vehicle based on shape, plate numbers,
you’re accustomed to three key machine learning must rely on AI and machine learning to colour, and more. It’s seamless as the
themes: safety, sustainability, are transforming handle the significant amounts of data vehicle moves at normal speeds.”
and efficiency. That’s the traffic management and decisions happening every second. The major hurdle to enforcing road-
ultimate goal the entire industry Below: Frederik use charging (RUC), where
works towards: safe, uncongested North Enhancing vehicle classification road users are automatically billed tolls
travel with reduced emissions. “We use AI in a focused way that allows for using a roadway, has traditionally
Using innovative technologies it to be really great at its job,” been accuracy.
to improve these aspects of traffic says Fredrik Nordh, With AI, vehicle
and transport is not a novel idea; it is Q-Free’s EVP of tolling. classification exceeds
something Q-Free has been doing since “AI is built into our benchmarks for billing
entering the ITS industry in 1984. Back
then, artificial intelligence (AI) and
connected vehicles (CVs) were
Intrada Insight image
review software for
extreme accuracy
349
The number of
and enforcement. In
addition to
identifying
science fiction. Today, AI and CVs when identifying a vehicle by plate or
in transport are a reality thanks vehicles and license employees that fingerprint, AI has
to intelligent tolling systems and plates. The results are Q-Free has in 15 improved RUC by
advanced traffic management. so precise agencies use classifying electric vs
them for tolling, billing, countries fossil fuel vehicles, the
AI and machine learning and enforcement. number of axles, rare
AI, or the simulation of human “With this technology, setups including towing, or
intelligence by computers, and machine there’s no longer a need for even identifying hazardous
learning, the ability for software to train drivers to stop at a toll booth, keeping materials placards.
itself for better outcomes, are popular traffic moving and enhancing road AI-driven, intelligent systems even
buzzwords in tech circles for a good safety.” Nordh adds. “We can accurately use machine learning to improve further.
reason—they represent a level of scan an in-vehicle tolling tag, read The systems use collected data and
technology almost unimaginable in license plates from the road, or use AI to human verification input to train
power and function. With increasing identify vehicles with a digital algorithms for better accuracy, efficiency,
amounts of data and data sources fingerprint, an image unique to each and decision-making processes.

| SMART MOBILITY
VIDEO
EXTRA
Data-driven connectivity congestion or weather alerts could be Above: Q-Free’s Corridor project. The ambitious project
Advanced traffic management systems fully automated. Kinetic Mobility features thousands of connected vehicle
(ATMS) can connect city centres, “We are at a unique time in ITS, system unifies intersections that run Q-Free’s Maxtime
local, intercity, and
highways, and regions, allowing them to where we are applying today’s technology software at the intersection. These
regional traffic
operate as one complete system. ATMS and building the framework for smart operations in a systems work together to improve
solutions, including Q-Free’s Kinetic cities,” says Dan Skiffington, EVP of single platform emergency vehicle response times,
Mobility, can manage systemwide data traffic management for Q-Free. “There Bottom left: prioritise green lights, and regulate
gathering, processing, and sharing across are huge volumes of data available from AI-based tolling traffic flow across an entire
multiple devices and uses. This large- various sources, such as sensors, technology in use in transportation corridor.
scale data aggregation and dissemination cameras, signals, and vehicles, that Slovenia Connected vehicle technology isn’t
also has an additional benefit—it enables traffic management can use to make Below: Dan just for morning commutes. In Europe,
data sharing and connected vehicle-to- smarter decisions, whether manually Skiffington the MODI Project will enhance goods
everything (CV2X) deployments, which by an operator or automatically through transport and logistics by supporting the
serve as backbones for smart corridors, an ATMS system like Kinetic Mobility. implementation of connected, automated
regions, or cities. Smarter decisions improve traffic flow, mobility solutions. Electric, driverless,
The near future holds limitless reduce congestion and emissions, fully automatic transport trucks
possibilities for transportation, including and enhance safety for all road users, leverage a network of sensors, data,
intelligent, self-driving vehicles that including cyclists and pedestrians.” and connected vehicle technology to
communicate with surrounding vehicles demonstrate the future of automated
and infrastructure. How CVs are transforming transport, delivering goods from
A morning commute in a connected transportation Rotterdam to Oslo in ways that human
city could involve little input from In Georgia, USA, a connected vehicle drivers cannot.
a driver, as your vehicle and navigation hotspot, the Georgia Department of
software automatically react to input Transportation uses cellular signals to The future of ITS
from local traffic controllers. Routing communicate in CV2X systems that Innovation in intelligent transport
around an accident or responding to make up the Gwinnett County Smart systems is a constant force driving the
industry forward. The industry delivers
on the shared goals of sustainable,
safe, uncongested transport everywhere
by actively participating in innovation,
including ongoing collaboration with
agencies, industry partners, and even
among competitors.
“Today’s tech is shaking up the global
ITS industry,” Nordh says. “When
Q-Free started 40 years ago, the tech
we see today didn’t seem attainable.
Now, it’s a reality; we’re using AI right
now. The thought of, ‘What will the next
40 years bring?’ is almost unimaginable.”
We look forward to 40 more years
of industry-wide innovation and
collaboration to deliver on the ultimate
goals of intelligent transport: the safe,
clean, free-flowing movements of data,
goods, and people. ■

SMART MOBILITY AI |
Eye on AI
Is artificial intelligence the answer to modern
and future traffic challenges?
Words: René Pohl, product and project manager, traffic technology, Vitronic, Germany
A
dvances in AI and its use are a Above: AI-based based traffic enforcement. It decides encountering each other. This further
driver in almost every aspect cameras for traffic what content can be processed, analysed, amplifies the risk of accidents.
of modern life, one might even control have and utilized, in other words, how Video-based enforcement systems
almost the same
say a game changer in many excellent vision is transferred into using AI keep up with this change, as
capabilities as a
settings. And this is especially true in human eye applications. Intelligent solutions are the they allow the monitoring of more
mobility, where AI is enabling new key. And what provides particularly complex situations with various road
applications that support and fuel the promising approaches in this regard are users. They can, as a prime example,
traffic transition. neural networks such as CNNs automatically distinguish between
The vehicle for the performance of (Convolutional Neural Networks), which pedestrians, cyclists and motorized
AI in traffic applications is easy access to are used at Vitronic. These networks can vehicles and thus detect when the right of
more powerful hardware. This includes, be trained with image material and way at crosswalks is not being complied
on the one hand, faster, more compact, deliver superior performance to with. This option significantly improves
and performant processors, which algorithms for detection and the safety of vulnerable road users
increasingly enable more processing identification. Straight to the point, they (VRU). In addition, different violations
capacity in a small space, and, on the can capture objects more differentiated can be captured simultaneously, which
other hand, advanced camera or more effective within milliseconds. addresses several accident causers at
technology, which has made a huge leap once. Possible applications in traffic
in recent years. Road safety in view enforcement include the already
Industrial cameras today have more To illustrate the benefits of AI for traffic, highlighted surveillance of crosswalks,
capabilities than the human eye – from two areas can be looked at. The first is red light enforcement, documentation of
colour recognition and a wide field of traffic safety or, more precisely, accident turning violations and many more.
view to “seeing” very small details and prevention. For example, intersections
vision in the infrared spectrum. and junctions already account for nearly Mobile phone distraction
Furthermore, they allow very good half of all road users injured or killed in One innovation in this sector is a fully
images to be taken even in poor visibility urban settings. As a result of the traffic automated enforcement system using AI-
conditions, for example at night or in bad transition, road scenarios are becoming based software that detects the use of a
weather. With this hardware available, it even more complex, especially at these smartphone while driving. This is the
is above all the software that determines traffic points, and increasingly diverse answer to a very modern problem
the possibilities of the resulting video- road users, including micromobility, are because this behaviour is widespread and

| SMART MOBILITY
extremely dangerous. Recent more distracted driving Above left: Using a lanes. Here, too, enforcement is often the
research shows that the offenses and thus improve mobile phone while challenge: How can we ensure that
safety even further. driving is one of the drivers do not use the bus lane? How can
risk of accidents
violations which can
increases twofold be detected by AI-
it be made sure that only authorized
when talking on Advanced traffic vehicles enter an environmental zone? Or
40
based technology
the phone, management Above right: An even more difficult: how can it be
sixfold when The second area installation of an detected that drivers are not traveling
texting, and that highlights the AI-based red-light alone in a high-occupancy vehicle lane?
twelvefold The number of hours drivers progress AI brings enforcement Once again, AI provides a solution. Not
system in a pilot
when typing a in major German cities to the table is the
project in the US
only can it read license plates, but it is
phone number. optimization of furthermore capable of capturing other
Many road users
spent stuck in traffic jams traffic in urban Below: Software information about a vehicle – from the
underestimate in 2022 settings. Cities face
development
type of automobile to the number of
and training of
this risk, and since the challenge of better Convolutional passengers. This creates a data basis that
enforcement has managing traffic, Neural Networks helps to implement effective measures.
been extremely costly making it more sustainable (CNNs) is carried out
in terms of manpower and and reducing it. The following at Vitronic A technology of the future
virtually impossible to implement figures show how necessary this is. In Looking at all this, it becomes clear why
across the board, there has been little 2022, drivers in major German cities AI- and video-based traffic systems can
deterrent effect. spent an average of 40 hours stuck in be the facilitators of the traffic transition.
The new system changes this by its traffic jams. And 96% of the urban But their application diversity and
mobile as well as semi-stationary population in the EU was exposed to air performance are not the only reasons.
applicability and autonomous pollution levels higher than the WHO Two others are worth highlighting. First,
functionality. In this application, the AI limits in 2020. their innovation potential. For
is trained using images so that it One way to make a difference here is developers, it is an affordable technology
recognizes when the driver of a vehicle is through driveway regulations and with lower entry barriers compared to
holding a mobile phone – replacing the restrictions. This involves, for example, others, which stimulates creative
time-consuming manual evaluation of low emission zones, lanes for public problem solving and further
image recordings. Therefore, the transport or high-occupancy vehicle development. Second, the comparatively
monitoring of mobile phone distractions low investment they
is now possible anytime, anywhere and require for acquisition and
can change the behaviour of drivers in implementation, coupled
the medium and long term. with the resulting faster
And the AI-based system has another ROI. This is particularly
application that contributes to road interesting for smaller
safety. It can be operated to detect seat municipalities, that
belt violations. While this does not previously had difficulties
prevent accidents, it can significantly to refinance. Due to this
influence the severity of their outcome. new affordability of
A seat belt worn reduces the risk of fatal effective traffic systems
injury by at least 50%, and about one in more states and
four drivers or passengers killed in a municipalities can utilize
traffic accident were not wearing a them, and in turn support
seatbelt or were not wearing it correctly. a comprehensive
Soon, this AI-based system or similar realization of the traffic
ones could be deployed to capture even transition. ■

SMART MOBILITY 3D LIDAR |
Urban solutions
Lidar technology can facilitate safer, smarter transportation in city centres
Words | Julie Bourdinot, marketing manager, Outsight, France
T
he rapid expansion of urban Above: 3D lidar data, effectively in various lighting conditions, Outsight’s 3D lidar data software
populations is exerting pressure when processed and respecting the privacy of citizens by solutions are designed to tackle these
on city infrastructures, leading with real-time not capturing identifiable information. challenges. They process large volumes
software, delivers
to increased traffic, more In ITS, lidar technology is valuable of data at the source, converting it into a
unique insight at
frequent accidents and higher levels of intersections for traffic monitoring, enhancing the more manageable form that requires less
pollution. Europe’s congestion costs safety of intersections, identifying at-risk bandwidth, facilitating low-power
Below: Conflict
amount to approximately €110 billion count at Bellevue: road users, and preventing potential wireless communication.
(US$120 billion) each year, and the USA before and after accidents. However, the complexity of
faces an US$87 billion (€79.5 billion) Outsight’s solution lidar data, particularly when integrating Safety applications
cost, highlighting the urgency for deployment multiple devices, can be a challenge, A prime example of this technology in
smarter transportation solutions. especially for real-time traffic action is in Belleville, Washington, where
With the automotive industry management applications. Outsight’s systems have been
expected to grow by 2% annually until
2030, according to McKinsey, the need
for intelligent transportation systems
(ITS) becomes even more pressing.
These systems are essential for
transforming cities into safer and more
intelligent communities.
Monitoring the flow of vehicles and
pedestrians is key to creating smarter,
safer cities. This process helps in the
efficient allocation of resources, reduction
of emissions, and prevention of accidents.
Lidar technology stands out for its
ability to provide precise and detailed 3D
spatial measurements, functioning

| SMART MOBILITY
implemented to manage and prevent accidents by Below: People effective solution for the challenges faced
traffic intersections combining ITS with walking and cycling by modern urban centers. As cities
represent just
with the goal of lidar technologies. continue to grow, the need for efficient,
5% of all crashes,
eliminating The added benefit however, they safe, and environmentally friendly
traffic-related of protecting transportation becomes paramount. The
€110bn
account for 55% of
deaths and citizens’ privacy all fatal and serious ability of lidar to provide accurate data
serious injuries. makes these crashes without compromising privacy is a
Bellevue’s solutions even game-changer, offering a blueprint for
collaboration The cost of congestion in more appealing. cities worldwide to follow. With the
with Outsight is Europe each year In conclusion, reduction of accidents and the
more than a the integration of optimisation of urban flow, ITS stands
traffic reduction ITS and lidar out as a beacon of innovation, guiding us
effort; it’s a life- technology is towards a more sustainable and secure
saving mission. proving to be an urban future. ■
Although pedestrians
and cyclists account for only
5% of traffic incidents, they make up
55% of fatal and serious injuries, with
41% of these severe cases being due to
failure to yield.
The outcomes of implementing the
technology and improving the
intersection’s markings and layout are
astounding, including a reduction of
91.6% in adjacent-approaches events and
0 occurrences involving bicycles, vs 16
previously (see table).
The collaboration between Bellevue
and Outsight exemplifies ITS’s
transformational potential. Cities can
better manage resources, lower pollution,
Lidar-Based Software
Solutions for ITS
Learn more at outsight.ai
145
1086542_ITW_Outsight.indd 1 07/11/2023 15:16
SMART MOBILITY CEO Q&A |
been too challenging because we share a

common mission: to enhance mobility by
delivering innovative technology that
makes it safer, more sustainable and
more efficient.
The journey we embarked on is full of
new opportunities. Econolite is a leading
provider of traffic management solutions
in the USA, while PTV’s software
solutions for traffic modelling and
simulation are recognised as global
standards. The synergy between our
solutions is abundant.
By harnessing the strengths of both
companies, we can offer a comprehensive
approach to managing the entire
mobility value chain, encompassing both
software and hardware. This positions
Umovity as a one-stop-shop for end-to-
end technology and services, dedicated
to realising smart, safe, and sustainable
transportation.
Last autumn, you introduced the

new collaborative Mobility Tech
Suite under the Umovity brand...
I’m highly enthusiastic about this joint
endeavor. Historically, at PTV, we
unveiled our software’s new features in
October. In 2023, for the first time, PTV
and Econolite presented their latest
developments together within the
Joint forces
Mobility Tech Update.
A key highlight of this presentation
was the introduction of the integrated
Mobility Tech Suite. This suite
seamlessly incorporates powerful expert
products, including our industry-leading
modelling, simulation, and traffic
operations software, as well as new,
An interview with Christian U Haas, CEO of PTV Group and streamlined software as a service (SaaS)
offerings, designed for specific use cases.
Econolite, reveals how collaborative technology can play Additionally, it also includes our
innovative cabinets, controllers, video
a crucial role in simplifying the complexity of mobility and radar sensor technologies and most
reliable field maintenance and
Words | Stefanie Schmidt, PTV Group, Germany professional services.
I
t has been about a year since PTV Above: Christian U.
Haas, CEO of PTV
Group and Econolite unveiled their and Econolite
new joint umbrella brand, Umovity.
Right: Last autumn,
Over this time, the two companies, PTV and Econolite
have been actively harnessing the presented their
synergies of their technologies for traffic integrated Mobility
planning and management. Tech Suite, which
enable cities and
organizations
Mr Haas, how would you to improve the
characterise the past year? efficiency, safety,
The past year has been incredibly and sustainability
exciting for all of us at PTV Group and of transportation
Econolite. We had to reorganise our networks
operations, adapt our strategy, and
enhance the collaboration between our
teams. I take great pride in what we have
accomplished so far. However, it hasn’t

| SMART MOBILITY
any city or region worldwide in just one

week. This is a remarkable advancement
from the previous manual process, which
could take several months to complete.
In the latest version, PTV Model2Go
Demand, we have incorporated traffic
demand data, enabling users to directly
execute a wide range of common traffic
and mobility analyses.
At PTV Group, we are on a mission to
deliver more advanced SaaS products,
constantly building new web-first
solutions. In addition to our renowned
flagship expert products like PTV Visum
and PTV Vissim, we are committed to
offering lightweight tools that simplify
the daily work of traffic planners. For
instance, we recently launched PTV
Lines, an intuitive cloud tool designed
to streamline public transport
sketch-planning.
Another great example is PTV Flows,
With the Mobility Tech Suite we optimisation tool, PTV Flows, and are Above: The our data-driven SaaS tool for real-time
integration of PTV
empower our customers to address a continuously working on enabling Vistro 2024 with
traffic management. Using machine
wide spectrum of needs, ranging from advanced prediction and control within Econolite’s Centracs learning and state-of-the-art algorithms,
strategic mobility planning and traffic the same operational environment. This streamlines traffic it enables users to monitor and
management and prediction to on-site continuous development underscores our signal timing proactively manage traffic flows. By
traffic operations and optimisation, commitment to providing analysis and traffic identifying patterns and trends, the self-
impact studies
regardless of the project’s scale, scope, comprehensive and cutting-edge learning system visualises incidents in
or timeline. solutions for our customers. Below: The the road network and forecasts
Evo Radar
unexpected congestion up to two hours
sensor in South
Can you provide more details on Has the union between PTV and Gloucestershire in advance. We have designed it with
some of the suite’s key features? Econolite led to collaborative is the first cities and road authorities in mind that
The Mobility Tech Suite opens projects? deployment of an don’t have the time or the resources to set
completely new opportunities to connect Certainly. We are continuously focused Econolite product in up and maintain an advanced traffic
products and use cases. on harnessing our synergies and Europe management infrastructure. No access to
One noteworthy example is the delivering enhanced value to our traffic management infrastructures or
seamless integration of Econolite’s customers. Just a few months ago, we detectors is required.
industry-leading EOS Controller with celebrated a significant milestone for
What motivates you personally
110°
PTV Vissim. This integration allows for Umovity. The installation and
the replication of controller logic within successful use of Econolite’s Evo to strive for improved
traffic simulations, simplifying Radar sensor in South mobility?
signalisation testing across various Gloucestershire, UK marked a I must admit that before I joined
scenarios and providing valuable pivotal moment. This was not The Econolite PTV Group four years ago, I didn’t
simulation-driven insights. only the first time that PTV Evo Radar’s realise the profound impact that
Another compelling feature is the piloted a piece of traffic detection field of view mobility has on our lives, as I do
integration between Econolite’s advanced hardware but also the first today. We often take it for granted,
transportation management system, deployment of an Econolite product in yet ensuring accessibility and
Centracs, and PTV’s transportation Europe. The data gathered by the sensor maintaining smooth and safe traffic flow
engineering software, Vistro. This can then be ingested into PTV modelling for everyone is a significant undertaking.
integration streamlines traffic signal software and analysed to simulate any Simultaneously, mobility is a
timing analysis and traffic impact potential changes that could improve fundamental need for all of us, granting
studies, eliminating the need for complex traffic flow. There is also more in the us the freedom to go to work, meet with
setups and fragmented analyses. With pipeline, which will be revealed at others, and access essential services like
this connection, users no longer have to Intertraffic Amsterdam. education, healthcare, culture, and new
manually input signal timing parameters perspectives. Technology plays a crucial
into the software. Instead, the Centracs- Could you share some innovation role in simplifying the complexity of
Vistro integration effortlessly provides a highlights with us? mobility and adapting it to the various
wide range of traffic signal time-of-day One of the most remarkable needs of people worldwide. The idea that
patterns and timings to Vistro, and vice developments in the field of city and our advanced software and hardware
versa, ensuring the highest quality in transportation management has been the solutions contribute to increased
traffic signal management. introduction of PTV Model2Go. This efficiency, accessibility, safety and
Furthermore, we have combined groundbreaking tool leverages smart sustainability by minimising congestion,
Econolite´s Saas product Centracs automation technology to create accidents, and pollution is a source of
Mobility with PTV’s SaaS prediction and fundamental transportation models for motivation for me every day. ■

SMART MOBILITY VIRTUAL REALITY |
Let’s make Europe green

Swarco has embarked on a tour of Europe to showcase, using virtual reality technology,
how its traffic technology solutions can help cities reduce emissions and achieve the key
goals of the European Green Deal
Author: Richard Neumann, senior manager of communications and events, Swarco Group, Austria
W
hat do cities like Above: An values by the year 2030. The cities must And this is where the Austrian-based,
Rotterdam, Dublin, interactive VR develop a program of measures over international traffic technology
user experience:
Malmö, Dortmund, several sectors to reach these ambitious corporation Swarco offers support for the
A glimpse at
Lisbon, Paris, Milan, and Swarco’s Virtual goals. One sector to consider is transport. cities. At the ITS European Congress in
Krakow have in common? Like 100 other MetaCity In 2021, fuel combustion-related Lisbon in May 2023 the company kicked
European cities, they all are committed emissions from the transport sector off its GoGreen initiative aimed at such
to the European Green Deal. This means accounted for 23% of global emissions, cities, under the motto, “Let’s make
they want to become climate neutral by according to the International Energy Europe green. Deal?” The official ribbon-
2050 and reduce greenhouse gas Agency. This constitutes a major point of cutting of this Swarco initiative took
emissions by 55% compared to 1990 departure for improvement. place in the presence of deputy

| SMART MOBILITY
director-general Herald Ruijters from City experiences According to the UNEP Pollution Action
DG Move/European Commission, The new VR experience was already note, air pollution is the greatest
ERTICO chairman Angelos Amditis, present at congresses and fairs in environmental threat to public health
ERTICO CEO Joost Vantomme, and Portugal, Italy, Spain, Poland, Germany, globally and accounts for an estimated
Swarco CEO Michael Schuch. the UK, and the Netherlands. Many seven million premature deaths every
“Between May 2023 and Intertraffic more appointments have been made with year. Keeping traffic flowing, avoiding
Amsterdam in April 2024, we will follow Green Deal cities for the fourth quarter stopping and congestion, riding on the
a collaborative Swarco approach to of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024. “Green Wave” are measures to reduce
deliver an innovative experience for all “Independently of the location, we emissions and their negative impact on
Green Deal cities in Europe,” comments just need a 3x3m space,” Coskun the environment and air quality.
Swarco CEO Michael Schuch. “As a explains. “You put on the goggles and off A practical aid in knowing what the
major player in ITS, we would like to you go in a 3D world introducing you to air quality is like can be a smart traffic
formally engage with them, obtain a major city pain points like air light. Swarco’s AirDec add-on for the
better understanding of their actual pollution, congestion, scarce Combia traffic light generation
23%
challenges and provide support with parking spaces and insufficient measures environmental
know-how and technology available safety for VRUs. As the mayor parameters such as CO2, NOx,
today in overcoming such challenges.” or the traffic engineer of a ozone, particulate matter,
city, you get useful The percentage of global humidity, and noise directly
From virtual reality to information how to tackle emissions accounted for by at the intersection. Traffic
real implementation such pain points by means of managers can retrieve the
Urban mobility management solutions intelligent transport systems fuel combustion-related measured information from
play a significant role in the and tailored solutions from emissions from the the cloud and introduce
decarbonization of transportation and the Swarco portfolio.” transport sector strategic counteractions to
reduction of greenhouse gases. “We have The pain points may vary improve air quality by
Source: International
created a special virtual reality from city to city as will their rerouting traffic or encouraging
experience where city stakeholders can special focus. That is why the VR Energy Agency the use of public transport.
delve into a very realistic urban experience proposes solutions that
environment to understand how Swarco’s involve little investment in road Safer micro mobility
offerings help tackle challenges such as infrastructure. Cities may choose Walking, cycling, and using e-scooters
air pollution, traffic congestion, micro between a basic solution or a full-fledged are advantageous “green” modes of
end-to-end package. Traffic flow can be Below: At the ITS
mobility inclusion, pedestrian safety, transport in urban areas. However, the
European Congress
parking space management, data-driven improved by making better use of the 2023 in Lisbon, people using these modes are considered
traffic management and modal shift,” existing infrastructure. Intelligent Swarco launched vulnerable road users. Road markings
explains Itir Coskun, innovation parking guidance will lead people a VR experience to are an adequate means to improve the
engineer with Swarco’s ITS Division. quicker to a free parking space. This show stakeholders safety of these road users. Cycle path
“VR takes into account different levels of avoids longer cruising to find a parking how its offerings markings in green or red colour clearly
can help tackle
political and technical responsibility and space, thus reducing emissions, fuel separate the cyclists from the lanes of
challenges such as
presents city pain points and our solutions consumption, and stress. traffic congestion motorised traffic. Durable and
with a little gamification in an easy-to- Air quality is another focal point and pedestrian functional preformed tactile markings
understand and vivid way,” Coskun adds. largely influencing our quality of life. safety for the visually impaired or blind can be
retrofitted to the pavement, so there is no
need for planning expensive raised
concrete or stone structures for
orientation purposes.
SafeLight, as part of a traffic light,
shines a red light onto the pavement to
alert distracted smartphone users from
risking to run a red light.
Furthermore, high-performance road
markings are key to enabling automated
driving. High contrast, high retro
reflectivity, and cross-border uniformity
of lane markings are prerequisites for
modern lane-keep-assist technologies
with cameras and Lidar, as Swarco tests
have shown at the Digitrans test centre
in Lower Austria.
At Intertraffic Amsterdam in April
2024 Swarco will summarize its
experiences with the cities and the
achievements made. The fair will be the
finish line for the tour of European
Green Deal cities. Interested stakeholders
can register for an appointment any time
at www.swarco.com/gogreen. ■

SMART MOBILITY AI |
Smart intersections
Artificial intelligence is paving the way for a more
data-driven approach to intersection control
Words | Teledyne FLIR Systems
T
raffic is still increasing Above: Teledyne and safety risks and to contribute reduced car emissions, and more safety
worldwide. Despite high FLIR’s thermal and to a more livable city, we will need for vulnerable road users.
fuel prices and changing visible sensors are intersections that cope with this variety
telecommuting habits, the equipped with AI to of traffic streams in a smart way. AI for optimised control
detect approaching
majority of urban areas saw increasing vehicles, cyclists,
Teledyne FLIR Systems is committed and awareness
travel demand in 2022. Across the globe, and pedestrians to remaining focused and abreast of the Of course, technology is evolving. Just
58% of urban areas saw increased traffic without the need latest technological developments. like in many other industries, artificial
delays compared to 2021.1 Adding more for pre-configured From artificial intelligence to V2X, intelligence (AI) is making its way into
roads no longer seems to be an option. zones the company is dedicated to ensuring ITS as well. Hardware processing power
Instead, we must be smarter with our the safest and most efficient road has increased incessantly over the past
currently available road infrastructure networks around the globe. decade and new ways to collect data
and city space. Many intersections are already (through wi-fi or Internet of Things
The traffic scene is becoming more equipped with some kind of smart sensors) are paving the way for a more
complex as well. Many cities are now technology. Traffic lights no longer data-driven approach in signalised
launching initiatives to give city streets change based on fixed time intervals; intersection control.
back to pedestrians. Also, the use they work dynamically, using smart Instead of analysing pixel
of bicycles is stimulated to foster presence detection of approaching information, AI-driven traffic cameras
environmentally friendly and healthy traffic users provided by sensors and are now analysing the entire camera
mobility. All these initiatives will require cameras installed at intersections. picture, providing traffic planners and
new safety measures and new ways of Some technologies, like Teledyne controllers with total ‘situational
organising intersection traffic. FLIR’s thermal traffic sensors can even awareness’ and they are doing a much
In the coming decades, we can expect distinguish between different traffic better job of detecting and distinguishing
an even more complex traffic picture users, such as motorists, cyclists and between a variety of traffic users and
with the addition of connected vehicles pedestrians. This dynamic way of objects. Detectors from Teledyne FLIR,
(CVs) and connected autonomous controlling traffic lights has already for example, will easily distinguish
vehicles (CAVs). To mitigate congestion resulted in reduced delays and queues, between a car and a van, or between

| SMART MOBILITY
58%
The proportion of urban
areas with increased
traffic delays in 2022
compared to 2021
VIDEO
EXTRA
a small and a large truck. The detector Predicting trajectories Streamlining traffic
can even be taught to recognise AI detectors are better in predicting With city congestion and car usage
customised classes. It only needs to be trajectories. Based on vehicle parameters on the rise worldwide, traffic managers
fed with new data and trained. With such as speed and direction, they can will need to get smarter in their control
detectors having become so smart, easily see where a car is going, even if for of signalised intersections. AI detectors
installers nowadays are more flexible in part of that trajectory the view on that definitely have the capability to
installing their equipment. The position car is occluded by other traffic. This streamline traffic at intersections
of the camera is no longer limited to a makes detection much faster and more like never before. We may be at the
certain height. Even in less ideal camera accurate, and makes it possible to control very beginning of this evolution, but
positions, the detection performance of traffic signals much more dynamically. the good news is that AI systems
AI-based systems is high. AI-powered Based on this information, AI detectors continuously learn from new data,
systems are also able to handle much also make it possible to develop heat collected from road sensors and traffic
more complex situations. maps of high-risk accident hotspots, users. This will enable them to provide
But the big difference with previous enabling traffic planners to understand more accurate and more extensive data
generations, is that AI systems have the traffic patterns, analyse possible conflict on the behavior of vehicles, cyclists,
capability to learn from their data and areas, and even see which road users are pedestrians, in all shapes and forms.
to get more effective over time. The causing which types of conflicts. Teledyne FLIR already offers thermal
software algorithms inside the detectors and visible sensors equipped with AI to
are trained on a large dataset of images, Digital twins detect approaching vehicles, cyclists, and
which then evolve and learn how to AI detectors provide all the information pedestrians without the need for pre-
IMAGE: STOCK-ADOBE.COM
recognise objects by adjusting internal that is required to build a digital twin of configured zones. Traffic managers can
parameters. Teledyne FLIR cameras and the intersection, a virtual, real-time use this technology to reliably control
sensors also use a proprietary method of representation of the intersection. Digital our road networks and gather valuable
data collection giving advantages such twins can help traffic managers and urban positioning, speed, and heading data for
as reduced false alarms and customised planners to simulate traffic and congestion a comprehensive, continuous view of
classifications for individual customers. conditions and test mitigation strategies. their roadways. ■

SMART MOBILITY DATA PROCESSING |
Overcoming challenges
The ability of traffic systems to process raw data and create valuable insight
with low latency for drivers and fleets are gaining critical importance
Words: Volodymyr Zavadko, senior delivery director, head of transportation, Intellias, Ukraine
I
magine an ambulance rushing
through busy traffic on a mission to
save lives. Drivers require
immediate alerts about the
approaching ambulance to slow down,
stop, or move their vehicle to a sidewalk.
Or let’s take an accident on a highway.
The traffic system must distribute
information about the event to nearby
drivers in the shortest possible time to
help them avoid collisions and reduce the
risk of further accidents. In these
conditions, the ability to turn raw data
into valuable insights for drivers and
distribute it to relevant traffic
participants with low latency gains
critical importance.
Challenges of low latency in Above: Intellias scaling using advanced cloud technology well-structured processing of traffic flow
traffic systems has built an and AI load prediction tools. and incident data fetched on a specific
Despite the high demand for instant road advanced business A minor latency surge from a schedule (once per minute or once per 30
intelligence
events delivery, the implementation of platform offering
cyberattack can disrupt the entire traffic seconds). However, this approach entails
low latency traffic systems entails a lot of rich data collection, system. Code inspection tools, bottlenecks, which require innovative
challenges. Traffic systems regularly processing, penetration tests, strong encryption technological solutions to tackle the
handle vast amounts of data from and reporting mechanisms, rate limiters, and strict challenge of low latency implementation.
multiple sources and operate under peak capabilities incident response protocols can be Vehicle-to-everything (V2X)
loads. Their mission-critical components Below: Figure 1: applied to reduce security risks. technology is one of the most promising
are often written in low-level Push message To ensure the system remains innovations in connectivity. V2X can
delivery for low
programming languages or require available and efficient, it’s essential to revolutionise low latency traffic systems
latency traffic
careful tuning of high-level platforms to systems rigorously monitor latency across by enabling single-digit milliseconds
achieve the desired performance. multiple components, use geographical latency. It takes advantage of direct
These systems process hundreds of redundancy, implement fast recovery vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-
millions of data points hourly and procedures, and perform zero-downtime infrastructure (V2I) communication,
require parallel computing to minimise deployments. eliminating the need for an intermediate
latency. This is achievable by distributing cloud server in the data exchange.
road events across multiple processing Innovative technologies However, V2X technology is only
units, ensuring optimal performance For more than two decades, the Intellias available for the newest vehicle models
and fast scalability. mobility team has been providing and in limited geographical areas, which
Traffic systems follow cyclic load engineering services to global clients complicates its applications to large fleets
patterns, peaking during rush hours and from mobility and transportation on the road. Considering these
diminishing at night. This provides cost- segments. Traffic data providers and limitations, cloud-based push
saving opportunities through automated OEMs require efficient and notifications delivery seems a more
realistic way to impact road safety today.
Telecom providers already adopt push
notifications to distribute software
updates, messages, and alerts right to
users’ mobile devices. The technology is
proven in practice and has common
acceptance among a wider audience.
Figure 1 shows a high-level push
notification delivery system for
connected vehicles developed by the
Intellias mobility team. In this example,

| SMART MOBILITY
Left: HMI systems Data Standards (NDS), Live may be

are evolving from chosen specifically for traffic data
mere control panels encoding, or Google Protobuf as a more
to vast central
flexible and widely supported option.
hubs with multiple
options, bringing At event delivery stage, the traffic
together data, events are transferred into a MQTT-
personalization, based vehicle connector that maintains
and advanced live connection to vehicles. This protocol
connectivity is designed for IoT and real-time
features that
applications, offering low overheads,
enrich the driving
experience asynchronous communication,
scalability, and low-power consumption.
These benefits set MQTT apart from
alternatives like HTTP long polling or
WebSockets, which are less optimised
for constrained devices and can be
unreliable networks.
the backend infrastructure decides which stream processing pipeline. The Safety and efficiency
events to send to particular vehicles. This
method eliminates the delay caused by
periodic updates and enables a
pipeline transforms multiple data
inputs from connected sensors
into actionable events. Apache
+20
The number of years’
Low latency is becoming crucial
for safety and efficiency in
vehicular traffic processing
single-digit second latency for traffic Flink is ideal for advanced event systems. Intellias engineers use
events distribution. time processing, low latency, experience Intellias their software engineering
The message delivery process is support for stateful stream has in the mobility expertise and experience to
divided into three stages: processing and high throughput. overcome ever-present low latency
At the data collection stage, data Then a binary encoder transforms domain challenges, from network
ingestion APIs gather raw data from events into vehicle-specific and constraints to scalability and security
different sensors and third-party network efficient format. Depending on issues. Their goal is a future where every
services. At the stream processing stage, OEM’s requirements, Transport Protocol moment on the road counts and every
the system feeds the collected data into a Experts Group (TPEG) and Navigation life is safe. ■
153
1082823_ITW_Intellias Global Ltd.indd 1 07/11/2023 15:15
SMART MOBILITY CTO Q&A |
The future of V2X

An interview with Alfredo Escribá Gallego, chief technology officer, Kapsch
VIDEO
EXTRA
TrafficCom, reveals how use cases for C-ITS and V2X are growing, amidst
new technologies such as AI for traffic management
Words | Kapsch TrafficCom, Austria
The directive is clearly important, but

what about implementation? Are there
any actual projects that show that the
market is moving forward?
We recently announced a massive project
for the German Autobahn. Here, mobile
barrier boards indicating limited-time
work sites will be equipped with
so-called ITS roadside stations (IRS),
which send warning messages directly to
approaching vehicles.
This can reduce the risk of accidents
in dangerous road works areas, as drivers
are informed more quickly and directly
about road works. Additionally, we are
providing our Connected Mobility
Control Center, controlling the IRS and
also interfacing with other traffic
management systems, allowing for
comprehensive insights and control of
road traffic on German highways.
Germany is a country of drivers – what

does that mean in numbers?
We are covering two thirds of all German
highways with our equipment – that is
over 8,600km (5,344 miles) of roads. As
far as we know, this is one of the largest
projects of its kind globally, so it
definitely acts as an important lighthouse
P
project and we expect to see more
reviously you have said that the Above: Alfredo applications. We believe that this is European countries and roadway
industry needs to get everybody Escribá Gallego, definitely a step forward.” operators to follow suit, particularly now
on board to make substantial chief technology the regulatory framework has been set.
progress on increasing V2X officer, Kapsch What does that mean?
TrafficCom
coverage. Is that still the case? It means that relevant European What is the situation in other regions?
“Yes, that is still the case. When we talk stakeholders – OEMs, road operators, We are currently implementing an
about what is needed for V2X, we are and companies like Kapsch – have a Orchestrated Connected Corridor across
talking about the whole ecosystem, from reliable framework for implementing use 19 intersections in the city centre of
infrastructure to OEMs, and that is still cases on a wider scale, because there is an Montreal in Canada. Urban areas are the
not moving as it should. Deployment agreed-upon security credential other big piece of the traffic safety
without users is useless. From a use case management and ample bandwidth for puzzle. In Montreal, we give traffic
perspective, we are still waiting for more safety-related use cases. Basically, we operators a clearer picture of what is
deployments – here, the industry is still have a circle of trust where even if you happening on their streets and send
dragging its feet a little bit. don’t know who you are communicating warnings about vulnerable road users
“However, we can report some good with, you can rest assured that they are a directly into vehicles. The benefits are
news. Just a few weeks ago, the European trustworthy actor within the system. It is clear: fewer accidents, fewer traffic jams.
Union made a massive step towards not possible to overstate the importance We also announced distributorship
consolidating the regulatory ecosystem of that step. This has been something we agreements in North America, bringing
for C-ITS even further by adopting the have all been working towards for years, our hardware and software to even more
ITS directive that codifies the security and I am glad the EU succeeded in potential clients. And in Australia, we
credential management system for C-ITS approving this crucial piece of legislation. are involved in several projects as well,

| SMART MOBILITY
Left: In cities, use can analyse vast amounts of data from

cases such as various sensors and vehicles, enabling
public transport predictive traffic management. With AI
priority, red light
we can predict the likelihood of accidents
warning, pedestrian
awareness, and to happen. Or determine how busy
more can be downtown parking facilities will be. This
implemented to not only enhances road safety but also
enhance safety and improves traffic flow.
ease congestion Additionally, machine learning helps
Below: By in fine-tuning our warning systems,
connecting making them more accurate and more
transport
timely, which is crucial for driver and
infrastructure
and road users in pedestrian safety. Kapsch has been using
real-time, mobility AI for decades to read license plates and
information and to identify vehicles as part of our tolling
safety warnings can offering. We have expanded it to detect
be communicated vulnerable road users at intersections. AI
instantly to drivers
both in urban and interurban areas. instance, in urban settings like Montreal, is clearly a technology of the future, but
There are projects coming in almost all smoother traffic means fewer stops and as always, the big question is how to use
regions. Generally, this shows that the starts, which in turn lowers fuel it in a way that grows value instead of
market is becoming more active. consumption and emissions. just reducing costs.
Also, by promoting safety and
50
Where do you still see roadblocks? reducing accidents, we help in What is your personal vision for
The roadblocks continue to be a chicken decreasing the environmental how we will experience mobility
and egg problem. Not enough impact often associated with in 15 years?
deployments mean that use cases are not traffic incidents. It is difficult to make predictions
enabled in connected vehicles, which
The number of in this field as it is in a phase of
results in deployments not yet having How are you integrating countries where Kapsch transition, but I expect mobility
attractive ROIs to justify investments. emerging technologies like Trafficom has delivered to pivot around everything that
But at some point, the loop needs to be AI and machine learning in connected vehicles technology
C-ITS and V2X systems?
successful projects enables, from road-based traffic
broken. That is why initiatives like the
one in Germany are great. Now we need The integration of AI and management to mobility demand
OEMs in Germany to enable the use machine learning is a significant management to tolling. We are seeing
cases on their vehicles. advancement in our field. These important use cases now, but there is still
technologies allow our systems to predict a long way ahead of us when it comes to
How do you ensure interoperability and adapt to traffic patterns more connected vehicle technology. I am
between different systems and efficiently. For example, AI algorithms excited to explore it. ■
countries, given the international
nature of C-ITS and V2X?
Ensuring interoperability is a central
aspect of our work. We adhere to
international specifications to guarantee
that systems can communicate across
borders and manufacturers, because that
is the only way of creating reliable
coverage for users. Additionally, we
collaborate closely with industry
partners and participate in international
forums to align our technologies. This
allows us to make CV implementations
from Australia to the USA. This is
essential in a global industry like ours,
where fragmented solutions will not
suffice to bring value to customers.
What role does sustainability play?

Sustainability is at the heart of our
projects and our strategy. Since we
started many years ago in traffic
management, we have always been
committed to not only improving
emissions and air quality but also quality
of life. By improving traffic flow and
reducing congestion, we directly
contribute to lower emissions. For

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Index to advertisers Find out more about the companies in this issue
intelligence security solutions, solar smart radars, tolling, and

traffic telematics, consultancy, and training services. Alliance
produces future-oriented and efficient traffic and motor solutions
and transportation systems that are reliable, economical, and
environmentally conscious.
3M Transportation Safety Division (inside front cover)
Every day 3M Transportation Safety Division works to maximise Contact details:
roadway visibility and reduce long-term costs all while conforming Tel: +971 (2) 444-7677
to some of the most rigorous government standards. For 80 years, Email: info@alliance.ae
Web: www.alliance.ae
the company been applying its science to push the boundaries of
traffic safety. The mission at 3M Transportation Safety Division is
to help bring families home safely. The company is committed to
improving road safety, protecting vulnerable road users, and also
driving positive impacts on the environment. It is proud to design
the systems, services and high-performance materials that will help
create a safer future for drivers everywhere. Avery Dennison (pages 7 and 57)
Avery Dennison reflective technology has been making highway
Contact details: and street safety solutions bright with prismatic signs for nearly
Tel: +49 2131 14 2428 100 years. It is one of the preferred suppliers to professional sign
Email: trafficsafety.uk@mmm.com shops worldwide and services the traffic and safety market with one
Web: www.3m.co.uk/3M/en_GB/roadsafety-uk/roads-highways/reflective-
road-markings/ of the industry’s most comprehensive ranges of reflective sheeting.
The pursuit of its vision has aligned its businesses into a focused,
customer-driven company that specialises in materials science.
Its in-depth pool of expertise and global scale enable it to deliver
insights, innovative products, and intelligent solutions to customers
all over the world.
Contact details:
Aimsun (page 107) Tel: +1 877 214 0909
Aimsun is an international leader in digital mobility solutions Email: reflective.orders@averydennison.com
Web: https://reflectives.averydennison.com/en/home.html
for transport authorities, highway agencies, public transport operators
and consultancies. Aimsun’s simulation and predictive data analytics
help customers to understand transportation network performance,
to predict its future evolution, and to support decision making.
Contact details:
Tel: +34 933 171 693
Email: info@aimsun.com Carrida Technologies (page 101)
Web: www.aimsun.com
Carrida Technologies is a provider of ANPR software and solutions. Its
product portfolio ranges from Carrida SDK, a hardware-independent
software library that runs on any PC, edge device or server/cloud
to edge solutions with onboard data processing. The company was
founded in 2017 and is based in Germany and Austria.
Contact details:
Tel: +49 6331 259 9795
Alliance Traffic Systems (page 63) Email: info@carrida-technologies.com
Web: www.carrida-technologies.com
Founded in 2008, Alliance Traffic Systems is a market leader in
intelligent traffic systems (ITS), smart traffic enforcement, artificial

Circontrol (page 135)

Circontrol is a company with its own technology in which innovation Ecolsystems (page 131)
is an ongoing challenge. Based in Barcelona, it was founded in 1997, Ecolsystems offers road safety infrastructure specialists a range of
as part of Circutor Group, to provide efficient solutions to the world sustainable road curbs of the highest quality. Made of recycled -
of mobility and the field of EV recharging. Circontrol launched its first and in turn recyclable - plastic material, the curbs are composed of
charger in 2008, when nobody was talking about EVs, becoming a high-strength aggregates, Ecolsystems modular curbs are designed
pioneer in the industry. Since it was founded, it has devoted a major to guarantee maximum safety and durability with different road
part of its resources to R&D, manufacturing high-quality products, safety functions.
which has enabled it to become a leader in standard solutions, but
also in the most specific solutions required by the electromobility Contact details:
market. It offers a wide range of products, based on their application Tel: +39 734 340247
in the different market needs, from home charge solutions to Email: info@ecolsystems.it
ultra-fast chargers, charging hubs, car parks or service stations. Web: www.ecolsystems.it
Contact details:
Tel: +34 937 36 29 40
Email: marketing@circontrol.com
Web: www.circontrol.com
Grupo Etra (page 139)

Etra is an international industrial group providing turnkey solutions
and services in the fields of traffic, transportation, smart lighting,
Designa (page 49) energy efficiency, security, water management and communications.
Designa Verkehrsleittechnik is a world market leader in fully The company covers the whole value chain, from technological
automated parking systems and is represented in more than research and innovation, to development, manufacturing,
60 countries. With a holistic product concept, Designa offers installation, commissioning, and operation. Etra combines
smart solutions for complex parking management requirements, innovative technologies with a pragmatic approach, providing
from classic large systems with hundreds of devices to free-flow advanced, environmentally friendly solutions and services for
and cloud software for the smart city. Each system is carefully both smart cities and technological infrastructures.
tailored to specific needs – for airports, hotels, shopping centres,
universities, hospitals, or even entire cities. Contact details:
Tel: +34 9631 34082
Contact details: Email: grupoetra@grupoetra.com
Web: www.grupoetra.com
Tel: +49 (0) 431 5336-0
Email: info@designa.com
Web: www.designa.com
Geveko Markings (page 81) Haenni Instruments (page 119)

Geveko Markings develops, manufactures, and distributes Haenni Instruments is a leading supplier of mobile wheel load
horizontal markings in any size, material, colour, or form that meet scales, with more than 50,000 units sold worldwide. Haenni scales
the requirements of the segments it serves. The company mainly are thin, light, robust and reliable, which makes them the ideal
focuses on areas of application where its products must perform to solution for mobile weight enforcement. The variety of types,
either strict performance, durability and safety standards, decorative sizes and ranges enables their use in different applications.
requirements or under demanding circumstances. Celebrating its
100-year anniversary in 2024, Geveko Markings continues to mark Contact details
the future with materials that enable safe, sustainable, and efficient Tel: +41 31 506 5400
mobility in more than 80 countries around the world. Email: info@haenni-scales.com
Web: www.haenni-scales.com
Contact details:
Tel: +45 63 51 71 71
Email: sales@gevekomarkings.com
Web: www.geveko-markings.com

Technologies, Elmos, Joynext, NNG, DKV, and Rand McNally, rely

on Intellias to co-create custom solutions and digitally transform
their businesses. Intellias answers mobility challenges with deep
Heintzmann Group (page 127) expertise in connectivity, infotainment systems, autonomous driving,
The Heintzmann Group, with its roots in German and international e-mobility, and intelligent transport proven by the highest industry
mining, has been providing security for 170 years. It is a leader in certifications (ASPICE and TISAX) and global partnerships (AUTOSAR,
the development, production and sales of road equipment, traffic COVESA, NDS).
technology and safety systems.
Contact details:
Contact details Tel: +49 8001800992
Tel: +49 6851 93 99 32 Email: mobility@intellias.com
Email: info@heintzmann-traffic-systems.de Web: www.intellias.com
Web: www.heintzmann-traffic-systems.de
Intercomp (page 115)

For more than 45 years, Intercomp has provided superior-quality
portable and in-ground weighing systems, along with the highest
HR Groep Streetcare (page 86) levels of customer satisfaction, for a wide range of industries. Its static
HR Groep Streetcare is engaged in the production, delivery, and wheel and axle scales, and dynamic weigh-in-motion systems are
installation, as well as the registration, analysis, and management of designed with the most innovative technology in the world.
traffic signs and related facilities in public places. HR Groep Streetcare
is in line with legislation, standards, and global goals. The company Contact details:
helps road managers move towards smart mobility and reach their Tel: +1 763 476 2531 | +1 800 328 3336
climate goals. Email: info@intercompcompany.com
Web: www.intercompcompany.com
Contact details
Tel: +31(0)70 399 85 11
Email: info@hrgroep.nl
Web: www.hrgroep.nl
Jenoptik (page 19)

Jenoptik’s Smart Mobility Solutions division provides
photonics-based, innovative, and sustainable solutions, including
IDEMIA (page 103) technology and services for road safety, public security, and road user
For more than 40 years, IDEMIA’s technology has supported charging. As an end-to-end solution provider, Jenoptik supports its
governments in keeping their citizens safe. As a world-leading customers with the provision of roadside equipment and software,
provider of traffic law enforcement technology, IDEMIA has taken including integration, installation, maintenance, and financing
on the challenge to make roads safer. Its long-standing partnerships models through to full-service operation of its solutions. The
with its clients around the world prove the reliability and accuracy of company’s strong global presence and installation base is supported
the company’s technology. by a reliable partner network. With innovation as its driving force,
Jenoptik is a world-leading enabler for smart mobility, with intelligent
Contact details: solutions and services constantly evolving to help make roads,
Tel: +33 01 73 60 20 20 journeys, communities, and the environment safer around the globe.
E-mail: psi.contact@idemia.com
Web: www.idemia.com
Contact details:
Tel: +49 2173 3940-0
Email: traffic-solutions@jenoptik.com
Web: www.jenoptik.com/traffic-solutions
Intellias (page 153)

Intellias is a global technology partner with more than 20 years of
experience delivering product engineering and consulting services to Kapsch TrafficCom (page 33)
Fortune 500 companies. Leading automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, Kapsch TrafficCom is a globally renowned provider of transportation
transportation, and mobility service providers, including Here solutions for sustainable mobility with successful projects in

more than 50 countries. Innovative solutions in the application

fields of tolling, tolling services, traffic management and demand
management contribute to a healthy world without congestion.
Contact Details:
Tel: +43 664 6281705 Optimas (page 130)
Email: johannes.rogi@kapsch.net
Optimas GmbH, founded in 1978, has been an innovation leader in
Web: www.kapsch.net
the field of ‘machines for rationalising and humanising construction
sites’ for many years. Optimas develops and produces machines and
equipment for paving, kerbing and guardrail installation in Germany
and distributes them worldwide. All Optimas products are designed
to make work easier, more efficient and of a higher quality.
Contact details:
Kistler (page 31) Tel: +49 4498 9242 0 | +49 171 999 11 52
Kistler is the global market leader for dynamic pressure, force, torque, Email: info@optimas.de
Web: www.optimas.de
and acceleration measurement technology. The company has more
than 20 years experience in weigh-in-motion quartz technology,
based on piezoelectric measurement, which Kistler first applied in its
invention of the charge amplifier 60 years ago. Today, Kistler employs
around 2,200 employees at more than 60 locations worldwide.
Contact details:
Tel: +42 1232 272 655 Outsight (page 145)
Email: kristina.palffy@kistler.com
Outsight’s Shift Perception software leverages 3D traffic lidar data
Web: www.kistler.com
to anonymously detect, classify, and track pedestrians and vehicles
in real time. Operators can apply it in endless smart city cases, such
as monitoring VRUs, performing crowd analytics, and creating smart
intersections.
Lindsay (page 79) Contact details:

Lindsay Corporation is a leading global manufacturer and distributor Email: julie.bourdinot@outsight.tech
Web: www.outsight.ai
of irrigation and infrastructure equipment. Established in 1955,
Lindsay proudly manufactures equipment to improve road safety and
keep traffic moving on the world’s roads, bridges and tunnels with its
full line of crash cushions, moveable barriers and Road Zipper brands.
Contact details
Tel: +39 02 90 99 61
Email: info@snoline.com
Web: www.lindsay.com
Parifex (page 47)
Parifex designs innovative transportation systems, and especially
speed and red-light running cameras, to improve road safety. The
French company’s cutting-edge solutions allow vehicle identification,
speed measurement, traffic light detection, automatic number plate
Movyon (page 17) recognition, intelligent counting, etc., using 3D lidar technology and
MOVYON is a leader in the development and integration of artificial intelligence (AI).
Intelligent Transport Systems and center of excellence for research
and innovation of the Autostrade per l’Italia Group. It offers a wide Contact details:
range of end-to-end solutions and high-performance technologies Tel: +33 139 20 80 60
Email: info@parifex.com
for tolling, road traffic and safety management, infrastructures
Web: www.parifex.com
management, smart cities and smart roads
Contact details:
Tel: +39 055 420 2111
Email: info@movyon.com
Web: www.movyon.com

offers a broad range of innovative and high-quality products and

solutions tailored to contribute to a safer life on the road.
Contact details:
Tel: +47 70 06 40 00
Periallos Software Solutions (PSS) (page 10) Email: mail@saferoad.com
Web: www.saferoad.com
Periallos Software Solutions (PSS) has developed the first
comprehensive, three-way SaaS (Software as a Service) management
solution specifically designed for companies related to highways.
The app and online system boosts productivity, streamlines project
operations, and enhances communication with teams and clients,
saving users time and money.
Sernis - Soluções Tecnológicas (page 67)
Contact details Sernis is a Portuguese company that manufactures and supplies
Email: mike.wilson@highway.software a wide range of high-quality road safety solutions. Its efforts in
Tel: +30 210 8015465 continuous research and development have been recognised and
Web: highway.software
awarded several times worldwide. It is a world-leading road studs
specialist and develops and manufactures flexible bollards, ITS, LED
signs, controllers and VMS.
Contact details:
Tel: +351 253 300 440
Email: sernis@sernis.com
PTV Group, part of Umovity (page 39) Web: www.sernis.com
PTV Group is a leading global software company providing
software products based on proprietary algorithms ranging from
microscopic and macroscopic modeling and simulation of traffic to
real-time traffic management, benefiting more than 2,500 cities and
municipalities. Since 2023 PTV Group and Econolite are united under
the brand Umovity. Sprinx (page 55)
Sprinx is an independent software vendor expert in designing and
Contact details: providing video intelligent software platforms based on artificial
Tel: +49 (0) 721 9651 0 intelligence to analyse vehicles and people mobility. Sprinx’s value is
Email: info@ptvgroup.com its expertise in the ITS market, with more than 25,000 video analytics
Web: www.ptvgroup.com
channels provided in the past 14 years. Sprinx’s solutions are available
worldwide thanks to certified partners.
Contact details:
Tel: +39 0362 341040
Email: marketing@sprinx.ai
Q-Free (page 23) Web: www.sprinx.ai
Q-Free is a global leader in intelligent transportation systems,
delivering solutions for tolling, traffic management and connected
vehicles. Q-Free creates sustainable smart cities where people,
goods, and data travel safely and efficiently. A 40-year veteran of
transportation innovation, Q-Free has offices and projects across
Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.
Swarco (outside back cover)
Contact details: Swarco improves quality of life by making the travel experience safer,
Email: info@q-free.com quicker, more convenient, and environmentally sound. The Austrian
Web: www.q-free.com traffic technology corporation provides a large range of products,
systems, services, and turnkey solutions in road marking, urban and
interurban traffic control, parking, public transport, e-mobility, CCAM,
and offers an integrated software suite for the Livable City.
Contact details:
Saferoad Group (page 37) Tel: +43 5224 5877 0
Saferoad Group is a leading road safety supplier in Europe with more Email: office.ag@swarco.com
Web: www.swarco.com
than 75 years of experience within the road safety industry. The group

Teledyne FLIR (page 41) Vitronic (page 25)

Teledyne FLIR is constantly looking at new ways to enhance safety Vitronic’s core competency in the traffic technology sector is to
and efficiency around the world and protect vulnerable road users. monitor vehicles. With more than 30 years of expertise in traffic
To find out more about its transportation and public safety solutions technology, Vitronic is the ideal partner for customised solutions on
including the latest innovative developments for 2024, use the an international scale. For future mobility concepts Vitronic is working
contact details below. on using existing traffic infrastructure to control and optimise traffic
flows as well as increasing road safety.
Contact details:
Email: benjamin.schiereck@teledyne.com Contact details:
Web: www.flir.co.uk/its/ai Tel: +49 611 7152 0
Email: sales@vitronic.com
Web: www.vitronic.com
Triplesign (page 95)

Triplesign is a market leading manufacturer of sustainable variable
message signs (VMS). The company has provided prismatic sign
solutions globally since 1998. The Triplesign is the ideal solution
when requiring reliable and sustainable VMS in traffic environments, Yunex Traffic (page 5)
at low cost. For example, they can be used for traffic re-direction on Yunex Traffic is a separately managed company of the Mundys Group.
highways and bridges, warning signs at roadworks, tunnels open or It is a global leader in the field of intelligent traffic systems, offering
closed, variable speed signs, etc. The solar standalone sign consumes the widest end-to-end portfolio of solutions for adaptive traffic
as little power as 1W. Without the need for cables, no excavations are control and management, highway, and tunnel automation, as well as
required. At a cost of 70-90% of that of an LED sign, more lifesaving smart solutions for V2X and road user charging tolling. Yunex Traffic
information points can be installed, exactly where needed. has 3,500 employees from 62 nations and is active in more than 40
countries worldwide. Its intelligent mobility solutions are currently
Contact Details: being used in major cities across the world, including Dubai, London,
Tel. +46 8 6267350 Berlin, Bogota, and Miami. Yunex Traffic has successfully concentrated
Email: info@triplesign.com
its efforts on mastering technologies in the three segments of
Web: www.triplesign.com
hardware, software, and service, and is subsequently the only supplier
who can meet all major regional standards in Europe, UK, Asia, and
America, such as OCIT, SCOOT, SCATS.
Contact details:
VanJee Technology (page 105) Tel: +49 897 80 50
VanJee Technology is a world leading Intelligent Transport System Email: contact@yunextraffic.com
Web: www.yunextraffic.com
(ITS) and lidar company, with headquarters in Beijing. VanJee is also
a publicly traded company in the Shenzhen Stock Exchange
(SZSE:300552). Its mission is to protect road assets worldwide,
guarantee traffic safety and improve traffic efficiency. VanJee has
four prominent products: lidar, weigh-in-motion (WIM), electronic
toll collection (ETC), and connected vehicles (C-V2X). Founded
in 1994, VanJee is dedicated to consistently providing the best
customer service and the best ITS technologies. Today VanJee
has representatives in six countries and has been building strong
connections with many transportation authorities. VanJee has
1,700 motivated employees and everyone desires to provide the
best traffic service all over the world.
Contact details:
Tel: +86 10 59766766
Email: zhaizhao@vanjee.net
Web: www.vanjee.net

LAST WORD
How can digital twins help with

sustainability?
With digital twins we can test different strategies
for maintenance and refurbishing infrastructure.
Those strategies are assessed by indicators that
may be driven by a combination of cost, recycling
and reuse of materials, energy savings, etc. For
example, a better maintained road means that the
car will consume less energy to travel along it.
How might digital twins be used to improve

maintenance in the future?
There are many old bridges in Europe that are
reaching their end-of-life design. We have had
some tragic accidents not long ago for example,
the 2018 collapse of the Morandi bridge in Italy.
The monitoring and development of digital twins
of old bridges is an expensive task. However, for
new bridges, we should design them including
Smart thinking
these types of real-time embedded monitoring
systems. This will allow engineers to have a clear
assessment of the infrastructure condition and to
maintain it properly avoiding tragic accidents
How might the general public benefit from

smart infrastructure?
Noemi Jiménez-Redondo is project coordinator for EU This digital monitoring technology can help
research project OMICRON, associate professor at University drivers use the best maintained – and therefore
most fuel-efficient – routes to travel in their
of Málaga and director of research and innovation at the cars. We are seeing early signs of these types of
Spanish civil engineering firm CEMOSA. She explains how options on travel apps, for example Google Maps.
‘smart infrastructure’ can help coordinate our energy use Is there a good business case for providing
and transportation systems digital twin data to the public?
I think we have the technologies to
provide this information, though
I don’t know if the business case
With digital Can you give an example of is ready or not. I think that
what is meant by ‘smart regulation always goes
1972
twins we can infrastructure’? behind the technology, not
test different strategies It’s about using technology to only in the energy sector, but
for refurbishing enable more efficient also in other sectors. And
infrastructure and management of our assets, The year that civil engineering that’s why politicians need
maintenance. Those including in transport such firm CEMOSA was founded in to put money and interest to
as our roads and railway work the necessary steps.
strategies are assessed Málaga, Spain.
systems. For example, in the
by indicators that may be EU’s OMICRON project, we use Do you see an increase
driven by a combination digital twins to develop a decision in concern about
of cost, recycling and support system for maintaining road environmental issues?
reuse of materials, networks. We first create an accurate In CEMOSA, we’ve been motivated by
digital model of the roads, including bridges sustainability issues since the beginning of
energy savings and tunnels. Integrated in the model are the company over 50 years ago, long before
real-time monitoring systems as well as modern environmental and sustainability trends.
information from inspections. But now, as it has become clearer our direction
Our digital model is a virtual replica of our towards risking environmental disaster, I can
infrastructure. We can assess the condition of the see people have gotten much more concerned.
infrastructure and run simulations on our virtual For example, years ago people did not do much
replica in order to test different maintenance recycling in my home country of Spain, though
strategies. This facilitates better decision-making now everyone is taking a lot more care to separate
and keeps our infrastructure in better condition. their rubbish for recycling. ■
162 Intertraffic World | 2024

16 - 19 APR 2024
AMSTERDAM / NL
SMART, SAFE, AND SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY FOR ALL
THE WORLD’S LEADING MEETING PLACE FOR MOBILITY PROFESSIONALS
INTEGRATED SUMMIT PROGRAMME

Enjoy a knowledge programme of over 120
sessions, from debates to demonstrations.
200+ speakers will cover the hottest topics
touching on policy support, best practices,
user cases, trends and more.
LARGEST EVER EVENT FLOOR

900+ public and private organisations spread
over 12 halls will present the latest solutions and
developments in mobility and traffic technology.
From road safety to parking solutions, intelligent
infrastructure, traffic management, smart
mobility, and everything in between.
SEE YOU AT THE BIGGEST MOBILITY GATHERING OF 2024!
Join over 35,000 peers from 140+ countries to network, learn, and
REGISTER be inspired! Get your early bird complimentary* ticket to both the
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Deal lead by example. Mitigating climate
change, reducing emissions and pollution,
and transforming energy and mobility systems
are challenging tasks for the cities on their way
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SWARCO is ready to lend support when it

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INFRASTRUCTURE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ROAD SAFE T Y PA R K I N G SMART MOBILIT Y

| Intertraffic Awards | Cellular connected vehicles | Net-zero construction

reduction in drying time reduction

Explore more through our 15 minute on-demand

Exclusive features 042 Solar dreams

winners are always proud 050 Avoiding conflict

Annual Showcase 2024 | Intertraffic World 003

Infrastructure 112 Changing the safety landscape

092 Pioneering safety, 116 Intelligent Synergy

speed is desired in an urban 100 Low-cost ANPR Road safety

110 The road safety debate

004 Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2024

Are you ready?

Find out more: www.yunextraffic.com

Tom Stone, editor

| Intertraffic Awards | Cellular connected vehicles | Net-zero construction

cover_ITW24.indd 1 12/12/2023 12:17

006 Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2024

Choose Avery Dennison

Visit us at : Intertraffic Amsterdam,

Visit us online : https://avydn.co/overlay

The big one

008 Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2024

for Intertraffic Amsterdam, Esther de Waard.

Below, left to right: Marijke Jansen (senior operations

Registration now open at intetraffic.com/amsterdam – Complimentary until 15 March 2024

Annual Showcase 2024 | Intertraffic World 009

Meet the jury

012 Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2024

Annual Showcase 2024 | Intertraffic World 013

014 Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2024

because that’s not achievable,” says van Schijndel.

Annual Showcase 2024 | Intertraffic World 015

Apps integrated into cars will

016 Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2024

Autostrade per l’Italia Group movyon.com

The 2022 Intertraffic

The 2022 Award winners upended world. In October 2023, Metropolis,

018 Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2024

AI & Big Data

Enabling Safer and Smarter Mobility.

Follow us! jenoptik.com/markets/public-safety

020 Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2024

The Electric City

Sustainable urban mobility, the

Annual Showcase 2024 | Intertraffic World 021

of Rotterdam. “Efforts are

022 Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2024

Visit us at Intertrafﬁc stand 05.303

Q-Free is a global leader in ITS

futureproofing the city for extreme weather and

Above main: Since 2020

Above inset: Planners are

024 Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2024

VITRONIC offers intelligent

026 Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2024

with up to 1,000 workers engaged directly on

Annual Showcase 2024 | Intertraffic World 027

You are driving on the road, you get

028 Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2024

death. We have had several fatal accidents Above: Road Works

Annual Showcase 2024 | Intertraffic World 029

030 Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2024

© 2022 Kistler Group