Intertraffic World 2020

INFRASTRUCTURE

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

R OA D S A F E T Y

2020 SHOWCASE

Get ready

for MaaS | China leads market growth

Experts assess the growth potential for transport markets around the world – and China comes out on top for CAVs and 5G

PA R K I N G

SMART MOBILIT Y

WORLD

From Amsterdam to Mexico City, Mobility as a Service is the next big thing you need to prepare for

| App-based traffic management

A new research project in Italy has created a prototype system to improve traffic flows via a simple smartphone app

| Smarter data, smarter cities How Ford Mobility is using data gathered from a small number of vehicles to transform urban traffic management

| CONTENTS Exclusive features

“Our content, both in the knowledge program during events as well as yearround, translates global industry issues into practical examples, knowledge sharing and showcases” Richard Butter, director of traffic technology, intertraffic

010 Meet the team

Find out more about Intertraffic shows happening around the world in the next 12 months

014 Leading the way

Dutch road safety expert Peter van der Knapp is saving lives with his pioneering approach

020 Transport futures

David Smith looks at why China and connectivity will dominate the traffic industry of tomorrow

028 Mexican mobility

Michael Donlevy assesses how Mexico City is proving the MaaS doubters wrong

036 MaaS to the masses

Amsterdam is looking to be a world leader in MaaS, James Allen investigates

044 Current affairs

Dr Frank Millard investigates whether the supply of charging stations is meeting demand

054 Cities of tomorrow

Parking cannot be neglected when preparing for the smart city of the future

064 Can AVs really help everyone?

A look at what is being done to ensure the elderly and disabled benefit from the driverless technology of tomorrow

070 Get the green light

Could connected-vehicle signal control be achieved using just a smartphone app?

“We are engineers, traffic psychologists and statisticians. Twelve years ago, Holland was semiofficial champion of road safety and we still have a good, systematic approach” Peter van der Knapp, director of SWOV (Dutch Road Safety Research Institute)

078 Are your systems safe?

James Gordon investigates whether traffic management systems are cyberattack-proof

084 Optimizing Europe’s roads

Ford Mobility data is reducing congestion on London streets, Jack Roper reports

092 Intelligent power

Improved standards are creating new opportunities through Power over Ethernet

Infrastructure

101

102 Traffic monitoring via off-grid power Meeting ITS power demands with Airsynergy’s alternative power source

104 The quick dry solution

Applied Turbine’s valuable system for non-flammable fast drying roads

106 Next generation retroreflectometers A new product from Delta is increasing productivity in road marking

108 Signs of the future

CWT Worktools is helping double the rate of road sign manufacturing production

Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

003

CONTENTS | 110 Melting and more

116 Keeping road markings visible

114 Pavement markings fit for ADAS

118 Sign the way

Innovations from Hog Technologies are pushing the highway industry forward Reflective Measurement Systems can now survey the full road lane in a single pass

Seeing the road clearly in hazardous conditions with Kelly Bros TripleSign is helping Poland transform its road systems

Traffic Management

121

“Our perception is too many services lack the ease of use of many apps. The key question should be: is this relevant to my customers?

And China is the best place to find out” Dr Rainer Mehl, managing director of manufacturing, automotive and life sciences, Capgemini Invent

122 Holistic solutions to city traffic problems

Cross Zlín gives a complete overview for more effective uban traffic control

“The opportunity for ride sharing may be greater in Mexico City, but the dispersed socio-economics of the city and its 16 boroughs works against multiple people engaging in ride sharing” Jack Opiola, joint founder, MaaS Association

124 Seeking a safer journey

An open platform for a variety of transportation modes is possible with MiM, says Betamont

126 A standalone ALPR system

CARRIDA is increasing license plate recognition speed and accuracy

128 Norway’s free-flow tolling

Preserving historic landmarks while raising tolling revenue with Efkon

130 Using gantries for traffic management

ADEC’s data collection technology is making the job of traffic managers a simpler one

132 Shedding some light on transport

Adequate lighting is critical for ITS systems, Gardasoft is ensuring it is provided

142 Automated tire safety

IRD is ensuring trucks with hazardous tires are detected before it’s too late

144 Identifying at speed

Digital license plates from Tönnjes are increasing security on the road

146 Technology trends

Lector Vision is helping revolutionize the way traffic is managed worldwide

148 Effective charging for overloaded vehicles

Road safety is improving in Turkey thanks to Kistler’s WIM technology

150 Traffic imaging with AI

Lumenera is boosting the accuracy of vehicle detection with smart image processing

152 Covered with ALPR

136 A new perspective

154 Control rooms of the future

Discreet weight-in-motion products from Haenni are improving road safety

138 Automated traffic data collection SwissTraffic’s new platform provides reliable video analytics functionality that’s automated

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Weigh-in-motion certification needn’t be complicated, says Intercomp

134 Smart hybrid plate

Hills’ customizable Faab Fabricauto secrurity technology for license plates

004

140 Certification for WIM

Macq is observing an increasingly broader remit for ALPR applications Mitsubishi Electric still sees a role for humans in tomorrow’s traffic management setup

156 The power of edge computing

Smart Pumatronix software is proving invaluable to traffic managers

Complex parking solution technology • operating • monitoring

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CONTENTS | 158 Making cities more livable

Swarco calls for cycle-friendly infrastructure to accommodate such travellers

160 Traffic monitoring in smart cities

162 The power of real-time traffic data Signal Group is boosting the accuracy of vehicle detection with smart image processing

Speed enforcement developments mean more is now possible, says Vitronic

Road Safety

165

“Partnerships will be essential so data can be shared easily, and passengers are provided with up-to-the-minute information on schedules and availability of vehicles” Safa Alakteb, CEO, Autocab

166 Lane markings in the rain

174 Mind the junction!

168 The beat goes on

176 Considerate pedestrian signals

170 Sign of the times

178 Mind the gap

172 Reflecting well

180 New urban mobility program

3M is improving safety with wet retroreflective pavement markings Testing bollards when upgrading roadways is vital according to Pexco Avery Dennison’s attention to road sign detail is increasing safety for all road users Testing the qaulity of retroreflective clothing is important, argues Easylux

Parking

Saferoad barrier solutions are reducing the seriousness of rural road accidents Flexible bollards from Sernis are making roads safer for all

200 Smart parking

188 From trends to solutions

202 French evolution

190 Driving forward

204 More than a barrier

Skidata is ready for the challenges that 21st century parking present There are ambitious future plans afoot at 3C Payment

192 Get set for parking 2.0

Amano is changing the way drivers park with positive results for local businesses

194 Go wireless

Streamlined parking guidance is possible, says CUR Systemtechnik

196 Parking made smart

El-Tra developments are revolutionizing the parking experience

198 Parking and monitoring

Optimizing lots of data from multiple carparks is all in a day’s work for Green Center

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Technologies that work for all vulnerable road users is PrismaTibro’s goal

185 Platform integration

Making internal payment processes secure and simple is SuzoHapp’s business

006

Meiser is working on making rural roads safer

183

Hectronic’s intelligent carpark surveillance can improve urban traffic flow Hub Parking Technology is helping Paris modernize its parking facilities

Safety features in carparks should be central in the mind of designers of such spaces, says Projeckt W

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Measurement of nighttime (RL) and daytime (Qd) visibility and nighttime colors of road markings.

Measurement of nighttime visibility (RA) of road traffic signs, high visibility clothing, license plates and reflective tapes.

Visit us at Intertraffic Amsterdam 2020 stand 05.329

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CONTENTS |

Welcome

206 From potential to reality

Quercus Technologies’ dramatic effect on car parks with license plate recognition technology

208 Guiding the way

State-of-the-art Schick cameras are simplifying car park surveillance

Smart mobility

211

212 AI in traffic analytics, not hype but reality

220 In close proximity

214 New mobility

222 Edging ahead with modular designs

Better relationships could be crucial to meeting future transportation demands, says Kapsch

Sprinx Technologies is adapting old CCTV systems into smarter ones Enforcement agencies are benefitting from Parifex’s autonomous data collection systems

216 Automatic identification

Kathrein Solutions is ensuring traffic managers can keep up with technological demands

Congatec is enabling multiple traffic applications to be carried out efficiently

225 Advertisers’ directory 234 Last word

218 Electrifying potential

An exclusive interview with former ERTICO chairman and current Dynniq CEO, Cees de Wijs

Decarbonizing road vehicles with Etra for a cleaner Europe

INFRASTRUCTURE

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

R OA D S A F E T Y

PA R K I N G

SMART MOBILIT Y

2020 SHOWCASE

2020 SHOWCASE

WORLD

INFRASTRUCTURE •TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT • ROAD SAFETY • PARKING • SMART MOBILITY PUBLISHED BY MA AVIATION & AUTO INTERNATIONAL

Get ready

for MaaS | China leads market growth

Experts assess the growth potential for transport markets around the world – and China comes out on top for CAVs and 5G

cover_ITW20.indd 1

008

From Amsterdam to Mexico City, Mobility as a Service is the next big thing you need to prepare for

| App-based traffic management

A new research project in Italy has created a prototype system to improve traffic flows via a simple smartphone app

| Smarter data, smarter cities

Editorial

Editor: Tom Stone (tom.stone@markallengroup.com) Deputy Editor: James Allen (james.allen@markallengroup.com) Contributing Editors: Saul Wordsworth and Michael Donlevy Senior Art Editor: Andy Bass Design team: Anna Davie, Louise Green Publication Manager: Godfrey Hooper (godfrey.hooper@markallengroup.com) Production: Emily Fanning Publisher: Simon Hughes

How Ford Mobility is using data gathered from a small number of vehicles to transform urban traffic management

18/10/2019 15:09

COO: Jon Benson CEO: Ben Allen

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

‘Is the world ready for Mobility as a Service (MaaS)? Certainly experts in the transport industry are becoming used to talking it up. The idea first started to take hold around the same time Uber began revolutionizing taxis. The app was so slick and it soon became apparent that the concept could be taken further. If you can hail a cab with your smartphone, why not book a train ticket? Or a hire car? Or unlock a shared bicycle?

And if you can do all these things with one app, then why not, instead of paying individual operators for each trip, pay a one-off monthly subscription? A subscription to a service that, if efficient enough, could make private car ownership a needless luxury. If MaaS really can replace private car ownership, then the efficiency gains will create a world where mobility providers make more money, while individuals actually pay a lot less to have all their transportation expectations met, and perhaps even exceeded. It’s a bold dream. The ultimate win-win situation that harnesses the power of connectivity, smart devices and the sharing economy in perhaps the most powerful way society has yet seen. It could be the defining technological change of the next 20 years. So where do we start? Right here.

In this magazine we take a look at how MaaS pioneers in Mexico City (p28) and Amsterdam (p36) are laying the foundations that will form the basis for this shared mobility revolution.

The contrasts between the two locations are stark, with Mexico in the much earlier stages. But the ultimate aims are the same, and the contrasting challenges prove that, wherever you are in the world, it’s possible to begin to prepare for the changes that could soon be coming.

Of course, MaaS is not something that is going to happen in isolation. By its very nature it relies on the interconnected nature of transport infrastructure, ticketing and traffic management – and bringing each of those elements even closer together. This is also where Intertraffic World magazine, and Intertraffic shows, can help. In the exclusive features in the front half of this magazine you’ll find other relevant topics such as autonomous vehicles, data sharing and smart traffic management, and in the second half you’ll find plenty of the leading suppliers from across the industry showcasing the innovations that will become part of our new mobility landscape.

With MaaS, as with all big ideas, there are no guarantees that its potential benefits will ever be fully realized. But it’s clear the potential is there. And we owe it to ourselves, and future generations, to do our best to realize the dream.

Tom Stone editor

Tel: +31 20 549 12 12 www.intertraffic.com Subscription records are maintained at MA Aviation and Auto International Ltd, Hawley Mill, Hawley Road, Dartford, Kent, DA2 7TJ, United Kingdom.

A MARK ALLEN GROUP COMPANY

www.markallengroup.com

Intertraffic World, ISSN 2042-7204 (Print), ISSN 2397-5989 (Online), is published annually by MA Aviation & Auto International, Hawley Mill, Hawley Road, Dartford, Kent, DA2 7TJ, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1322 221144 Intertraffic World is a partnership with Amsterdam RAI, organizers of the Intertraffic events Amsterdam RAI, PO Box 77777, NL-1070 MS Amsterdam, Netherlands

© MA Aviation and Auto International Ltd, 2019.

All rights reserved. No part of Intertraffic World may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission of the publishing director. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the editor.

The presence of advertisements in Intertraffic World implies no endorsement of the products or services offered. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of statements in this magazine but we cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions, or for matters arising from clerical or printers’ errors, or an advertiser not completing their contract. We have made

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MOVING ON? If you change jobs or your company moves to a new location, please contact circulation@markallengroup.com to continue receiving your free copy of Intertraffic World.

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If it never rained or people never drove after dark, ordinary pavement markings would be fine—in ideal conditions, they’re easy to see and interpret. But that’s not the world we live in. Unfamiliar roads become more difficult to navigate after dark. Rain-covered roads can be downright treacherous at night.

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WELCOME | Right: The Intertraffic team (left to right) Greg Posey, sales consultant; Carola Jansen-Young, senior brand marketing manager; Joyce de Winter, exhibition manager Intertraffic Amsterdam and Istanbul; Roy Koning, sales consultant; Fleur Kaldenberg, content & community marketeer; Richard Butter, director traffic technology; Wanda Luinenburg, brand marketing executive; and Editha Hoogenberg-Derksen, exhibition manager Intertraffic Mexico and China. Also part of the team, though not pictured, Rogier Peijster, sales consultant; and Puck Schmitz-Huber, international event operations manager

Teamwork

The transportation industry is in the midst of a technological revolution and the team at Intertraffic are on hand to guide you through the evolving environment

I

t’s an exciting time to be involved in transport.

Certainly, there are significant challenges, particularly surrounding rising global population density and vehicle emissions, which must be addressed even as traveler expectations continue to rise. But there are also smarter-than-ever solutions available.

Luckily, when it comes to trying to make sense of it all, Intertraffic shows around the world enable visitors to keep ahead of the curve by showcasing the latest technology from established providers and startups, as well as delivering conference programs led by some of the world’s most influential thought leaders.

“The global traffic technology and mobility industry is going through a massive transition,” says Joyce de Winter, exhibition manager for Intertraffic Amsterdam and Istanbul.

“Connectivity between the various disciplines and systems requires smart and intelligent solutions, so the transition of our

To ensure that the data is rich enough, all relevant players in our industry need to be willing to share data and see the advantage and opportunities that new business models will bring

Joyce de Winter exhibition manager Intertraffic Amsterdam and Istanbul

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Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

industry is bringing new opportunities for all involved, while developments like urbanization, digitization, automation and energy transition, bring new business models for improving safety, efficiency and sustainability of transport.”

Amsterdam focus

Amsterdam is the home of Intertraffic and the biennial event held at the city’s RAI exhibition center is the largest in the calendar. Therefore it is with great excitement that Intertraffic’s director of traffic technology, Richard Butter considers changes and highlights for April 2020.

“We recently redefined our exhibitor segmentation to reflect the dynamics of a contemporary mobility ecosystem,” says Butter.

“You will see the first changes at the next Amsterdam show, our 25th edition. Intertraffic has a significant reach and we want to use our strength to play our part in speeding up the mobility transition. Our content, both in the knowledge program during events as well as year-round, translates global industry issues into practical examples, knowledge sharing and showcases. Our visual identity has also been given a good makeover, so we are fresh faced and ready for the future!”

There are already additional Intertraffic shows in Istanbul, Beijing, Shanghai and Mexico

| WELCOME City. Considering whether there will be further shows added to the calendar, Butter is candid.

“The next two years we will focus on building our brand with year-round communication, strong content and staying on top of the world with our Amsterdam show,” he says. “In some areas we also need to put more effort because of changing political and economic climate so we are busy enough these days. But you never know, Intertraffic is always open for opportunities.”

Open data

As part of the Intertraffic team, de Winter regularly meets key players shaking up the mobility industry at shows around the world, and discovers new and innovative ways to relieve congestion and make our roads safer.

Excited as she is about the situation, she’s all too aware that new answers to age-old problems bring fresh challenges – such as the need to get all stakeholders to share data.

“The current transition is causing some serious headaches for the traffic industry,” she says. “One major challenge is to manage the everincreasing need for the movement of people and goods. Urban areas need to be more accessible, liveable and sustainable. High quality data from varied sources will define the largest part of the behavior of road users, but to ensure that the data is rich enough, all relevant players in our industry need to be willing to share data and see the advantage and opportunities that new business models will bring them. Everyone needs to adapt or change their businesses to stay in the game.”

All around the world

Mexico City and Beijing are two key locations for Intertraffic shows in the coming months. Here’s more about the host nations Mexico

C

Find out how Mobility as a Service could take hold in Mexico City turn on page 28

China emerges as star performer in our market report. Turn to page 20 for more

I

ntertraffic Mexico takes place in Mexico City from November 12-14, 2019, you may even be reading this at the event.

Latin America is one of the regions with the highest urbanization rates in the world (about 80%), so transportation solutions must attempt to address this challenge.

“Congestion and accessibility are high on the agenda as attempts are made to improve the quality of life in the big cities,” says Editha Hoogenberg-Derksen, exhibition manager Intertraffic Mexico and China “Although the challenges are great, there are interesting and successful cases of shared mobility and e-hailing. With the new government in Mexico, investments in traffic infrastructure have been announced recently. This will result in business opportunities and exchange of knowledge between Mexico and other countries for the coming years.”

China

hina represents one of the most important developing markets for transportation, something that visitors to the Intertraffic show in Beijing (June 1820, 2020) will be able to take advantage of.

“China is not the country of copy cats and low tech products anymore,” says Hoogenberg-Derksen. “Now high-level technology comes from China. For example, there are fast developments in electric vehicles and autonomous driving. All cities need a tailor made approach in terms of infrastructure and technology. Zero emission is top priority for the Chinese government. Autonomous driving has become part of the national shared mobility plan in China. It is not a matter of how but when. With all these fast developments in mobility Chinese companies need more knowledge, solutions and products to meet high demand.”

BOX IMAGES: LILY, QOJOO/ADOBE-STOCK.COM

New solutions

Intertraffic shows are a catalyst for change. At the Intertraffic Amsterdam show in April 2020, for example, a space designated for startups will help stimulate growth in every area of the traffic technology ecosystem. The ITSUP 2020 is a dedicated platform where startups can pitch their innovative solutions and connect with suitable partners, giving them an opportunity to present themselves to a large international audience of traffic technology professionals.

It is an illustration of what sets the Intertraffic brand apart from other events. “Intertraffic offers the complete spectrum of traffic management, infrastructure, smart mobility, parking and road safety,” notes de Winter.

“Important players from the industry will be present and the combination of the wide range of specialists on our show floor with the Intertraffic Smart Mobility Summit can play an important role in bringing the complete industry – from low to high tech – the right tools, information or opportunities for cooperation with other specialists, to stay in the game. Our Summit program during Intertraffic Amsterdam is accessible for all visitors free of charge; sharing high level knowledge for free for everyone.”

Almost a quarter of the 32,000 total visitors attended the varied theatre programs that took

place at 2018’s Intertraffic Amsterdam show and the 2020 event promises to build on the high caliber of sessions. With three theaters across the site, thought leaders delivering content on topics such as big data, intelligent infrastructure, traffic management, autonomous driving and Mobility as a Service (MaaS), the The total number of exhibitors Amsterdam show enables at Intertraffic Amsterdam real knowledge exchange.

But wherever you are in in 2018, even more are the world, Intertraffic can help expected in 2020 you to understand the rapidly changing transport landscape, whether through one of its events, its website intertraffic.com or in the pages of this magazine. Keep your eye out for even more exciting ways to access Intertraffic knowledge over the coming months. ■

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Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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PETER VAN DER KNAAP INTERVIEW |

We found that Dutch drivers are distracted by their phones for 10% of the total driving time

PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER DE GRAAFF

Peter van der Knaap, director, SWOV

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Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

| PETER VAN DER KNAAP INTERVIEW

way

Leading the Peter van der Knaap of the Dutch Road Safety Research Institute (SWOV) has saved lives with his pioneering approach to road safety – but he admits there are new challenges ahead as technology changes the transportation landscape forever Words | Jack Roper

T

he Netherlands takes great pride in its mobility achievements, so when traffic professionals converge on Amsterdam for Intertraffic 2020 Dr Peter van der Knaap, Director of the Dutch Road Safety Research Institute (SWOV), will be only too pleased to show them around.

After all, Amsterdam has been at the forefront of data-driven traffic management while transforming itself into a city of walkers and cyclists. It became a focal point for co-operation in harvesting the benefits of autonomous vehicles (AVs) when EU ministers issued the 2017 Declaration of Amsterdam.

“We’ve piloted many roadside and app-based systems to guide motorists around the city,” says van der Knaap.

“We try to be a test-friendly country and the Road and Vehicle Admissions Authorities work hard to ensure that experiments can be carried out safely.”

Historically safe

Historically, Holland’s roads have ranked among the world’s safest, but with fresh challenges emerging the country cannot rest on its laurels. Founded in 1962, SWOV conducts research for both the Dutch government and the EU. “Our mission is to contribute to road safety by providing scientific researchbased insights,” he says. “We are engineers, traffic psychologists and statisticians. Twelve years ago, Holland was semi-official champion of road safety and we still have a good, systematic approach.”

SWOV’s naturalistic driving studies, which use cameras and sensors to analyze driving behavior, have uncovered some worrying recent trends, however.

“We found that Dutch drivers are distracted by their phones for 10% of the total driving time, and that truck drivers don’t check their mirrors for bicycles on Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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| PETER VAN DER KNAAP INTERVIEW

one-fifth of right turns,” he says. Of those killed on Dutch roads in 2018, a third were cyclists. The Netherlands has achieved a steady year-on-year decrease in fatalities since 1972, when there were more than 3,000 road deaths. Since 2013 this decline has stagnated, however, and in 2018 there were 678 deaths, the highest figure since 2010.

Why has safety stalled?

“The first reason for this stalling is success itself,” says van der Knaap. “If something goes well, why spend more money? The financial crisis brought cut-backs in government spending from 2008 onwards and with urgent new priorities like climate change and terrorism, road safety slipped down the agenda.”

Annual traffic volume increases of 1-2% have incrementally added stress to the system, and van der Knaap believes too much has been expected of innovations such as self-driving vehicles delivering a panacea for safety ills.

“Demographics also come into play,” he says.

“We have an ageing population and statistics show many one-sided accidents, where people simply fall off their bicycle or hit an object and don’t survive. In fact, we should talk about crashes. Accidents can’t be prevented, but crashes can.”

Van der Knaap believes Holland must persevere with its systematic approach while moving from reactive to proactive interventions.

“It starts with more forgiving road infrastructure, so that if someone makes a mistake, they’re not punished by a fatal injury,” he says. “We are proactive in separating pedestrians and cyclists from motorized traffic. We can also be proactive in terms of risks which stem from alcohol and driving at speed.”

Vision Zero

Van der Knaap acknowledges the moral imperative of Vision Zero and believes SWOV’s research can help to eliminate preventable crashes.

“Sustainable road safety means investing in proven, evidence-based solutions. We must learn using data and feedback, and also investigate various categories of crashes to prevent them from happening instead of constantly responding and fixing.”

The ubiquity of smartphones and social media is transforming our social and political psyche in ways we are only beginning to understand – and not always for the good. If Dutch drivers are distracted 10% of the time, how can this new and potent danger best be addressed?

“You need every available measure, using engineering, education and enforcement,” he argues.

“You must see what technology can do to detect drowsiness or distraction using eye-pattern recognition. The Dutch police are looking at detecting people on their phones using cameras and algorithms. Setting social norms is important and insurance companies have a role. If people are not compensated for any crash they cause by being distracted, that may get the message across. Touchscreen entertainment systems in newer cars also worry us. How can car manufacturers be responsible in this regard?

You must do everything you can to tackle this problem.”

Above: Road and cycle-way design, including simple things like the right markings, can help save lives

Above: SWOV’s research uses incar cameras and sensors to study driving behavior

Fresh solutions

As the well-established chairman of the jury for the Intertraffic Amsterdam Innovation Awards, van der Knaap is looking forward to seeing how the newest and best solutions on show at Amsterdam 2020 are shaping the The current average annual future of mobility.

“We’re getting more traffic volume increase crossovers such as smart in the Netherlands parking systems becoming connected to navigation, or

1-2%

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PETER VAN DER KNAPP INTERVIEW |

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The number of deaths on roads in the Netherlands in 2018, the highest figure since 2010

traffic management,” he says. “There is also continuous improvement, with existing products made to be more efficient or use less material.”

As the industry evolves, shifting priorities could lead to increased emphasis on certain judging criteria.

“The environment is becoming more important,” he says. “We must consider the benefits to the user, the driver or car park owner, as well as marketability: can this help us be economically efficient?”

In the end, the greatest pleasure at Intertraffic Amsterdam for van der Knaap is essentially human and emotional.

“It’s great to observe all the innovative ideas and mindsets at work in this field.

Often a new idea might come from a family business and can be a genuine treat to see people from Italy or Scandinavia, full of fire, presenting their products.”

Autonomous concern

Van der Knaap’s zest for innovation does not necessarily extend to the utopian promise of AVs. He is particularly sceptical about Stage 3 automation, where the vehicle drives itself but the human must remain alert and ready to intervene when necessary.

“We’ve done research putting people in a driving simulator and asking them to do a work puzzle or video game – then suddenly they get this signal that they must be alert and solve some urgent traffic situation,” he says. “This is something humans are not capable of.”

He fears that drivers will over-estimate the capabilities of AVs and also points out that, in the Netherlands, road markings and lane designs are not currently wellsuited to AV operations.

“Technology itself is not flawless,” he says. “We’ve seen mistakes where vehicles have crashed into concrete barriers

Technology itself is not flawless. We’ve seen mistakes where vehicles have crashed into concrete barriers without stopping or even braking. The total picture should be examined from a research perspective

Peter van der Knaap, director, SWOV

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without stopping or even braking. The total picture should be examined from a research perspective.”

Staying connected

Nevertheless, connected vehicles (CVs) will create a dramatic increase in vehicle-generated data which could enable proactive interventions like forgiving infrastructure.

“Our naturalistic driving studies looked at driving in Amsterdam to see whether roads required special scrutiny in terms of layout,” he says. “If you see odd behavior day-in, dayout, it’s probably got something to do with how the road is designed.”

Ford recently used CV data to predict safety hotspots across London based on dangerous driving patterns, and has adopted an open stance to data sharing. “Volvo is on the brink of sharing all kinds of data. It would be tremendous if car manufacturers would share data with institutes like SWOV so we can learn to tap its potential and prevent accidents.”

A researcher at heart and by nature, van der Knaap previously served the Netherlands Ministry of Finance and Court of Audit in a career spanning almost 30 years.

“At SWOV, too, I look at economics and the financial dimension of road safety,” he says.

“In the end, it’s important to make the case, in terms of cost-benefit analysis, for investing in measures which yield results.”

Family first

It was fatherhood that prompted van der Knaap’s move into the field of road safety.

“When I had children myself I decided to become active in looking at traffic safety policy in the city of The Hague,” he says.

“Many parents will recognize the feeling of lying awake, wondering whether your children will be home safely, or seeing them walking or cycling to school for the first time.”

The figures van der Knaap now works with are not financial abstractions, but accounts of avoidable tragedy and loss. It is reassuring to find him humanely alive to the significance of each preventable crash and life saved on his country’s roads. ■

PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER DE GRAAFF, PAUL VOORHAM

Above: Research in driving simulators has shown that motorists aren’t always able to safely take over from automated systems

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MARKET REPORT |

Futures Transport

The transportation industry is growing. We unpick the latest market reports and discover which areas are tipped for the most impressive results in the coming years, and discover why connected vehicles and 5G in China are key

Words I David Smith

80

CAR BUYERS EXPECTING TO PURCHASE A CV 79%

70 60 50

53%

52%

Europe

USA

40 30 20 10 0

020

China

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| MARKET REPORT

$31.5bn

The predicted size of the global connected vehicle market in US dollars by 2023 (up from $18.7bn in 2018) (Statista)

A

The report’s authors recommend investing recent report about the future of in China now because “leadership in this connected vehicles from Capgemini market will mean global leadership”. They has urged western vehicle OEMs to advise making China the ‘epicentre’ of the change their approach to China. The connected services revolution. In practice, such Connected Vehicle Trend Radar says China should a strategy means concentrating research and no longer be seen as simply another market, but development in China and learning about also as the most dynamic source of innovative customer preferences. “It requires a different ideas and technologies. In practice, this means viewpoint. Rather than seeing it as just a place establishing a stronger presence in China, to sell cars, companies need to reflect on what which will become the biggest market for lessons they can learn from China that can be connected vehicles from 2023 onwards. transferred to other markets,” says Dr Mehl.

“I’ve been covering China for 10 years and the market has accelerated astonishingly quickly since 2009,” says Dr Rainer Mehl, Open to change managing director of manufacturing, Behind Capgemini’s enthusiasm for China lies automotive and life sciences at Capgemini the awareness that the market is more willing Invent. “China has the world’s biggest car to embrace connected cars than elsewhere. The market with 28 million sales a year, but it’s also Trend Radar quotes Kantar’s 2018 research got the most mobile customers with the highest showing 79% of Chinese respondents plan to technological affinity. If you want to see what buy one, compared to 53% in Europe and 52% innovation will look like in Europe in five to in the US. The same research reveals that even 10 years, it’s better to more Chinese customers are “keen to go to Shanghai than Silicon Valley.” embrace autonomous driving”, with The Trend Radar says there were 75% saying they will accept it, 119.4 million connected vehicles compared with 24% in the US and (CVs) in the world in 2018, when the 36% in Europe. China has a very high global market was worth US$18.7 proportion of young people, billion. But it is growing fast with a especially millennials, open to new compound annual technology. The growth rate (CAGR) of authors say these 11% for revenue and digital natives will If you want to see what 24.2% for quantity. In make up a large innovation will look like in Europe in 2023, sales of 352.9 share of the market million connected cars for CVs. five to 10 years, it’s better to go to worldwide will be The rapid growth Shanghai than Silicon Valley worth US$31.5 billion, of the market in Dr Rainer Mehl, managing director of manufacturing, according to Statista’s China means OEMs automotive and life sciences, Capgemini Invent Connected Car Outlook. should consider the The emergence of wishes of Chinese China as the dominant consumers ahead of market will be gradual. In 2018, the highest all others. They need to use the market as a test number of sales was 31.1% in the US, but China and launch environment for digital apps. There will soon be exhibiting the fastest growth, are also lessons to take back from China’s predicts Statista. Chinese market share of global inventiveness. revenue generated by connected cars is going to “There are many examples of advanced shift by around six percentage points from 17.6 functionality in China,” says Dr Mehl. “WeChat % to 23.5% between 2018 and 2023. As China allows instant payments and everyone uses gets richer, more and more people will own mobile payment apps rather than cards. Ride cars ‘reflecting tremendous growth potential’. hailer Didi Chuxin offers a service where you Meanwhile, in Europe, the quantity of CVs can book a driver to take you home in your sold will grow in line with the global market – own car within five minutes. Such services are 24.3% versus 24.2% globally, but in the US it almost unknown in the west. My connected will slow to 19.6% by 2023.

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| MARKET REPORT

China than Germany. The wishes of China’s digital natives are driving the advances.”

The high level of functionality in China’s connected technologies carries important lessons for western transportation providers who sometimes fail to give customers what they want. “Our perception is too many services lack the ease of use of many apps. The key question should be: is this relevant to my customers? And China is the best place to find out,” says Mehl.

The vital technologies need improvements to optimize the potential of connected and

The key question should be: is this relevant to my customers? And China is the best place to find out

Dr Rainer Mehl, Capgemini Invent

autonomous vehicles (CAVs), especially artificial intelligence, (AI), blockchain and 5G. And there has been progress. According to a Capgemini study, 33% of OEMs have AI-based use cases in place for driver experience and 53% for mobility services. An early initiative is the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX), an infotainment system that drivers initiate by saying, “Hey Mercedes”. Capgemini says a lot of the AI use cases are in the context of fleet management, including optimizing dispatch, scheduling predictive maintenance and counting passengers automatically. But transportation providers need to do more to develop the potential of AI. They should evaluate the full range of potential use cases at the earliest opportunity and build the infrastructure required to use and monetize the data collected from smart sensors.

T

ITS for smarter cities

he smart cities market is expected of the smart cities initiative is creating to grow from US$308 billion in and developing an efficient urban mobility 2018 to US$717.2 billion by 2023, and mass transport system to provide at a Compound Annual Growth Rate alternative travel modes. The value chain (CAGR) of 18.4%, according to research of the smart transportation market mainly

by MarketsandMarkets. Smart comprises hardware, software, integrated transportation is the largest part of this solutions and service enablers responsible new and growing sector. for delivering the smart transportation An important part of solutions. this growth potential With technological is in Intelligent advancements, smart Transportation transportation vendors Systems (ITS). Many are now offering of these systems integrated solutions have been around that combine for decades, but the software they continue capabilities with The predicted size of the global to evolve with hardware at smart cities market by 2023 advanced a low cost. (in US dollars), up from tools for traffic The main counting, benefits offered by $308 billion in 2018 parking guidance, smart transportation (MarketsandMarkets) passenger are a decrease in information, data infrastructural damages, analytics, fare collection, advanced traffic control, smart ticketing and telematics, parking management of all set for significant growth. automobiles, route optimized solutions, These solutions are having an impact on Geographic Information System (GIS) the quality and accessibility of information tracking solutions, passenger information for delivering an enhanced mobility solutions and others. experience. While the impacts of these Additionally, smart transportation technologies are already extensive, there technologies offer big benefits such as is a potential for a much stronger impact cost saving in transport and optimized during the next five years. A major module solutions for commuters.

$717.2bn

Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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MARKET REPORT |

The chain gang Above: 5G will be a key enabler for connected vehicles – and it will be huge globally

2023

The year by which China is aiming to achieve national coverage of 5G

Blockchain has emerged as another vital technology keep the massive amounts of connected data safe from hackers. Blockchain allows decentralized storage and each transaction is transparent to every participant.

The automotive industry recognizes the importance of blockchain and 36 companies, including BMW, GM and Renault, recently formed the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative (MOBI) to develop shared standards. Important use cases for blockchain include the eWallet for automatic payments and Car CV, which stores documentation securely. Other possibilities include creating a mobility ecosystem, storing behavioral data to inform personalized insurance offers and protecting vehicles from EXPECTED 5G CONNECTIONS BY THE END OF 2025 500

China 430m

400

300

200

100

0

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Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Europe 203m

USA 190m

cyberattacks. Despite its efforts so far, the industry needs to take blockchain more seriously, the authors argue. Greater investment for smart contracts and payments will increase customer confidence.

Connectivity between vehicles depends on real-time transfers of data, and 5G increasingly looks like it will be the most effective technology.

The authors believe 5G is ‘revolutionary’ because it provides broadband access with low latencies, high reliability, as well as high speeds for downloading and uploading of up to 10GBit/s, which is up to 100 times faster than 4G. “5G enables a whole range of connected vehicle services that customers will value and pay for, and is probably the single biggest technology enabler for connected vehicles trends,” the authors say.

Once again, China is likely to be at the heart of future developments. Planned investments aim to achieve national coverage of 5G by 2023 and there is a determination there to lead on standards. Although China is currently behind Europe and the US, it will lead adoption in the future. As well as availability, another indication of rising demand is the number of 5G connections between devices. Once again, China will take the lead. It is expected to have 430 million 5G connections by the end of 2025, compared with 190 million in the US and 203 million in Europe, the report says.

Advancing in Europe

In Europe, the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) comprising of Audi, BMW, Daimler and others, was set up to advance the cause of 5G. There are initiatives in most major markets, such as Huawei and Audi’s Smart City Wuxi, which uses real-time traffic management information based on cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X).

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MARKET REPORT |

$64.9bn

R

Extra eyes on the road

esearch carried out by the Global Market Insights expect the market value of Internet Protocol (IP) cameras to explode to more than US$25bn by 2025. Currently at US$8bn, the increasing adoption of pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras for 360° visibility and security of large facilities is augmenting the IP camera market growth. These solutions are being widely adopted by traffic managers, allowing operators to monitor the roads by capturing the footage from multiple angles or directions, enhancing the management

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of the highway. Major advantages such as ease in installation, high-quality and tamper-resistant image production, and wide coverage area are propelling the demand for PTZ solutions in the IP camera market. Manufacturers are engaged in providing infrared technology in PTZ cameras for enhancing the image quality in different light conditions. For instance, in March 2019, Axis Communications AB, announced the launch of AXIS Q6215LE PTZ Network Camera with built-in IR illumination to help meet demand.

PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO ACCEPT AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES

China 75% Europe 36%

USA 24%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

impossible,” says Dr Mehl. “They were fierce competitors, but all the technologies require major investments and payback is still unclear for autonomous vehicles. For economic reasons it makes sense to work together. There’s also an awareness of the threat from data monopolists entering the connected market .”

Succeed with open data

A final piece of advice in the Capgemini report is to provide an open platform for third parties.

Owners of platforms will act as gatekeepers deciding which services to integrate. “A fundamental belief at Capgemini is that companies are stronger when they have open platforms. It means opening the platform up to the wider ecosystem, for example gas stations fueling cars, or having intelligent payment systems,” says Dr Mehl.

The market for intelligent transportation systems (ITS) presents lucrative growth opportunities worldwide. According to MarketsandMarkets, it was valued at US$46.2bn in 2018 and expected to reach US$64.9bn by 2023, at a CAGR of 7.1%. Apurva Agarwal, associate director for semiconductors and electronics at MarketsandMarkets, said rising congestion worldwide was a major driver of the growth of ITS, which offers real-time traffic statistics.

For example, figures from the US Auto Insurance Center show the average driver spends 42 hours a year stuck in traffic jams, which costs them around US$960 each. ITS is already helping to reduce congestion in some parts of the world. In South Korea, ITS systems have increased average vehicle speeds by 20% and decreased delay times on some critical roadways by 39%. Similarly, in Singapore, the congestion management system has increased traffic flows by 90%.

Other transport sectors are wrestling with similar issues and embracing ITS. The global railway industry is investing in Internet of Things (IoT) technologies over the next 15 years.

Currently, the rail industry spends US$2bn on smart rail projects and connected trail technologies, but these sums are likely to increase fast. The American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2013 report card said the US needs to invest an extra US$3.6tn by 2020 to upgrade the nation’s infrastructure. Investments in smart technologies will help to deal with the challenges. ■

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Ford is integrating C-V2X into vehicles in the US from 2022, with a commitment to eventually putting 5G into all its vehicles. In Seoul, a “5G for automotive” trial demonstrated 4K video streaming successfully and showed 4G could not achieve the same results.

Capgemini’s Trend Radar argues to succeed in the high growth markets of the US and China, companies need to act now to “understand 5G better, launch pilots, and readjust their connectivity strategy and roadmaps”. The authors advise assessing key connectivity requirements, building 5G use cases and pilots, identifying a 5G implementation model and ensuring the connectivity strategy is flexible.

Technology companies have seen the potential for disruption in the sector, and Capgemini has identified 250 entering the connected services market. This represents 22% of all automotive start-ups. OEMs are increasingly investing in them, though much less than Intel or Softbank. Safety and security accounts for the largest share, followed by data platforms, hardware and software, telematics, and remote services.

The arrival of so many dynamic new entrants represents both a threat and an opportunity for traditional players. The best strategy, the authors advise, is to build strategic partnerships. It often makes sense to team up to cut costs and share expertise. The MOBI initiative is a good example of this strategy, as is the recent alliance between Volkswagen and Ford to The predicted value of the collaborate on autonomous global ITS market by 2023 (in vehicles, mobility services US dollars), up from and electric vehicles.

“We’re seeing more US$46.2bn in 2018 ‘coopetition’, such as Daimler (MarketsandMarkets) and BMW joining forces to develop AVs and share components for electric vehicles.

Until three years ago, this collaboration would have been

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| MAAS IN MEXICO CITY

Mexican mobility Will MaaS work in a city where the infrastructure does not naturally support it? We could find out in Mexico City, where some eager proponents are keen to make integrated transport services a success Words | Michael Donlevy

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| MAAS IN MEXICO CITY

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hat have Helsinki, Stockholm, Vienna, Amsterdam and Austin in Texas got in common? First, they have all been named as the cities that, globally, are best prepared to deploy Mobility as a Service (MaaS) on a large scale. Second, they are all major cities in developed nations. Not every country is quite so well prepared, and the challenges in developing nations are huge.

MaaS integrates various forms of transport services into a single on-demand mobility service. A MaaS operator can facilitate a diverse menu of mobility options: public transport including buses, trains and planes; ride, car or bike-sharing; taxis and car rental.

A report by Juniper Research last year predicted that MaaS will replace more than 2.3 billion urban private car journeys by 2023, compared with 17.6 million in 2018. Western Europe will lead the way, while growth in the United States will be slower thanks to the highly fragmented nature of the state and federal systems. Uptake in less developed nations – for example Mexico – will take a lot longer.

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20%

Proportion of journeys in Mexico City made by car. In more developed cities such as Tokyo that figure is less than 10%

Above: A sprawling urban metropolis such as Mexico City presents opportunities for linking transport services, but there are huge challenges to overcome

One company that aims to get people moving in the central American country is Vulog, a technology developer whose products support shared mobility services such as car sharing, ride hailing, hybrid services and autonomous mobility pilots. The company has teamed up with car rental giant Alamo’s Mexican franchise to offer its first car-sharing service.

“Mobility in Mexico City in particular is extremely inefficient,” says Gregory Ducongé, CEO of Vulog. “This creates economic, social and environmental issues: congestion, pollution and noise, as well as long journey times.

“Like many developing countries, Mexico is clearly behind a lot of other nations, and Mexico City is behind a lot of other large cities, when it comes to offering clean and efficient transport options.”

Embracing the future

In theory, developing nations should be more willing and able to embrace MaaS, because they don’t have the sort of embedded, longestablished public transit service that is, by the nature of having so many operators with vested interests, resistant to change. The problem here, however, is that you do need a sophisticated service in the first place.

“I think MaaS is a long way off yet in Mexico,” says Ducongé. “First, it’s about creating basic mobility options and improving public transport. Up to 20% of journeys in Mexico City are by car, whereas in somewhere like Tokyo that figure is less than 10%. Simply, the inefficient use of cars is creating a mess.”

“Instigating ride sharing in a developing nation is difficult,” agrees Jack Opiola, joint founder of the USA-based MaaS Association.

Automobiles are highly prized – cars are seen as a status symbol” Jack Opiola, joint founder, MaaS Association

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Geography lesson

Why Mexico City’s location and environment makes ride sharing an even greater challenge than in many other developing cities

M

exico City is a sprawling megacity covering 573 square miles with an estimated population of around nine million. It also faces environmental challenges because it’s situated in a valley, which means the surrounding mountains block wind currents and hold the polluted air.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates Mexico City’s ‘suspended particulates’ at 179mg/m3 – almost double the WHO’s

maximum recommendation of 90mg. The biggest cause of these suspended particulate is exhaust fumes.

“Clearly congestion is bad,” says Jack Opiola. “In fact it is rated as the most congested city in the world ahead of Bangkok in Thailand, Jakarta in Indonesia and Chongqing in China. Bus and road usage are big issues and congestion exacerbates the pollution, while the city’s size and sprawling nature limits the reach of rail services.

“Mexico has implemented programs banning cars on certain days, but with little success,” he adds. “Congestion pricing has been discussed, but is politically distasteful to a series of mayoral and national administrations.

“The electrification of the vehicle fleet and shared vehicle program incentives may help improve the city’s environmental future, but they will do little to improve the ongoing congestion problems.”

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| MAAS IN MEXICO CITY “By definition, a developing nation is developing its infrastructure as well as trying to build up its economy. In this environment, automobiles are a highly prized and desired purchase – cars are seen as a status symbol. Those who have worked their way into the middle and upper-middle classes are not people who ride share other than with immediate family.”

Productivity hub

Mexico City is one of the most productive urban areas in the world. The metropolitan area accounts for about 22% of the total national Gross Domestic Product. As a result, it has developed a large vehicle population of more than 10 million cars today.

“The opportunity for ride sharing may be greater in Mexico City, but the dispersed socioeconomics of the city and its 16 boroughs works against multiple people engaging in ride sharing,” says Opiola.

“It’s a real concern but the city is trying to get things moving,” Ducongé adds. “To that end, in February the Mexico City government signed a deal with GPS navigation company Waze to create public policies aimed at improving mobility in the city.”

Falling under the company’s Connected Citizens program, the Google subsidiary will work with the city’s public safety department, which controls traffic lighting operations, its mobility department Semovi, which manages mobility works, and the Mexican capital’s local traffic control agencies.

Waze will acquire data from the two departments and compile information aimed at creating more time-efficient routes for the vast number of commuters making short journeys, and is inspired by a similar Waze project in Boston, Massachussets, which reduced traffic congestion by up to 30%.

“It’s a step in the right direction and will help to Reduction in traffic create more efficient emerging and potentially congestion as a result of mobility for buses and cars. huge market is not going Being able to map mobility Waze’s route-finding project to be easy. will help to create “It’s a huge issue,” says in Boston, Massachusetts. alternatives and offer Ducongé. “All mobility Waze is to launch a a wider choice of public providers in Mexico similar scheme transport options, including City work directly bicycles and walking.” with the end user and in Mexico City So while the city is behind its none of them are European and North American willing to give up that counterparts, it is at least taking steps to relationship. I don’t know of catch up. “There are so many challenges that anyone who’s trying to solve that issue MaaS is in the very early stages, but Mexico City right now. The only way for the city to also has plans to increase the space for bikes and offer a single subscription to a MaaS service to promote electric vehicle sharing,” says Ducongé. “It’s the next step.”

The only way for the city to offer a single There are added technological challenges, subscription to a MaaS service that of course, because for MaaS to work effectively includes buses, trains, bikes and cars is for the there has to be a universal payment system that city itself to take control allows you to connect your journeys seamlessly.

Persuading multiple vendors to cooperate in an Gregory Ducongé, CEO, Vulog

30%

Above: Shared mobility is more than just a car and an app, as Vulog’s AiMA – Artificial Intelligence Mobility Applied – platform demonstrates

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Above: Vulog’s app will guide users to the nearest available vehicle in its carsharing scheme. For Alamo customers that will mean no waiting around for a hire car

034

that includes buses, trains, bikes and cars is for the city itself to take control. Otherwise, trying to force private companies to work together is a long way off.”

“Universal payment systems are possible but difficult to employ in developing nations,” says Opiola. “Realistically, internet banking is only possible in the more established urban centres. And without digital payment systems MaaS breaks down to cash handling and ‘payto-ride’ ecosystems.”

In that context, Opiola agrees with Ducongé: “It’s difficult to see anything other than a nationally backed ‘public bank’ and credit system satisfying the needs of Mexico or Mexico City.”

Getting the workers to work

Car rental companies traditionally target their service at tourists, but Vulog and Alamo believe there will be an opportunity to expand further down the line.

“For now it’s about tourists being able to pick up a car anywhere, across the whole of Mexico, rather than be restricted by a rental company’s opening hours,” says Ducongé. “In time, though, we want businesses to use the service as well because car sharing can reduce their travel and fleet costs. In practical terms employees will be able to pick up a car whenever they need it, whether it’s for a 15-minute journey or whether it’s for a number of days. In Mexico City all trips are short and there are issues with public transport, so it’s ideal.”

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

It all comes back to the challenge of integrating services in a developing country.

Can Mexico – and Mexico City – be fast on its feet in adapting to the demands of MaaS? “This is a really good question,” says Ducongé. “I don’t see us as competing with public transport. You need a strong public transport network for MaaS to work, otherwise people won’t give up their own cars.

“But pollution is high in developing nations and they have to address this – which they are.

They’re looking to restrict car use, to penalize gasoline vehicles and develop green mobility, so there are positive signs. I do think the challenge is greater in developing nations, but when it comes to pollution we’re talking about health, and the impact on wellbeing. That’s forcing cities around the world to act.”

Any action, however, requires time as well as motivation. “Rather than taking a ‘Big Bang theory’ approach, MaaS requires an evolutionary or incremental deployment,” says Opiola.

“Mexico can begin with the integration of two modes of transport, and once that has been successfully completed it’s easier to then add more modes of transport and move forward to higher levels of integration.

“It actually gets easier to advance to higher levels because there is a clear evidentiary trail of success, measurable benefits and a demonstrable value to other modes of transport to expand the MaaS network.”

For Mexico City, the journey is just beginning. n

MAAS IN AMSTERDAM |

to the Amsterdam is leading the way for Mobility as a Service in the Netherlands with successful pilots already completed in the growing Zuidas district of the city and a new app planned for 2020 Words | James Allen

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| MAAS IN AMSTERDAM

€1,000

The travel budget given to participants in Amsterdam’s Zuidas Mobility Experience, in return for giving up their car for a month

A

s well as being the host city of the largest of all the Intertraffic shows, Amsterdam is increasingly establishing itself as a leader in smart mobility for residents and visitors alike.

Over the past few years, it has been the test bed for the experimentation of several Mobility as a Service (MaaS) projects. One of the most recent examples is a pilot known as The Zuidas Mobility Experience.

Creating car-less commuters

Based in the busy commercial district of Zuidas, a select group of workers in the area were handed €1,000 to spend on their commute for the month. They were free to travel in any way they so wished and even retain whatever was left over for themselves. First class train travel? No problem. Rent a Tesla for the weekend? Why not? Or cycle to work and keep all the money for something else… All these options and more were viable but there was, however, one significant caveat. To receive this generous gift, the senior employees were required to give up the keys to their company car for the duration of the experiment.

Part of a much broader smart mobility project, the intention was to ramp up the small-scale testing of MaaS-related services to something that can be of benefit to all Amsterdam citizens. The results of the pilot were so positive that a new MaaS app is being rolled out specifically for business users in the Zuidas district by January 2020. Initially aimed at forming a serious alternative to commuting to the area by car, the expectation is that the app will ultimately benefit a wider portion of Amsterdam citizens. Tijs Roelofs, Amsterdam’s smart mobility manager, knows this is a significant task. “The only way

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| MAAS IN AMSTERDAM

Making MaaS work

Solving the ‘first and last mile’ problem

T

he first and last mile can pose problems for those using transport services in larger cities such as Amsterdam. Public services can be prone to error and often struggle with capacity at peak times.

These issues should be eradicated with an intelligent MaaS system, as data can be fed back into the system to keep services flowing and passengers up to date. Ultimately those on the move should be able to enjoy a connected and speedy service from the start to end point of their journey.

Transport operators should be taking inspiration from the taxi industry – for years, taxis and private hire vehicles have been a vital part of our transport network, offering customers a personalized door-to-door service.

This service has become ever more innovative too thanks to technology, with many local firms now able to offer passengers the option to book a ride using an app on their phone.

As hundreds of cars operate within a single firm, taxis are also collecting huge amounts of data globally each day. They operate across cities, towns and villages so know the ins and outs of our roads. This information can then be fed back to smart city planners and OEMs as they start planning for the future.

Amsterdammers will consider leaving the car behind is if they have a better and cheaper alternative and therefore experience ‘freedom of mobility,’” he says.

A region of the city experiencing a lot of redevelopment and investment Zuidas is ideal not only for testing but also embedding of the travel solutions of the future as it grows out. In the MaaS Zuidas pilot, governments and leading employers in and around Zuidas will work together to make a MaaS service possible.

The ultimate goal is that by 2025, the whole of Amsterdam will be a place where alternative modes of transport are viable and attractive and where shared mobility is affordable, reliable and accessible to everyone. Such solutions may even take advantage of an asset not available in many other major cities in the world – Amsterdam’s famous network of canals.

Software solution

One firm, Autocab, is already doing its part in bringing MaaS to the city. The firm’s software is embedded in the vehicles of Amsterdam’s largest taxi operator, Schiphol Taxi, processing over 4.4 million journeys that its drivers make shuttling individuals in and around the Dutch capital each year. And in doing so it is well placed to begin building a detailed picture of mobility demand.

“Detailed trip data, on passenger preferences and habits, is what will enable MaaS to operate intelligently,” says Autocab CEO Safa Alakteb.

“Taxi and private hire vehicles are a particularly rich resource of data in this regard – they are

currently capturing vast amounts of personalized information about passenger habits and the most commonly used routes in their cloud-based booking and dispatch systems.

“Other transport operators should The number of journeys be able to take the made by the Schiphol Taxi information collected from firm each year in these passenger bookings and Amsterdam use it to update wait times or improve traffic flow by better managing the number of vehicles on the roads.

“These insights will form the basis Above: Schiphol of town mapping for mobility solutions of the Taxis has the largest EV fleet future, helping to improve the user’s experience in Europe and keeping services running smoothly.”

4.4 million

Greener power

The majority of the roughly 1,000 vehicles on Schiphol Taxis books are combustion-powered but a growing proportion are electric. With 200 being Teslas, the taxi firm currently has the largest electric vehicle (EV) taxi fleet in Europe

The only way Amsterdammers will consider leaving the car behind is if they have a better and cheaper alternative

Tijs Roelofs, smart mobility manager, Amsterdam

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| MAAS IN AMSTERDAM

Above: Amsterdam is already ahead of many cities in terms of multimodal transportation – it has a large tram network and cycling is extremely popular

points, it can be difficult for the EV to provide data and reducing emissions from the vehicle’s and operate away from a central hub.” tailpipe, while not integral, fits with the Autocab developed a specific solution for broader MaaS philosophy.

Schipol’s EV fleet to ensure they ran more There are, however, a number of issues efficiently between charges. Working with Tesla to overcome for them to be considered to enable onboard computers in the vehicles to comfortable bedfellows. obtain accurate charge information – this “Obtaining accurate information information then fed into an from EV vehicles can be algorithm, ensuring the nearest challenging, as it can be available vehicle was dispatched affected by how well to fulfil the booking and also charged it is”, says Alakteb. be able to return to a charging “In the case of an EV station. A login facility for taxi, for example, the EVs was also developed operators need to take so that drivers can quickly into account the distance The number of Tesla electric swap in and out of different of travel, traffic levels vehicles at charging stations. and total travel time vehicles on Schiphol Taxis’ before dispatching a 1,000 vehicle fleet vehicle with sufficient Team players battery charge to be able to Autocab collects data from more fulfil a booking and then than 1.5 million taxis around the return to a charging station. globe on a daily basis, but as rich as “It’s also important to the data generated is, Alakteb is well consider the infrastructure of a aware that to see the MaaS revolution that city and whether this is able to facilitate Amsterdam envisages Autocab can’t do it alone.

EVs. If there are not adequate charging “One of the biggest challenges we face in implementing MaaS is the traditionally fragmented nature of the transport industry.

Without doubt we need to encourage more transport providers to collaborate – both with each other and governments – in order to make it work.

“Partnerships will be essential so data can be shared easily, and passengers are provided with up-to-the-minute information on schedules and availability of vehicles. Creating a single platform, Safa Alakteb, CEO, Autocab

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One of the biggest challenges we face in implementing MaaS is the traditionally fragmented nature of the transport industry

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MAAS IN AMSTERDAM |

Seven different projects are being trialed around the country

1

From January 2020, an app providing MaaS services will be available for a trial period of two years with the goal of improving access to the burgeoning Zuidas district in Amsterdam.

2 3

A similar app intending to stimulate use of alternative modes of transport to cars will also be introduced in the Dutch region of Utrecht.

6 7

With poor public transport options in Groning-Drenthe, a new two-year project intends to create affordable mobility for travellers in the region

Traveling to Rotterdam from The Hague Airport is currently only easily done by car. A new project is seeking to develop multimodal options.

In Eindhoven, in conjunction with a number of employers based in the city, a project is already underway that aims to ensure all business travel there is done sustainably by 2025.

4

The only province in the country with borders to two other nations, Limburg is addressing multimodal possibilities in a crossborder context with the intention of simplifying public transport travel and reducing car use in the process.

5

Accessible travel for less ablebodied individuals is limited in Twente so special attention is being given to increasing MaaS options for customized transport

We should be turning to shared mobility solutions, such as taxis and ride-hailing, which will help to get people through the first leg of their journey

Safa Alakteb, CEO, Autocab

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Seamless travel

When it comes to connecting Amsterdam’s public transport, the foundations are already in place. A chip card can currently be used by travelers for all public transport in the city – on trams, trains, the metro and buses. This is making mobility seamless for passengers, removing the frustration of having to make separate payments when switching between different forms of transport.

“If we want this new MaaS ecosystem to work for everyone, we need to think beyond the city and take into account those living in rural areas too”, argues Alakteb. “They need it more than ever as public transport services serving these communities today are often infrequent and unreliable. To achieve this, we should be turning to shared mobility solutions, such as taxis and ride-hailing, which will help to get people through the first leg of their journey. With their widespread availability, these shared solutions can serve as that important initial link before the passenger then connects to another mode of transport closer to the city, such as a train or tram.”

In many ways, the taxi industry is leading the way in bringing MaaS to the masses. Onboard software is enabling local firms to share jobs and reach customers quicker. Taking this approach, Alakteb is confident that extending it more widely would result in fewer wasted miles for the driver and minutes for the customer.

It seems inevitable that the MaaS revolution is on its way and with the roll out of the app in Zuidas as well as the efforts of government and business city-wide, there is every chance Amsterdam will lead the way. It is appropriate then that it is in the city that it is also the home of Intertraffic where the systems and services can experienced first hand. ■

IMAGES: ALLAN; RUBEN; MARTIN NAUJOCKS; CASTENOID/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

MaaS in the Netherlands

where both public and private operators can cooperate to meet customer demand, will help to build these important relationships.”

EV INFRASTRUCTURE |

Current Affairs The roll-out of EV charging stations and charge-points is increasing steadily, but is it quickly enough and in the right places?

C

Words | Dr Frank Millard

harging electric vehicles (EVs) seems straightforward enough, but there are potential pitfalls in the establishment of a comprehensive infrastructure. The charging network must cater for a growing number of vehicles and expanding at a similar rate to ownership as well as according to differing requirements in different places at different times. It also needs to consider the grid, which must itself increasingly depend on renewables. So, different solutions are likely to be applied, such as forecourt charging, local charge points, home and work (off-peak) charging, induction charge-as-you-drive, AC and fast DC charging.

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EV INFRASTRUCTURE |

Above: Chargers are actually growing at 1520% ahead of the market for EVs, according to ChargePoint

European governments are subject to international climate agreements and a growing awareness of environmental concerns, so are keen to portray themselves as committed to emissions reduction. For example, the UK government announced recently that electric vehicle charge points are to be fitted in all new homes.

A DfT spokesperson states, “We want to support the growing uptake of electric cars, and for this country to be the first place in the world where every home with an associated parking space has an electric chargepoint.

Through our £1.5bn Road to Zero program

and £400m promise of funding for e-charging we are serious about the infrastructure for e-cars.”

On September 10, the UK Government announced £400 million funding to help develop rapid charging infrastructure points for EVs, the first £70 million in creating 3,000 new rapid charge points. Following the news, André ten Bloemendal, vice president, Europe, at ChargePoint, described it as a step in the right direction for the EV industry and necessary to get infrastructure in place to remove key logistical barriers to consumer adoption.

However, he adds that there should be more cross-industry collaboration to make current

The answer to this is a fully interoperable, peer-to-peer roaming solution and charging stations that are designed with integrated contactless payments and ease of use in mind

André ten Bloemendal, vice president, Europe, ChargePoint

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27cm

The gap between a vehicle and the road surface that still allows for inductive charging

Charging without cables

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ireless charging of PEVs is another solution.

Inductive charging is an increasingly viable alternative to forecourt charge-points, especially for mass transit and in within contained urban areas.

Moreover, systems can be extended to domestic vehicles and trucks on the road. For example, a company called Electreon is creating pay-as-yougo ‘electric’ roads.

Noam Ilan, VP business development, Electreon, explains: “The company is using DWPT [dynamic wireless power transfer] technology - inductive transmission via electromagnetic fields from the roadbed. The technology enables a shared infrastructure that significantly

reduced the need to charge vehicle’s battery during day/ overnight and decreases the size of the battery, it can support any type of EV – buses, trucks, passengers – and is especially suitable for autonomous EVs. “Electric Road technology is based on the concept of a high frequency air core transformer.

The initial component of the air core transformer is an inductive stripe installed about 8-10cm beneath the asphalt. The secondary component is called the receiver and is connected to the vehicle’s engine and battery within an air gap of about 27cm.

“The unique stripe is optimally shaped to improve efficiency and reduce radiation. The copper-only stripe reduces cost and the need

for maintenance and increases reliability. The stripe is passive and comprises 1m segments. When a vehicle rides over a given segment, only the segment located directly under it is activated and transmits energy to the receiver thus saving energy and increasing safety.”

The two main go-to-market segments are buses in the urban environment and trucks. It is almost impossible to electrify heavy trucks because the battery must be huge. A Tel Aviv demonstration is aimed at showcasing the former, and the next step will be to electrify the entire bus fleet of the city in collaboration with Dan, the city’s leading bus operator. Another demonstration in Sweden is financed by the Swedish

charging stations more accessible for drivers: “The answer to this is a fully interoperable, peerto-peer roaming solution and charging stations that are designed with integrated contactless payments and ease of use in mind.”

All this facilitates a speedier adoption of EVs, but other European countries such as Norway have gone a slightly different route, observes Bloemendal’s colleague, Matthew Enevoldson.

“Norway has a much smaller and relatively more prosperous population that is generally concentrated in a small area,” he explains. “As such, they have gone the route of making ICE [internal combustion engine] vehicles more expensive through taxation, rather than offering large incentives on buying new vehicles.

“Norway has no value-added tax for EVs, which is 25% on gas and diesel vehicles. There is no registration tax on used car sales, no annual ownership tax, and no fuel tax. Road tolls are

government as part of their road map to for electric roads for heavy trucks.

Coventry City Council in the UK is also intending to install a testbed and is currently exploring funding for the project. The council says the technology has the potential to address concerns and barriers to the uptake of electric vehicles by making it easier and quicker to charge EVs on the move or while parked up without the need to plug in cables, or to access roadside charging points: “The system also requires less obtrusive street furniture, avoiding clutter or obstructions on pavements, which can be particularly important on narrow streets such as those in many areas of Coventry.”

Above: Electreon is currently testing dynamic, inductive charging technology Left: Fast charging is essential for EV uptake, and the number of DC rapid chargers is set to grow in the near future

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| EV INFRASTRUCTURE

One day it is hoped that inductive charging lanes will become commonplace on our roadways

‘fully or partially’ exempt, bus lanes are mostly open to EVs, public parking fees do not apply for EVs and there is plenty of free charging.

Ultimately, the use of extensive low emission zones in large urban centers have made EVs the best option for most drivers.

“This method is obviously successful, but with a population of just 5.25 million, the losses seen to the treasury are not necessarily viable for larger countries. Although Norway is a prime example that charging capacity has a market incentive to keep up with the number of EVs on the road once adoption takes off.

“The Netherlands, while having a larger population, is also fairy small geographically.

They do, however, have one of the highest densities of chargers in Europe. They have relied heavily on public-private initiatives, known as the Green-Deal approach. This has allowed the government to help facilitate private projects by

M

Modeling ideal charge locations

odeling can provide a deeper understanding of behavior and how charging types and locations will work in particular settings. ZEnMo (Zeroemission Energy & Mobility) simulations specializes in taking a neighborhood (map with physical infrastructure) and populating it with people.

“Every person and machine exhibits individual behavior – so, for example, solar panels produce sun when the sun shines, people go to work using a car – and from the collective behavior a picture emerges,” says company founder, Auke Hoekstra, says. “We look at driving and charging/ fueling behavior of drivers to get a realistic image of fleet behavior. The difference with most other approaches is that this is very much bottom-up, with the structure being a result.”

Results so far, include, he reveals: showing the Province of Brabant what a 100% renewable energy+mobility system would require in terms of trade-offs such as with investments and land use; showing people working in charging infra or EVs (members of the NKL) what to expect in terms of charging growth of EVs and charging infrastructure; supporting new tariff schemes that in turn could making charging EVs smarter so they don’t overload the grid at all; and showing that

most heavy trucks could be electrified (for the Rotterdam Port Authority and its customers) when they become available in a few years and how this would reduce costs.

“We simulate a neighborhood with inhabitants that fulfill their mobility needs,” he adds. “We then predict who will buy an electric vehicle and when. We then model when those electric vehicles will charge based on mobility and charging needs.”

Models can show in advance what subsidies and roll-out schemes are most (cost) effective, show that this is not a ‘pipe dream’ but inevitable and that this system will be not only more environmentally friendly but also cheaper in the end. Policy makers, entrepreneurs and buyers are slowed down by uncertainty, so it can help speed up the transition.

For the coming years, Hoekstra expects vehicles with a plug (a CCS plug in EU) to be exactly what 999 out of 1,000 cars need: “As we grow, we can learn about the proportion fast-chargers vs park chargers and about the speed car batteries will be able to handle. Maybe smart charging and V2G will make it more interesting for people to be plugged in a larger amount of time but this will mainly impact home charging and work charging. All in all I’m not worried about stranded charging assets for EVs (either PHEV or BEV).”

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EV INFRASTRUCTURE | removing legislative barriers and through connecting innovators together, with funding and know how. This approach has been twinned with similar legislative changes and incentive programs as in Norway and the UK. “Both Norway and the Netherlands have applied a good mix of financial incentives and removing barriers of non-financial nature such as easy application procedures for installation, special lanes for EVs, and incentivising ridesharing, for example.”

Pop-up street charging Retractable charge points can be used overnight without cluttering the street during the day

Infrastructure

Range and cost remain a disincentive to early or even medium-term adoption, which could result in a slow roll out of the sort of charging infrastructure sufficient to feed the hungry vehicles expected to fill European roads in the next few years. This chicken and egg scenario could have an impact on both industry profits and the ability of systems to cope, no matter how integrated or ‘smart’ they may be.

Enevoldson is more optimistic: “While it is difficult, we should avoid thinking of EV charging as a ‘chicken and egg’ problem that requires thousands of chargers to be installed everywhere before EV adoption takes off.

Instead, the EV industry needs to think of charging as a ‘hot dog and bun’ problem: as we keep adding more chargers, people will keep buying more cars and the ratio will even out over time.

“At ChargePoint we traditionally grow 1520% ahead of market growth for EVs. That is what the market is driving. Government activity and consumer demand for EVs are the driving force behind this.”

Kevin Pugh, UK and Ireland business development manager at Tritium, is of the opinion that there are many years of transition for fuel-station forecourts ahead: “The nature of evolving a fuel-heavy site from petrol and diesel into one incorporating or exclusively offering EV charging will happen only with a planned transitional model. Charging will be on the perimeter to begin with, but as volumes change and EVs become ubiquitous, redundant fuel storage will be replaced with electric.

“The larger convenience-ready forecourts with retail and café offerings are already perfectly suited to EV charging and en-route high-power charging, as are motorway service stations,” Pugh adds. “It’s worth noting, however, that there are about 40 million vehicles on UK roads and we have some 9,000 petrol stations handling that volume, and that EV charging won’t take place only on forecourts. Home and workplace charging is ideal for daily work commuters and inner-city, low-mileage round trips. I expect this will remain the crown holder for the largest percentage of low power throughthe-day/night charging. It makes sense. You plug in and forget until you have to drive again.”

Could a massive rise in EVs on the roads of Europe put an unbearable strain on the grid?

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lthough charging at home or at work are solutions, they are not always possible. In the UK, for example, 43% of households have no off-street parking to enable charging. A quarter of all drivers (50% in large cities) park on-street at night, so that is eight million drivers who will be looking for a convenient charging solution.

In Europe, an even higher proportion of drivers live in apartments and park onstreet, and there are 109m on-street parking spaces across Europe.

As an answer, Startup Urban Electric has developed UEone pop-up charging hub, an app-operated retractable charging solution. Designed primarily for residential streets and for public parking and charging bays, the hubs will typically be deployed as six chargers at a time in a row on one side of the street. They offer convenience and dependability (certainty of availability of a charge point, compared to say lamp post chargers which are isolated charge points).

Each pop-up charge point delivers 7kW, more than sufficient to fully charge any electric vehicle overnight, and is OCPP, so can be connected to any charging network.

The reason they are retractable is so that when not in use during the day, they do not cause street clutter or obstruct the pavement, something that both local authorities and residents are insistent upon.

Not only that, by shifting EV charging to the main off-peak period – overnight – we are helping to manage the grid, and with smart charging, no grid upgrades will be required, the carbon content of electricity is lowest at night and so is the price. It is in many ways the ideal solution and a win-win for

everyone concerned. The company recently installed a prototype pop-up charging hub in Oxford, and with a further 18 demonstrator hubs agreed for installation in Dundee and Plymouth in 2020.

“Charging infrastructure is perceived as being the primary barrier to EV adoption,” says Keith Johnston, cofounder of Urban Electric. “However, the price/lease price of EVs also has to come down to price parity with traditional ICE cars, or thereabouts, before we hit a tipping point. This is predicted to happen within the next three to five years, starting with the more expensive cars and tricking down quickly after that.

“The range of EVs probably has to increase to around 250-300 miles as well in order to go mainstream. We already have electric cars that can do this, and demand already outstrips supply for these models.

We will see a surge in the number of rapid charging hubs in the coming years, and so the question of charging infrastructure is to all intents and purposes about to be solved. Now it is up to the manufacturers to accelerate the introduction of their full electric vehicles.”

It is our view that the next generation of EVs will use DC charging technology. Indeed, it is DC that is best suited to delivering faster rates of charging and we’re seeing this with the next generation of vehicles coming to market

Adrian Keen, CEO, InstaVolt

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Frank Muehlon, head of global business for EV Charging Infrastructure at ABB is sanguine: “If we were to reach a 100% electrified car fleet, we could expect an increase in total electricity demand of up to 10-20% depending on the country and the level of industrialization. Yet, in the short term over the next five years, given the current rates of e-mobility adoption, we should see little impact on the grid, this is even taking into consideration countries such as Norway, where over 50% of new cars are EVs.” Currently, overall predictions signal that electricity demand will The predicted growth in global grow 3,000 TWh by 2040 as a electricity demand by 2040 result of electric vehicles. This would see a compound annual as a result of EVs. A growth rate (CAGR) increase of CAGR increase of 1.6% in today’s utilities, which on 1.6% a macro basis could be managed through existing planning processes.

Above: The Porsche Taycan, launching this year, will be the first consumer car with 175kW charging capacity

3,000 TWh

Charging types

“Currently AC is king, but soon the percentage of 50kW DC rapid chargers and Tesla chargers will grow and we will begin to see 100kW to 175kW DC charging capability on the major networks as the norm,” says Pugh. “Availability of power is an important part of the scaling up for charging capability and accessibility across the map, so combined leadership and close relationships with grid and power specialist

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will be the key to developing and deploying the right solutions.”

Muehlon thinks DC charging is still too powerful for most consumer vehicles right now, “But all that may be about to change with the launch of the first consumer car capable of taking this power, the Porsche Taycan, later this year.”

Adrian Keen, CEO of InstaVolt, agrees, and reveals that the company spoke with car manufacturers to understand their EV roadmaps. “From these conversations, it is our view that the next generation of EVs will use DC charging technology. Indeed, it is DC that is best suited to delivering faster rates of charging and we’re seeing this with the next generation of vehicles coming to market.”

However, home and workplace charging will still be the ideal option for daily work commuters and low mileage, inner-city round trips. Enevoldson stresses that It is important not to separate out AC and DC in this discussion: “Adoption of EVs needs people to adopt a new approach to fueling their vehicle. The average car has been shown to only spend 4% of time actually driving. The rest of the time it is parked either at home or work.

“Fueling should not be seen as a singular event you do in the course of driving, but something that is done when you are not in need of transportation. Ensuring that workplace AC chargers are widely available in the UK – where 36% of commuters still travel exclusively by car – will go a long way to encouraging adoption and fighting off any worries of range anxiety.” ■

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SMART CITIES & PARKING |

Cities of tomorrow When we think about getting around smart cities it’s common to picture electric autonomous vehicles, ride sharing, multimodal transportation solutions and unbridled connectivity – but for 360° smarter living it’s essential to consider more prosaic problems, too, such as parking Words | Rob Brown, co-founder, Kerb

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transportation tsunami is about to sweep through the streets of your city. You might not have felt it yet. But the rumblings are getting louder.

Car manufacturers know it’s coming and are frantically placing bets on urban mobility solutions that hedge their decades-old investments into human-driven automobiles.

In the past two years, Toyota has invested US$500m in Uber and US$1bn into Uber’s SouthEast Asian competitor Grab, while BMW acquired parking payments platform ParkMobile in 2018 and Volkswagen took a controlling stake in WirelessCar in the same year. The world’s biggest tech companies also know this disruptive wave is coming and are seizing the initiative by investing in autonomous vehicle technology such as Waymo, electric scooter companies such as Lime Scooters and ridehailing platforms like Didi Chuxing. City authorities have no doubt that a sea change is on the horizon as they scramble to rewrite decades-old legislation for the realities of the ‘sharing’ economy, the ‘gig’ economy and the ‘who-knows-what’s-next’ economy.

History repeating itself?

We saw this movie play out a century ago and the ending was more dramatic than anyone could have ever imagined. At the turn of the last century, the modes of transport in most of the world’s major cities were either horse, cart, tram, bicycle or shoe leather. Pollution in cities like London, Paris and New York was reaching uninhabitable levels. Horse manure – not carbon monoxide — was the culprit. In 1890, one wellknown pundit predicted that if a solution was not found quickly, equine excrement would be piled up to the third floor of Manhattan’s balconies by 1930. As it turned out, in that same predicted timeframe, most of those four-legged vehicles had been replaced by four-wheelers

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SMART CITIES & PARKING |

Above: Parking congestion is just one of many modern issues that causes headaches for commuters, shoppers and residents. But change is coming…

powered by a combustion engine, and directed by couple of pedals and a steering wheel.

Nobody but a few visionaries saw this coming.

Henry Ford was one, and his Model T motor car changed the course of modern history.

“If I’d asked people what they wanted,” Ford famously uttered, “they’d have said a ‘faster horse’.”

Learning the lessons from history

To understand what is playing out today, and why there is such uncertainty around which type of vehicle – autonomous, flying, twowheel or four-wheel – will emerge as the true disruptor, it is worth pausing to consider what led to Ford’s Model T emerging as the winner a century ago. Henry Ford and his team were not the only ones attempting to redefine the future of urban mobility. At ground level, a welldocumented race between Ford and George Selden in America, and between Gottlieb Daimler, Karl Benz, Armand Peugeot and the Renault brothers in Europe was taking place,

while the Wright brothers were in a race with Samuel P Langley and Sir Hiram Maxim to successfully launch the first flying vehicle. In 1914, a hugely popular ride-sharing program – the Jitney – caused such consternation with local government and the tram (or trolley) companies of the day that it was swiftly legislated out of existence. By the time it was shut down in 1915, it was doing an estimated 150,000 rides a day across North America. In the race to redefine the cities of tomorrow, what we saw play out in the urban transportation landscape in the first 20 years of the last century is eerily similar to what is taking place in the first two decades of this century. The impact on urban mobility is likely to be equally as dramatic.

Vehicle ownership is in decline…

And all cars will soon be self-driving. That is how some see it. But for all the talk of people no longer wishing to own vehicles, the statistics tell a different story. Research companies such as HIS Markit suggest that, while in many

In the race to redefine the cities of tomorrow, what we saw play out in the urban transportation landscape in the first 20 years of the last century is eerily similar to what is taking place in the first two decades of this century

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Intertraffic Amsterdam 2020 21–24 April 2020, Amsterdam Hall 11, Stand 205

| SMART CITIES & PARKING

such as crossing at a red light, texting while developed world economies our love affair driving or puffing on a joint on Interstate 405’s with car ownership is dying, in developing outside lane. world countries such as China, India, Brazil and Indonesia, ownership is on the rise. There are several reasons for this growth, but the main Take a taxi for the sake of nostalgia reason can be summed up in a single word: Taxis are about to enter retirement and taxi status. The hundreds of millions of new entrants ranks will become museum exhibits. (“Did into the middle class want the same trappings of you seriously used to stand in line to wait wealth afforded to their developed world peers, for a taxi, Grandpa?” will become a familiar and a car – or two – is one such privilege. An question asked by younger generations.) estimated 5,000 new cars hit the roads of Beijing Some taxi companies will be saved by every single day, with cities including Sao Paulo, protective governments that see companies Jakarta and Mexico City not far behind. such as Uber, Lyft, Grab and Ola as the devil Government legislation to limit the number incarnate, while the more nimble taxi companies of vehicles on the road, invariably in the will get out of the middle of the road form of odd-even licence plate themselves just before the onrestrictions, have unsurprisingly coming ride-hailing juggernaut led to many households flattens them altogether. buying a second vehicle to New taxi models – such as circumvent the laws, ferrying infants and seniors thereby exacerbating the from A to B – will emerge, problems around parking but most fleets will The number of new cars and congestion. ultimately resemble the “Self-driving vehicles roadkill they would estimated to hit the roads will solve the problem,” consciously have tried to of Beijing every single day claim the progressives. steer around.

They’re probably right, but not within the time horizon of Plug in, not fill up even the most optimistic palmElectric vehicles are certainly reader. Google has been trying to capturing public and corporate solve this problem for the past 12 imaginations alike with their years and is still a long way from having promise of cleaner transport. Significant Level 5 fully autonomous vehicles on portions of venture capital and private equity mainstream roads. The challenges are manifold, are being sunk into EV technologies, but the but boil down to the fact that building fundamental challenge is that electric vehicles technology which can see our streets through all need to charge somewhere and charging the eye of a human is fiendishly difficult; and currently takes a few hours. EV charge points that humans do things – often wildly are popping up all over our cities and point the unpredictable – that computers never would, way to a much cleaner future. Watch EV battery

Above: Connected and autonomous vehicles will change the way we travel, but reducing car ownership – and congestion – will remain a challenge

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last-century mindset that has led to high prices, high tempers and high blood pressure. The more progressive car parks are removing their gates and replacing them with Pay-by-Phone and Pay-by-App solutions, but the real revolution Parking – the neglected ugly sister is yet to happen.

Parking has reached a crunch-point as we head There is a huge opportunity to personalize for the smart city of the future. Car parks are the parking experience in ways not dissimilar invariably dirty, smelly, expensive – and full. to those adopted by Uber and Airbnb. Someone You wouldn’t leave your car in most car parks who addresses you by your first name unless there was no alternative and, in and who greets you on arrival might almost every city around the world, seem like a world apart from parking remains a grudgethe barrier-heavy parking purchase. Nobody ever experience of today, but claimed, “I love parking,” just it wasn’t that long ago as few people ever professed when there was a human at their love for taking a taxi.

The year by which one 1890 the entrance to just about But people do love Uber, pundit calculated that horse every car park. and the question is why?

The future of parking A lot of it has to do with manure would be piled up will be gateless, ticketless the human element. “Bob, to third floor windows in and cashless. Most car park 4.9 stars, will pick you up Manhattan, unless another operators just haven’t in two minutes,” injects a realized it yet. real driver into the equation. form of transport could Bob likes conversation and be found… has completed 4,300 trips.

Claiming back cities His photo suggests he’s a Up until the late 18th century, the nice guy, which leads to a, centre of urban civilization had always “Hello Bob!” when you enter the car, and been the marketplace. As the authors of The a great chat all the way to the airport Cluetrain Manifesto so colorfully put it in 1999, “A ensues. If only parking were the few thousand years ago there was a marketplace. same (it will be).

Never mind where. Traders returned from far Parking marketplaces such as seas with spices, silks, and precious, magical Kerb are changing the face of stones. Caravans arrived across burning deserts parking as most of us know it. Why bringing dates and figs, snakes, parrots, monkeys, park in a commercial car park strange music, stranger tales. The marketplace when you can now book a was the heart of the city, the kernel, the hub, the space in a church or a hotel or a omphalos. Like past and future, it stood at the driveway for half the price, and crossroads. People woke early and went there for with a single click via an app on coffee and vegetables, eggs and wine, for pots and your phone? The parking sector is where carpets, rings and necklaces, for toys and sweets, the taxi industry was 10 years ago: a low-tech, for love, for rope, for soap, for wagons and carts, technology make quantum leaps over the next decade as it did with smartphones over the last decade.

Above: Sat-nav has helped make driving easier – now platforms such as Kerb (below) are making parking easier, too

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IMAGES: METAMORWORKS, WAYNE_0216, RH2010, SITTINAN, B ILANOL/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Above: The smart city of the future will be a more welcoming urban environment, and will be easier to visit thanks to peer-to-peer parking services

for bleating goats and evil-tempered camels. They proliferate and as the financial reality of fivewent there to look and listen and to marvel, to year office leases eats deeper into margins. buy and be amused. But mostly they went to meet Coupled with this is the dawning realization each other. And to talk.” among governments that cities have become The Industrial Revolution of 1770-1870 inhumane environments. Pollution, changed the marketplace as we congestion and stress have knew it. Sprawling factories created a ‘quality of life’ that is offering decent pay and anything but. guaranteed work sprung up The smart city movement on the outskirts of cities, has fueled positive which led to social competition between segregation – in the form governments at a local, of harsh production lines federal and international The number of different and, even up until the end level. Ride-hailing languages the smart of the 20th century, work companies like Uber, Grab parking platform Kerb cubicles and the boss’s and Ola might not yet have infamous corner-office. proved their financial is available in Then came Netscape viability, but they’ve certainly Navigator in 1994 and the proved their popularity. internet began to reconnect Meanwhile, smart-parking people in ways we could only begin platforms such as Kerb, Rover and to imagine. There have been numerous Arrive have demonstrated that people catalysts for this monumental leap – from GPS are willing to rent out their parking spaces when mapping technology, to smartphone apps, to the they’re not being used, in return for a tidy ‘trust-leap’ that sharing economy model income – teaching the same lesson to commercial platforms such as Uber, Airbnb and Kerb have car parks that Airbnb taught hotels. engendered. But urban transportation is one of The stalls of yesteryear’s marketplace are the sectors which will be most dramatically reappearing in cities across the world in the impacted by these changes. form of Bikram yoga rooms, beeswax candle shops and Burgundy tasting bars. People are craving more meaningful urban environments The 21st century marketplace in which to interact with one another. The Today, the marketplace is creeping back into our congestion, noise, parking and pollution have daily lives. The internet spawned online suddenly become too much. Citizens want marketplaces such as eBay, Amazon, Alibaba their cities back. The implications for local and Facebook – where people could congregate, authorities, commercial landlords and vehicle barter and chat – while our quest for a more manufacturers will be of a magnitude never transcendent existence has seen farmers’ imagined. Don’t be surprised to see many swept markets, organic produce and boutique craft away by this wave of change. ■ stores reappearing in cities as diverse as San Francisco, Santiago and Saigon. The walls are Rob Brown is co-founder and managing director of coming down on the segregated workplaces of Kerb, a global peer-to-peer and business-to-business the past two centuries, as employers’ once-rigid parking marketplace. Kerb is available on iOS, attitudes to flexible work environments soften, Androd and via www.kerb.works as co-working alternatives such as WeWork

gradually shifted from integration to development of its own systems and applications. The product portfolio is formed by a modular Measure-in-Motion® concept. has affected traffic management for more than 25 years with global impact, it has gradually shifted from integration to development of its own systems and applicaMeasure-in-Motion® tions. The product portfolio is formed by a modular Measure-in-Motion® concept.

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AUTOMATED VEHICLES |

y l l a e r s V A ? n e a n C p everyo l e h ous utonom elderly or a f o s t the nefi s, ted be solutions to ic d e prioritie r p p y o y t t i n il a ’s the m ociety w mob Among providing ne s be one of s appens? h eg y s, ap l Strat vehicle should perh o ensure this dustria In & y t d er g disable is being done t for Business, En n t e par tm so wha , UK D e |M Words

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| AUTOMATED VEHICLES

Self-driving pod simulators have been used in trials to help older motorists acclimatize to the new technology

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AUTOMATED VEHICLES |

Above: Trial participant Robin has become a big fan of autonomous vehicles: “I want them now. I’m 76 – I can’t wait forever”

T

he introduction of self-driving cars could have a major impact on how older adults go about their daily lives.

It is hoped these cars will help reduce the social isolation and loneliness we often experience as we get older.

Additionally, this technology has the potential to enable a greater level of independence for disabled people, both those with visible disabilities (such as mobility, visual, or hearing impairments) and those with nonvisible disabilities (such as mental, learning or memory impairments). This is particularly important, because 44% of State Pension-age adults reported a disability in 2017/18.

Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are vehicles that in the future could perform many of the functions of today’s human drivers.

While this might be difficult to imagin for some, connectivity and driver-assistance features are already common in cars.

Today, vehicles can connect to the internet to provide drivers with information on road, traffic and weather conditions. They can also take over limited parts of the driving task, for example using advanced emergency braking to help avoid collisions and adaptive cruise control to increase fuel efficiency and reduce driver fatigue.

The UK is already a world leader in developing connected and automated vehicle technology, thanks to the country’s worldclass research base and clear rules for safe and responsible testing. Aware of the potential benefits of the technology – from improving road safety and reducing traffic congestion,

to enabling greater travel independence – the government has been playing an active role in encouraging the technology.

Indeed, it has committed to spending more than £200 million on research and development and testing infrastructure to accelerate the delivery of safe and secure automated vehicles.

In 2017, the government launched four Grand Challenges as part of the modern Industrial Strategy, including one on the Future of Mobility. This investment in self-driving technologies is a key element in boosting productivity in British businesses in this sector.

We’re on the cusp of one of the most profound changes ever to happen to our transport system, enabled by new technologies such as self-driving vehicles

Iain Forbes, head of the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles

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The market for self-driving vehicles in the UK is predicted to be worth £52 billion by 2035, and it is believed the investment is worth making to maximise the UK’s global position in the industry.

Planning to Flourish

One initiative that received government backing is Flourish, an R&D project that will investigate how CAVs can help people less able to travel, which has just released its final findings.

“We’re on the cusp of one of the most profound changes ever to happen to our transport system, enabled by new technologies such as self-driving vehicles,” said Iain Forbes, head of the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles. “These changes could transform the lives of disabled or older people who find it tough to use the transport system.

“However, we won’t get there unless those designing the technology engage properly with a wide range of transport users,” Forbes adds. “That is why government is investing in projects such as Flourish – projects that bring technology companies together with transport users to help ensure our future transport system works for everyone.”

In a three-year initiative worth £5.5 million and co-funded by the UK government, Flourish has played a big role in advancing the successful implementation of autonomous vehicles in the UK, by developing services and capabilities that maximise the benefits of driverless vehicles for users and transport authorities.

The project was a collaboration between small and medium-sized companies and large businesses across multiple industries, as well as universities, local authorities and

Above: The self-driving pods are part of a government project called Flourish that is putting the UK at the forefront of CAV development

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AUTOMATED VEHICLES |

Above: As well as logging miles, the Flourish project is also testing connectivity to ensure live data is accurate and reliable

the not-for-profit sector, to investigate how these vehicles might benefit older adults and those with mobility-related conditions.

Quality of life

Flourish adopted a user-centred approach to design and development, with the needs of older adults being the focus of their work. Several trials with older adults have been held over the past three years using simulated environments and self-driving pods, similar to cars.

Mervyn Kohler, an Age UK spokesman who has contributed to discussions about mobility and older people for the last 30 years, believes Flourish’s approach will be key to the positive impact self-driving cars have on older adults.

“There is obviously a connection between loneliness and mobility. If you are finding it difficult to get around or are experiencing poor health, either physical or mental, your quality of life is going to be lower,” says Kohler. “We’ve got to help people get out and about, and this points expressly to the idea of driverless cars.

“Flourish is important because it has particularly worked with older people to help develop the technology they would use to interact with a CAV. We’ve heard from older people, ‘I find it difficult to programme the computer with my bad arthritis and my poor eyesight,’ and so on and so forth.

“So, if we can provide them with a voice recognition way of controlling their journey, that is probably a good idea.

“These are all relevant points to the lives of older people and, by making sure we don’t overlook them, we’ll make the driverless car a much more accessible vehicle for older people.”

One of the participants in the simulator and pod trials, Robin, cannot

Our lives will change amazingly, and I think this is a really good force for a better life

Robin, trial participant

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wait for self-driving cars to become a reality.

The 76-year-old former BBC journalist from Bristol says, “It’s going to be quite awful when I can’t get in a car and go where I want to.

“It’s all very well using the bus, but your friends don’t necessarily live by a bus stop and, as you get older, you think, ‘I don’t want to walk that far,’” he adds.

“These pod things will give a whole new dimension to life for people of a certain age.

So instead of looking forward to it with worry, I look forward to it and say, ‘Come on, I want them now. I’m 76 – I can’t wait forever.’

“Our lives will change amazingly, and I think this is a really good force for a better life.”

Tracey Poole, Flourish’s project manager and transport planning specialist at Atkins, agrees.

“Driverless cars will bring huge social inclusion benefits for older adults and those with mobilityrelated conditions,” she says. “We believe Flourish is the only project to focus on the impact of connected and autonomous vehicles on older adults.

“Furthermore, the project’s connectivity findings will also help the users of the future to make real-time journey decisions, responding to live information,” Poole adds.

“Not only will these vehicles be more inclusive, they will also be safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly.”

Although safety is one of the big prizes associated with the introduction of self-driving cars, with the vast majority of collisions caused by human error, concerns about their safety are common.

Law of the land

The government is keen to understand the public’s view around CAVs and continues to survey public attitudes. It is also taking big steps towards establishing how our laws and regulations might need to change to support the safe use of self-driving cars, something the Law Commission of England & Wales and Scottish Law Commission are currently investigating.

Meanwhile, insurance isn’t as big a problem as it may first seem. Last year the government created new insurance rules for self-driving cars in the Automated & Electric Vehicles Act. The Act says the driver of an automated vehicle must get insurance that covers them when they are in control and when they hand control to their self-driving car. The insurer would pay compensation if the automated vehicle caused a collision, and then recover costs from whoever was responsible – and that could include the vehicle maker.

There is still a way to go until self-driving cars will be fully introduced onto our roads.

They will need to be proven to be safe, secure and reliable.

However, with some of the nation’s brightest minds working alongside organizations such as Age UK, there is a compelling opportunity to build the technology around the needs of those who could benefit most from it. n

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CONNECTED SIGNALS |

Get the

green light A new pilot is simplifying connected-vehicle signal control by using a simple smartphone app, with dramatic results Words | Prof. Vittorio Astarita, UNICAL, Italy

I

n July 2019 the first experiment of a traffic signal regulated by 100% connected vehicles was carried out at the University of Calabria (UNICAL), Italy.

The experiment took place with the help of common commercial smartphones by a team of researchers working for UNICAL and the innovative start-up Somos. A complete new system has been developed that can use a simple mobile application to broadcast vehicle location and speed to the infrastructure management system. This innovation allows for a real-time change to signal phase and timings.

The system works by combining a GPS fix with cellular data networks. Traffic lights can therefore be controlled without expensive infrastructure, according to a vehicle’s position and speed, in a way that is cheaper than most traditional systems, which detect

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| CONNECTED SIGNALS Riding the ‘green wave’ could soon be much easier thanks to connected vehicle technology

Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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How does it work?

working for years at developing and evaluating this system using a dedicated simulation laboratory. Simulations have uncovered a cooperative-competitive paradigm: when A simple mobile phone application can help to better control subscribers to the system are few, they get signal phase and timing, even at busy intersections a considerable advantage on vehicles that are not ‘connected’. In this case, there are huge rivers can download a mobile subscriber. When a vehicle that has benefits for those who have actually signed app, which will run smoothly in subscribed to the system is approaching up first to the system, because they will have the background on their phones, a traffic signal, the central server will priority over cross-traffic at traffic signals and connecting to the traffic management communicate with the electronic controller almost always get the green right away. server and sending every second position commanding the traffic lights. The signals This advantage would lessen when at and speed. The central server gathers will then be regulated on the basis of the least 30% of drivers subscribe to this the vehicle position and speed of every known speeds and positions. system. Simulations revealed that this next-generation technology could have a major positive traffic volumes only at fixed Above and right: Simulations have impact on a city’s overall points on the road. shown that a trial traffic regulation when just system using 30% of vehicles subscribed to A disruptive innovation real-time data to the scheme. In fact, the Most of the current manage traffic algorithms showed in traffic signal systems are signals can reduce The annual cost travel times by 70% simulation that when the based on low-technology of congestion in the customer base is more than fixed-time control units, 30%, every driver would where the signal timing is European Union alone benefit from the scheme preset with a cycle duration of between 35 and 120 seconds and the fixed phases regulated according to outdated traffic counts. Richer city administrations implement expensive real-time traffic signals that use a dynamic control technology based on data coming from sensors embedded in the road. Unfortunately, these sensors, which can detect and send traffic flow data at intersections to the controlling unit, enable real-time control at an incredibly high monetary cost.

The experiment carried out at UNICAL demonstrated that real-time traffic signal control could be performed with common smartphones and standard existing cellular networks. The research team at UNICAL and Somos has been

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CONNECTED SIGNALS |

Above: The realworld trial proved that real-time control of traffic signals can be performed with existing technologies in an economically sustainable way

regardless of whether they were subscribers.

In an area where traffic signals are poorly regulated, waiting times at intersections could be reduced up to 50% for all.

The system does not have a required minimum percentage of subscribers. It would fall back on standard pre-established fixed-time cycles when there are no subscribers driving around an intersection. In practical terms, the system can work with very few vehicles, even though with more subscribers it would adjust traffic lights according to real overall traffic demand, providing benefits to all drivers and the community itself.

The experiment and the implications

70%

The reduction in travel times achieved by using the smartphone-based signal control system

074

A dedicated experimental site was set up in a parking lot at the University of Calabria. The subject of this first experiment was a three-leg intersection with single-lane approaches so that the three traffic lights controlled every approach at the same time for a single shared lane.

Drivers were instructed to repeat the same path. To avoid the formation of a cluster of vehicles moving along the same path, it was possible to identify different paths, which were assigned to drivers.

In the first part of the experiment, the traffic lights were set on a fixed signal cycle in which queues were unavoidable, and drivers were annoyed by the formation of queues to the point that one driver, in spite of all recommendations given in advance, proceeded through the intersection on a red light.

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

In the second part of the experiment, the system was given control of the traffic signal.

The success was beyond expectation. Drivers were surprised to almost always receive a green light. They were amazed they could drive almost without stopping at the intersection. A postanalysis of trajectories showed that, on average, each driver was able to double the space traveled in the same time. Traffic flows at intersections increased by more than 100% and average speeds by more than 200% per driver, while travel times were reduced by 70%.

Scientifically, the experiment demonstrated the technical feasibility of such a prototype system and confirmed the expected results obtained by simulation techniques. Results of the experiment suggest that with the right

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CONNECTED SIGNALS |

As mentioned, the results based on knowledge and, importantly, without simulation have shown that when huge financial investment, it would more than 30% of vehicles are be possible to better regulate ‘connected’, the benefits are for existing traffic signals taking everyone, while when the advantage of the alreadyfigure is below 30%, the developed wireless ‘traditional’ vehicles not phone internet data participating would receive infrastructures.

The proportion of drivers little delays with respect to The experiment who need to use floating car the time savings of showed that a better use data adaptive traffic connected vehicles. In other of FCD (Floating Car Data) signals (FCDATS) for words, no matter what the is possible and that realpenetration rate, the system time control of traffic the benefits to be seen simulations showed that with signals can be performed by all road users the implementation of FCD with existing technologies in adaptive traffic signals (FCDATS) an economically sustainable the whole traffic flows better, with way. The infrastructure costs of reduced travel times, fewer pollution using FCD for traffic signal regulation emissions and lower fuel consumption. are, in fact, extremely low compared to The first experiment conducted at UNICAL traditional adaptive traffic signal systems. has shown a way to demonstrate that these simulation results can be reproduced under real conditions. The proposed experimental prototype system and experimental setting demonstrates the feasibility and convenience of such systems and paves the way for real FCDATS in our future smart cities. ■

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IMAGES: KEIKONA ADOBE-STOCK.COM, UNICAL,

Above and below: Data passes around the network in real time to measure the speed and distance of the connected vehicles and adjust the traffic lights as necessary

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CYBERSECURITY |

Are your systems

safe?

Cyberattacks are a fact of modern life, but while governments may be focused on protecting their central computers, could traffic management systems represent a ‘soft target’? We assess the risks Words | James Gordon

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| CYBERSECURITY

230,000

W

The estimated number of computers infected with the WannaCry 2.0 virus in May 2017

hen America’s former spy chief, James Clapper, said that cyberattacks were the number one threat to national security, he was referring to the danger posed by a rogue nation state or state-sponsored hackers.

And rightly so. Since his report was issued in 2015, there have been several high profile cyberattacks including one on Ukraine’s power grid, another on Bangladesh’s central bank, which cost the country USD$81 million, and who can forget WannaCry 2.0, which in May 2017 infected more than 230,000 computers in 150 different countries.

With cyberattacks on critical infrastructure becoming more common, the US and other countries have taken steps to secure the grid, ports, telecommunication lines and government buildings.

But a cyberattack by Gabriel Murillo and Kartik Patel in the summer of 2006 suggests governments around the world should also move to protect roadside infrastructure.

Curiously, Murillo and Patel were not state sponsored hackers. Instead they were disgruntled traffic engineers working for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, who sabotaged the city’s traffic light system as part of a Labor Day protest.

Unbeknownst to their bosses or anyone else in the traffic management team, the pair strategically identified several key intersections which were in close vicinity to major roads, freeways and vital infrastructure. They then set about delaying the timing of red light signals at each intersection. The result was gridlock at Los Angeles International Airport and the Glendale Freeway. Although Murillo’s and Patel’s hack caused no accidents, it led to days of congestion. Both men were charged and were sentenced to two years’ probation in 2009.

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CYBERSECURITY | Right: The intersection between LA’s Ventura Freeway and Glendale Freeway, where a cyberattack on traffic signals caused gridlock in 2006

The attack should have been a wake-up call to traffic managers everywhere to beef up security in traffic management centres and to address security flaws in signal infrastructure. But research undertaken by the University of Michigan in 2014 by Professor Alex Halderman shone a light on a “systemic lack of security consciousness” amongst transportation departments” running “future embedded systems”.

In a paper entitled, Green Lights Forever: Analyzing the Security of Traffic Infrastructure, with the permission of a Michigan Road agency, Halderman and his The number of vulnerable team investigated how intersections a 2014 susceptible a networked academic paper identified traffic light system, using in Michigan, USA wireless technology, was to cyber attack.

“Due to systemic failures by the designers”, they discovered that was it was not only possible to “gain control of a system of almost 100 intersections” but to also “change the lights on command”.

Kevin Curran, professor of cybersecurity at Ulster University, in Northern Ireland, says that traffic light control systems based on wireless communication technologies, are particularly susceptible to attack.

“In the United States where these systems are becoming increasingly popular, cyber attackers “It’s not a case of pitting one against demonstrated how easily it was to infiltrate this another, but a secure system architecture that technology largely because of a lack of ‘cyber counts,” says Dr Zhengguo Sheng, a lecturer in hygiene’. Often engineers were using default advanced networks and communications at the passwords leaving the IP address free for University of Sussex, UK. “Although most hackers to access.” modern traffic management systems are centralized, they are not based in one single location, but in a few strategic centres. All use Creating robust systems a multi-layered control system with a back-up The key to designing signal control that is system that runs in tandem with the operating resilient to attack lies in overall system system. Therefore, if a hacker does exploit architecture. Centralized control centers may a vulnerability in the system, it is fairly easy to seem, to the layman, like vulnerable points for get it up and running again.” attack, but they aren’t necessarily more But, according to Dr Sheng, just because the vulnerable than having each junction isolated majority of traffic authorities “are using the and controlled independently, so long as they correct system architecture, it doesn’t mean are designed correctly. that they are safe from cyberattack”.

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Hackers are relentless and they will always find an organization’s Achilles’ heel. For signal operators, the greatest potential security flaw is… the data that flows through the many different sensors that help better regulate traffic lights

Dr Zhengguo Sheng, advanced networks and communications, University of Sussex, UK

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He explains, “Hackers are relentless and they will always find an organization’s Achilles’ heel.

For signal operators, the greatest potential security flaw is not so much the computer software, but an attack on the data that flows through the many different sensors that help better regulate traffic lights.”

Dr Sheng says that if a sensor or a VPN connection is breached, as in the case of the Ukrainian Power grid hack, “a virtual tunnel can be created between the sensor that feeds the traffic light with information and the wider network”.

“While the hacker would still find it very difficult to influence the behaviour of an entire city’s traffic lights, it might be possible for them to create gridlock in certain areas of a town or a city until the flaw was patched.”

But Dr Ben Waterson, a member of the University of Southampton’s Transportation

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Are the systems in place to protect connected vehicles robust enough?

I

t may not take up many newspaper column inches, but without SCMS (security credential management system), V2V and V2i would not work.

“It is the first line of defence against hackers because it facilitates trusted communication,” says Sam Lauzon, an automotive cybersecurity software developer at the University of Michigan (UMTRI), who

has been investigating SCMS 2.0 for the last year.

However, Lauzon, says the system “is far from perfect” and could in theory be infiltrated by sophisticated statesponsored hackers. He says that “there is currently no infrastructure or standards in place to identify and stop a compromised vehicle, or revoke its ability to sign messages appropriately”.

He explains, “If a hacker were to breach the SCMS there is currently no way that it would be able to differentiate between a compromised vehicle which is receiving fake information and one that is receiving genuine instructions. An attacker could exploit this and deliberately cause two cars to virtually overlap or provide conflicting instructions to the driver.”

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He adds, “Beyond the first few minutes of impact, drivers would quickly establish that the traffic lights need to be ignored and would simply proceed with extreme care and vigilance. This would likely cause a large increase in delays on all journeys through a city, so the longer term impact would be frustration and economic cost rather than a threat to direct safety.”

But Dr Sheng believes that Vehicle-toEverything (V2X) technology, which enables a connected vehicle to become part of the road Research Group, disagrees that there is infrastructure and the transport system “could a positive correlation between inter-connectivity dramatically change the nature and severity of and cyber vulnerability. a cyberattack”.

He says, “A rail network can be severed by Dr Sheng is particularly concerned breaking a small number of rails. A road that regulation is struggling to network is far more interconnected keep pace with technology, and and therefore requires far more believes it is an area that connections to be severed to state sponsored hackers have the same effect.” could exploit in the future.

He also disagrees that a He explains, “OEMs traffic management system are developing state-ofheavily reliant on sensors Connected vehicle systems the-art connected and wireless radio – which being developed without systems, but many are may become the norm as doing so independently cites strive for greater unifying standards of each other. What’s connectivity – makes it more could represent a more there are very few vulnerable to cyberattack. cybersecurity risk standards being developed Dr Waterson explains, “The and without regulation that flows of data from sensors to the promotes a robust cybersecurity control system would be much framework, some of these systems easier to affect, but this would be of could be infiltrated by hacker.” limited impact because the fallibility of With many automakers developing sensor systems operating in real world intersection priority management systems, conditions means that control software is used which many see as a precursor to autonomous to identify and ignore anomalous data.” driving, Dr Sheng says that in the future “it So what would be the worst case might be possible for hackers to take control of scenario in his eyes? In the first few a vehicle either by hacking into the vehicle or the minutes of a cyber offensive, Dr infrastructure it is connected to”.

Waterson, says that “providing a hacker “The only way to prevent this,” he says, “is could turn all the lights green”, which for vehicle manufacturers, telecom providers, he doubts possible, “it is likely that roadside infrastructure suppliers and cyber there would be a large number of security professionals to collaborate before this crashes”. critical infrastructure is permanently laid down.

Once aligned, they need to work alongside a regulator to develop standards for a system of firewalls across a single tunnel from the outside world to the transport system to guard against cyber attacks.” ■ Dr Ben Waterson, Transportation Research Group, University of Southampton, UK

The fallibility of sensor systems operating in real world conditions means that control software is used to identify and ignore anomalous data

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SMART DATA |

Optimizing Europe’s roads

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A new project by Ford Mobility in London is using data gathered from just 160 vehicles to help reduce congestion, improve safety, enhance logistical efficiency and even cut emissions. Now it is planning to export the solution to the rest of Europe while also increasing the volume of data input, for even more dramatic results

Nine million inhabitants and a sprawling road network made London the perfect city for Ford‘s analysts prove their worth

Words | Jack Roper

H

ow can the coming tsunami of connected vehicle data be harnessed and channeled to solve the mobility challenges facing cities, making their roads safer? Ford Mobility has addressed this question with an extensive two-year study in London, Western Europe’s largest city with nine million inhabitants. Using smart algorithms to correlate granular vehicle data from a connected fleet with readily available public datasets, Ford has demonstrated the capacity of data analytics to help implement London’s bold transportation agenda in five key areas: road safety hotspots, electric vehicle infrastructure, traffic retiming, mode-shift analytics and reassessing traffic metrics. The company will take the insights glimpsed in the study to other European cities, while eyeing a brave new world of data-driven solutions built on cloud-based platforms common to all smart city participants.

“We aimed to establish the power of vehicle data and provide actionable solutions to cities, rather than just a holistic idea that data is the future,” says Ford project lead Jonathan Scott.

“We decided to address policy intentions when London’s Mayor, Sadiq Khan, issued his Transport Strategy in 2017.”

Data collection

Alongside ambitious environmental and congestion targets, this strategy included a Vision Zero commitment to eliminate all road fatalities by 2041.

“That prompted us to ask: How do you get there?” Scott continues. “If you’re forever reacting to accidents you will never achieve Vision Zero, and the Safe Systems approach requires infrastructure that is tolerant of human imperfections. By combining historic accident data and real-time vehicle data to

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Above: Ford Mobility’s London project collated data from 160 Transit vans over a 12-month period to build a picture of the city’s transport issues

predict where accidents will happen, we can allow cities to progress from reactive to proactive management of road safety.”

Light commercial vehicle (LCV) use in London is expected to grow 22% by 2031. Data collected over 12 months from a 160-strong Ford Transit LCV fleet yielded 500 million datapoints covering a million miles of recorded driving.

“LCVs are a growing segment in London and an important part of Ford’s traditional business,” says Scott. “Using a plug-in device to collect a host of rich data, 160 vehicles gave us real insight into how those vehicles were used across London.

We needed to work out the optimum data rate. Monitoring rapid steering manoeuvres requires second-by-second

data, but to monitor whether headlights are on, it can be once every five seconds.”

Scott’s team collected additional data from a private-use Ford Fiesta fleet and worked with Ford’s US-based Global Data Insight and Analytics (GDIA) team to evolve vehicle records into actionable insights.

“As our dataset grew, we learned more about the information that exists in a city,” says Scott.

“That was when the magic started to happen.”

Watching the magic unfold

To predict accidents before they occur, Ford took historic accident data and identified risky driver behavior at those locations using metrics such as speed, hazard-light usage and braking patterns.

As our dataset grew, we learned more about the information that exists in a city. That was when the magic started to happen

Jonathan Scott, project lead, Ford Mobility

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| SMART DATA

“A smart algorithm then looked across the whole of London to see where those behaviors are repeated without necessarily leading to accidents,” says Scott. “It’s based around the near-miss protocol in modern health and safety. We can predict where the next incident might occur so that cities can investigate and identify future infrastructure changes to reduce those events.”

This could often entail relatively minor and inexpensive improvements such as cutting back vegetation concealing signage or installing traffic-light violation cameras. Instead of waiting for accidents to occur, authorities can proactively mitigate dangers.

Each year, the average Londoner spends three days stuck in traffic. Congestion costs the city an estimated £9.5bn. Transport for London’s (TfL) retiming policy aims to ease network pressure by encouraging LCV fleets to shift operations outside of rush hour.

“Rather than just asking them, we wanted to inform fleets of the benefits, using vehicle data,”

says Scott. “We meshed together real-world fleet operations data with speed and traffic flow information at different times of day, so that fleets could weigh up the benefits of retiming versus the logistical impact of deliveries arriving too early, for instance.”

The study suggested that by setting out two hours earlier, a fleet could save 60 hours per week, lending TfL’s policy a compelling evidential basis.

“Using granular data, we could boil that down depot-by-depot or vehicle-by-vehicle,” Scott adds. “It might be worth retiming not the whole fleet, but just a few individual routes.”

Above: The London project was able to predict potential accident blackspots from historical data

Optimization

London’s Ultra-Low Emissions Zone came into force in 2019 as part of a radical program to improve the city’s air quality. Electric vehicles (EVs) have a crucial role to play but range anxiety remains a problem due to inadequate charging infrastructure. With London investing in additional charge points, Ford used real-world Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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Above: Ford Mobility’s data reveals that some journeys are quicker by bicycle (as well as public transport and, in some cases, on foot)

investment on routes where transit times fleet movement and downtime data to show compare less favorably with driving. where these could be optimally placed.

“There are more than 500 charge points in London, but we found that most vehicles didn’t Surprises on the road stop for long enough or close enough to use Vehicle data provides potential to develop them,” says Scott. “Then it dawned on a nuanced understanding of traffic flow us that we could flip this round by across a city. As part of its project, positioning charge-points based Ford set out to interrogate the soon actual fleet operations.” called ‘summer holiday effect’: Only 1% of tracked vehicles the assumption that roads stopped within 100m of will be less congested existing charge points, but during academic recess. By Ford estimate as few as 20 measuring actual vehicle new rapid charge points speeds against speed limits The amount of time the in strategic locations could on a road-by-road basis, average Londoner significantly improve EV they compared traffic flow spends each year stuck viability across the whole across London in a normal of Greater London. Ford week with a week in the in traffic believe automated chargeholidays. While a lack of point positioning will interest school-run traffic was shown not only London’s city planners to improve travel-times in most but municipalities across the world areas, congestion on certain roads, regulating to reduce urban emissions. including the A13 and A406 North Getting people onto public transport is Circular, actually increased during the holidays. central to London’s transport strategy and, as “Granular data allows you to look at shorter with fleet retiming, Ford vehicle data provided lengths of road across time,” says Scott. “This route-specific evidence of the potential benefits. offers the ability to focus increasingly scarce Comparing journey times from Ford’s Fiesta resources on the most challenging sections fleet with multi-modal API data and transit of the road network.” timetables revealed that 20% of driven journeys Having created a snapshot of how data from would be quicker by public transport, cycling just 160 vehicles could serve to optimize a city’s or on foot. A web application developed by transport system, Ford is ready to engage with Ford to enable journey-time comparison offers authorities worldwide and has already extended a potentially powerful tool for encouraging its data analysis to Valencia in Spain and Cologne people to shift modes. Such information could in Germany. Armed with predictive analysis, also allow authorities to target public transport Ford is now working with civil engineers at

3 days

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SMART DATA | Right: The functions of the Transportation Mobility Cloud (TMC) being demonstrated at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas

Traffic Watch UK to analyze driver behavior at eight potential London hotspots and explore infrastructure adaptations that could mitigate risky driving patterns. Specific recommendations such as installing red-light cameras or doubleheight signage, resurfacing carriageways or increasing lane widths at junctions have been shared with relevant local authorities.

“The next step is understanding how authorities can consume these insights,” says Scott. “We have to understand existing ecosystems in order to build a tool that’s tailored to real-world use of this data.”

The future

Looking ahead, Ford advocates pooling data from various components of connected cities

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– vehicles, public transport and infrastructure – into an open, cloud-based platform called the Transportation Mobility Cloud (TMC).

Developed by Ford-owned Autonomic, the TMC is intended to connect service providers, cars, fleets, pedestrians, cyclists and transit systems.

It could enable solutions such as zero-emissions geofencing and dynamic road management based on real-time traffic updates. Historically, car manufacturers have been reluctant to share vehicle data, but Ford is inviting competitors to participate in the TMC, shaping its evolution for the common good.

“It’s quite an open way of thinking,” says Scott. “Using data intelligently is as valuable as the data itself. Consolidating the breadth of data from cities and vehicles gives the world a platform on which developers can build innovative solutions.”

Ford paid some drivers to participate in its London study, but in future Scott hopes to demonstrate value in sharing private vehicle data on an altruistic basis.

“We take sharing and consent very seriously,” he says. “We’re in a transitional period and showing the benefits of our tools will be critical to their success. If we can demonstrate that, by sharing your data, you are improving road safety for the greater good, then it’s a win-win.

Ford benefits, the city benefits and users of our vehicles benefit.

“When we started out, we didn’t know where this project would lead,” Scott adds.

“As we went on, our thinking evolved and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved. Beyond London, beyond 160 vehicles, we want everyone to engage in the possibilities of where this journey might take us.” n

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New standards and certification schemes are giving ITS designers, manufacturers and integrators the confidence to rely upon the new possibilities being opened up by advanced Power over Ethernet Words | Jason Mies, Ethernet Alliance & Infinite Electronics

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| POWER OVER ETHERNET

T

he application space for Power over Ethernet (PoE) is rapidly expanding. Increasingly, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are adopting in greater scale the technique for passing electrical power along with data over Ethernet cabling.

Ethernet deployments in ITS have been growing because the technology enables data to be collected, converted and conveyed as quickly as possible and without interruption, and these benefits are crucial underpinnings for more efficiently managing the transportation system and communicating real-time data to travelers.

Three major components of the ITS already utilize Ethernet lines for data transmission: cameras, radios and messaging systems. Higher-powered cameras and radios, especially, are being deployed by the dozen, every day, in regions around the world, in order to support more innovative traffic monitoring and communications capabilities.

The new 802.3bt-2018, IEEE Standard for Ethernet – Amendment 2: Power over Ethernet

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over 4 pairs, brings unprecedented robustness and efficiency to PoE, increasing the technology’s potential usefulness in ITS. “Fueled by growing adoption of IEEE 802.11ac wireless access points and a diversity of emerging applications (encompassing network-attached storage, building automation, security, entertainment and more) demand for PoE-enabled switch ports is expected to surge to new heights, with 900 million ports expected to ship during the next five years,” says Tam Dell’Oro, founder and CEO of Dell’Oro Group. “With the increase in its power delivery capacities, combined with its cost-efficiency, flexibility and scalability, PoE has evolved as a competitive solution for the enterprise and consumers alike.”

Educating the market

However, the personnel installing the usually outdoor equipment used in intelligent transportation systems are often unaware of the proper techniques for using PoE and, therefore, opt to inefficiently run separate power feeds and/or simply eschew the most advanced cameras, radios and other technologies, in order to avoid deployment and maintenance complexity.

Clarification and guidance are needed in the space for ITS to take advantage of the breakthrough value promised by PoE, in terms of operational flexibility and cost efficiency.

The introduction of an Ethernet Alliance certification program around the new IEEE 802.bt PoE standard as a commonly trusted resource among regulators, suppliers, installers

With the increase in its power delivery capacities, combined with its cost-efficiency, flexibility, and scalability, PoE has evolved as a competitive solution for the enterprise and consumers alike

Tam Dell’Oro, founder and CEO, Dell’Oro Group

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and consumers stands to facilitate heavier reliance on PoE in ITS.

Transformative standard

IEEE 802.3bt provides a standardized, reliable method for using all four pairs in a twisted pair data cable to achieve PoE. The innovation of using four pairs instead of two, in the specified structured wiring plant to carry power, doubles the maximum power that can be achieved via PoE. Essentially, more conductors mean less power loss, which for four-pair IEEE 802.3bt PoE along a CAT5 Ethernet cable is roughly halved versus two-pair power such as that used in IEEE 802.3af or IEEE 802.3at PoE. This is a particularly compelling benefit relative to the outdoor equipment used in applications such as ITS. Outdoor network devices such as cameras and radios tend to require more power than do many indoor Ethernet devices, and IEEE 802.3btstandardized PoE delivers.

The standard also provides a combination of inventive, interrelated techniques for bringing even more efficient power management to PoE’s utilization of the same infrastructure for power and data: • IEEE 802.3bt defines eight power classes in 15-Watt increments. A powered device (PD), such as an end station, requests a class of power, and the power sourcing equipment (PSE), such as a switch or hub, assigns one of the eight class definitions

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simple scalability, to increase power for depending on various events. In this future PDs. way, IEEE 802.3bt provides granular “The IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group power levels and minimizes power continues to deliver on its commitment to waste in the process. ongoing standard improvements that deliver • The standard’s Link Layer Discovery real-world operational scenarios and meet Protocol (LLDP) allows power to be challenges faced by data network operators adjusted in 0.1-Watt increments for fineworldwide,” said David Law, IEEE 802.3 grain power negotiation, further Ethernet Working Group chair, in an April increasing efficiency.

23, 2019, IEEE Standards Association • IEEE 802.3bt’s Autoclass feature is statement announcing the new IEEE designed to enable the PoE 802.3bt and two other system to measure power amendments to the base draw (taking into account standard. “These all system parameters, refinements are essential including cable loss to maintain Ethernet as and ageing margin), the core technology adjust power driving advancements allocation at data centers and and optimize throughout network the system-wide The number of PoE switch infrastructures power budget. everywhere, as well as • No electricity is ports expect to be utilizing Ethernet to deployed until both shipped over the next power the wide variety of PSE and PD are five years sensors, actuators, cameras connected via IEEE and other devices associated 802.3bt, making with IoT,” he added. the system safe and simple to install and operate.

850 million

Together, these features dramatically improve the capabilities of PoE and its usefulness in ITS. And, because it’s Ethernet, the new PoE standard draws on the technology’s inherent benefits that the market has already come to expect. IEEE 802.3bt PoE can be relied upon for easy, plug-and-play deployment, backwards compatibility, excellent network safety and

Timely certification

Leading suppliers in the Ethernet ecosystem are fiercely committed to upholding such technology hallmarks. As a global, non-profit industry consortium of member organizations dedicated to the continued success and advancement of Ethernet technologies, the Ethernet Alliance is introducing a new Generation 2 (Gen2) EA Certified PoE program in the wake

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POWER OVER ETHERNET |

The IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group continues to deliver on its commitment to ongoing standard improvements that deliver realworld operational scenarios and meet challenges faced by data network operators worldwide

David Law, IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group chair

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The benefits of the Ethernet Alliance certification program are far-reaching, and include lower-risk deployment for suppliers and industry alike, plus fewer support issues and associated costs, as well as greater user confidence in the interoperability, reliability and safety of IEEE 802.3bt products in networked environments.

In addition, the Ethernet Alliance’s online registry listing certified products provides a trustworthy resource for potential partners as business relationships mature in the rapidly expanding PoE marketplace.

The future for ITS

The base of PoE applications is growing with innovation because of the increased power standardized by IEEE 802.3bt. Dell’Oro Group has forecasted 850 million PoE switch ports to be shipped over the next five years. ITS is one application space likely to see intensified PoE deployment.

The new Gen2 Ethernet Alliance Certified PoE program for IEEE 802.3bt will help pave the way, by offering a trustworthy benchmark for manufacturers and integrators in the ITS space to point to in separating themselves from the competition, as well as for federal, state and local government agencies to reference in bidding processes.

The Ethernet Alliance has a significant number of current members involved in ITS and welcomes all ITS equipment manufacturers, integrators and designers to get involved in its PoE certification program and other activities.

Interoperable and compatible Ethernet systems are already imperative to connect and coordinate ITS from sector to sector, city to city and state to state, and ongoing collaborative efforts between the ITS community and the developers of Ethernet technology will help to eliminate the road blocks to PoE deployment and bring ITS to higher levels. ■

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of IEEE 802.3bt’s release. The Ethernet Alliance has a history of successful interoperability testing with different generations of PoE. The Gen2 EA Certified PoE program will include a new test plan and set of logos supporting IEEE 802.3btbased products as another demonstration of the Ethernet Alliance’s commitment to continually improve Ethernet user experience, by minimizing interoperability issues and market confusion.

Indeed, in December 2018, the IEEE Standards Association honored the Ethernet Alliance for its PoE certification program with its IEEE SA Conformity Assessment Award, celebrating major contributions to the development and promotion of products conforming to IEEE standards.

Users can easily identify standardsbased PD and PSE products that will work together, via intuitive, internationally recognized EA certified logos or the Ethernet Alliance’s online registry listing of certified products. Having the Ethernet Alliance symbol indicates that a product both has undergone rigorous testing with many types of PoE products in many configurations and has been validated as conforming with the industry-agreed-upon Ethernet Alliance Certification Test Plan for interoperability.

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Intelligent traffic monitoring via 4G off-grid power

Meeting ITS power demands with an efficient alternative power source Words | Mark Dullaghan, Airsynergy, Ireland

H

all seasons. For climates where the level of solar irradiation is not consistent, the modelling and sizing of the array becomes critical.

Typically, in Northern Europe this translates into solar panel arrays yielding much less power per meter squared than many places in the world – meaning large arrays to do the same job.

Fuel cells are highly efficient but are costly and pose difficulties in both mobility and storage. They are also generally not acceptable for roadside installations.

Like solar powered arrays, hybrid systems – combining wind and solar generation with battery storage offer an excellent solution for powering roadside devices. The added benefit of the hybrid system is that it has the inherent ability to generate power and charge the batteries when there is wind present at the site, complimenting the solar power generation.

This helps to maintain a more reasonably sized solar array, and offers some resilience.

The maximum continuous

ighway authorities around the world are pushing the green agenda and with it comes pressure to limit or reduce the installation of power cables adjacent to new or existing highways. These authorities are also deploying technology to collect increasing amounts of data to plan road and bridge maintenance, optimize traffic movement, and improve road safety. They employ devices such as traffic counters, vehicle weighing units, vibration sensors, road side units (RSU’s), and CCTV. So the challenge is to bring power and communications where it is needed.

The options available

Each of the options for bringing an alternative source of power to a roadside site means that expensive trenching for cable installation and disruptive roadworks is avoided. The options are generally limited to the following: • Solar-power – with battery storage • Fuel cells • Hybrid systems – combining wind and solar generation with battery storage Of these, solar powered panels with adequately sized battery storage offer an excellent solution for powering roadside devices where the level of solar irradiation is relatively sufficient and consistent throughout

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Right: The ISP2 is powered by hybrid solar and wind generation technologies

120W

power generated by the ISP2

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Dublin Port Tunnel

Multisys, an Irish company specializing in the provision of ITS solutions, approached Airsynergy to power their integrated traffic monitoring and profiling solution for the Dublin Port Tunnel and Toll Plaza.

Airsynergy is an Irish company specializing in the design and

| TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT compatible with all the major ITS and security platforms’.

System features

manufacturing of off grid power products for critical applications, Airsynergy deployed its’ Independent Smart Pole (ISP).

ERTO (Egis Road and Tunnel Operations) who manage Dublin Port Tunnel on behalf of Transport Infrastructure Ireland facilitated the ITS development works of the mobile pole along with trialling and deployment of pilot units. A number of poles are now being deployed to key infrastructure locations.

The ISP is a hybrid wind and solar power system with a built-in rechargeable energy source (over 7kWhr’s of Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries). It is a robust, certified (UL and CE) off-grid power platform. It uses leading edge technology combined in an integrated system which offers 24/7 power at different levels (40/80/120W) continuously.

It has been designed to address the problems which are encountered by highway and law enforcement authorities and is installed at locations in the USA, Germany, UK and Ireland.

Airsynergy’s award winning ISP2 – an off-grid hybrid power generation and storage solution, is a low maintenance and remotely monitored robust system, designed to UL6142 specifications. The ISP2 was supplied complete with above ground temporary foundations – an option available for each product in the range.

The ITS system from Multisys consists of cameras interchanged with radars, sensors, automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras for general surveillance, automatic incident reporting – wrong way, pedestrian, low/high speed and congestion – and historical traffic data including vehicle counting, vehicle classification, traffic speed and traffic occupancy.

The system comes with local storage, wireless communications and power converters. It is also

Equipped with these technologies, the system provides low resolution live video stream to the Motor Traffic Control Centre (MTCC) over a cyber secure 4G network connection and streams high-resolution images on demand e.g. during an incident/event.

Capable of local edge recording, it can be rapidly deployed with minimal disruption to MTCC or motorway operation, it offers cloudbased archiving for the purpose of increased system redundancy and resilience. Additionally, the solution is capable of hosting edge video traffic management analytics, has a continuous load of less than 35W total – meaning zero downtime in the harshest environments – while the fully independent standalone CCTV is capable of local recording regardless of the integrity of the 4G connection at any time. Use cases for the system include blackspot motorway junctions, temporary highway works and road works monitoring as well as entry/exit/ road monitoring of events.

Multiple and varied benefits

First of all, there is the time savings of deploying an ISP2 at a site compared to installing of power/ fiber cables and the difficulty with interacting with utilities.

Then there is the cost. In many cases, it is cost prohibitive to pull power/fiber cabling for fixed or temporary installations. This can be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and will depend on the nearest connection point to power and communications infrastructure locally.

Being a fully standalone system with independent recording and VMS system is also an attractive feature as is the fact that all units can be monitored and configured remotely minimizing disruption caused by highway traffic management measures during maintenance or support of the unit.

The extensive intelligent video analytics capability can be tailored to suit particular site environment conditions or the system performance brief. n

Right: The Dublin Port Tunnel and Toll Plaza is now monitored

by Multisys’ ITS system

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GAS TURBINES |

The quick dry solution

Gas turbines for non-flammable fast drying roads are essential to industries worldwide Words | Brian E. Andersen, Applied Turbine Technologies (ATT), Denmark

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clean and dry surface is paramount for various industries within road, runway and bridge construction. Gas turbines are the unique solution for the quick and easy surface preparation of tarmac and concrete, before crack repair or line marking can commence.

Bridge and paving contractors need to ensure extremely low moisture in the surfaces prior to paving or waterproofing. ATT’s product line with surface dryers and cleaners of various sizes is the ideal equipment for drying and cleaning surfaces before paving, waterproofing, crack repair, joint sealing or surface applications such as line markings.

In addition, tape removal is made easy by utilising the heat and focused airflow to disintegrate the adhesion from the surfaces. With the ability to dry and clean surfaces as wide as

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Below: ATT’s new Hammer Jet gas turbine is lightweight and flexible – it can be handheld or on wheels for drying, cleaning and heating tasks

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120cm at a speed of up to 6km per hour (depending on product, surface/ weather conditions and nozzle width), the latest turbines alongside smart electronic technologies from Danfoss help to maintain day-to-day business, even in weather conditions that would normally stop operations.

The products

ATT offers up the Zirocco-M100 (drying widths up to 120cm), the Zirocco-M50 (up to 30cm) and the Hammer Jet (up to 20cm).

The Ziroccos are built on a well-proven concept, with the recent introduction of a smaller gas turbine in the entry-level model Zirocco-M50 for lower noise and fuel consumption, enabling effective jet dryer operation in cities and locations where noise is a factor.

The Hammer Jet is a new, innovative and mobile device that weighs just 16kg. This means it can

be utilized handheld with a harness, or on wheels for smaller drying, cleaning and heating tasks within line marking, crack repair, joint sealing and roof felt applications, as well as railroad switch de-icing.

All the products have been designed to bring new capabilities to the line marking and surface treatment sector. The self-contained machines use world-leading gas

| GAS TURBINES

turbine technology to ensure the effective drying, cleaning and heating of various surfaces, as well as the ability to clear black ice.

The jet dryers run on standard diesel-fueled micro turbines, with an airflow of 50-100m3 per minute and a nozzle temperature of around 450°C, which is optimal for both drying and cleaning.

Flexibility and user-friendliness are key factors in the product designs to enable various drying widths and hand-pushed operation for smaller tasks, and with the Zirocco-M100, the ability for self-propelled operation via the use of a line driver for larger tasks. Additionally, the truck-model Zirocco-T can be mounted onto a line-marking vehicle.

All products are built using rugged and durable components from the likes of Danfoss – a company policy to ensure highquality performance, user interface and longevity. When purchasing a product from ATT, the client receives high-performing, industry-leading equipment along with flexible support from the team.

The advantages

The dryers and cleaners have a unique triple action, whereby they clean surfaces of dirt, dry surfaces after rain or if the humidity is too high, and activate the surface to more than 7°C, which allows the best possible connection between surface and marking material or sealant.

All this is done in a stroke, thus allowing the application of line markings or repairs to be applied immediately afterwards.

The Hammer Jet also offers the opportunity to de-ice railroad switches effectively thanks to the combined use of heat and powerful airflow.

Relevant applications

The surface dryer and cleaner’s primary markets and applications include road marking (paint/MMA or thermoplastics), airport markings, runways and taxiways, crack repair and joint sealing on roads, aprons, taxiways and runways, companies working with temporary road markings or tape markings including removal, concrete drying for bridges

Above: Zirocco gas turbines have a nozzle temperature of 450°C – perfect for both drying and cleaning

or roads, car park and playground markings, heating for adhesion of roof felt, and heating and cleaning of railroad switches.

Worldwide success

With an estimated payback time of below 100 hours of operation, it is easy to see why companies worldwide are using the Zirocco surface cleaner and dryer. It is now used in more than 15 European countries, China, Oceania, Russia and North and Central America.

ATT’s customers range from small privately owned companies to large public or multi-national organizations including Copenhagen Airport, Frankfurt Airport, Zurich Airport, 3M Transportation Safety Division USA, AVS Germany, Baoding China, Conavia of Costa Rica, EJ Vejstriber of Denmark, Elite Technology from Georgia, Eurotranstroy from Russia, Hagedorn AG of Switzerland, Keflavik Airport in Iceland, Line Marking Solutions in New Zealand, Route One Highway of the UK, Safety Marking of the USA and Skanska OY in Finland.n Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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ROAD MARKINGS |

The next generation of retroreflectometers Delta’s new LTL3000 is smaller and lighter than most other retroreflectometers, offering fast and easy retroreflection measurements of road markings Words | Kjeld Aabye, Delta Light and Optics, Denmark

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vehicles will benefit from highith autonomous vehicles performing road markings. around the corner, there To guarantee high performance, is an increasing focus a more extensive checking of the on the performance markings’ retroreflection levels of road markings. Automated using retroreflectometers vehicles use such markings will be necessary. The for navigation and therefore challenge may centre require a minimum level less on dry roads and of retroreflection to more on ensuring “see” the markings. high-performing road A growing number of The speed at which markings in wet weather. road authorities are in Delta’s LTL3000 In these conditions, the process of recognizing retroreflectormeter can markings will typically this challenge and may take measurements lose 50%-75% of their soon realize the need for retroreflection compared better-performing markings. to their performance under Automated driving systems dry conditions. This is especially are divided into five levels of true at night, when wet markings automation, with level one offering become more or less invisible to lane tracking or automatic warning Above: Mobile automated systems. if the vehicle drifts beyond road retroreflectometers Retroreflection measurement markings, and level five covering are a convenient of markings can be undertaken by fully automated vehicles needing and efficient way mobile and handheld instruments. no human interaction. In other of measuring road markings Mobile instruments such as Delta’s words, all levels of automated

1 second

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LTL-M are increasingly used around the world for convenient and efficient measurements, but have limitations when it comes to wet markings and rainy conditions. Handheld instruments can be used to measure under all weather conditions.

To prepare for an increasing market demand for new and better retroreflectometer instruments, Delta will begin launching a new line of road-marking products at the start of 2020. The LTL3000 will be Delta’s first instrument in this new generation, followed later in the year by more advanced instruments.

The LTL3000 is based on the latest technological developments in modern design and materials.

Like Delta’s other retroreflectometer instruments, the LTL3000 is userfriendly as well as easy to calibrate and operate.

The instrument is robust and long-lasting, in addition to being

| ROAD MARKINGS

Above: Delta’s new handheld LTL3000 retroreflectometer will measure nighttime color as well as night and daytime visibility in both dry and wet conditions

smaller in size and lighter in weight to other instruments on the market, and the LTL3000 offers the necessary features for carrying out a measurement program.

The instrument is intended for those who need a solution requiring less demanding measurement tasks, those who want something that is easy to transport without too many features to support a measurement program, and – last but not least – those seeking a competitively priced solution compared to other models.

Besides measuring night and daytime visibility under dry and wet conditions the LTL3000 is capable of measuring night-time color, a feature increasingly requested by users. The LTL3000 is fast, with a measurement time of one second. It can measure retroreflection of high-profile structured markings and complies with all the relevant European and US standards. n

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FLATBED APPLICATORS |

Signs of the future How can you create a road sign manufacturing workstation that doubles the rate of production? CWT Worktools has the answer Words | Markus Ryberg, CWT Worktools AB, Sweden

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hen it comes to the application of electrocut overlay film and digitally printed reflective film to panels, flatbed applicator technology is increasingly the standard for road sign manufacturers. The introduction of next generation, semi-automatic flatbed applicators looks set to change traffic sign manufacturing in workflow, quality and productivity.

Digital evolution

The first digital printing system for traffic signs was released in 2006.

Today, there are several systems available, with printers for traffic sign manufacturing using inkjet, UV and latex technology. The market is moving from heavy investment printing technology to more affordable digital printing that still produces consistent quality and performance.

Quality controlled processes

Above: Reflective sheeting is applied to a road sign panel

However, conventional flatbed applicators only control the pressure setting for downward pressure, not speed or temperature. To ensure a quality-controlled application process, speed and temperature controls are required, particularly when it comes to film manufacturer’s terms of warranty.

Traffic sign manufacturers wish to optimise and automate their existing workflow, as well as streamline and improve the finishing process for cutting, lamination and application of sheeting, no matter which type of cut is used.

These companies are Meeting industry standards seeking a guaranteed, highA new generation of flatbed precision digital cutting, applicators – where the mounting and lamination lamination process is semiprocess of digital or automated and includes screen-printed reflective controls for pressure, With pressure controlled sheeting, transfer tape heat and application and heated, the roll speed and overlay film. speed – is needed for the When it comes to the manufacturing of small can be doubled to six application and mounting standard and regulatory meters per minute with process, flatbed applicators signs as well as large road the same quality output have become the standard. signs, including large traffic The introduction of this guide signs. technology was a huge leap CWT Worktools from forward for many traffic sign Sweden has manufactured flatbed makers, improving both quality applicators for almost a decade, and and productivity. its latest flatbed applicator has been

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developed to create a complete workstation while meeting the tough industry standards set by film manufacturers and regulators.

Doubling productivity

When flatbed applicators were first introduced, they allowed road sign manufacturers to move to electro-cut film and double productivity to 30m2 of road sign per operator per day.

Digital printed reflective sheeting combined with a flatbed applicator then meant a single operator could produce 60m2.

The application speed is limited, however, to three meters per minute with a cold process. With pressure controlled and heated, the roll speed can be doubled again to six meters per minute with the same quality output.

Pressure, heat and speed

This new generation of digital flatbed applicators offers road sign manufacturers the advantage of a

| FLATBED APPLICATORS

fully controlled application process to meet the high demands of the reflective film manufacturers.

New controls include stepless pressure setting of the roll because low pressures can cause wrinkles or edge lifting on the reflective sheeting.

Too much pressure can damage the micro-prisms in the sheeting structure, reducing the retroreflectivity and also causing wrinkling.

A heat-assisted roll, where the lamination temperature can be preset to 30-60°C with horizontal and

Above: CWT Worktools’ digital flatbed applicator offers complete control of the application process

vertical motorised drive, is the optimal solution. The combination of these digital controls means a quality-controlled lamination and application process of reflective sheeting is built into the system, and not dependent on the operator. n

CWT WORKTABLE & APEX DIGITAL CUTTERS

Quality controlled process for cutting and application Professional digital cutting and application solutions improving your traffic sign production

CWT WORK TOOLS AB, Årstidsvägen 8, 665 35 Kil, Sweden Phone: +46 554 333 90, E-mail: info@cwtworktools.com www.cwtworktools.com 1005581_Intertraffic World TTI_CWT Worktools AB.indd 1

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WATER BLASTING + |

Melting and more

Hog Technologies has innovated a wide variety of solutions for the road and highway industry, not least in melting and water blasting Words | Adam Baldwin, Hog Technologies, USA

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ater blasting has become the most efficient and eco-friendly method for marking removal and surface retexturing. Water blasting uses ordinary drinking water with no added chemicals to perform all of the machine’s applications. This means that there is no environmental impact and no health and safety hazards to the operators.

In addition, water blasting allows for the removal of markings with the least amount of negative impact to the surface versus other methods such as sand blasting and shot blasting, which can be abrasive and damaging.

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Above: Hog Technologies’ Stripe Hog can remove a range of materials including epoxy, thermoplastic and paint, and can mount to either a skid or a trailer

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The Stripe Hog system

Hog Technologies’ newest system, the Stripe Hog 5.2, is another step up in innovation. The 5.2 is the company’s smallest and mostaffordable Stripe Hog to date. Not only does it have the power to remove thermoplastic, cold plastic, two-component, epoxy, tape, solvent and waterborne paint, it does so safely. The machine can mount to either a skid or a trailer for easy transport, boasts the same 40,000psi operating pressure as its predecessor and, as the name suggests, has a flow rate of 5.2GPM. The Stripe Hog 5.2 comes with the HT1000SR self-rotating Ground Hog,

which is a walk-behind unit that does not require any hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical power to operate. The Ground Hog can be operated up to 300 feet away from the 5.2, offering a great range for any removal job.

More than water blasting

Hog Technologies used to be known as Waterblasting Technologies but changed its name when its moved beyond water blasting. The company created the Rumble Hog for grinding, grooving and cutting rumble strips including banana cut, plunge cut and sinusoidal wave. The Rumble Hog also uses water and simultaneous vacuum recovery to suppress dust

| WATER BLASTING +

area of the melter. That means the and keep any job within OSHA melter can be shut down instantly standards, promoting safer and without having to wait for the healthier work environments by thermoplastic and glass beads drastically reducing the amount to settle to the bottom. of respirable crystalline silica. This When started again, the melter dust, if not controlled, can be inhaled will evenly heat and re-melt the by workers on the job site and over cooled thermoplastic no matter time may lead to very serious health where it is, in less than an hour. issues such as silicosis, lung cancer, Using this method, 8,000lbs of COPD and kidney disease. thermoplastic per hour can be The company developed continuously liquefied per melter the Surface Hog for cleaning and using only two kettles and one preparation on almost any surface, burner. Most thermoplastic trucks including porous asphalt. This was use as many as four kettles and created with safety in mind because nine burners to achieve the dirt and sediments can get into the same results. In addition, their micro and macro texture of a surface, conveyor belt loading system acting as a clog. When rainwater allows one worker to load the falls upon a clogged surface it dry material into the melter cannot seep down into the with ease, thus reducing worker ground, and so begins to pool. fatigue and back strain.

In addition, traction is lost The Thermo Hog also on these surfaces which uses the company’s poses a potential revolutionary Hog hazard to drivers.

Pump, which Using highis designed pressure water, to pump these surfaces The new Stripe Hog 5.2 thermoplastic, can be kept water blasting system is 33% smaller intact, and than the leading clean and safe can mount to skid or trailer, competitive for motorists. boasts 40,000psi operating pump and Another pressure and has a flow weighs 371lbs one of Hog’s less. The Hog innovations is rate of 5.2GPM Pump is also able to the Thermo Hog. be repaired without This thermoplastic removing it from the longline truck can lay chassis, drastically reducing stripes down rapidly and maintenance time. efficiently due to the company’s The Hog Pump isn’t just for the revolutionary Hog Melter, which Thermo Hog as it can replace any uses heated oil to evenly distribute existing pump on virtually any heat throughout the entire surface

40,000

thermoplastic truck without any modification to hydraulics.

Above: The selfrotating Ground Hog is a walkbehind unit that does not require any hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical power to operate

Making the Thermo Hog mobile

Above: The Thermo Melter Skid reinvents the Thermo Hog (below) as a mobile device that can melt 2,000lbs of thermoplastic at a time

Hog Technologies has taken the technology from the Thermo Hog and fitted it into a mobile format: and so the Thermo Melter Skid was born.

Using a single Hog Melter, this skidmounted machine can melt 2,000lbs of thermoplastic at a time with a 20minute recovery time. It uses the same conveyor belt loading system to help reduce worker fatigue. The skid can attach to any vehicle or apparatus to apply thermoplastic markings to surfaces.

This unit is ideal for filling a smaller capacity thermoplastic applicator when the cycle time is about 20 minutes between refill operations. The Thermo Melter Skid aims to take the place of multiple conventional melters with no waiting to heat material.

These solutions are just a few examples of the forward thinking employed by Hog Technologies.

Technology does not advance by itself – and Hog Technologies commits itself to making those advancements and innovations. ■

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U.S.A. and European Offices

www.TheHog.com

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MOBILE READINGS |

Pavement markings fit for ADAS

Against a backdrop of evolving minimum road marking standards, a new mobile retroreflectometer has emerged that allows a full road lane to be surveyed in a single pass Words | Joe Turley, Reflective Measurement Systems Ltd, Ireland

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ehicle manufacturers and their advanced driverassistance systems (ADAS) suppliers are achieving rapid advances in automation, making their vehicles safer to operate on the public road network.

Completely safe automated operation of vehicles will require significant assistance from road stakeholders through the adoption of worldwide uniform road markings and signs.

In this highly evolving and competitive market, information is slowly emerging from ADAS manufacturers in relation to what “good-quality” pavement markings look like. What is required of road markings in day/night, wet/dry and/or sunny conditions for ADAS to work effectively?

Up until now, it has been reasonable to assume that ADAS OEM manufacturers will not wait for road network stakeholders to get their roads ready for automated driving systems. The speed of ADAS innovation is just too fast. Systems such as machine vision and Lidar are being designed and developed with knowledge of the problems of current roads infrastructure.

Similarly, it is reasonable to assume that road stakeholders, road authorities and DOTs won’t invest until they have a clear definition of what grade road and pavement markings need to be to make their roads safe for both humans and ADAS. As more automation is

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Right: The RetroTek retroreflectomoter can cover an entire lane in one pass, making the process of inspecting road markings quicker and safer

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

incorporated into vehicles, and as these vehicles move from Level 1 to Level 3 and above, a more harmonized approach will be needed for the assessment and regulation of ADAS vehicle safety technologies.

Lack of uniformity

Exacerbating the problem is the lack of uniformity of pavement markings and signs across the world.

This is changing, however. Based on emerging research supported by road/pavement trade bodies such as the European Road Federation (ERF) and American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), authorities are making moves at government level to harmonize road-marking quality and set minimum performance levels.

In October 2018, the Federal Highway Administration in the USA announced its intention to release a 2020 update of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). This announcement coincided with the release of the US DOT’s latest policy statement on automated vehicle technologies: Preparing for the Future of Transportation – Automated Vehicles 3.0.

This states that the MUTCD update, “will take into consideration these new [ADS] technologies introducing minimum pavement marking performance standards.”

The ATSSA has published recommendations that benefit human vision and ADAS (automation Level 1-2):

• Minimum pavement marking retroreflectivity levels.

• Longitudinal markings (edge lines, center lines, and lane lines) shall be six-inch wide on roads with a posted speed ≥ 40 mph (~65 km/h).

• Lane line markings shall be 15 feet (~4.5m) in length with a gap of 25 feet (~7.6m).

• Dotted edge line extensions shall be marked along exit and entrance ramps on roads with a posted speed ≥ 40 mph (~65 km/h).

• Crosshatch (Chevron) markings shall be included in gore areas on roads with a posted speed ≥ 40 mph (~65 km/h).

• Non-reflective Botts Dots should be eliminated or only used to supplement pavement markings.

• Contrast striping should be required on concrete roadways with a posted speed ≥ 40 mph (~65 km/h).

In Europe, the European Commission published its third Mobility Package, including a first set of technical recommendations that facilitate the recognition of road

| MOBILE READINGS Good night-time contrast does not necessarily translate to the same during daylight hours. Achieving good lane marking contrast in a broad range of daylight conditions is critical to eventual rollout of automation Level 3 and beyond.

Vision systems will play a central part in this rollout, a point of view put across forcibly by some vehicle manufacturers.

ADAS systems are sourced from multiple suppliers. While they may have similar functionality with similar performance, all will be programmed differently and with different machine vision algorithms.

How are these systems baselined under different lighting conditions day or night? How is a measure of lane marking visibility scored?

Coupled with the standardization efforts in the US and Europe and the existing marking standards (EN 1436 and ASTM E1710), validation of ADAS ability to use today’s roads requires a mobile, reliable, accurate and traceable lane marking inspection system.

A third-generation is here

markings by human and vehicle vision systems. In February 2019, negotiations between the European Parliament and the European Council on a new Road Infrastructure Safety Directive achieved a milestone with the agreement that “high-quality road markings and road signs are crucial to support drivers and connected and automated vehicles”.

Once these new minimum and uniform pavement marking and sign regulations are in place over the next few years, road authorities and DOTs will have a legal and safety requirement to ensure their roads are compliant.

Visibility and contrast

Until the advent of driving-assistance systems in cars, road markings and the standards that govern them were geared towards human drivers (Level 0). ADAS functions such as Level 1 features – lane departure warnings, for example – need to ‘see’ lane

markings to determine if the vehicle has departed the lane. If the lane markings can’t be seen properly, the alert will not be triggered. For a vision system to image and recognize lane markings and other road safety features, there needs to be sufficient contrast to make the feature visible.

For instance, Toyota’s Lane Trace Assist technology depends greatly on the quality of longitudinal road markings, warning that “depending on the road conditions... the system may not work normally” and stating that the technology is “designed to read visible lane markers.”

Contrast, the difference in luminance or colour that makes an object – or its representation in an image or display – distinguishable.

The higher the contrast value, the more distinguishable an object is and by extension the more visible.

At night, lane markings that have very good retroreflectivity are visible because of their high contrast.

Below: Measuring the visibility of road markings is essential for the safety of advanced driver-assisted systems

RetroTek is the first in a new generation of mobile retroreflectometers that allows a full road lane to be surveyed in a single pass, in comparison with the industry’s previous generation of single-sided systems.

Using RetroTek, retroreflective measurements of left and right road lines, left and right road studs, median markers and central road markings are made in a single pass at normal road speeds by a single operator. The benefits of measuring the retroreflective performance of road marking material are many – good line visibility saves lives and significantly, as we move into the era of self-driving vehicles, ensures the road network is suitable for ADAS and autonomous vehicles.

RetroTek deploys technology that locates and inspects road markings using methods similar to those employed by ADAS in vehicles. Retrotek can help the pavement markings industry meet the challenges presented by ADAS with 100% lane coverage (from edge to center lines) in one pass – a 50% saving in travel distance and time with increased safety for the operator compared to traditional side-mounted, singleline retroreflectometers. n

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STEPPED MARKINGS |

Keeping road markings visible in challenging conditions

An unusually designed road marking based on a staircase is leading the way in improving visibility in hazardous road conditions Words | Alexis Sheridan, Kelly Bros International, Ireland

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here’s nothing we can do to A double challenge for drivers Above: Clear road markings stop the skies going dark at In these regions, road users face two are essential at night, heavy rain from falling main challenges. The first is physical: all times, but or a combination of both. retention of road markings over time particularly in harsh However, we still need to drive is undermined by the essential use winter conditions in these conditions. The products of heavy snowplows, which can when visibility can manufactured to improve road damage and erode the lines. The be reduced and in which snowplows marking visibility in dark and wet second is perceptual: when driving can damage and conditions must work hard to protect at night in wet conditions, motorists erode the markings road users in such environments. simply cannot see road markings In some northern European because the lines seem to disappear countries, rumble lines are milled in heavy rain. into the road surface to aid drivers’ Most retroreflective road understanding of the positioning of markings contain thousands of the lines when visibility is reduced. glass beads that turn light from The Nordic and Scandinavian headlights back to the driver climate presents specific to make lines visible at night. challenges, and the product While glass beads remain applied must be durable a popular component in enough to withstand lane-marking, they are Even white road markings snowplows but flexible problematic during rain or look black in heavy rain, enough to absorb studded when under water because leading to confusion, erratic tires. In addition, such they sometimes seem to solutions must meet the disappear. The solution to driving and potentially normal demands of antithese problems lies in the fatal accidents skid properties, whiteness, physics of retroreflectivity reflectivity and visibility and the index of refraction under wet conditions. as it relates to these markings.

Central Europe is especially The difficulty faced challenging for visibility on by drivers in wet, night-time wet nights. conditions is that even white

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road markings look black in heavy rain, appearing to meld into the tarmac, and lead to confusion, erratic driving and potentially fatal accidents. The question for road marking manufacturers is: how can the high visibility of road markings be retained in adverse weather conditions?

Innovative solutions

Extreme conditions call for innovative solutions and, for around 60 years, Kelly Bros International has developed products for dramatically diverse environments.

After decades of research and testing, the company manufactures products to withstand and perform in extreme conditions – hot and cold – that are no barrier to the successful application and retention of road markings. Its products are manufactured in Ireland, where stringent regulations ensure some of the highest standards in the world. For example, manufacturers must ensure road markings remain and meet reflectivity, luminance, skid and chromaticity values after three years.

The company’s resilient methylmethcrylate (MMA) cold plastic includes the BritePlast range, a premium, hard-wearing cold plastic that displays high visibility during the day, and both luminance and

| STEPPED MARKINGS anti-skid resistance properties in wet or dry conditions. BritePlast is highly durable under heavy traffic loads and snowplows, with exceptional adhesion to concrete and asphalt surfaces.

Kelly Bros has recently focused on finding a solution to the double challenge of durability and visibility of markings in wet conditions with a new product that has a step-like structure. The white parts of the steps are made from the thixotropic thermoplastic element; the black is the road where the rain settles.

In rainy and dark conditions, the white reflects light from the headlights’ beam back at drivers, while the water, unable to settle on top of the road markings, falls into the black, unapplied areas. The steplike structure is applied in a diagonal shape towards the snow-plow angle, making for a strong structure in terms of surviving winter maintenance issues.

When applied as specified, this structure can counteract the force of the snowplow, thus reducing

FOR EXEMPLIFICATION ONLY

The step effect

the chance of erosion. Known as StepFlex, the product is an agglomerate with the best resistance towards winter maintenance that Kelly Bros has employed to date.

It is currently being rolled out in Nordic countries with great success.

Above: Kelly Bros’ innovative new StepFlex road markings use a diagonal shape that resists water and protects against snowplows

Sixty years on

One of the world’s foremost road marking manufacturing companies, Kelly Bros International has been

making roads safer for nearly six decades now. “Our commitment to innovation is a part of our heritage,” says Alexis Sheridan, Technical director of Kelly Bros. “We have never forgotten our roots and we continue to incorporate family values into all our relationships and processes. We believe in sustainability for next-generation technology, next-generation roads and next-generation people.” n

Visit us at Intertaffic Amsterdam 2020 Stand #05.142

manufacturingsmarter. contractingbetter. surveyingeasier.

VMSclearer.

IRELAND

UNITED KINGDOM

INTERNATIONAL

+353 (0) 49 8547173

+ 44 (0) 1 454 312675

+353 (0) 49 8547173

info@kellybros.ie

info@kelly-bros.com

info@kellybros.ie

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PRISMATIC VMS |

Sign the way

Poland is transforming its road systems, with thousands of kilometers of new routes already opened or planned for the future Words | Hans-Ivar Olsson, Triplesign, Sweden

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n 2019, around 490km of new routes will appear in Poland on highway A1 and expressways S5, S6 and S17. However, nearly 1,426km of new road is still in the pipeline. Poland’s road construction plan, which started in 2014 and is due for completion in 2023, will result in almost 3,300km of new highways and expressways, as well as 35 ring roads.

Triplesign has been a key supplier of Prismatic VMS (variable message signs) to the Poland road construction project, with more than 70 delivered to date. The consignment ranges from relatively small signs measuring 2.5m x 3m to large directional signs with a width of more than eight meters and a height of more than four meters.

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Above: Triplesign Prismatic variable message signs inform motorists of closures and diversions on Poland’s newly expanded road network

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Sign implementation

Triplesign Prismatic VMS systems are designed for use on main roads to replace old-fashioned road signs and signposts. The new signs display information about closures on main carriageways and slip roads, and are typically stationed at the junctions that control merging traffic.

When the VMS signs are not activated they are either blank or they contain standard information.

When required, the boards present details of the relevant detours.

Changes to the content of the VMS displays happen immediately after receiving control commands from the traffic management center.

The low power consumption of the Triplesign VMS has made it possible to introduce standalone

installations that use solar power.

In fact, no electricity is required to display messages on the sign – a big advantage over a LED VMS, which requires a constant supply of power.

Triplesign has also been integrated into an intelligent weight pre-selection system to combat the problem of overloaded trucks in a simple and effective way. This allows overweight vehicles to be removed from the road while the system obtains information on the vehicle’s movements, speeds and loads. When activated, the system directs heavy traffic to the right-hand lane with a reduced speed limit. This makes it easier for law enforcement officers to pull trucks aside for vehicle inspection.

These installations were implemented by ITS companies such as Cat Traffic and GZD, while local Triplesign distributor LookSYS coordinated the projects from evaluation to completion. Specialists from Look-SYS were responsible for choosing the right product to meet the requirements of each customer and integrating the Triplesign controller software with the traffic management system, as well as configuration at the installation site, testing and customer support.

| PRISMATIC VMS

Friend of the environment

The problem of global warming, and the fact that it is linked to increased carbon footprints, means it is now hugely important to limit vehicle emissions with a more efficient traffic flow created by flexible traffic information provided by a VMS system.

Triplesign Prismatic VMS is the most environmentally friendly VMS, thanks to its low power consumption.

In comparison a full matrix 2.5m x 3m LED VMS can consume more than 1,000 times more power than a Triplesign Prismatic VMS of the same size.

Additionally, the extreme low power consumption of Triplesign VMS enables solar standalone installations. No heavy, dieselguzzling machinery for cable excavation is then needed and the installation process can be completed

Above: As well as running on very low power, Prismatic VMS systems are enabled for solar installation and there is no cable excavation required

in a matter of hours. This compares favorably with comparable LED VMS, which require cables excavation for the extensive power consumption.

In that case the installation will be time intensive, expensive and likely to cause traffic jams or result in complicated traffic redirections.

The result is that costs saved for a Triplesign VMS installation compared to a similar LED VMS installation can rise as high as 90%. n

3, 6, 9 and 12-Message Prismatic VMS. Lowest power consumption.

Now 1,5W VMS- system available.

70 to 90% cost saving compared to LED VMS installation.

Solar standalone VMS-system.

Sustainable VMS technology for environmentally friendly cities.

Visit us at the Intertraffic Amsterdam stand 12.512 www.triplesign.com - info@triplesign.com - +46 8 626 7350 1005768_Intertraffic TTI_Triple Sign System AB.indd 1 1006083_TTI_Triple World Sign System AB.indd 1

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The RFID based system for electronic vehicle identification IDePLATE and IDeSTIX, developed by TÖNNJES, recognizes and authenticates vehicles at a speed up to 220 kilometers per hour. It is a record score for the German company that presented its innovation at a performance test at the „Sachsenring“ motorsport racing circuit in March 2019. IDePLATE is a number plate with an integrated, passive RAIN RFID chip (UCODE DNA).

IDeSTIX and IDeSTIX Headlamp Tag are a holographic windshield / headlamp stickers that are likewise equipped.

APPLICATIONS Electronic vehicle identification, Toll collection, Traffic management, Parking and access control, Section control, Border control, Traffic infraction control

BENEFITS · Identification under all weather conditions · Data can be retrieved contact free and in moving traffic · Enables multi-lane-free-flow functionality · Readable at high speeds · Protection of data and privacy

License plate with integrated passive RFID-Chip

The intelligent windshield label with fraud resistant data memory

Headlamp Tag Headlamp stickers for motorcyles fully personable and fraud resistant

· System can be adapted to all specific country requirements · Off- and online verification · Compatible with all vehicle types · In full compliance with according to ISO/IEC 20248 and ISO 7591

Software solutions for the reliable registration and verification of vehicles and vehicle owners

· Passive UHF in accordance with ISO/IEC 18000-63 respectively GS1 EPC UHF Gen2v2 · Can be combined with all other innovative high-security elements, e.g. Digital Signatures in accordance with ISO/IEC 20248 · Cryptographic authentication in compliance with ISO/IEC 29167-10

TÖNNJES E.A.S.T. INFRASTRUKTUR INVEST GmbH Tel. +49 (0) 4221 795-315 Fax +49 (0) 4221 795-300 pr@toennjes.com | www.toennjes.com

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

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TRAFFIC CONTROL |

Holistic solutions to city traffic problems Solving city mobility cannot be achieved by controlling single intersections – a contextual approach is required. Understanding a city’s variety of needs, with sustainable mobility at its core, forms the cornerstone of Cross Zlín’s approach to urban traffic control

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Words | Libor Susil, Cross Zlín, Czech Republic

2X technologies represent the next generation of traffic control systems.

Cross Zlín is a supplier of comprehensive traffic infrastructure solutions, ranging from product manufacturing to installation with subsequent operation and servicing.

Its products, namely the RS range of traffic light controllers and the universal RSU (Roadside Unit), already utilise C2X protocols.

Historically, C2X was used for public transport preference, enabling the faster and smoother passage of buses or trams through a city.

Data is sent from the vehicle to the controller, who then decides to prioritise the vehicle passage

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Below: Cross Zlín’s data-gathering tools can be used to cut public vehicle travel times

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

based on city’s traffic policy, for instance delaying or giving absolute priority. On past projects with public transport priority, Cross Zlín managed to cut public vehicle travel times by 15%. Such systems can be supplemented with bus/tram stop passenger information displays that show line information: expected arrivals or delays.

These systems can also inform drivers by showing travel times, warning about congestion or helping to navigate to vacant parking areas.

Existing city technologies can be equipped with C2X-enabled end points, the RSUs, thus enabling direct communication with drivers without significant CAPEX requirements.

Adaptive control

The passenger car expansion that has taken place in recent years is making it increasingly difficult to keep traffic flowing through our cities. This is especially true in peak hours, with intersections approaching saturation levels and resulting in congestion.

Cross Zlín’s contribution to solving these challenges is a continuous development of novel control strategies that react to traffic demand in real time.

Cross Zlín’s adaptive control system gathers detector data and automatically calculates the optimal signal timing for the upcoming cycle.

| TRAFFIC CONTROL Such control strategies effectively make the intersection controller fully autonomous. Naturally, automated signal plan creation has its limits; inputs from traffic engineers are recommended for more complex situations, especially for high saturations.

In fact, the adaptive control can be used in conjunction with dynamic signal plans created by traffic engineers, resulting in a hybrid system that combines the advantages of both approaches: superior performance at high saturation levels thanks to traffic engineers’ expertise, as well as adaptive responsiveness to nonstandard traffic demands.

Modular SW solution

Cross Zlín’s SW modularity employs the latest web-based technologies and thus enables a range of use cases: from large metropolitan areas to small cities, cloud instances as well as on-premise installations.

All SW components adhere to a strict set of GUI (graphical user interface) design principles. Users thus get a familiar experience

regardless of what system level they interact with: the traffic engineer module for controller set-up feels the same as the service and maintenance module. Equally, the high-level urban traffic controller GUI with all its monitoring, reporting and statisticgenerating functionalities will look the same as those used in the lower levels – and all accessed from a web browser.

Right: Cross Zlin’s adaptive control system gathers data and automatically calculates the optimal signal timing

1W signal heads, modern design

Power consumption reduction as part of environmental protection is very relevant nowadays. To tackle these challenges, Cross Zlín has developed a new generation of signal heads with minimal power requirements.

These new 1W signal heads, natively supported by the RS4S controller, meet all industrial norms, are environmentally friendly and simultaneously lower the electricity bills of its customers, freeing up their OPEX budgets.

And what functions well can also look good: these signal heads received a great deal designer’s attention to unobtrusively fit in both modern and historical cities. n

NEW GENERATION WIM WEIGH-IN-FREE-FLOW

Fiber-optic technology High precision Weigh-in-Free-Flow Width measurement, multi-tyre and underinflated tyres detection

Easy installation and maintenance via U-Bed Toll-per-Tonne ready

www.optiwim.com 1005579_Intertraffic World TTI_CROSS Zlin Inc.indd 1

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DATA GATHERING |

Seeking a safer journey

Measure-in-Motion offers an open platform for a variety of transportation modes Words| Anna MaciakovĂĄ, Betamont, Slovakia

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etamont Measure-in-Motion (MiM) is a unique concept that can be implemented with great flexibility on roads and railways to obtain the largest possible set of relevant data on vehicles and the transport stream as a whole – without obstructing traffic flow at the measuring site.

The principle of MiM is to integrate simple traffic counting with weigh-in-motion (WIM), automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) and vehicle dimension measurements.

What started as the integration of third-party devices has evolved into a bespoke hardware solution.

Betamont has established its own R&D department, one of its focuses being the development of completely new WIM systems.

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Above: Measurein-Motion includes lane monitoring alongside weighin-motion, license plate recognition and vehicle identification

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Why measure?

Weighing remains of interest to national authorities, especially in terms of investment protection. The goals are to prevent road damage from heavy traffic and reduce the risk of accidents. The vehicle is measured dynamically on the axel load inspection site. In case of overload, diverted vehicles can be measured statically on verified certified scales.

Dynamic weighing works in this case as a pre-selection system for an effective control of vehicle overload and is carried out by police officers.

Such a solution is demanding in terms of space and capacity. The goal is to reach the highest degree of automation. The company faced a challenge to have a dynamic, accurate

and reliable measuring system of traffic parameters with comparable results to the static/slow system.

Betamont achieved this goal and its system is now certified in Russia, where 14 MiM systems are being used for direct enforcement. Since the beginning of 2017 there have been more than one million breaches of regulation in weight restriction, meaning that more than a third of transporters exceed the standards.

The control weighing performs well, showing little difference between the accuracy of the dynamic and stationary weighing indicators.

Apart from Russia, MiM is also certified in Kyrgyzstan (13 MiM systems, plus a data center and metrological certificate) and the Czech Republic. First and foremost,

| DATA GATHERING

emissions, technical it is related to the intensive specifications and business activities of dangerous cargo. It the company in the can also detect if Eastern market, belts are buckled but also to the and passengers modified are present, legislation as well as that promotes Since 2017 there have been identifying the dynamic vehicle model weighing. more than a million breaches and color.

In addition, of weight restriction on The basic Betamont has 72 Russia’s roads configuration can monitored traffic be supplemented lanes in Slovakia with additional nonwithin the toll contact measurement system, 80 MiM systems such as highsystems for statistical speed lasers to capture vehicle purposes and pre-selection, and contours. For example, a combination 12 fully equipped MiM stations with of radar, ultrasonic and infrared enforcement using certificated lowsystems was used in the national speed weighing. highway toll project in Slovakia.

1m+

Beyond weighing

The MiM system has a wide range of functions, with WIM just a part. The ALPR subsystem, which currently works with 98% accuracy, is an indispensable part of the traffic parameter measurement process.

As well as reading plates to identify vehicles, MiM can work with images in a more advanced manner and use this data to identify all kinds of vehicle attributes, including

More progress for MiM

Betamont works constantly to improve and expand its system.

Because every system is working with currently available sensors, the company does encounter some limits. These can be solved partly with software, but with a small number of customer requirements they must resort to developing their own weighing sensors,

Above: The MiM interface, which can be tailored to a customer’s requirements

according to the requirements of the system as a whole.

The company approaches the product innovation process in terms of how to offer quality and affordable solutions as simply as possible.

Meanwhile, it continues to consider new possibilities to deploy MiM applications in other industries.

Data

Advanced data processing is a fundamental part of the MiM system.

The in-depth data analysis, with use of advanced artificial intelligence methods, is carried out to identify, calculate and interpret traffic parameters, patterns and correlations. At the same time, historical data is utilized because it contains a certain regularity that can be followed and modelled.

An upgrade of the data processing system is a specific application with a defined user environment and a degree of visualization depending on the purpose for which it is to be used, for example application for a police officer, monitoring center operator, traffic stream management, advanced reporting and general public information. What Betamont and MiM is able to offer today is only the beginning. â– Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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FLEXIBLE ALPR |

A standalone ALPR system

License plate recognition is reaching new levels of sophistication and speed thanks to developments from CARRIDA-Technologies

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Words | Endre J Tóth, CARRIDA-Technologies, Germany

ARRIDA-Technologies’ mission is to read cars and license plates, as is reflected in its name: ‘Car’ stands for vehicles that the company loves, while ‘Rida’ (pronounced ‘reader’) indicates the company’s passion to read and recognize license plates.

Its software module for automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) is designed for all kinds of applications.

Above: CARRIDA’s software can read licence plates at 15-20ms per frame with up to 99% accuracy and match them to the make and model of car

A powerful OEM library

The CARRIDA software engine is easy to integrate into existing security and surveillance ITS applications. It is fully hardware independent and runs on Windows and Linux PCs, as well as advanced RISC machine (ARM) architectures on Linux and Android. A very fast processing speed of typically 15-20ms per frame enables the reading of license plates from vehicles travelling up to 240km/h (150mph).

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The software can read license plates even when they are partially damaged, dirty or distorted. It also works on noisy, low-contrast or lowresolution images. Readings of up to 99% accuracy can be achieved under real-world conditions. The software can be used with any C and C++ project via an application program interface (API), so the user can program a broad range of applications and can easily integrate CARRIDA’s module into existing systems.

Working Worldwide

The CARRIDA software engine is able to handle the plates of most countries worldwide, including state/country recognition. By this important property CARRIDA’s partners can rely on one proven package for any application anywhere. This reduces the development effort for companies offering solutions globally.

Obtain key vehicle data

In addition to the license plate reading, a new Make&Model recognition function offers even more security and functionality by allowing the user to check whether the vehicle type matches the number plate. It is also possible to categorize vehicles whose number plates are not stored in the ALPR system itself. This allows intelligent traffic management systems and parking operators to increase their efficiency. Readings with a positive match between the car and its license plate can be archived in the same system.

The software module is based on the latest artificial intelligence (AI) technology, ensuring high recognition rates of vehicle makes and models from all over the world.

Latest AI technology

CARRIDA uses Deep Learning for Make&Model recognition. This means that the computer itself has been trained how to recognize a particular vehicle type. Therefore, it is possible to run much more complex and thus more reliable recognitions.

| FLEXIBLE ALPR This was introduced with software version 4.3. Like the ALPR CARRIDA software module, the Make&Model module is hardware and manufacturer independent.

‘Read’ cars with Android

The newest technological achievement from CARRIDATechnologies is an Android-operated software development kit (SDK).

A reading time of approximately 300ms can be reached for full HD images on medium-class Android mobile devices. A sample application can be found on the company’s website. CARRIDA for Android is fully optimized for this embedded ARM architecture. Furthermore, the SDK includes color recognition for GCC, state recognition and stacked characters for different countries.

A single-unit solution

A small, intelligent embedded camera can be combined with the CARRIDA software to create a selfcontained, standalone solution. Using an ARM camera can result in an impressively low power consumption of about 3 watts. It is able to process

data collected without any additional hardware, thereby saving space and money.

The entire ALPR/ANPR process The speed at which takes place CARRIDA’s Android software directly on the camera. development kit can read Whether full HD images on access control, a mobile device red light monitoring or toll systems – thanks to the integrated CARRIDA software engine, the camera handles all processes.

Its memory can also be used to store self-defined blacklists and whitelists for vehicles, which are then automatically taken into account on future readings. Using such hardware and software combination, companies can create their own ALPR camera quickly, easily and in one of the most affordable ways available on the market. CARRIDATechnologies can also support in the choice and/or design of the

300ms

additional components such as lighting and outdoor proof housing.

A versatile solution

CARRIDA’s software can be used in a broad field of different applications.

The system is automatically able to manage access to restricted areas, such as smart parking lots. It can also help in law enforcement in the areas of tolling, speed enforcement and license plate searches.

CARRIDA-Technologies is continuously developing and is looking forward to releasing more innovative new features in future.

Software licensing models

CARRIDA-Technologies offers you flexible license models according to your preferences. The license can be tight to a runtime (Time span or Time limit) or to a fixed amount of reads.

Customers can choose their own flexible licensing model, as well as the financial model. This can be a one-time payment or payment according to usage (Pay per read).

CARRIDA Technologies always tries to create the best solution for its partners. ■

Typical Applications Parking, Access control Law Enforcement Urban Planning & Traffic Management of Transport Fleets and others

Features Typical reading accurancy > 98% Hardware platform independent: From EDGE to CLOUD Processing time: 20ms (platform dependent) Quick & easy configuration Working Worldwide Make and Model recognition

Your ALPR/ANPR Software Engine 1005573_Intertraffic World TTI_Carrida Technologies GmbH.indd 1

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FREE-FLOW SENSORS |

Norway’s approach to free-flow tolling The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has to balance the appearance of historic landmarks with the country’s desire to raise revenue via tolling.

Enter a thoroughly modern and stylish solution from Efkon

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Words | Daniela Trummer, Efkon, Austria

ow-emission zone tolling as seen in major cities such as London are a big topic, not only for calming traffic but also for climate protection. Now, Efkon – a Strabag subsidiary – has implemented its solution for freeflow city tolling in Norway.

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration’s priority was to have the best possible integration of toll equipment into its old cityscape to preserve the famous landscape of the fish market in Bergen and other

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Above: Bergen in Norway required stylish and discreet tolling sensors and gantries that would not detract from the city’s historic landscape

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

historic locations and popular tourist spots in Oslo. The Public Roads Administration requested slim and attractive equipment and installation structures to create a discreet, aesthetically pleasing and consistent appearance across multiple city environments.

There was an additional challenge – to produce a slim, single-gantry design to replace the massive multigantry installations used at the markets, which require multi-lane free-flow (MLFF) tolling applications.

Typically, many individual products had been installed, including cameras for image acquisition and automatic license plate recognition (ALPR), flashlights for illumination, laser sensors for classification, DSRC transceivers, switches, cabinets and more.

This is not such an issue in a multi-gantry environment, where there is enough space to accommodate so many components – far more space than in an urban or single-gantry structure. Multi-gantry installations usually feature large, separated and external lane cabinets with their own processing units and switches. The cabling required to connect all of these devices is extensive and costly.

It would seem that an optimal solution would be to integrate many of the single products and services into one appliance. Such products should offer in-built processing power plus redundancy and high availability. It should be possible to utilize one appliance for multiple services such as electronic tolling, enforcement, tracking, access-zone surveillance and ALPR applications.

N-Force AVT100 was Efkon’s answer – a new product that was

| FREE-FLOW SENSORS designed to fulfil these increasingly demanding industry requirements.

Launched in 2018, the product was an organic development in which Efkon placed a special focus on implementing technical multipurpose services in a one-box solution with an attractive design.

The higher technical integration also benefits from an attractive product price, easier installation and lower total costs of ownership during the system lifecycle. The product is contributing to easy and attractive integration in urban or countryside areas that require small and singlegantry structures or masts.

Technical features

The AVT100 All-Vehicle Sensor Box supports MLFF applications for up to two lanes at speeds of up to 160km/h. Each N-Force AVT100 combines a high-dynamic-range CMOS camera, a powerful infrared flash, a SAM security module processing unit and embedded management software, including ALPR, in a compact design with full component redundancy. External plugs to connect Efkon DSRC

| Need to know Key features and applications of the AVT100 All-Vehicle Sensor Box

> The AVT100 All-Vehicle Sensor Box is suited to a variety of applications including accesszone management, surveillance and tracking > Supports multi-lane free-flow applications for up to two lanes at speeds of up to 160km/h > Only power and data cabling is required

transceivers are available. The in-built functionality supports image capturing and ALPR, vehicle classification, DSRC processing and transaction storage in the local database. This eliminates any need

for separated and external processing units and lane-side cabinets.

N-Force AVT100 is suitable for a variety of applications such as toll collection with DSRC, ALPR/ video-based tolling, access-zone management, surveillance, tracking, enforcement services or any other ALPR applications. Relatively small constructions such as single gantries, poles or cantilevers are sufficient to install the units. Only power and data cabling is required.

The innovative product allowed Efkon to achieve a successful product launch and market entry in Norway in 2019. More than 100 MLFF toll stations in Norway are equipped with Efkon’s N-Force AVT100, notably in the cities of Oslo and Bergen. The project has become a significant reference point, given that Norway is one of the pioneers of electronic tolling in Europe.

Efkon continues to further develop AVT100-based projects in the area of urban tolling and low-emission zones, which are becoming more popular – not to mention necessary – to protect our environments and nature. n

Experts in Urban Tolling Solutions. EFKON’s expertise is based on extensive knowledge on all major electronic tolling technologies and more than 20 years of experience in the ITS and ETC business. We offer a broad portfolio from single components to products, systems integration and operations for nationwide tolling and e-vignette systems and congestion charge (City Tolling) solutions. We support our customers from the planning stage through the project handling to the after sales service – benefit from a one-stop-shop provider, tailoring solutions to your individual needs. www.efkon.com

EFKON GmbH, Dietrich-Keller-Str. 20, 8074 Raaba, Austria, Tel. +43 316 6990-0

183x115 mm_SSP_EFKON_IntertrafficShowcase_20191007.indd 1 1005592_Intertraffic World TTI_EFKON GmbH.indd 1

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OVERHEAD DETECTORS |

Leveraging gantries for better traffic management

Smart data collection technologies are being developed that can be installed in an increasingly diverse array of locations – making the traffic manager’s job an easier one Words: Andreas Hartmann, ADEC Technologies, Switzerland

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raffic management increases the capacity of existing road infrastructure. It does so by adaptively adjusting speed limits and direct traffic flow. Like every optimized control loop that depends on input to generate output, effective traffic management depends on a network of sensors for gathering the input data and actuators, in the form of variable message signs or direct infrastructure to vehicle communication (one aspect of what’s known as V2I).

Adaptive speed limits are the single most effective aspect of traffic management. The goal is to delay or entirely avoid the situation of stop and go traffic, which equals a complete breakdown of the traffic flow that reduces the vehicle throughput to a fraction of the capacity.

Numerous papers from the research community show that the typical maximum throughput of a single lane is between 1,500 and 2,500 vehicles per hour. The speeds at which this maximum is achieved are between 80km/h and 100km/h. The traffic flow in these conditions is a delicate balance. For example, a single car slowing down quickly to allow a motorist in front to enter the same lane can cause a traffic jam for no reason, otherwise known as a ‘phantom’ traffic jam. But whether a delay has begun for no reason, or is caused by an accident or set of roadworks, the traffic management goal is to minimize traffic jams and maximize throughput.

On most highways, the speed limit is between 110km/h and 130km/h, although some highways do not have any limit. At high speeds, the maximum volume is substantially

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Above: Overhead gantries are the perfect location for ADEC Technologies’ TDC3 detectors, which count and classify vehicles to maximise traffic flow

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lower. The most common means for traffic management systems to maximize throughput is to measure the up-to-date volume and speed of the traffic at frequent locations along the highway. When the volume reaches a certain threshold at a given point, the maximum speed at the immediately preceding sections is lowered to 100km/h or less to avoid the onset of a phantom queue.

Motorists are informed about the actual speed limit via variable message signs on gantries above the highway.

The city situation

In many places, highways around city centers feature numerous

gantries with variable message signs to provide feedback to the motorists.

Authorities can inform road users not only about speed limits, but also lane closures and other vital information.

These gantries are also ideal, free mounting locations for overhead traffic detectors to obtain accurate, individual-lane traffic data.

ADEC Technologies offers overhead detectors to meet the exact demands of such traffic management systems.

The triple-technology detectors feature multiple sensing technologies for highly accurate traffic data: using radar to acquire each vehicle’s exact speed; proven ultrasonic sensor technology to scan the vehicle’s height profile to determine each vehicle’s

| OVERHEAD DETECTORS drivers going in the wrong direction. class; and infrared PIR (passive One version of ADEC’s TDC3 detector infrared) sensors to assess the exact provides configurable trigger output position of a vehicle in the lane. The to tie into third-party equipment, such devices are specifically designed for as LPR (license plate recognition) mounting on the many overhead or enforcement cameras. gantries already in use.

Overhead gantry mounting eliminates the need to Adaptable and smart damage the pavement ADEC Technologies’ to insert inductive TDC3 detectors loops, which in are used by the themselves can major installers be a problem, throughout especially Europe, and in warmer are compatible Typical maximum throughput climates with all of vehicles on a single lane in or regions common with major roadside stations one hour – requiring speeds temperature thanks to the of 80-100km/h swings. implementation Overhead of the long-proven detectors can also TLS standard that, easily adapt to lanes among other aspects, that have been shifted to defines the protocols used to accomodate construction works. Most address the variable message signs. importantly, overhead detectors are The detectors are available in not limited to only working in ideal different versions, both with respect highway conditions, unlike many to the mounting location (in front of popular side-fire radar detectors. In or behind the gantry) as well as the fact, they work perfectly in tunnels to number of distinct vehicle classes they immediately detect queues or even can differentiate. Vehicle classification

2,500

is useful extra information for road operators, for example to obtain statistical information about the composition of the vehicle classes or adjust speed limits not only on the overall traffic volume but the volume of specific vehicles for example to minimize environmental impact.

TDC3 detectors for classification into the common TLS 8+1 classification scheme offer accuracy of between 85% and 99.9% (a figure that has been independently verified). Special versions of TDC3 detectors are also available to retrofit older installations from previous generations of overhead double and tripletechnology detectors from other manufacturers.

Every day, for many years, thousands of TDC3 overhead detectors help to maximize the traffic volume and minimize delays from phantom queues and other disturbances by delivering up-todate, reliable and accurate traffic data around the clock. Delaying or even avoiding stop-and-go traffic has great environmental advantages as well, reducing the carbon impact of primarily fossil-fuel fed vehicles. ■

“Signs on bridges deliver vital information.”

“ADEC traffic detectors on bridges collect vital traffic data.”

ADEC Technologies AG s Swis e Gublenstrasse 1 Mad 8733 Eschenbach (Switzerland) +41-55-214-2400 t +41-55-214-2402 (fax) info@adec-technologies.com t www.adec-technologies.com 1005566_Intertraffic World TTI_Adec Technologies.indd 1

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DATA CAPTURE | on the most expensive parts of the set-up, typically the camera and lens.

Key considerations

Shedding some light on transport ITS can’t function well without adequate lighting. Yet all too often the provision for lighting comes late in the ITS planning process

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Words | Jools Hudson, Gardasoft Vision, UK

ntelligent traffic systems must be able to capture data quickly and efficiently, and they rely on a number of complex components coming together in perfect harmony.

All too often, though, lighting is way down at the bottom of the to-do list. The big question for any company designing an ITS system and for the one commissioning it is how much light will be required to support the cameras and lenses being used.

They will have to consider the size of the area in which the traffic is operating, bearing in mind that there might be several lanes with vehicles travelling at different speeds, and with varying natural light conditions.

Adequate light intensity will be needed to cover all possibilities of how and when an image is captured.

Above: Advances in lighting technology are giving ever more advanced, powerful and accurate beams that allows cameras to capture highquality images

No illumination standards

Not only that, there can be questions over the actual illumination power that a particular product can offer.

This is made worse by the lack of industry illumination standards.

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For example, a specific power input to a product will not necessarily indicate the power of the lighting.

Also, the key priority for designers of ITS systems is that the maximum light intensity should be directed towards the area where the images are captured.

Therefore, the beam intensity gradient and angle of the beam require careful study. What the ITS system builder will look for is a powerful, well-defined and accurate beam that is provided at the optimum wavelength. Highquality, consistent images can only be captured if the beam characteristics are adequate. This also provides other key benefits including reduced cost of components, lower energy costs, minimized light wastage and reduced driver distraction.

These considerations are vital from the outset of the planning process. A well-designed lighting system is the conduit for a more cost-effective traffic system. Better lighting also means reduced demand

Many enforcement systems make use of a pulse of bright light. This is especially useful for applications such as ALPR, toll booth control, multi-lane monitoring, automatic toll license validation, red-light violation, traffic enforcement systems, vehicle recognition and identification, vehicle occupancy and speed monitoring.

When designing an ITS system, additional lighting considerations can include whether the system is operating over 24 hours, whether monochrome imaging is sufficient and whether it’s necessary to read notification stickers on windscreens.

The local car license plate design can also have a very large impact on the system specification.

It’s important to note that a bright pulse of visible light can distract drivers and cause accidents. At Gardasoft, we can advise on the most suitable illumination wavelength for a particular traffic application.

Consistent lighting performance

Maintaining the consistency of system lighting can be harder than many people think. LED lighting is a favourite of ITS designers because it is reliable, has a high luminous intensity and allows for a flexible operation. However, the illumination intensity will be influenced by various complex internal and external effects, including the temperature and age of the LEDs. For example, when an LED heats up from 25°C to 90°C during use, the brightness can drop by as much as 40%, a variation that may not be seen during system commissioning but which can cause unacceptable performance variability during normal running. The brightness will also dim steadily as the light ages.

There is also a wide range of external factors that can affect system performance. These issues include environmental conditions such as the ambient light varying with time of day, season and weather, the external temperature of the surrounding area, and precipitation or dust in the air.

Also, the precise location of the installation can be significant, for instance whether it is installed above ground, in an enclosed area, deep within a tunnel or at the entrance

| DATA CAPTURE

of a tunnel. The special conditions found in certain locations can pose particular challenges for ITS.

Providing Ultimate Flexibility

The ITS traffic strobes from Gardasoft have been designed to deliver the rapid, accurate, highintensity LED light pulses that are necessary for demanding traffic applications. One of the reasons that Gardasoft strobes are popular is that they are able to very rapidly change the intensity and frequency of pulses.

This enables them to reliably deliver the correct amount of illumination required by the vehicle position and distance, enabling the requisite vehicle data to be captured.

The rapid movement of vehicles also poses challenges in getting sharply focused images of licence plates. Current procedures involve taking several sequential images and selecting only the sharp images.

However, by using tunable lens technology from Optotune powered by a Gardasoft lens controller, lens focus can be adjusted in just milliseconds to provide real-time, sharply focused images.

Many traffic OEMs and systems integrators choose Gardasoft intelligent lighting because it allows for real-time adjustments of intensity between pulses and provides an easy to-use interface between OEM traffic software, cameras, system hardware and lighting in a plug-andplay environment.

The system is able to continually offer vital information about the operational status of the lighting. Gardasoft lighting demonstrates its intelligence by being

Left: Optotune’s tunable lens allows for the focus to be adjusted in milliseconds to provide sharp real-time images Below: Gardasoft strobes rapidly change the intensity and frequency of pulses to deliver the correct amount of illumination

able to support an adaptive technique to maintain consistent illumination in variable conditions.

The readability of a vehicle licence plate, for example, will change according to atmospheric conditions and dirt on the plate. An image-processing application can monitor the readability of the license plate and can instruct the light controller to automatically adjust lighting intensity if necessary.

Three main questions

When specifying and designing an ITS system, we would advise planners to consider three main questions: • How much light is needed to acquire images of sufficient quality?

• Where do I need to direct the light to be in order to enable image capture?

• Which wavelength is most appropriate choice?

The answers to these questions are the starting point for any ITS planner. n

Lighting the Way in ITS Technology Leader for Vehicle Imaging • Highest intensity illumination • Fast, accurate strobing • Easy integration with camera and lens • Ethernet connectivity for quick setup • High reliability, IP rated • Custom parameters and form factor • Free-flow tolling

• Speed cameras

• ANPR / LPR

Telephone: +44 (0) 1954 234970 | +1 603 657 9026 Email: vision@gardasoft.com

www.gardasoft.com

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LICENSE PLATE SECURITY |

Smart hybrid plate Customized security technology in license plates can create a revolutionary function for this essential vehicle feature

Words | Celine Guenot, Faab Fabricauto, France, and Chris Glendinning, Hills, United Kingdom

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ehicle identification and road safety are day-today issues for authorities worldwide. Those authorities are constantly looking for new ways of refining the management of vehicle populations amid continuing growth. Improving control over this aspect of traffic management is a real challenge in times of increased traffic violations, counterfeit license plates, vehicle crime and the use of vehicles for criminal activity.

The increase in the quantity and performance of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR/ALPR) cameras strongly reinforces the important role of the vehicle license plate, which is considered the identity card of not just the vehicle but also its owner or user.

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Changing times

For more than a century, virtually since the invention of the car itself, the technologies used to produce and process vehicle license plates evolved very little. Mechanical embossing and hot stamping or paint rolling have been the norm for decades. Although reliable, these heavy and mechanical production methods are difficult to integrate into an increasingly digital world.

Hills, an international group with more than 90 years of experience in producing vehicle license plates, has developed a suite of solutions and holds numerous patents in this field.

Hills Group is one of the world’s leading providers of vehicle registration solutions and offers all license plate technologies.

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Above: The smart hybrid plate contains security features on an aluminium substrate, with the registration number printed on the back of a transparent film

The smart aluminum license plate, named Metatek in the UK, is a unique concept – a ‘hybrid plate’, which combines the strength of a traditional aluminum substrate with the ease of customization and securitization of a digitally printed license plate during the final stages of processing.

For decades, technological limitations have meant that adding any security features to the vehicle license plate has had to be done at the factory, on the primary production line. The smart hybrid plate makes it possible to incorporate dedicated security elements during the last phase of the official registration process, even on-site, logging the information to the database of any authorized entity in real time, be it police, insurance or any other authorized body.

Smart specification

The smart hybrid plate consists of an aluminum substrate covered with a retroreflective film. This contains security features such as a logo, coat of arms, watermark, laser engraving, hologram, unique serial number and a transparent UV protected film.

The registration number is printed on the back of the transparent film,

| LICENSE PLATE SECURITY

at the beginning of the processing and it is during this process that it is Above: The license plate database phase, as well as the match between now possible to integrate additional is secure, yet the unique serial number of the configurable security features in accessible for any aluminum substrate, the data matrix connection with a dedicated relevant traffic code and the registration number at information system. For example, it is or legal body the end, all ensuring the accuracy possible to add an encrypted barcode, and validity of the information. a unique serial number, and a code Comprehensive digitalization of the place of registration of of the registration and security the vehicle license plate or process now make it possible even the time or code to update any authorized of the operator who database that belongs to registers the plate. any of the various services The printed film is concerned – such as then laminated onto the Number of license plates Hills internal affairs, legal or substrate by a dedicated insurance – which may device. An added Group produces each year, be further used by police advantage of this process having started in the services, toll companies and is that the registration business more than 90 statistical or revenue services. number and the security features are embedded in years ago the subsurface and therefore New solutions protected against any damage The Smart Aluminum License by the special UV transparent film.

Plate is setting itself apart from the traditional methods of production

30+ million

Clever security

with its futuristic digital features, while maintaining its strength and a robust nature. It offers the simplicity of adaptation and interface both for the operators and for the relevant authorities concerned, which can include the ministries of the interior, transport or finance.

To further enhance vehicle identification capabilities, customization can be provided at the same time and in unison with the production of a third license plate in the form of a secure holographic windshield sticker containing an RFID chip.

The complete package required for the smart hybrid plate requires a smaller surface and a moderate investment compared to traditional equipment used for embossed vehicle license plates. Hills Group offers security features to meet all the requirements of the authorities. â–

On top of that, Faab Fabricauto, part of Hills Group, has created and developed the Smart License Plate Centre, which offers its customers the possibility of complete automation and securitization of their production of vehicle license plates.

The Smart License Plate Centre is equipped with readers that check the unique serial number of the smart aluminium license plate Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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MOBILE WEIGHING |

A new perspective Discreet and accurate weight-in-motion systems are an essential investment to maintain and improve safety for road users Words | Daniel Kneubühl, Haenni, Switzerland

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xperts estimate that there are around 1.3 billion vehicles circulating in the world. This number continues to grow at the astonishing rate of doubling every 20 years. The traffic congestion – in addition to other factors such as the continued increase in commerce – makes the transport industry very competitive. To make business more profitable, many trucks drive overloaded these days. With this outlook, conserving and protecting the road network is a challenge for any country.

Fortunately, the breadth of products on offer in the sector of weight enforcement has also developed quickly. From static weighing bridges to high-speed weight-in-motion (HSWIM) systems, the variety of products, configurations, technology and applications is expansive. To find the best solution among this wide range of options can be very challenging.

Making a selection

Monitoring the weight of heavy vehicles on the spot eliminates the risk of bypassing. Assuming that mobile controls are more effective than stationary systems, what should customers look for in a mobile weighing system?

As a law enforcement tool, it must be reliable to avoid challenges in court. The weight of the instrument is another important factor. Spending the day outside in unfavorable weather conditions and dealing with people who do not want to cooperate is already a difficult job, so the equipment must be light and easy to handle to guarantee its portability.

The system’s low profile is also of utmost importance. It reduces the length of leveling material according to the rule of a length of 200 times the height of the scale platform in order to avoid unfavorable inclination of the truck and related loading shifts of

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Above: Mobile weighing systems require a number of features including light weight, low profile, a large active surface and wireless connectivity, but above all they must be reliable to withstand legal challenges in court

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

the axle loads. Additionally, it avoids carrying additional accessories such as ramps. On the other hand, the scale must have a large active surface to accommodate double wheels and be robust enough for operating on a daily basis in harsh environments. It is preferable for there to be no cables and for it to be ready for use at any time in all weather conditions.

Unpredictable situations

Nevertheless, not everyone is aware of the importance of such details, or people simply underestimate such features until they experience the failure of an operation.

A bad choice of equipment can result in exasperating situations.

When the battery life of the scales depends on the temperature, the operation can be abruptly interrupted. In extreme cases – such as summer in many countries – the ground temperature can easily reach 40°C and many scales would not work properly in this sort of temperature.

At the other extreme, a display may be illegible if the temperature is

under -10°C, what it is quite often during the Canadian winter.

The road authorities in South America, Far East and Asia often catch trucks overloaded by up to 50%. If the scale has no overload protection, this would be the last truck measured in the day unless the patrol has a replacement system in the trunk of the car.

In the worst case, an indicted driver can challenge the results in court. The reliability of the weighing instrument will be the first thing to be investigated and it will fail if it does not comply with all requirements imposed by law.

Making a difference

There is no margin for error in terms of weighing performance, so accuracy is essential – almost taken for granted. The next goal, then, is to differentiate by creating valuable benefits that will make the lives of the officers as easy as possible.

However, the users are not the only ones who might have difficulties in choosing the best system option among a huge range of options. The

| MOBILE WEIGHING engineers also have a hard job to find the best technology for their creations. It is difficult to combine a low profile with robustness, light weight with a large surface area, wireless functionality and a backlight with long operation time or a large temperature range with certified accuracy.

This difficult task in the background is what makes the difference. Haenni Instruments develops and manufactures mobile wheel load scales, making use of value engineering. The Swiss manufacturer invests a lot to create not only longlasting products, but also enduring technology. The reliable hydraulic measuring system has been used over 45 years with the first mechanical scale WL 100 until the last developed static scale WL 108, without the need for big improvements. By keeping the measurement technology the same, the enhancement that is possible on peripherals is faster.

All Haenni scales weigh less than 20kg and are maximum 17mm high.

OIML, NIST and EU certified, they operate in a wide temperature scale ranging from -20 to +60°C. Their

durability means only minimum maintenance is required, and most components and the scales themselves are manufactured in Switzerland, where each detail is carefully controlled.

The biggest challenge is to reach in dynamic modus what is already achieved in static modus. It might

Above: Mobile weighing systems must be able to withstand extreme temperatures – and light weight is an added bonus in high temperatures

sound illusory when considering the accuracy due to the external factors that affect undoubtedly the results.

A lot of research goes into reducing the overall height, even though 17mm is state of the art at present.

Nevertheless, even a high-speed WIM sensor 11mm high might be feasible. n

Swiss Q ua

Pure Precision.

y lit

www.haenni-scales.com

Wheel Load Scale WL 400

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n Flexible application n Dynamic with an unlimited weight range n Light and thin for an unbeatable mobility n Absolutely Swiss innovation

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LIVE ANALYTICS |

Fully automated traffic data collection and analytics The my.swisstraffic platform offers engineers fully automated traffic video analytics they can rely on Words | Alain Bützberger, SWISSTRAFFIC AG, Switzerland

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raffic data collection and analytics is a fragmented market, and organizations don’t always know how and where to get the information they need. It is a common scenario in which traffic video collection is done in one place, traffic counting outsourced from another and advanced traffic micro-analyses performed ad-hoc by the traffic modelers themselves.

My.swisstraffic allows traffic engineers to extract accurate data from camera recordings made by of their own cameras and analyze it for the needs of their projects.

Video Insights is the first-ever solution to provide rapid one-hour delivery, unrivalled accuracy in all weather conditions and a rich set of analytical features that allow traffic managers to perform tasks that were previously unimaginable.

Above: The Video Insights package offers within one hour a vast array of analytical tools to help traffic managers make the right decisions based on realtime data Right: The my.swisstraffic platform allows for detailed object tracking of pedestrians as well as bicycles and vehicles

Extraction

My.swisstraffic extracts traffic data automatically from your videos with exact trajectories and behavior of eight classes of traffic that includes motorbikes, bicycles and even

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pedestrians. Shortly after, you can interactively search the data using the visual web dashboard.

Traffic data is the fuel of almost every traffic engineering process, with the top three drivers for engineers being to receive rich and accurate traffic data reliably under all conditions, getting the data rapidly without human effort and having the platform to analyze it.

Benefits

Some of the most important traffic metrics which users can analyze in my.swisstraffic’s platform include: 1. Exact vehicle trajectories

My.swisstraffic provides full vehicle and pedestrian trajectories with exact positions in time with a millisecond granularity. This is good not only for visual analytics but also as the

| LIVE ANALYTICS This is very important when analyzing waiting times at traffic lights or measuring the time spent on yielding at left turns.

5. Time gaps between vehicles

Time gaps, sometimes referred to as headway time, are very precious data to help understand traffic flow behavior, identify aggressive drivers and discover when the traffic is getting congested. My.swisstraffic provides time gaps for each individual vehicle on any of the custom traffic movements.

6. Jaywalkers and illegal maneuvers

Traffic analysts use my.swisstraffic’s visual dashboard with exact traffic trajectories to identify jay-walking pedestrians or illegal movements such as wrong-way passages.

7. U-turns and red-light running

high-quality baseline for the calculation of further metrics.

2. Origin-destination flow matrices

You can monitor any traffic movement defined by custom-drawn entry and exit areas regardless of the type of junction. It is possible to chain multiple detection areas to define even more complex traffic movements and scenarios.

3. Travel time and speed estimation

My.swisstraffic provides precise

travel-time information for each individual vehicle or pedestrian passing between various detection gates. This is valuable for calculating exact speed estimation and analysis of the vehicle acceleration rate between those points.

Above: A huge range of data can be gathered from any intersection, including vehicle speed, acceleration, waiting time, time spent yielding and illegal maneuvers

4. Delays and occupancy times

Left: My.swisstraffic combines excellent accuracy – up to 95% – of video traffic data collection for traffic counters with advanced traffic behavior analytics

You can analyze delays and time spent in the area for various traffic movements separately or all at once.

You can even filter and count traffic by specific time spent in the area.

In my.swisstraffic, U-turn is just another custom traffic movement that you can easily define on your intersection and monitor separately. Besides that, my.swisstraffic reports the lists of individual vehicle passages through the movement with exact entry and exit timestamps, allowing users to analyze that data together with signal-timing intervals, for example to identify illegal red-light runs.

8. Near-misses and accidents

Near misses in my.swisstraffic is soon to be one of the most comprehensive analytical features for traffic safety engineers. Currently under development, it will allow you to detect and find close calls at the push of a button, saving time on reviewing the video.

Users benefit from higher productivity and business throughput and lower operational costs, all with no deployment or maintenance costs. For traffic analysts, my.swisstraffic is the workspace where they will love to work. n

My.swisstraffic provides fully interactive data analytics with very high accuracy within one hour after video upload Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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WEIGH IN MOTION |

Certification for WIM Different situations require different scales and sensors for ensuring over-loaded vehicles are prevented from damaging public roads. OIML certification ensures the various systems are up to the required standard Words | Jon Arnold, Intercomp, USA

T

his past year has led to additional certifications for products manufactured by Intercomp. The USA-based company has offices in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, providing scales and sensors to their global customer base.

Manufacturing portable static and Weigh-In-Motion (WIM), and fixed WIM scales and sensors for a wide range of applications, Intercomp has made design of products which pass independent laboratory testing a priority over the past few years.

These certifications enable users to incorporate internationally certified products for direct enforcement, tolling by weight, pre-selection and screening for enforcement, as well as bridge and tunnel protection.

The products are developed around strain gauge load sensing, which is used in static truck weighing for direct enforcement and are viewed as the most accurate means to weigh a vehicle.

Intercomp utilizes the highly accurate technology which has been developed for WIM use at both low and high speeds. Strain gauge load sensing and its inherent performance characteristics include stability over time and during changes in temperature, which assists in the certification of scales and systems that incorporate the scales and sensors.

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Above: The low profile and lightweight LP788 Below: WIM strip sensors installed in the mainline

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

WIM strip sensors

Perhaps the most versatile weighing sensor to achieve the certification, Intercomp strip sensors obtained OIML R134 approval up to mainline speeds. OIML R134 is an international WIM standard which is widely accepted in many countries, and specific regional or national legislation typically refers to or reflects R134 performance and testing requirements.

Scales that are certified to this standard can then be used in a variety of applications that require these performance certifications.

Installed in pairs in the pavement, the strip sensors measure axle and gross vehicle weights as well as speed and axle spacing. Typical installations include 2-8 sensors in multiple rows of sensors depending

on the required accuracy, and are available to be integrated to a variety of different electronics and software.

Unique among these types of WIM sensors and scales, the strip sensors are certified to high speeds of 62 mph (100kmh) with two, three, and four rows of sensors.

Installation is achieved with small channels cut into the pavement, and the minimal sensor depth and form factor enables rapid installation in a vehicle lane in a single day.

The sensors have an operational speed range starting at 2mph (3km/h) ranging up to typical driving speeds that give increased operational speed capability for use in a variety of low, medium, and high speed weighing applications.

| WEIGH IN MOTION LS-WIM axle scales

The Intercomp LS-WIM axle scale performs highly accurate axle and gross vehicle weighing under 6mph (10km/h). This scale has been OIML R134 approved and is available for weight enforcement, low-speed weight screening, industrial check weighing, tolling (ETC) and automated gate systems.

Incorporating strain gauge technology as with the other scales and sensors, this scale is installed in a frame approximately 12in (315mm) deep, the scale covers the width of the lane.

In addition to the certification, one of the most interesting attributes of the LS-WIM axle scale is that it’s available with weighing platform sizes ranging from 10 ft (3m) up to 13 ft (4m) and 100,000 lb (45,000 kg) axle capacities. This wide weighing platform can accommodate wider vehicles and simplify the process for operators to direct vehicles across the scales.

OIML on the move

Portable scales using the same strain gauge technology meet both WIM

and static performance certification to meet OIML and other regional standards. Differing from the R134 standard, OIML R76 is the international standard applied when weighing vehicles statically.

Cutting edge low-profile strain gauge

Above: The LS-WIM scale is appropriate for low-speed applications

technology enables the LP788 wheel load scale to be single-person portable at 39 lb (17 kg), with a scale platform height of only 0.85 in (22mm). Deployed in sets of two or more scales for weighing in portable enforcement wherever vehicle weighing is required, the scales use solar charging and wirelessly communicate with indicators and software. The low profile makes it easier and safer for vehicles to climb onto the scales, now taking fully digital scale technology and integrating it into a highly portable scale. Already NTEP approved for enforcement use in the US, certification testing for OIML R76 static is expected before 2019 is over.

Distinctive among vehicle weighing device manufacturers, Intercomp has scale and sensor options for in-ground and portable WIM and static scales and sensors depending on the weighing requirements. Where regional or international certifications is required, Intercomp is providing performance tested and approved products to acquire vehicle and weight information. n

Innovating Weigh-In-Motion Technology Incorporating Strain-Gauge Accuracy & Stability

intercompcompany.com +1 763-476-2531 +44 118 932 0578

Worldwide UK

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TIRE SCREENING |

Automated tire safety Trucks with flat, missing or mismatched tires can be taken off the road thanks to new safety screening technology Words | IRD (International Road Dynamics), Canada

H

ow safe would you feel if a 35-ton vehicle with a flat or missing tire were hurtling down the road right next to your family’s car?

Unfortunately, this situation happens more often than you might think.

Commercial vehicle inspectors in the US find tire problems that are severe enough to place trucks out of service in 2% of their inspections.

With an estimated 130 million trucks on the road nationwide, there are potentially millions of trucks with tire problems that go unnoticed on the road every day. Unfortunately, tires have become the most frequent vehicle-related factor in fatal crashes.

IRD has developed an automated screening system to help identify commercial vehicles that have tire problems and direct them to inspection facilities. The Tire

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Above: IRD’s Tire Anomaly and Classification System – or TACS – uses tire sensors to warn of potential problems on commercial vehicles

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Anomaly and Classification System (TACS) makes use of data from IRD’s VectorSense tire sensors to identify vehicles with flat, missing or mismatched tires. The system works at highway speeds of up to 160km/h, but can also be installed in speedrestricted zones, such as on a weighstation ramp. There have already been a number of successful TACS installations in the US and Europe.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Illinois State Police (ISP) have implemented a screening program using TACS at weigh station facilities throughout the state. In Illinois, the VectorSense sensors are installed on ramps approaching weigh-station facilities. Inspectors are sent alerts for vehicles with identified tire anomalies. TACS is integrated with the weigh-station operator

software, so the problem tires are also indicated on graphical representations of the vehicles’ axles on the inspectors’ computer displays.

Further inspection

At the station, inspectors verify the tire problems and commercial vehicles with flat tires can be placed out of service. The drivers are required to fix tire problems before leaving the inspection station.

Over the first eight months of TACS implementation, ISP has used the technology to detect more than 5,000 suspect trucks that were sent to the report lane for further inspection.

Seamless integration with existing weigh-in-motion systems made it easy to onboard TACS without disrupting established inspection processes. Illinois has found TACS

| TIRE SCREENING

41%

The proportion of incidents involving trucks that were the result of tire problems in the Netherlands in May 2018

to be one of the most effective technologies for commercial vehicle safety screening, because the system provides accurate results that are verified by vehicle inspections and lead to placing unsafe vehicles out of service.

European experience

Of course, the US is not the only part of the world that experiences problems with truck tire safety. In May 2018, an analysis was performed by a government/private industry organization in the Netherlands on incidents – such as breakdowns and accidents – involving trucks. The results of the analysis showed that the share of breakdowns due to flat tire or blowout was 41% of the cases recorded. It was determined that it would be a major contribution to road safety, traffic flow and

fuel savings in the Netherlands if a technology could reduce the number of accidents caused by underinflated tires and blowouts.

In response, IRD was contracted to install TACS near Rotterdam in mid2018. The Netherlands system detects tire anomalies including low air pressure and flat tires or potentially unsafe tires on trucks. This system is installed on the main traffic lane and monitors tires at highway speeds. A custom interface for viewing TACS data was developed for the project.

As with IRD’s standard TACS interface, tire anomalies were flagged in red for users.

Instead of being used for enforcement, this system contributes to raising awareness of tire problems.

When tire anomalies are identified, the transportation company is notified to make them aware

Above: VectorSense tire sensors can take readings from vehicles moving at up to 160km/h

and so that they can take action by contacting the driver, for instance, so that the problem can be repaired.

Future of screening

IRD sees infrastructure to vehicle (I2V) applications as the logical next step. Tire safety screening systems are already being developed to add wireless communications to TACS to immediately and automatically inform trucks with tire anomalies of their potentially unsafe condition.

Communication may include roadside messaging via variable message signs, wireless in-vehicle notification or standardized data formats compatible with various systems. The enhanced TACS system will facilitate quicker corrective action, thus improving road safety and decreasing the potential of traffic flow disruption. ■ Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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HIGH-SPEED RECOGNITION |

Identifying at speed Digital number plates increase security, says Tönnjes Words | Carsten Eicke, Tönnjes, Germany

I

n March 2019, German solution provider Tönnjes debuted a brand-new system for electronic vehicle identification (EVI). The company presented its innovation to customers and public officials from more than 30 countries at a performance test at the Sachsenring motor racing circuit – and surpassed previous performance scores.

The RFID-based technology recognises and authenticates vehicles at a speed of up to 220km/h. This is made possible by the IDePlate and IDeStix systems developed

by Tönnjes.

IDePlate is a number plate with an integrated, passive Rain RFID chip (Ucode DNA) while IDeStix is a holographic windscreen sticker also equipped with a Ucode DNA chip.

Unique IDs

Both contain a unique, multiencrypted identification number that can only be deciphered by authorised scanning devices. If the number is matched with a government database, it can reveal additional information

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about the vehicle. Together, IDePlate and IDeStix comprise the IDePlate System, guaranteeing the highest level of security for reliable vehicle information in both stationary and moving traffic. Tönnjes worked with two different companies on development: NXP Semiconductors, which designed the Ucode DNA chip – the RFID chip inside the IDePlate – and the high-frequency expert Kathrein, which provided the scanning devices.

Demo run

Sachsenring circuit was selected as the venue for the demonstration of the IDePlate System under the most realistic conditions possible.

Around 90 participants watched as several passenger cars, trucks and motorcycles simulated different traffic scenarios captured via a scanning device and camera mounted on two road bridges.

“Whereas camera-based systems securely identify only 65 to 70% of vehicles in poor weather conditions and low visibility, the combination

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Above: This was no ordinary testing ground – Tönnjes’ new RFID-based vehicle identification technology was demonstrated at the Saschenring circuit at 220km/h

of IDePlate and IDeStix scores around 99%,” says Tönnjes director Jochen Betz.

With the help of IDePlate and IDeStix, public authorities can determine in a contactless manner whether a number plate really belongs to a vehicle or whether it may have been manipulated.

“By improving both hardware and software, it is now possible to authenticate even at very high driving speeds,” Betz says. “This was especially noticeable for the

| HIGH-SPEED RECOGNITION

authorities is the core mission of motorcycles. With our IDeStix Tönnjes. To do so, the company headlamp tag – a sticker for the has digitalised the number plate. headlight with an integrated “The automatic and Rain RFID chip – the contactless identification identification rate rises and authentication via even higher thanks electromagnetic to the fact that it waves allows for is now also the protection of recognisable the individual from the front. vehicle and also This is where Where camera-based makes possible completely traffic control camera-based systems identify only 65-70% systems, access models fail as of vehicles in poor weather controls in motorcycles conditions, the Tönnjes environmental usually do not zones or the control have a number solution scores 99% of traffic light plate on the front.” systems from a single medium,” says Betz.

On a mission “More than a billion Giving vehicles around the motorised vehicles are now globe an identity and creating operational throughout the a system between drivers and

99%

Above: Tönnjes’ IDePlate raises the bar for high-speed EVI, but it can also be used in car parks, on toll roads and for fleet management

world and the number is still rising.

Our system offers an integrated approach to managing this number in respect to identification, authentication and security.”

Tönnjes’ state-of-the-art products are in use around the world and can be custom-tailored to countryspecific requirements. That is why representatives from Europe, Africa, Asia and South America visited the event at the Sachsenring to take a personal look at the new Germanmade technology.

The IDePlate System is suitable for a whole range of additional applications such as automatic entrance and exit driveways, car parks, toll systems or fleet management – contactless and in moving traffic.

“A South African visitor was looking for a solution to help him prevent the misuse of petrol cards,” says Betz. “If his company vehicles could refuel using the Rain RFID chip, it would only be the company’s own cars that would be refuelled.

With the IDePlate and the IDeStix, cases of misuse like this can be avoided easily.”

First and foremost, the IDePlate system provides added security and is capable of significantly reducing the misuse and manipulation of number plates. Unauthorised passenger cars, trucks or motorcycles that remain anonymous through the use of stolen number plates not only pose additional danger to the public, but are also a burden on the state by foregoing tax. ■

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ARTIFICIAL VISION |

Technology trends Artificial vision is revolutionizing the way traffic is managed around the world Words | Lector Vision, Spain

T

oday’s world is undergoing unprecedented change thanks to the common disruptor that is technology.

In this context of rapid evolution, an important area of technological development is that of trying to imitate the processing of human thought, giving rise to what is commonly known as artificial intelligence.

Two fundamental challenges arise in this field: the structuring of autonomous learning and the acquisition and processing of both structured and unstructured data.

In particular, the human brain’s ability to obtain images, process them, cover spaces and interpret is one of the most complex.

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Above: Lector Vision technology is being used to monitor traffic flow, vehicle speed and incidents on the roads in several countries

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Artificial vision is the branch of application of artificial intelligence that detects faults, identifies elements, contextualizes environments and draws conclusions using an image obtained by a capture device such as a camera. The images obtained can be static or dynamic and are treated as a set of static images and analyzed individually as a sequence. This processing allows decision-making based on visual observation, a capacity that was until recently confined to human beings.

Digital approach

Several factors have contributed to artificial vision undergoing an exponential evolution, which has become an important part

of the digital transformation of various sectors.

The rapid evolution of hardware has allowed access to devices with greater computing capacity and better specifications, as well as smaller size and lower power consumption. This means solutions that previously impossible can now be implemented.

Within the field of cameras, sensors have also improved specifications such as resolution, accuracy and speed of response, as well as increasing their control over environmental factors and their adaptability to them including adjustment to the amount of light.

However, the cost of some devices has led to cheaper and more flexible alternatives being explored, boosting

| ARTIFICIAL VISION the development of artificial vision techniques in digital imaging.

Reinforced by new algorithms, the processing capacity of devices has evolved, and this has given rise to more complex methods such as machine learning or deep learning that have greater capabilities and enhanced features.

It is in this context that Lector Vision’s Smart Traffic Manager Suite (STMS) has been developed. STMS is a unique all-in-one automatic vehicle recognition system that comprises advanced traffic sensors based on artificial vision and a control center that allows the analysis of data in real time.

STMS incorporates innovative technologies such as big data, deep learning and neural networks with various artificial vision solutions applied to traffic and mobility, giving rise to a system that responds to a real market need associated with the smart city concept and integrated traffic management.

Lector Vision’s STMS solution consists of the combination of the Advanced Smart Multi-Purpose Traffic Sensor (ASMPTS) with

Right: Lector Vision the STCC software. ASMPTS has developed a is an advanced traffic sensor that package that uses combines radically innovative artificial intelligence technologies based on the latest to integrate a range generation of artificial vision devices. of functions that can identify vehicles The device integrates multiple and manage data functionalities such as number plate in real time reading, detection of vehicles without number plates, instantaneous speed measurement, recognition of the communications system. The Smart type of vehicle, its make, model and Traffic Command Centre allows all color, or the delimitation of areas of the information generated by the interest. In addition, it incorporates sensors to be gathered and managed, fingerprint technology that, using applying advanced processing information other than the number techniques that allow active plate, is able to associate each control of the environment. vehicle with identifying The system obtains characteristics that make multiple data such as it unique. traffic flows, average or The incorporation instantaneous speed and of these advances in disruptions, allowing convolutional neural Lector Vision’s Advanced incidents to be detected networks and capsule in real time, alerts to be networks into artificial Smart Multi-Purpose Traffic generated, models created vision software gives it Sensor uses artificial vision and early actions to be a significant qualitative to obtain big data carried out automatically. edge over other solutions Big data, machine learning on the market. and data mining techniques The hardware consists of also allow predictive analysis two synchronized image sensors, of the different variables. ■ an industrial processing unit and a

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ASMPTS

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EFFICIENT WEIGH-IN-MOTION |

Effective charging for overloaded vehicles Turkey has turned to weigh-in-motion technology to improve the safety and efficiency of its roads Words | Kistler, Switzerland

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ncreased road safety is a goal for countries around the globe. With this in mind, Turkey’s General Directorate of Highways of Turkey (KGM) decided to implement a weight enforcement system on its roads. During an initial testing phase, Kistler’s weigh-in-motion (WIM) system was installed at a trial site by system integrator Mosaş Group. Backed by support from a team of Swiss specialists, Kistler’s system is able to deliver reliable measurement data.

Turkey’s KGM is keen to improve the condition of the country’s roads.

In 2016, there were 7,300 fatalities on Turkish roads according to the global status report on road safety 2018 produced by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Although road deaths in Turkey have decreased steadily to an average of 8.9 per 100,000 people of the population in the last decade, this figure is more than twice as high as in central European countries. In each year during the same period, KGM had to invest double the budgeted amount to maintain the nation’s road network.

As well as controlling regular traffic, Turkey’s local authorities are responsible for overseeing freight transport. They saw that a weight enforcement routine was necessary to reduce the number of accidents and to limit wear and tear on the infrastructure. To achieve these goals, around 100 weighing stations were installed all over the country.

Every truck passing a station had to stop and wait until its weight was measured and approved.

There was no doubt that this process was necessary,

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| Need to know • Turkey’s General Directorate of Highways of Turkey (KGM) decided to implement a weight enforcement system on its roads to improve road safety • Around 100 weighing stations were installed in Turkey so every truck passing a station had to stop and wait until its weight was measured and approved • The complete WIM system installed near the Akıncılar toll plaza includes Kistler Lineas 9195G quartz sensors and the WIM 5204A data logger

Above: The complete WIM system near the Akıncılar toll plaza leading into Ankara features Kistler Lineas 9195G quartz sensors and the WIM 5204A data logger

but subsequent events soon made it clear that there was also potential for optimization. Traffic was slowed down dramatically because every truck had to stop at the weighing stations. Long queues developed, causing even more potential hazards on the highways. In addition to this, the weighing stations proved to have relatively short lifetimes because of the huge numbers of vehicles using them.

Preselection with WIM

KGM now aims to improve this situation by implementing a preselection routine. It plans to install WIM sensors that measure the weight of vehicles as they drive over them, generating data for this preselection. In the future, trucks will only have to enter the weighing stations if they are above the weight limit. Fewer lorries will pass through the weighing stations, so traffic will flow more freely.

To prove the theory right, KGM invited various providers to take part in a test phase. Participants included the Mosaş Group, a Turkish company with over 100 employees and more than 20 years of experience

| EFFICIENT WEIGH-IN-MOTION

components deliver high-precision and knowledge in the sector. measurements throughout long The specialists at Mosaş provide service lifetimes. highly reliable technology Installation of the and engineering services Lineas WIM sensors in with the focus on road and the road pavement is fast railway signaling systems, and straightforward. Two intelligent transportation The increase in maximum sensors were installed in systems, vehicle scales, deviation recorded by the a staggered layout on weight measurement and each of the two lanes. size control systems, Kistler WIM system – well After several runs with as well as all of the below the required a calibration truck, a related software. standard of 10% maximum deviation of an Mosaş set out in search increase of 2.3% was recorded. of a reliable solution from This was far below the required an experienced partner. It deviation of a 10% increase stated in achieved both objectives when it KGM’s specifications. Further tests found Kistler and its WIM system.

Above: Installation The project initiated a fruitful of the WIM system exchange between the two companies has been quick that soon led to close cooperation. and easy thanks to

2.3%

Accurate weight measurements

To evaluate the participating providers, KGM set up several test sites near existing weighing stations.

The location assigned to the Mosaş Group is about 1.5km (1 mile) from the Akıncılar toll plaza on one of the main highways leading into Ankara, the Turkish capital.

The complete WIM system includes Kistler Lineas 9195G quartz sensors and the WIM 5204A data logger. These rugged system

the collaboration between Kistler and the Mosaș Group

with different vehicle classes are currently in progress.

Project support

Kistler specialists were on site to train the integrator on the WIM system6. The local authorities will be visiting the site to check the systems.

If KGM accepts this pre-selection method, a business plan will be drawn up to increase the budget.

If all the requirements are met, the Ministry will decide to install WIM at all weighing stations. This is a crucial step that will help to protect Turkey’s highway infrastructure and improve safety on the nation’s roads. ■

Lineas quartz sensor for weigh-in-motion (WIM) Lineas quartz sensors are used to measure wheel and axle loads and to determine gross vehicle weights while traffic is flowing. The sensor is installed in the pavement and the measurement signals it provides are highly accurate.

The quartz technology has high measurement accuracy

and long-term stability; it is compliant with OIML R134 (accuracy class D2); it has a rugged sensor design for long-term durability and a wide measuring range; it offers low to high-speed weighing; it is insensitive to temperature fluctuations; and installation in the pavement is both fast and easy.

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AI CAMERAS |

Traffic imaging with AI

through each image it captures and find what is of interest to the end user. With vehicle detection (VDET) and automated license plate recognition (ALPR), the camera can deliver the license plate data without all of the other unnecessary image data that would normally clog up a network. To reach this goal, AI must evolve to The Teledyne Lumenera a level where it can make these decisions without Ls245R camera narrows being instructed.

Integrating artificial intelligence into traffic cameras streamlines image processing and boosts the accuracy of vehicle detection

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Words | Teledyne Lumenera, Canada

hat makes a camera intelligent? For the Teledyne Lumenera Ls245R traffic camera, artificial intelligence (AI) means simplifying image analysis. By moving away from the notion that a camera is meant to only deliver images and then bringing the processing power to the camera, AI opens the door for new opportunities to accelerate vision technology within the traffic industry.

AI traffic cameras

The goal of implementing AI with a traffic camera is to enable the camera to streamline image processing. In order to effectively process the data coming into the device, it is critical to have a proper understanding of what is being imaged. In the case of traffic imaging, the main area of interest is vehicles. For example, when observing a toll route entrance on the highway or a red light at an

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intersection, the main subject in any of these environments is a vehicle. The camera must capture an image of every passing vehicle to effectively monitor these environments.

In software, the term for understanding the the ‘region of interest’ environment in which a to effectively extract device operates is domain Neural networks knowledge. For traffic The primary piece in the AI the license plate imaging, the domain puzzle is the neural network. knowledge refers to vehicles Unlike traditional machineand their surroundings. How learning software that requires a well an AI can distinguish a car or strict structure to make use of data, truck from the road or a stop sign a neural network uses many layers shows its ability to sort through the of interconnected data to better information coming from the camera process information. The first thing sensor. This way, the camera can sort to understand with how a neural Above: Artificial intelligence in through and check each image that network operates is the difference traffic cameras comes in, ensuring that any vehicle between training and inference. streamlines passing by is detected and the license Training a neural network means the process of plate can be recognized. putting it through a test and then sorting through By understanding the traffic grading it. This process is then large amounts environment, an AI camera can sort repeated over and over again and of information

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ROI

| AI CAMERAS

can take days, weeks, or even months, depending on the amount of data being used. During this training, the AI is repeatedly shown a set of images that it is asked to categorize.

In the case of traffic applications, the subject of these images would be vehicles and the AI is tested with a series of images where some do and some do not contain vehicles. The AI keeps running through these tests as it gets more and more familiar with each image and how they relate.

The AI has finished training once the tests results show that the set of images is consistently being categorized with the correct results.

At this point, it is time to take the AI out of training and begin working through new images.

Using inference, the AI can deduce if a vehicle is in an image because its neural network was developed to recognize what a vehicle looks like.

This is similar to how a person is able to recognize a new car after having already seen other cars throughout their lifetime.

Embedding the AI

Normally, a camera just captures an image that is then transferred and used elsewhere. The whole point of developing an AI to recognize different vehicles is to put that capability within the camera itself.

Instead of looking through all the images that would be sent over the network, the camera sorts through each frame and only keeps the

images with a vehicle and a clear license plate. By tracking a vehicle through each frame, the camera can compare and choose the image with the most in focus license plate characters. By paying attention to only the information that matters most, the Ls245R camera eliminates the need for the large bandwidth normally needed for sending image files over a network.

The built-in processing power of a camera with AI also enables a streamlined workflow. The image processing is done without the need for external components to the vision system. The device can use this

Above: The Teledyne Lumenera AI camera can extract license plate data and convert it into text data to save space on the back office network

image recognition to identify whether any of the images coming in actually contain a vehicle, track those to find the best result, and remove any that do not.

After the tracker finds the most in-focus image, the camera then narrows the region of interest (ROI) on the image and finds what is actually important. For ALPR, it begins with ensuring the camera spots a vehicle because the rest of the image is irrelevant. After that the ROI narrows even further to inspect just the license plate because the rest of the car does not provide any useful information.

Then, the ALPR efficiently works through a much smaller area and extracts the license plate data that was originally a piece of a large image file. Finally, the camera sends over this text data without flooding the network full of large files.

All-in-one solution

By utilizing the processing and imaging power of an AI traffic camera like the Ls245R, the result is an all- in-one-solution for affordable traffic imaging. Cameras no longer need to feed all their image data in order to be processed elsewhere, but instead only useful information will be extracted and processed using the camera itself. By having a device that captures images and provides analysis, it enables users to focus on other factors that can improve the application. n Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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URBAN APLR |

Covered with ALPR ALPR technology is evolving – and it is now being used in an increasing number of traffic applications Words | Injaas De Mul, Macq, Belgium

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ome innovative cities have already used smart technologies to boost the safety, mobility and quality of life of their citizens.

The exponential growth in fully automated and integrated automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) solutions for traffic management, area supervision and urban access control is key to this trend. From average speed measurements to red light enforcement and access control applications, ALPR has evolved for use in applications such as: counting;

Intertaffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

classifying and guiding vehicles; measuring transition times and flow density; creating origin-destination matrices for traffic analysis; detecting traffic jam formation; dynamic crossroad traffic regulation; smart parking guidance; low emission zones; and restricted area control.

A new offering

Integrating the latest cuttingedge technologies in the form of deep-learning-based algorithms, Macq’s CAM5 ALPR camera

Above: Macq’s CAM5 is designed to blend into the background

| URBAN APLR

delivers unprecedented license plate recognition capabilities. It has a unique set of functionalities specially designed to provide vehicle characterization. The CAM5 can operate across up to four lanes and is able to differentiate all kind of vehicles – among others, cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, bicycles and trams – objects and people. It also integrates a vehicle make and model recognition feature, as well as vehicle color identification.

The CAM5 camera is capable of calculating an instantaneous speed estimate for each vehicle traveling within its field of view. These features are of invaluable help when it comes to vehicle searches.

They also close the current gap between similar products on the market that usually rely on additional hardware or software.

The technology is embedded in a small, well-designed housing that discreetly blends into urban environments. The camera’s physical details have been carefully designed to facilitate its installation and deployment. A small motor in the support arm allows remote alignment,

removing the need for an aerial lift-truck during the mechanical installation process.

provides users with tailor-made applications that offer great flexibility in interfacing with third-party systems through a wide range of popular web services (for example Software suite Pronounced ‘M-cube’, Macq’s Google Maps). As such, The use of highMacq can make data performance cameras modular platform provides available online in real is an important part of tailor-made apps and time, while remaining the solution, but it is adaptability for managing discreet and respecting even more important to large ALPR networks all stakeholders’ privacy. have a suitable processing In addition to tailoring platform, capable of taking this powerful tool to meet the advantage of this huge exact needs of its clients, Macq has collection of data and opened a back office and helpdesk transforming it into useful to provide licenses to all experts that information for end users. want to use and adapt it further. Such That is why Macq, in addition experts include universities, mobility to its high-resolution ALPR camera engineering companies, traffic products, has developed the M3 analysts, technology partners platform (pronounced ‘M-cube’) and private programmers.

– a truly innovative concept for Community members managing large ALPR databases. typically share their knowledge The modular M3 suite can very (open innovation), develop new easily be adapted, tailored and functionalities, and/or design their upgraded to all current and future own applications (modules) to be able needs of the most demanding to combine their own real-time data customers in the field. Via the with Macq’s ALPR data and the data integrated M3 toolbox, Macq provides of already integrated third parties its customers with fully modular (such as Google Maps). ■ and adaptable functionality and

M3

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CONTROL SCREENS |

Control rooms of the future

Despite the capabilities of artificial intelligence expanding at a rate no one could have predicted, human operators still have an important role to play Words | Peter van Dijk, Mitsubishi Electric Europe, United Kingdom

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ith the growth of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), it may be tempting to believe the human-staffed traffic management control room to be well on its way to obsolescence. But while it’s certainly true that technology is driving some profound changes in the way that control rooms and their supporting infrastructure are built and operated, it’s equally true to say – and with a high degree of certainty – that the most powerful piece of control room technology is the alert and observant human operator.

Traffic management, and in particular the management of traffic incidents, requires effective real-time intelligence gathering from multiple sources and the balancing of many, often conflicting, priorities. One day, there may be computers capable of managing such feats but that day is still a long way off, placing the emphasis of effective contemporary control room design still very firmly in the human realm.

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Above: Big-screen displays are still central to the role of the control room.

The challenge today is to ensure that operators are empowered, not over-powered, by the data available to them

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Smooth operators

Visual acuity is one of humankind’s greatest assets, with the largest parts of our brains devoted to the processing and derivation of meaning from the visual signals received through our eyes. It is not surprising, then, that control rooms tend to be designed around the easy availability of visual information.

For many decades, the main direction of technological advance in control room design has been towards enhancing the ability of human operators to ‘see’ situations on the ground in ever-greater detail.

As in computers, it’s often necessary to split the task of processing across many agents, which in this case are human operators. This parallel processing requires all operators to be able to access the same intelligence at the same time, hence the central role of the big screen video wall that is still the most effective method of achieving this synchronicity.

Control room display technology is therefore crucial and advancing in

two main areas: the clarity and resolution of the display hardware itself and the ability to effectively manage ever-greater volumes of data so human operators are empowered – not over-powered – by it.

It is not now uncommon for control rooms to be at the center of a network on many thousands of cameras and other devices such as flow monitors. Managing these manually would be an almost impossible task. Consequently, systems are increasingly employing camera networks based around a mixture of conventional and machine vision technologies, using AI to recognize potential problems such as slowing traffic, vehicles moving in unexpected ways or the suspicious behavior of individuals.

If a situation is detected, not only does the system alert the operators, but the video wall screen controller automatically changes the video wall format to focus on the relevant camera feeds and any related data sources. In some applications, AIassisted visualization has enabled dispatchers to respond on average 10 times faster to incidents.

Increasingly complex camera and sensor networks present another

| CONTROL SCREENS

130,000

The number of continuous hours – equivalent to 15 years – that Mitsubishi DLP projectors can run for

problem – that of system scalability.

How to ensure the visualisation system can cope not only with today’s challenges but tomorrow’s as well? The traditional approach of a hardware-based screen controller and downstream switchers has become increasingly outpaced by the requirement for open-ended versatility. Control room installations have a typical life expectancy of 15-20 years, and it’s certain that within that timeframe the pace of technological development will have rendered components of that system obsolete or inadequate for the task.

To mitigate that risk, a new generation of screen content systems is becoming more prevalent. Instead of a single hardware-based controller, the system borrows techniques from the world of cloud computing to create an amorphous virtual processor that can change and adapt to the demands placed upon it.

Mitsubishi Electric’s S-SF suite is one such example. The suite consists of five software platforms, designed to run on PCs or dedicated microcomputers called NUCs. The individual components of the S-SF network work together to share and deploy their collective processing

power as needed. Should greater processing be required – for example if a detailed vector graphic needs to be scaled-up to fill the video wall screen – extra processing power is dynamically assigned. With the number of inputs not now defined by hardware, it has become possible to accommodate the addition of IP data sources. Processing power can be increased as required by the addition of more NUCs to the network.

The final link in the interface between network and operator is the display technology itself. For many years now, digital light processing (DLP) technology has been the dominant force in large-scale installations, with smaller or less demanding applications delivered using tiled LCD displays. DLP has proved itself to be a robust and reliable technology, and with the advent of LED-powered projection, one with a long operational lifespan.

Some Mitsubishi Electric DLP projectors, for example, are now rated to run continuously for 130,000 hours, which is around 15 years of 24/7, maintenance-free operation.

However, DLP has its limitations, particularly in applications requiring very large screens where it becomes increasingly expensive and difficult to achieve acceptable brightness levels.

Screen time

Direct-view LED screens are becoming an increasingly popular alternative in these applications.

These employ a similar technology to the large outdoor screens seen in sports stadiums, but with vastly miniaturized pixel pitches to achieve the required resolution and viewing distances required for indoor use. As an emissive display technology, LED is able to achieve a constant level of light output no matter how large the screen. Mitsubishi Electric recently

Above: Mitsubishi Electric’s S-SF suite consists of five software platforms that work together to share and deploy processing power as needed, making control rooms more flexible

installed a very large 1.5mm pixel pitch direct-view LED screen in the new Metropolitan Police headquarters in Tokyo.

Direct-view LED screen installations such as these are still comparatively rare, however. Cost is one factor, and another is the relative infancy of the technology. There are only a handful of professional-grade direct-view LED screens available.

Even Mitsubishi Electric, which has over 30 years experience in outdoor LED displays, took many years to overcome the technical challenges of ensuring the screen stability and longevity required by 24/7 applications such as control rooms.

A new twist

LCD is another technology being repurposed for the demands of 21st century control room applications.

LCD has for many years played a supporting role to DLP technology, being reserved mainly for smaller rooms or breakout suites due to its limited ability to operate round-theclock in some applications and the obtrusive mullions between the individual tiles in an LCD video wall that could prove distracting for operators.

While the limitations on 24/7 operation are still present, a new generation of LCD displays with extremely thin bezels is providing an attractive alternative to smaller DLP systems. With the gap between screens greatly reduced – down to 0.8mm in the case of the Mitsubishi 4Diamond Grid Razor display – it’s possible to achieve an almost seamless image in a very much smaller footprint and at a greatly reduced cost.

LCD displays are now readily available in larger formats, and are increasingly being used not for display purposes but as mini video walls or workstations. These mirror the content of the main video wall to allow operators to manipulate content directly using touchscreen technology.

In conclusion, while the topic of AI is certainly engaging a lot of interest in the many areas of technological development, within the world of the control room, the focus remains very much on supporting the role of the human operator. For now at least, organic rather than artificial intelligence remains the core technology behind traffic management networks. ■

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IMAGE PROCESSING |

The power of edge computing and image analysis Extensive amounts of valuable vehicle information are being collected and processed thanks to smart software and algorithms that are aiding traffic managers

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Words | Ian Robinson, Pumatronix, Brazil

hat can you see in the image to the left? For many people it’s just vehicles, but for ITS system operators it’s an opportunity to learn a little more about traffic and even about the vehicles themselves.

Specialized algorithms can ‘read’ the information of how many vehicles are present in the image, the category of each vehicle (motorcycle, bus, truck, car and others), their estimated speeds at the time of registration, how long they have been occupying the road, identify the license plate, get the digital signature and other information.

Capturing all this information is only possible thanks to advanced algorithms that are increasingly efficient. The efficiency comes from carrying out various calculations and comparative analysis in fractions of seconds. It may seem strange, but software can be improved to identify everything in the image. The key techniques for this intensive process are through developmental methods based on artificial intelligence and machine learning, terms you may have read in technical specifications and articles, and mainly related to programs that run in data center environments with multiple powerful computers and servers.

Above: Smart ITS systems can pick up valuable data from flowing traffic

Technological developments

Technological advances are not only present in software and algorithms, but also in the processing capacity of machines and computers.

This is the case of cameras, which in many cases capture and record photos and videos, but also real-time image processing.

This means that while images are being recorded, information is being

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extracted and stored in a structured local database to be shared with other systems that can generate alerts, reports and traffic analysis behavior. It is in this scenario that the concept of edge computation arises, giving more power to the equipment installed in the field (edge) and efficiently using the means of communication (fiber optics, cellular communication, radio links, among others). Edge processing still has other advantages such as: • Distributing processing to reduce server infrastructure costs; • Better use of communication

bandwidth by transmitting processed data instead of image streams; • Decentralize processing by making solutions less dependent on a single infrastructure (Data Center); • Scalability of projects focusing investment only on new monitoring points and not on BackOffice; • Cadence the sending of data according to the availability of applications; • Relocate equipment between projects as needed;

| IMAGE PROCESSING

Traffic analysis

By combining image processing software and libraries with high processing power equipment, smart cameras, and utilizing the edge processing concept, highly efficient solutions can be delivered to the market which in many cases make it possible to reduce installation costs by 30%. In the installation of a vehicle

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monitoring point, for example, instead of cutting the asphalt for installation of inductive loops we can do the vehicle detection and information extraction only by the image. This simple change of technology will prevent problems arising once on the road, such as the need for increased maintenance. Another possibility is the use of non-intrusive sensors, such

Above: Algorithms can recognize different vehicle types

as lasers, but still come with a high cost and their use becomes another piece of equipment that can be damaged or made faulty.

Having a single device with the ability to record, process, detect, qualify, store and transmit enables you to explore new applications and analyze data at the speed at which it is generated. n

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CYCLING MANAGEMENT |

Making cities more livable

As the use of the humble bicycle soars in popularity as a means of daily transport, the right infrastructure and technology needs to be put in place on roads around the world Words | Richard Neumann, Swarco, Austria

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he ongoing urbanization of our globe challenges politicians, city authorities and traffic planners to fight congestion, keep traffic in motion and reduce emissions such as CO2 and NOx to a minimum. Growing traffic volumes on the one hand and the need for better air quality, less noise pollution and smoother traffic flows on the other are making many cities rethink the way they organize everyday mobility.

Pushing back the use of cars and incentivizing the use of public transport is one solution, but these days traffic modes such as walking, cycling or using an e-scooter move more and more into the focus of city traffic management.

These micro-mobility scenarios have advantages and disadvantages.

Firstly, these modes of transport all have an intelligent organization in common and their interaction can help make urban environments more livable. Independently of technical measures, the respectfulness of the

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Above: Giving cyclists dedicated lanes, a green wave at traffic lights and apps that improve safety are all initiatives that encourage more commuters onto bikes

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different modes towards each other is essential, and this is a task for all participants in traffic.

Cycling is a quick, efficient and environmentally friendly way to get around. Not only do cycle commuters improve their own health, but they also contribute to a better environment and the reduction of traffic congestion. Many cities are therefore prepared to invest in their cycle path networks and the relevant technological installations to promote cycling and trigger the motivation to change to this mode. In Germany’s Rhine-Ruhr area, entire long-distance bicycle highways are currently being implemented.

To motivate commuters to leave their cars at home and use their bicycles instead requires multiple initiatives. Even if environmental awareness and improved health are sufficiently good reasons, information and traffic safety are also very important factors to make more people choose the bicycle as a means of daily transport.

Let us illustrate the cycling topic by means of three examples from the cities of Oberhausen/Germany and Copenhagen and Odense in Denmark. In all three cases, Swarco has been the technology partner for quicker and more convenient bicycle traffic.

Green wave for bicycles

Equipping traffic lights with bicycle detectors enables cities to give green light priority to cyclists.

Consequently, they do not have to stop as often, get improved mobility and traffic safety, and an overall VIP feeling.

The city of Oberhausen in the Ruhr area has now decisively optimized its already well-developed network of cycle paths. With Swarco’s so-called Radwelle Oberhausen, cyclists now reach their destination even faster and safer. Well-marked cycle paths meander through the entire urban area of Oberhausen, so that every corner can be easily reached on two wheels. Nevertheless,

| CYCLING MANAGEMENT

buttons at intersections or frequent stopping and restarting. The system communicates with the adjacent intersections and traffic signals to ensure a perfect coordination with other road users and generate an ideal traffic flow.

The main advantages of the green wave for bicycles are a significant increase in the attractiveness of the cycling network. This results in a reduction of CO2 emissions, which in turn protects the environment and improves quality of life. An important side effect is how the shortened waiting times have also reduced the number of red light violations and thus improved general road safety. The green wave is visualized by LED lights fixed in the road surface, on posts or using countdown signals.

Above: In Odense, the people of Oberhausen preferred Denmark, the Bike to get into their cars or use public Prio app sends a transport. Why? Traffic lights were signal from the optimized for public transport, so user’s phone to the cyclists had to wait a long time. Those next set of traffic lights, which give waiting times had to be slashed to the cyclist priority make cycling more attractive and by turning green increase the number of people using bicycles. Swarco had already provided the traffic light systems for Oberhausen, so the necessary adaptations were feasible at low cost.

The main cycling route network of the city of Oberhausen covers 67km with a total of 191 traffic light systems. The aim was to The cycling app for green light increase convenience for The Danish city of Odense aims cyclists by giving them to promote itself as a bicyclepreference at those traffic friendly city. At present, lights. With the help tests are underway using of automatic detection Swarco’s new Bike Prio app – consisting of eight for cyclists, allowing for a The number of traffic thermal imaging quicker ride across the city. light systems in the German cameras and 11 When the cyclist has city of Oberhausen, all of induction loops Bike Prio installed on their – bicycle traffic is smartphone, they simply which now give cyclists accelerated by prehave to turn the app on and priority over motorists detecting cyclists. place the phone safely inside Detectors enable the pocket or bag. The app works intelligent control of signaling as a detector, sending a request to systems. This means that as soon the next traffic light when the cyclist as the cyclist approaches the traffic approaches the intersection. The light, it switches to green or – if it traffic light then switches to green, was already green – the phase is allowing the cyclists to move on extended. This keeps cycle traffic without stopping. flowing, saves cyclists energy and brings them faster, more comfortably Cyclemeter and safely to their destination. There Copenhagen is known as one of the is no more need for pressing push most bicycle-friendly cities in the

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world. Today, nine out of 10 Danes already own a bicycle, but only four in 10 own a car. In Denmark’s capital, cycling reached a new record in 2016.

Bicycles outnumbered cars in the city center by 265,700 to 252,600. At the same time, however, there is still great potential to make cycle paths safer and to expand them in order to make cycling even more attractive for commuters.

Swarco not only supplies highquality colored cycle path coatings with excellent skid resistance properties, but also supports cities such as Copenhagen in extending their infrastructure for two-wheelers.

One example of these innovative products is the Cyclemeter. Branded with the city’s logo, it informs cyclists about speed, temperature, time, passing bikes on that day, public announcements, train and bus schedules, events, and so on. By installing the device, a city can motivate cyclists, thank them for their contribution to environmental protection or show statistics. At the same time, the traffic authorities can get a detailed picture of bicycle traffic as it is already common practice in many cities today for cars.

Blind spot warning device

Denmark is also investing in warning signs that draw the attention of drivers to cyclists to prevent the high risk of accidents when cars turn right. In-road LEDs or LED variable message signs warn right-turning motorists that they have to cross a cycle path with cyclists maybe hidden in the blind spot or dead angle of their mirrors. When a cyclist is detected, the signs light up with a speed reduction message or a warning message. As soon as there are no more cyclists in the critical range, the lights or signs switch off automatically.

Bicycle data and web application The bicycle counts collected from devices such as cyclemeters, traffic controllers or separate measuring stations can be presented on the web or in apps to provide an overview of the city’s bicycle traffic in real time.

Historical data is stored in a central database, which provides access to valuable information for the city’s marketing, traffic planning and research 24 hours a day, all year round. ■

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SMART SENSORS |

Traffic monitoring in smart cities By using sensors and interfaces, systems used in speed enforcement can now offer much more to both road users and authorities

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Words | Jan Krüger, Vitronic, Germany

he topic of smart cities is widely discussed worldwide.

A total population of 5.2 billion live in the world’s cities today, and that number will grow by approximately one billion by the year 2030. This number is expected to equate to 60% of the world’s population. These people are consuming more and more resources – including air – within a comparatively small amount of space. That is why it is so important to keep the air we have clean.

We now must identify where there is an increased need for action and how smart ideas can be used to solve

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Above: Smart cities require smart traffic monitoring to help reduce congestion, lower pollution and plan future transport strategy

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these problems with the help of technology. One thing is sure: optimizing the traffic in cities is important and traffic monitoring systems can assist even today in more ways than one might think. Vitronic wants to help shape what this will look like in the future.

The term smart city comprises a cluster of topics that include, among others, the smart economy, smart people, smart governance, smart living, smart mobility and the smart environment. The smart city represents a huge growth market for companies, so it is no wonder that the smart economy is the nucleus of all

activities and the first sector to offer application scenarios.

The digitalization of the economy has advanced significantly. Terms such as big data, Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things and their applications point the way to an interconnected and digitized city.

Of course, they also impact the concept of mobility within the city and the environment as an important part of quality of life.

Smart mobility

The concept of smart mobility within the traffic infrastructure brings together technology and traffic monitoring. It focuses on using the already limited space – particularly in city centers – more efficiently to create a better living environment. Distributing traffic volume also benefits the environment.

Today, fixed, semi-stationary and mobile systems are used for speed enforcement. These are essentially image processing solutions used primarily to ensure better traffic safety and therefore improve the quality of city life.

However, systems from the Poliscan product portfolio do

| SMART SENSORS information, communication – and new sustainable business models for operating intelligent infrastructures.

Darmstadt’s infrastructure includes environmental monitoring stations to provide information about the quality of the air at the measurement site, as well as traffic monitoring systems – Poliscan City Housing – for speed enforcement and red light enforcement.

Vitronic is currently working on a case study entitled ‘Sustainable Traffic Area Management’ with soonto-be industrial engineers from the Darmstadt University of Applied Science. The study uses the data of existing enforcement infrastructure for traffic management, combined with environmental data.

6.2billion

Estimated population of the world’s cities by 2030, up from 5.2 billion now

More than just enforcement

more than measure excessive speeds, define vehicle classes, capture red light violations and ensure the correct use of lanes. They also gather additional current information about the configuration of the traffic flow.

In the past, vehicles in traffic were counted manually. A city employee would tally the number of vehicles that passed by on a standardized form, which was later placed in a file. Today this can be done digitally, whereby data is captured in real time and sent directly to administrators.

The data can be viewed by a city employee and then sent as statistical data to the responsible department.

This means that not only city administration employees can access and analyze the data, but so can other stakeholders interested in it. These stakeholders may want to create graphics for online media channels, develop a new traffic app, or optimize delivery routes.

Traffic monitoring systems can capture the flow of traffic in different lanes and in both driving directions.

One area of application in traffic monitoring in this context would be the interfacing with other traffic control systems. This might include communicating traffic congestion

and offering alternative routes. All of this information could also be provided by an app that sends the user up-to-date traffic information via push notifications.

Research projects

Sustainability and reducing our impact on the environment is also a focus when we talk about smart environment. The basis for many activities surrounding these concepts is laid out in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as defined by the UN member states.

These SDGs were created to promote sustainable developments in economic, social and ecological areas by 2030. In Germany, initiatives that address the concept known as the City of the Future are already underway.

As part of these initiatives, the Hessian city Darmstadt was named the model city for digitization. Goals these SDG initiatives intend to reach include a resource-optimized configuration of urban infrastructure systems, sustainable mobility and logistics concepts, the integration of existing public infrastructure elements in digital solutions – such as addressing security, protection,

Above: The Poliscan product range performs a variety of functions including speed infringements, red light violations and data gathering to help make cities smarter

The question now is to what extent the elements already integrated in the city’s infrastructure – such as environmental monitoring stations and speed enforcement systems – can play a part in supporting the SDG goals if they are used in a slightly different way than usual or if additional measures such as interface customization for information content are implemented in an operating mode that is used occasionally or temporarily.

Perhaps they could even be digitally connected. In particular, it means collecting and using traffic data captured at the sites where speed is enforced in an anonymous format so it can be used in traffic control and then linked to, for example, environmental data, to provide sustainable traffic area management that improves traffic flow in the city limits, reduces noise and air pollution, and therefore improves the quality of life.

The ongoing research project in Darmstadt will contribute to raising the potential of traffic monitoring solutions by collecting and analyzing traffic data. In this context, the use of additional interfaces and sensors creates added value that is achieved quickly and can bring more to the table if they are used in even more scenarios. With the infrastructure already there in the urban landscape they – like other similar elements such as city street lights – could serve as a Wi-Fi hotspot, for example.

Important prerequisites to operate this infrastructure, such as a power supply, are already in place. ■

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TRAFFIC MONITORING |

The power of real-time traffic data

Mexico City´s INFOVIAL real-time monitoring system enables the city to manage traffic in an efficient manner when unexpected traffic conditions occur Words | Gustavo de la Pena, Signal Group, United States

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exico City is one of the most populated metropolises in the world. The bustling capital and economic center of the country is home to more than 21 million inhabitants, and it is a city that has it all: culture, food, entertainment, sports and, of course, lots of traffic. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), a government agency providing statistical information in Mexico, the city had more than 5.8 million registered motor vehicles in 2018. In another report from 2018 by TomTom, Mexico City was ranked as the city with the

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Above: INFOVIAL is a real-time monitoring system developed by Signal Group that has allowed Mexico City to manage traffic in an efficient manner when unexpected conditions occur

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worst traffic congestion level in North America and ninth worldwide.

If you have ever been to Mexico City, you will have experience how bad traffic can be. It’s not uncommon to see street vendors walking through congested areas selling anything from snacks to phone cards. To make matters worse, Mexico City suffers a huge air pollution problem due to its geographic location and the volume of motor vehicles.

Inhabitants have adapted their way of life and they plan their days according to traffic. For example, a journey that would usually take 20 minutes might last more than two hours during rush hour. In

2013 the Costa Rican national soccer team got stuck in traffic and arrived 55 minutes late for a World Cup qualifier match, delaying the start of the game. Traffic accidents, construction, protests and special events are all commonplace. They all cost time and time is money. They also worsen the city’s air pollution problem. How does it overcome these unexpected traffic conditions? The city believes the answer is in realtime traffic data.

The Secretaría de Obras y Servicios del Gobierno de la Ciudad de México (Public Works Ministry) implemented a real-time highway information system in 2009 called

| TRAFFIC MONITORING monitored 24/7. TMC operators can then apply different strategies based on the current conditions and provide the driving public with alternate routes and information via the 70 VMS signs which are installed across the network.

Besides providing real-time data, INFOVIAL stores the data collected from the sensors and offers the agency historical information which allows the agency to create traffic studies for the development of future efficient traffic strategies.

Since its implementation, INFOVIAL has provided the Public Works Ministry with the following benefits:

software system integrating INFOVIAL. The system more than 340 traffic data was developed by sensors plus 70 variable Signal Group and message signs (VMS) provides the which communicate agency with via a 4G cellular real-time traffic network. The conditions for system collects 350km of major Vehicles registered in Mexico real-time data of roads in Mexico traffic conditions City, allowing City in 2018 – one reason such as speed, the agency to why it is ranked the worst volume, occupancy, react in a more city for congestion in classification of timely and North America vehicles and traffic efficient manner incidents, and displays when unexpected it all on a map at the traffic conditions occur.

Traffic Management Center INFOVIAL consists of a (TMC), where conditions are web-based traffic management

5.8 million

Above: A total of 340 traffic data sensors and 70 variable message signs provide real-time traffic conditions on 350km of major roads in Mexico City

• Providing an accessible and reliable database of traffic conditions from major roads in Mexico City.

• Allowing the agency to develop research programs and mobility studies such as volume, service levels, occupancy, average speeds, traffic trends and air quality.

• Analysis and evaluation of highway traffic conditions, which can then provide an overview of traffic behavior.

• Identifying solutions that can help reduce traffic congestion such as the implementation of reversible lanes, updated signal timings, speed limits and more.

• A source of information for traffic modeling, allowing the agency to maximize the capacity of the existing highway infrastructure.

• Allowing understanding of the impact in traffic conditions due to new infrastructure construction throughout the city.

• Informing drivers in advance about unexpected traffic conditions such as public events, traffic incidents, temporary road closures and environmental conditions, and offering alternate routes.

INFOVIAL’s success is due to the proper interest in and planning for better mobility at the Public Works Ministry in combination with the software development and technology integration achieved by Signal Group.

Ultimately, it’s the result of Signal Group’s commitment to the development of intelligent solutions for better mobility and traffic safety around the world. ■

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Where speed and innovation merge.

(With our new printer, that is)

With Avery Dennison, there’s no misdirection.

The new Avery Dennison TrafficJet™ Plus print system offers the best cost-to-print speed ratio and reduces ink consumption.

Plus, it comes with standard best-in-class features you’ve come to expect, including: ● Anti-graffiti overlay film that make

signs graffiti cleanable ● 15-year warranty on T-11500 OmniCube™ prismatic sheeting ● 12-year warranty on T-6500 High-Intensity prismatic sheeting ● 10-year warranty on custom colors

To learn more, go to reflectives.averydennison.com/trafficjet

ROAD SAFETY

SMART MOBILITY

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LANE MARKINGS |

What happens to lane markings when it rains?

Improving road safety with wet retroreflective pavement markings Words | Andrew Goodrich, 3M, United States

A

round the world we lose 1.25 million lives to traffic crashes every year. Nearly half of those collisions – 49% – happen at night, even though we only do 25% of our driving after dark. Rain increases the risk of crashes by as much as 57%.

Driving in the rain at night is challenging. Motorists have to deal with decreased visibility, slick roads and distracting headlights from oncoming traffic. But the greatest challenge may be the fact that some lane markings become virtually impossible to see in wet, dark conditions, which can sometimes make it extremely difficult for drivers to stay on the road, let alone in their lane.

There are solutions to the problem of pavement marking visibility in the rain but, before we consider them, it helps to understand why many types of pavement markings are harder to see at night and in the rain.

Above: Road markings are difficult to see in wet, night-time conditions, but retroreflective markings are proven to increase visibility and reduce fatalities

How pavement markings work

Since motor vehicles first started growing in popularity, road planners

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have made it a priority to provide consistent, clear and cost-effective lane guidance in all conditions, good or bad. Over the years, solutions evolved from simple painted white lines in the early 1900s to the variety of retroreflective liquid pavement markings, pavement marking tapes and raised pavement markers (RPMs) we see on the roads today.

Retroreflective liquid pavement markings were first developed to increase lane visibility at night. The most common liquid pavement markings consist of spherical

glass beads (optics), typically with a refractive index (RI) of 1.5, dropped onto the lane marking and attached using a binder. This binder contains a pigment (usually yellow or white) to provide color and serve as a reflector.

As light from a vehicle’s headlamps hits each optic, the light bends, reflects off the pigment on the backside of the optic, and bends again as it passes out of the optic to return a cone of light to the driver – or camera on automated vehicle machine vision systems – and makes the pavement marking visible at

| LANE MARKINGS

40%

The reduction in the number of crashes with injuries, on multi-lane roads with wet retroreflective pavement markings

to the RI of the pavement marking optics, of air and of water. Water has a higher RI than air. When the pavement marking becomes wet or when water covers the optics in the pavement marking, light enters and exits the glass optics at different angles. As a result, the light from the headlamp is not reflected back to the vehicle but, rather, is spread out in a much broader, weaker cone, rendering the pavement marking invisible. night. The RI of both the optic and the air surrounding the optic determine how much the light bends, and whether enough light returns to the driver or camera to be highly visible in nighttime conditions.

Pavement markings vs rain

Over the years, road planners, traffic safety experts and departments of transportation (DOTs) have become increasingly aware that a disproportionate number of crashes occur in rainy, night-time conditions.

“We saw an upswing in the number of fatalities across the State of Georgia,” said Andrew Heath, Georgia DOT State Traffic Engineer.

“When we looked at the data, we saw that a tremendous number of those fatalities were happening in wet conditions and in night conditions across the state, so we knew that we needed to get products out there that directly influenced that trend to ultimately try to bring those numbers down.”

One of the first factors they pinpointed was the difficulty of seeing pavement markings in rainy night-time conditions. This is due

Technology to the rescue

In the last decade, manufacturers, engineers, researchers and safety experts have collaborated to develop pavement markings that deliver exceptional visibility in all conditions – day or night, rain or shine. The result of this collaboration is wet retroreflective pavement markings, or pavement markings that employ retroreflective optics with a higher 2.4 RI. The higher RI ensures that, when a pavement marking is wet, light is still returned to the source.

As a result, wet reflective pavement markings ensure that light from headlights is reflected back to the vehicle, even in the rain, making the wet reflective pavement markings visible in both wet and dry conditions.

Above: What retroreflective markings look like up close Below: Markings being applied to a road surface

difficult for drivers to see standard pavement markings, thereby increasing the risk of crashes, injuries and fatalities.

Wet retroreflective pavement markings are specifically designed to overcome this challenge and deliver exceptional visibility in all conditions by using high RI retroreflective optics to ensure visibility in wet conditions, in combination with lower IR optics that effectively return light in dry conditions.

Studies show that the safety benefits of this approach are significant. In 2015, the US Federal Highway Administration conducted a rigorous before-and-after evaluation of wet retroreflective markings in Minnesota, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

Over the course of this study, the researchers determined that wet retroreflective pavement markings reduce crashes with injuries by 40% on multi-lane roads and 12% on expressways.

Then, a 2019 study by the Texas Transportation Institute found that wet retroreflective pavement markings reduced rainy night-time crashes by 30% and rainy nighttime fatalities by 50% in TxDOT’s Atlanta District.

As traffic experts, road planners and infrastructure developers, we’re all committed to building safer roads.

By implementing wet retroreflective pavement markings that deliver exceptional visibility and clear, consistent lane guidance in all conditions – day or night, rain or shine – we can help reduce crashes, save lives and bring families home safely. ■

Retroreflectivity on demand

Pavement markings play an important role in improving road safety, reducing crashes and saving lives by helping drivers stay in their lanes. However, for pavement markings to be effective in this role, they need to be visible in all conditions. As we’ve seen, nighttime rainy conditions make it more Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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BOLLARD TESTING |

The beat goes on Testing the flexibility and safety of bollards has become a crucial part of the process when upgrading roadways in the US Words | Peter Speer, Pexco, USA

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ave you ever wondered why the United States is home to the most durable, flexible bollards in the world, leading to numerous managed and express lane installations using these products? This did not happen by accident.

Testing of flexible delineator posts in the USA is conducted by the National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP) and overseen by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), with the findings revealed in a structured document.

The process wasn’t always this well organized. The protocol for testing flexible posts in the USA has evolved considerably over the past 30 years. For a long time, individual state transportation agencies conducted their own evaluation of flexible posts. They had their own process – sometimes their own test

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Below: Pexco City Posts line the I-77 in Charlotte, North Carolina. State-ofthe-art bollards are essential on express lanes

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facilities – and many times differing procedures. A product might pass in one state but fail in another.

Thirteen southern US states comprising the Southeast Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (SASHTO) were elected in 1987 to combine their separate programs into a single entity.

Technical committees that included manufacturers were formed to collaborate on acceptable, uniform test methods. This was the first move towards standardization in the United States.

NTPEP was established in 1994 as a technical services program reporting to AASHTO’s standing committee on highways. NTPEP combined the resources of all 52 AASHTO member states to evaluate materials of common interest for use on highways. The goal of the program was to provide cost-effective product evaluations for the states by eliminating duplication of effort.

Testing approach

A testing protocol was developed

by NTPEP’s temporary traffic control device (TTCD) committee for evaluation of both ground and surface-mounted posts, with the lead state being Tennessee. The protocol for surface-mount posts consisted of acquiring ten samples from a manufacturer, selected by an employee of the local state DOT. Those samples were then sent to Tennessee for both field and laboratory testing. Laboratory testing was conducted on two of the posts to measure physical properties and resistance to weathering.

The NTPEP protocol for impact testing was to subject eight posts to ten impacts at 90km/h (55mph) by a standard passenger vehicle. The test vehicle impacted two rows of posts so that one row of four posts received bumper impacts and the other row of four received direct wheel-over impacts. Five impacts were

| BOLLARD TESTING

conducted in warm summer temperatures, and a further five were conducted in cold winter conditions. The upright condition of the posts and the retention of reflective sheeting were evaluated after all ten impacts were concluded.

A report was then published and available to both member state agencies and the manufacturer.

It is important to note that this standard test procedure conducted by an independent state agency was the first of its kind nationally to produce results that allowed for direct comparison of one brand and model with another.

While not a side-by-side test, this uniformity demonstrated how various products performed relative to one another when subjected to the same test regime.

In the mid-2000s, it became clear that a more severe test was needed to measure the improved durability of recently developed posts for use on high-volume, high-speed express lanes. For four years, the NTPEP worked to establish a new protocol, with the goal of developing a 50-impact standard. These efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, in part because of limited manpower and available funding. The effort was abandoned in late 2010.

In 2012, the Texas DOT contracted with the Texas A&M University

Transportation Institute (TTI) to develop a new test method for evaluating the impact performance of delineators for express lane applications. The results of this study were published in February 2015. As stated in the study, “Currently, the Texas Department of Transportation selects products based primarily on cost and only requires that delineators survive up to 10 impacts regardless of application.

“This testing requirement is effective in preventing some failures; however, it does not adequately evaluate the resilience of delineators used in high-durability impact applications, low speed angled impacts, or heavy vehicle impacts.”

NTPEP contracts

The work of NTPEP and TTI intersected in 2018 when the Tennessee test deck for flexible delineators was superseded by use of TTI’s proving ground in Bryan, Texas. The test vehicle required was updated to reflect Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) standards, and two different test procedures were adopted. The first, for metropolitan applications, tested at a speed of 55mph to either 200 impacts or failure, whichever comes first; and second, for high-speed applications, tested at 70mph to either 200 impacts or failure.

Above: Pexco’s latest City Posts have been implemented in Florida, following stringent impact testing (right)

Sampling is the same as before, as is the array of posts. The weathering testing conducted under earlier protocols was modified to produce a chemical fingerprint of the polymer used to manufacture a product via ash testing.

This new test protocol represents the state of the art in evaluation of posts in the USA. The first agency to implement an approval based upon the new testing was the Florida DOT, which used data generated

by TTI to pre-qualify posts against the requirements of its new Express Lane Marker (ELM). All three models of Pexco’s City Posts meet this specification and are approved for use on high-speed managed express lanes in Florida. It is safe to say many more states will follow Florida in utilizing this protocol. n Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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ROAD SIGNS |

Sign of the times Consistency in the design, color and fonts on signs around the world could significantly increase the safety of road users Words | Scott Chapman, Avery Dennison Reflective Solutions, United States

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s a manufacturer of retroreflective sheeting used on highway signs around the world, Avery Dennison Reflective Solutions’ safety commitment keeps the company focused on signing needs for today and tomorrow’s CAV environment.

Avery Dennison knows it can’t predict the future, but it strives to address concerns around self-driving cars and traffic signs. Will signs be needed in the future or will sign data reside in the cloud? Will signs incorporate smart technology to communicate in non-visual modes with vehicles (V2V), infrastructure (V2I) and pedestrians (V2P)? Will

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camera vision systems integrate traffic sign recognition (TSR) technology to process sign symbols and legends?

The pace of technology will influence how these questions are answered in the future. Let’s start with what we know to help those making today’s design and maintenance decisions for traffic signs, which must remain operational for many years into the future. After all, sign production, installation, and ongoing maintenance is a significant investment for every public transportation agency, so avoiding obsolescence is of supreme importance.

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Above: Connected and autonomous vehicles will rely on clearly identifiable signage on the roads of the future

Smart systems

There are multiple features available on vehicles today that detect lane markings, other vehicles in the front, rear and driver blind spot, as well as pedestrians and other objects. These features are enabled by a variety of sensors including radar, sonar, lidar, and camera systems.

If automotive history teaches us anything, it is that the technology platform that ultimately prevails must demonstrate reliability and consistency, and be suitable for low-cost mass production across multiple vehicle types and models.

Perhaps the most important system may be in-vehicle cameras

| ROAD SIGNS interpret traffic signs on par with at a greater distance to allow longer their human counterparts in the processing and reaction time by the blink of an eye. Light conditions, TSR system; using the symbol sign signs at severe angles of approach equivalent of the text version of or that have been hit and knocked warning signs; and standardizing askew, signs covered by dirt or font type, size, message and sign dew, or signs obscured by large placement. It is also crucial to adopt vehicles in the camera’s field of sign maintenance practices to keep vision all pose challenges for signs clean and unobstructed by visual-dependent systems. vegetation or other roadway The variation in traffic signs infrastructure, offering a clean around the world also contributes to line of sight for cameras. the difficulty of consistent, accurate detection and recognition. Each Advancing technology European sign class employs greater Similar recommendations for use of shape, border widths and improving signing already exist. In colors not only distinct from each June 2014, the US Federal Highway class, but from most things seen Administration described multiple in a roadway environment. improvements in their ‘Handbook for The US sign elements are not as Designing Roadways for the Aging Above: The variation distinctive and visually strong as Population’. Larger signs and letters, with high-pixel resolution to gather in traffic signs their European counterparts. brighter and more uniform data. These systems continuously around the world – Warning signs may use signs all extend detection monitor vehicles moving in the same including between yellow, orange, distances, improving direction, oncoming traffic and Europe and the United States – fluorescent yellow safety by giving vehicles stopped on the roadside makes consistent or yellow-green. drivers longer that are either parked, merging or and accurate Only stop signs time to process waiting to merge. Some cameras are detection more and railroad information and coupled with radar systems that ping difficult crossing signs react. These the surroundings with a radio wave Developments in optical have messages improvements looking for the echo when waves character recognition specific to their – and those bounce off surrounding objects. technology will improve shape. Many advocated by In this mode, the camera system US signs convey the camera functions as the first or second shape and legend their message industry – will line of warning for the vehicle’s recognition in the by text alone, benefit TSR computer systems, with the primary coming years whereas European systems, nonresponsibility to detect and avoid a signs feature ADAS-equipped physical interaction with the object. pictograms and other vehicles, and human icons that aid recognition. non-motorized roadway Traffic signs users like cyclists and pedestrians.

Camera-based TSR technology It will be many years – perhaps has improved over the past decade.

Advancing technology decades – before transportation The most significant TSR work has Improved optical character systems experience a complete fleet taken place in Europe with speed recognition (OCR) technology is change to self-driving technology. In limit signs. A number of technology expected to take shape and legend the meantime, traffic signs need to companies have developed sign recognition to the next level in the detection and classification future. However, even with enhanced accommodate the needs of all road users, including those without the software and deployed it in limited technology, systems will have to technology, through all stages of geographies on select models offered contend with non-uniformity of size, autonomous vehicle deployment. by car manufacturers including font style, and text location prevalent Agencies have a clear path on signing BMW, Mercedes, Mazda and Honda. on today’s traffic signs. improvements to prepare for Today’s camera systems have not The camera vision industry tomorrow’s technology. advanced to the level of a human acknowledges that traffic sign Start today by reviewing the local driver – who can read and interpret recognition can be improved in many agency’s standards to ensure they are the variety of messages in regulatory, ways. These include increasing sign consistent in fonts and letter height. warning and informational signs size to assure signs exceed minimum Make greater use of symbols, increase – nor can cameras identify and pixel size filtering and are detected sign size, adopt maintenance practices to review signs in the field and ensuring they are properly placed, and allow unobstructed viewing. This Traffic signs need to accommodate the needs of all road users, is a practical solution incorporating today’s materials, processes and including those without the technology, through all stages of proven safety measures that will autonomous vehicle deployment. Agencies have a clear path on signing benefit generations of roadway users improvements to prepare for tomorrow’s technology as we move into the future. ■

OCR

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REFLECTIVE CLOTHING |

Reflecting well

Measuring safety clothes retroreflectivity, especially after laundering, is fundamental to ensure safety Words | Gustavo F Paolillo, Easylux Retroreflectometers, Brazil

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he ability to be seen is critical for workers’ safety.

Clothing with highly reflective properties helps workers stay visible in poor light, bad weather and around potentially distracted drivers, and helps differentiate workers from the working environment. This provides more visual information for drivers to take caution when approaching a work zone.

Reflective clothing is far less effective if not cleaned properly, however. Removing marks or stains often demands harsher cleaning methods than those recommended by the manufacturer. They may significantly reduce the retroreflective performance, making garments useless when you need them most.

Retroreflectivity is the main indicator of effective workers’ protection. For this reason, ISO 20471 requires that high visibility garments have the retroreflection tested after the washing or cleaning processes.

The table shows the ISO 20471 minimum retroreflection values for new materials. There are four different entrance angles and observation angles to be tested. Large observation angles cause reflective surfaces to be less bright to the observer. The

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Above: The MINI Vertical meets ASTM E1709, ASTM E2540, EN 12899-1 for road signs and ISO 20471 for safety clothing

Minimum coefficient of retroreflection in cd/(lx • m2) for separate performance retroreflective material Observation angle

Entrance angle β1 (β2 = 0) 5°

20°

30°

40°

0.2 °

330

290

180

65

0.33 °

250

200

170

60

1°

25

15

12

10

1.5°

10

7

5

4

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VERTICAL

Up to 4 observation angles simultaneously.

Free entrance angle adjustment.

ASTM E1709 ASTM E2540 EN 12899 ISO 20471

entrance angle will be larger (1° or more) for a truck driver than it will for a passenger vehicle driver.

The Easylux MINI Vertical retroreflectometer can implement four observation angles simultaneously.

It is the only technology that is capable of fully complying with all requirements of ISO 20471 in a single unit. No special adaptors are needed.

The MINI Vertical is an external beam instrument with light immunity for contactless measurements. It allows users to view and access the measurement area during reading.

This is not possible when using old traditional technologies, which demand that instruments are placed over the material being evaluated.

The immunity against sunlight and any ambient light allows the MINI Vertical to have the entrance angle freely adjusted or fixed at 5°.

That is crucial for ISO 20471 testing procedures, which require evaluations at 5°, 20°, 30° and 40° entrance angles to ensure clear visibility at different angles that may arise when wearing safety clothing.

The combination of adjustable entrance angles with the exclusive quadruple simultaneous observation angles allows precise determination of retroreflection according to ISO 20471 and most international norms.

The innovative MINI Vertical is capable of performing more than 10,000 measurements using standard AA rechargeable batteries, which are safe and easy to replace. Workers who undertake air travel benefit from the use of these batteries by avoiding extra fees and battery warnings, with a significant advantage in comfort and economy. n

Above: The innovative optical system can measure up to four simultaneous observation angles.

The entrance angle (β) can be fixed (−4°/+5°) or it can be continuously adjusted

ROAD STUDS

Dual observation angle (0.2° / 0.33° and 1.0° simultaneously).

ASTM E1696 EN 1463

HORIZONTAL RL+ Qd 30-meter geometry. External beam.

Up to 15 mm profiled.

Certified to EN 1436 (StrAus-Zert test report) ASTM E1710 ASTM E2302 ASTM E2832 ASTM E2177

Rechargeable AA batteries.

Carry-on bag compatible.

E A S Y L U X RETROREFLECTOMETER

Tel. +55 11 3438 3448 vendas@easylux.com.br

www.easylux.com.br

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RURAL SAFETY |

Mind the junction!

How do you make rural roads safer?

Words | Bernhard Louis, Meiser StraĂ&#x;enausstattung, Germany

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hen we talk about road safety, most road users tend to think of motorways. Although the number of road deaths in Germany continues to fall, this should be seen as an incentive to further strengthen a positive trend.

However, a closer look at the national accident statistics reveals that most fatal accidents (56%) do not occur on motorways but on rural, out-oftown roads. This figure is worrying and calls for solutions designed specifically for rural routes.

account the required restraint level and the effective range.

On roads outside built-up areas (except motorways), the maximum permissible speed of 100km/h applies in Germany. In the case of non-deformable obstacles at the edge of the road, a vehicle restraint system of containment level N2 or H1 in accordance with European Standard 1317 is required. This considerably increases the safety of a rural road.

56%

Beware of junctions!

However, there is a great source of danger at the roadside, particularly The proportion of fatal junctions of intersecting rural roads and those A cause for security accidents in Germany of farm or forest tracks.

To find a suitable that occur on rural, Ninety-degree openings solution, first we must out-of-town roads not only lead slow and consider the major heavy vehicles into the sources of danger on (Source: National traffic flow, they also pose rural routes. In contrast Accident Statistics) a particular danger due to to motorways, smaller the necessary interruption of roads usually offer a lack the guardrails. This is particularly of protective furniture that problematic if there are trees and effectively protects both driver and embankments at the edge of the oncoming traffic. Added to this is the roadway that are not protected by poorer visibility caused by narrow steel crash barriers. Thus a roadway bends and vegetation, along with departure often becomes a lifeimpairments due to wetness, leaves, threatening hazard. snow and ice. Losing control of a If obstacles such as trees or vehicle in such circumstances can masts are located in the direct lead to serious accidents more vicinity of the confluence, the vehicle quickly than on motorways. A restraint system Eco-Safe 2.0 (N2 W3 vehicle that leaves the road often A/H1 W4 A) with a distance of 0.5m hits an obstacle. from the edge of the carriageway is If the permissible maximum a good way to protect the road. The speed remains 60km/h, safety prerequisite for this is sufficient measures are not mandatory. If it is space in front of and behind the higher, suitable safety precautions junction to achieve the required must be taken. installation length for the vehicle The selection of a suitable vehicle restraint system (VRS). restraint system always takes into

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The Eco-Safe 2.0 with an appropriate radius beam and body length of at least 80m along the rural road can be used for protection. A 12m ramped start and end section is connected to these in the direction of travel. If local conditions do not allow otherwise, a suitable short ramped start and end section with a length of 4.37m can also be used. It should be noted that this is not a certified start/end terminal and that its use should only be considered in individual cases.

| RURAL SAFETY

impact of a collision. In such cases, the short-ramped start and end section described previously already represents an unacceptable impairment of this group. Therefore an acceptable solution must be found that takes into account both road safety on rural roads and the safety of other road users.

A solution: The Protector M

A critical impact area is also created by the corresponding system because vehicles can crash at a steep angle into the radius beam or into the ramped start and end section. These areas are only conditionally designed to absorb such impact energy.

In the worst-case scenario, the beams cannot withstand the impact energy, the vehicle breaks through the steel crash barrier and collides with the obstacle. The VRS cannot fulfil its purpose.

A special case

How should one proceed if other transport routes run parallel to the rural road? How can it be avoided when the start and end terminal is crossed by vehicles at low heights in the event of a detrimental angle of impact, for example in an outer curve?

Problems arise from the fact that the protective device may also have been set up to protect cycle paths, footpaths and railway lines. The VRS may also have been installed to protect the vehicle from the

Above: The Protector M barrier is specifically designed to make rural junctions safer in the event of a car leaving the road

As an alternative, a final construction with the Protector M could be considered. Protector M offers the possibility of securing individual objects as optimally as possible against impact on one side. The advantage of using such a start/ end terminal is that sliding onto the construction can be ruled out. In addition, parallel traffic and transport routes are not unnecessarily restricted. The vegetation is also less affected.

The Protector M is a tested approach and departure construction. It achieves the P2A performance class and an excellent classification in the range of permanent lateral deflection of X1/Y2. In addition, class Z2 A of the impact area is achieved while maintaining optimum impact severity level.

In the event of impact, cars are safely braked and deflected by the patented honeycomb deformation elements. The ramped start/end terminal consists of high-quality galvanised steel components made from S235JR which is permanently protected against corrosion (and in accordance with DIN EN ISO 1461).

The system consists of two assemblies, the deformationsignificant front assembly and the connection assembly to the VRS, for example an Eco-Safe 2.0.

In accordance with the regulations, the guard rail beam and Protector M are mounted overlapping in the direction of traffic and bolted several times. Sliding onto the start and end terminal is near-impossible due to its increasing minimum height from 650mm to 750mm.

The system offers advantages because its design is maintenancefree and easy to replace in the event of a collision. The Protector M fulfils all criteria to make traffic on rural roads safer in these particularly endangered areas – and beyond. n

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SAFER CROSSINGS |

Imagine yourself…

…walking down this street, focused on your phone. Picture yourself being blind, deaf – possibly even both – or maybe wheelchair bound. Visualize being short and lacking experience with traffic and the rules and laws that follow Words | Mac Edin, PrismaTibro, Sweden

E

veryone has done it: focused on their phone while walking through town. Focusing on your hand and all the important things that are happening there can take place under a shorter period of time or during the whole walk along pavements, over streets, through countless groups of people and rows of traffic.

Vehicles that occur in traffic can be simple bicycles but even scooters, cars and lorries with trailers – even in city traffic. Kick-bikes are even common now. More and more electrical vehicles are basically silent and the risk of them being noticed too late is big. Regardless of the size of the vehicle, a collision between vehicles and an unprotected person hurts a lot if you’re that unprotected person.

In many cases it can lead to serious injury without forgetting

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Above: Crossing a busy road is even more dangerous for the deaf, blind or wheelchair-bound.

PrismaTibro has a solution that will help all of these pedestrians

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

that neither one of those are completely prepared.

Blind

Close your eyes and picture yourself walking down the street in the picture above.

How are you going to know where the safest place to cross the road is?

And how are you going to know when it is safe to cross this road with traffic passing fast enough to cause fatal injuries?

This is where Prisma Daps comes in. The sound and embossed symbols of this safer-crossing technology map the crossing ahead to create a picture even for those who can’t see.

Wheelchair bound

The view is obstructed because you are half a meter lower than most of those around you. You see cars and bodies instead of the overview

offered to the others standing and walking. Imagine a locating sound that helps you find a safer place to cross, a locating sound functioning as a beacon as opposed to the warning sounds of lorries. A sound you clearly hear that leads you to our Prisma Daps at the crossing.

Deaf

Imagine not having a sense of hearing, partly or totally lacking that sense. At the same time, you are at a junction with dense traffic.

You see what is happening, you can move freely but all sound is gone.

Prisma Daps lights up brightly and clearly from its location and indicates, “Here I am, here it is safe to cross.” But now you are probably thinking, “What if I lack both hearing and sight...?”

Yes, it makes the challenge even bigger, and many live in that reality.

30+

Number of years PrismaTibro has delivered pedestrian signals to all populated continents

Once there, the vibrating plate on Prisma Daps gives the confirmation you need. A RFID tag can extend the duration of the green light to cross or activate other desired functions.

Short and/or inexperienced

Children are short and inexperienced road users. Children don’t always know the laws or unwritten rules.

The locating sound and notification light in Prisma Daps guides you to a safer path over the road. Children learn fast.

Imagine: everyone

Even if Prisma Daps is developed together with the visually impaired, the result is an appreciated product that creates a feeling of safety in a heavy traffic environment for all those who use it.

You can imagine: Prisma Daps is even developed for you. â– Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World 1005751_Intertraffic World TTI_Prisma Tibro.indd 1

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21/08/2019 11:40

RURAL GUARDRAILS |

Mind the gap Appropriate steel barrier solutions are paramount to making countryside roads safer for vehicles Words | Tobias Schneider, Saferoad, Germany

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he spotlight on today’s traffic focuses on the main highways because they carry the most passengers and especially the most freight traffic. They are vital for any economy and are guaranteed to have a presence in the media when serious accidents occur.

By contrast, rural roads do not get the same attention, either in the national press or – much more importantly – in national or local government budgets for road maintenance and road safety equipment. This is an issue given that these roads tend to feature two-way traffic, tight curves and narrow lanes, which naturally create a higher risk of accidents.

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Above: Narrow, twisty and twoway country roads create many danger spots, but effective steel barriers can protect motorists from serious harm

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Simultaneously, the so-called containment levels of vehicle restraint systems (VRS) on rural roads is generally lower than it is on highways. This is because passenger cars are, within most national guidelines, the most common vehicles in the countryside, whereas on highways it is buses and heavy goods vehicles.

This means the general presence of VRS on country roads is often lower due to a combination of budgetary reasons, the lower containment level and the more dangerous road characteristics.

As a result of these factors, the accident and injury risks for vehicle occupants are statistically much

higher on country roads than on highways or other one-way roads.

Safety developments

As in many technical business sectors, there has been remarkable progress in the development of safety barriers, not just for modern highways but also for the different obstacles on rural roads. The challenge is to bring this equipment to country roads, because this process usually needs time for approval and marketing.

Trees are the most common danger on the roadside for vehicle occupants in case of an accident in the temperate latitudes, as in most parts of Europe and North America.

| RURAL GUARDRAILS performance class N2-W4-A and has a length of only 6.4m in the basic version. This means trees, pillars or speed cameras can be secured economically and in an environmentally friendly fashion thanks to the short installation length. In case of several trees or other, longer obstacles, the system can be enlarged up to 26.4m, which covers danger spots of up to 20m.

Fresh products

A new product development concerns the area of intersections in rural areas, where an adequate protection of the roadside was previously missing. Currently in use are curved guardrail beams, in combination with tested and untested dropdown ends.

The length in metres The new guardrail product, called Arcus Primus of danger spots that can 90, is designed and tested be protected by the BOS directly at a steep slope in Primus 2a safety barrier a 90-degree radius, as often appears on intersections.

The product is only 5m long, 5m wide and 0.75m high and tests were done at 60 and 80km/h according to EN 1317. The product is manufactured in a 90-degree angle so that it can be installed easily in nearly every intersection, where two roads meet or a road enters a T-junction.

Intersections pose an additional danger in that there is a potentially high impact angle into obstacles or existing guardrails. This can lead to a breakage of a standard guardrail – due to the high-energy impact as well as to the high impact angle in relation to the guardrail – and can result in a serious crash if a vehicle hits an obstacle and subsequently rolls down a slope. common in Germany and other The new barrier is designed European countries, but have the especially for this location and disadvantage that a vehicle is not is currently the only one on the stopped immediately and could roll German market that is tested for over or slide into a ditch. It is similar this application. Not only have these in function to the terminals that are tests been successful, but so too have used according to the American the large number of installations in AASHTO or MASH standards.

Germany and other countries since The Primus Terminal is currently product launch at the end of 2018. the only energy-absorbing terminal This proves the practicability of – and on the official German product the need for – the Arcus Primus 90. list compiled by the Federal Highway There are appropriate solutions Research Institute (BASt). The available for many danger spots that product’s characteristics mean the appear along country roads. It is now lengths before and after obstacles up to the stakeholders in the road can be reduced significantly. safety business to promote and Furthermore, there is a single implement these products and obstacle protection called BOS thereby support Vision Zero. ■ Primus 2a, which offers the

20

If there is enough space, a standard steel barrier measuring a minimum of 200m is usually installed to protect vehicle occupants from crashing into a tree. If there are crossings and this length cannot be achieved, the variety of tested VRS for this situation is very limited.

Germany-based Saferoad has developed several products for this and similar scenarios over the past two decades. The corresponding product family is called Primus and covers solutions for guardrail starts/ endings, single obstacles and the radius sections of road crossings.

The Terminal Primus P2 has applications that include replacing drop-down ends. These ends are still

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FLEXIBLE BOLLARDS |

New urban mobility paradigm As more people shun technology to spend time outside, flexible bollards are helping make roads a safer place for all Words | Sandra Fernandes, Sernis, Portugal

T

he urban mobility paradigm is changing and smart cities have to keep up with this change. Nowadays, people spend more time outside cycling, riding e-scooters, playing with their children or walking their dogs.

Historically, these activities had become neglected, but we are currently witnessing a rebirth of more active modes of transportation as people recognize their health and environmental benefits. In some cities, active transportation can be as fast as travelling by car or public transport, provided the conditions and infrastructure exist.

Municipalities are feeling the need to protect pedestrians and buildings, so urban streets are being invaded by an increase of steel bollards.

Municipalities think that they are protecting their citizens and tourists, but steel bollards can cause serious damage and can be dangerous for vulnerable road users such as

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children, disabled people, the elderly, pet owners and cyclists.

A modern take

It stands to reason that products to restrict access and channel traffic should be sturdy and strong. At the same time, they should be designed

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Above: Flexible bollards from Sernis prevent vehicles from straying out of their lanes without causing damage, which benefits all motorists by keeping the traffic moving

to minimize needless damage to property and human injuries. This is the logic behind flexible bollards.

SR-CITY-BALI was developed to attend to the needs of the new urban mobility paradigm in smart cities.

This flexible bollard is ideal for increasing safety in urban centers by replacing traditional steel bollards that, as well as causing damage to vehicles and injuries to people, have high maintenance costs.

For some bollard applications, perception is everything. Not all design in urban centers needs to focus on preventing criminal behavior. Steel bollards are heavy duty, tough posts that can stop a moving vehicle – but only once.

Impact-resistant bollards bend or crack under impact, so they need to be replaced after each collision.

On most occasions, simply letting people know what is expected of them is enough to encourage safe behavior so, in certain situations, a high-impact steel bollard is an unnecessary expense.

| FLEXIBLE BOLLARDS

SR-CITY-BALI was developed especially for urban centers and it reinforces separation and cohesion in urban landscape design, improving people’s urban experience as well as increasing the safety and the ability of pedestrians to walk freely in urban centers.

These flexible bollards prevent collisions by alerting drivers to offlimits areas and encouraging safe driving habits. The presence of SRCITY-BALI creates a visual barrier that helps to direct and control traffic by defining limits of space. If a driver, a cyclist or a child riding an e-scooter accidentally bumps into one, they will feel gentle resistance instead of a hard contact.

Made of a durable, rigid yet flexible material, SR-CITY-BALI is designed to fold down under pressure so neither the vehicle nor the bollard suffers damage and human injuries are less severe. This ensures long-lasting performance.

Reflective crystal tapes make them highly visible by day and especially at night.

Above: The Sernis SR-CITY-BALI-TL bollards – specially developed to alert people walking while looking at their phones – features lights that sync with pedestrian crossing signals to indicate when it is safe to cross the road Below: Sernis bollards keep vulnerable road users safe from traffic

angled towards a pedestrian who is looking at their phone. By connecting with the pedestrian crossing traffic lights, the LED on top of the bollard changes from red to green according to the traffic lights, alerting pedestrians as to whether it is safe to cross the street or not.

When it comes to vehicle collisions that are the result of distracted driving, the most effective harmreduction measure is avoidance.

A simple sign should be enough to discourage drivers from crossing a line that they shouldn’t, but signs can be missed and a clear physical cue is more effective. Street bollards offer close visual signals that reinforce other traffic management strategies to ensure the safest driver behaviors.

Considering the danger of steel bollards and the need for something that would stop cars without causing unnecessary damage, Sernis developed SR-BALI-LF. This larger bollard is made with a more impact resistant material and was developed

for use on highways, providing extra visibility, protection and safety on busy major roads.

The bollards can be used as part of a wider traffic calming strategy, encouraging safer, more responsible driving. SR-BALI-LF helps guide traffic into clearly delineated lanes, and is an ideal non-impact barrier solution because it does not damage cars that hit them.

The bollards can withstand repeat vehicle impacts without losing their shape, which makes them ideal for high-traffic areas where collisions are frequent and expected. Bumping into one will notify a driver who has strayed from a lane without interrupting the flow of traffic.

For example, its placement at highway exit gore areas can control traffic streams and consequently reduce accidents.

Sernis flexible bollards are designed and manufactured in Portugal, ensuring product quality and reliability. n

Distraction techniques

With the new mobility paradigm comes a lot of people looking at their phones instead of paying attention to their surroundings.

Distracted driving is a wellestablished problem, but the problem of distracted walking is a relatively new one. Each year, more people are injured and killed as a result of using their phones while walking or crossing the street.

SR-CITY-BALI-TL has been developed to tackle this problem. The light on the top of the bollard is Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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PARKING

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

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SPEEDING UP THE MOBILITY TRANSITION THE LEADING TRAFFIC TECHNOLOGY EVENT FOR EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

26 – 28 MAY 2021 ISTANBUL

INTERTRAFFIC.COM

| PAYMENT SYSTEMS

Platform integration Ensuring internal payment processes are secure and streamlined is crucial to businesses keen to keep their ecosystem reliable Words | Steve Fitton, Suzo Happ, UK

C

onsider the journey a note takes from the hand of a customer to an organization’s bank account.

What if an operator could track that note throughout its entire journey in real time?

Within every organization lies a unique internal payment ecosystem, a complex, interconnected network of hardware, software and back-office systems. When that ecosystem is fully functioning, it enables an organization to understand its payment positions in real time, protect payments from shrinkage and maintain accurate records of transactions. In other words, a fully functioning ecosystem allows operators to track each payment in real time as it travels through the payment management process.

Unfortunately for most organizations, the payment ecosystem is not fully functioning, resulting in narrow gaps of cash exposure. These gaps allow the organization to lose track of the payments travelling through it. At best, these lost payments are simply misclassified on paper and result in the misallocation of resources or the missed opportunity for robust and accurate data collection. At worst, these payments disappear forever through error or shrinkage.

Below: Suzo Happ’s CashComplete Connect software platform automates the entire payment process, from initial payment to reconciliation Right: The CashComplete RCS-700 reduces working capital, increases speed and accuracy in processing cash, and increases security both for employees and the cash itself

Gaps can exist for many reasons. For some operators – despite attempts to automate the payment management process as much as possible – there is still a significant amount of pencil and paper manual entry and reconciliation. Manual processes are ripe with error and at high risk of shrinkage through process gaps that allow physical exposure of the payment medium.

For other operators, automation has been achieved but in a piecemeal fashion built up over time where various pieces of the ecosystem – from hardware to software to backoffice systems – have been integrated one by one, often from different manufacturers. While better than manual processes, the different pieces of the ecosystem do not communicate well with one another.

Bridge programs can be created to aid in communication within the ecosystem, but they can be laborintensive, costly to create and subject to error.

Intelligent connectivity

When hardware, software and backoffice systems begin to speak to each other, the gaps in an organization’s payment ecosystem begin to close.

One step in the process knows what to expect from the previous step.

Validation, reconciliation and accuracy are assured and no payment is left untracked.

Intelligent connectivity is precisely what Suzo Happ had in mind when creating the vision for its CashComplete Connect software platform.

This software automates the entire payment process, from initial payment to reconciliation. Hardware, software and back-office systems are integrated to give users complete, real-time visibility of their payment management operations. Armed with access to reliable, timely and actionable payment data,

transportation providers can optimize on-site, route and corporatelevel productivity and service, reduce working capital and improve cash shrink due to errors and theft.

Consider using this type of technology with intelligent cash boxes, for example. These boxes can store both the payment machine’s identity and the cash box contents, which are then transferred automatically via RFID to a backoffice bulk-processing system that processes and consolidates cash ready for banking. The automatic

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PAYMENT SYSTEMS |

transfer of data ensures accurate reconciliation between the cash and its originating payment device and can assist in generating automatic alerts if the correct or expected value of cash is not processed.

This is just one simple example of the impact integrated payment platform technology can have on the daily operations of a business. It takes the challenges that operators are currently working around and provides long-lasting and reliable solutions.

Unique challenges

Integrated payment platform technology meets the unique needs of the industry it serves. When developing CashComplete Connect, Suzo Happ learned quickly that payment management processes are far too complex for an out-of-the-box solution. Certain capabilities, such as real-time visibility of payments, accurate end-of-day reconciliation and increased security are without doubt universally useful, but other capabilities varied in importance and process by industry.

To meet these more varied needs by industry, Suzo Happ developed multiple editions of its platform.

CashComplete Connect – the transportation edition – launched in July 2019 and was built specifically to meet the payment management needs of the fare or payment collecting transportation industry, inclusive of bus, rail, metro, parking, kiosks and so on.

In discussions with its international customer base, what Suzo Happ was finding was that the transportation industry struggled with supporting self-service payment options that accepted cash, managing the overall cost of accepting cash and utilizing human resources most effectively. Transport operators continually face the need to ensure staff are front-of-house providing

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customer service.

However, this reduces the ability of employees to oversee paymentrelated processes and cash handling in the back office.

In a case like this, the operator may employ a recycling cash solution, such as CashComplete RCS-700, which automates all back-office operations so that staff spend less time on administration and can focus more on customer service rather than cash management.

integrated, customizable view.

The software fully integrates with ticket transaction systems and the data is available at several levels, including the sales collection employee or device level. This gives users the ability to log and track employee or device status to view real-time balances, transactions and statistics. Advanced analytics support long-term planning efforts, such as route management, cash management, and resource optimization.

Lowering the barriers

Bridging the gap

To enhance protections around accepting cash payments, operators may employ a bill validator and recycler such as Suzo Happ’s Bill-to-Bill solution, which provides authentic bill recognition and protects against counterfeits through advanced sensor technology.

Using automated technologies to bridge process gaps helps operators be more customer-centric, minimizes back office time for all staff and mitigates some of the risk inherent in the acceptance of cash payments.

Other benefits of this integrated payment platform unique to the transportation industry include bringing cash and ticket data together to give users a complete picture of payment operations in one

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Above: Suzo Happ’s Bill-to-Bill product offers authentic bill recognition and features sensors that protect against counterfeits

Most transport operators have payment management ecosystems that, while functioning, are not optimized.

These systems cannot reach full functionality until the process gaps are closed. It can feel daunting to consider changing or rebuilding elements of the current ecosystem, but implementing an integrated payment platform may not be as difficult as one might think.

In the case of Suzo Happ’s CashComplete Connect platform, the solution was built hardwareagnostic, allowing transportation providers to leverage the benefits of the integrated platform with their existing hardware and removing the barriers of intelligently connecting the hardware, software and backoffice systems within the payment management ecosystem.

Integrated payment platforms are the future of payment management, keeping an organization’s unique payment ecosystem healthy and fully functioning for years to come. n

The Complete Source for Your Cash Handling

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Booth #03.102

CAR PARK E-CHARGING |

From trends to solutions Parking in the 21st century brings with it many new challenges for safety, maximizing profit and boosting customers’ convenience Words | Kurt Vierthaler, Skidata, Austria

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Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

| CAR PARK E-CHARGING

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magine exploring a city by car. You have plans to visit the zoo, an indoor playground, a sightseeing spot or simply to take a tour of the city center, but you just can’t find a parking space. It’s a situation that’s likely to cost you not just time and money, but also a lot of nerves. The children are complaining while you are running out of time and patience. It’s not exactly the way you would want to spend your holidays.

As an owner or operator of on-street or off-street parking facilities, you are now able to take all the hassle out of customers finding a parking space with Skidata to support you. That’s because we are able to help you to perfectly align your interests with those of your customers.

No barrier, no stress

barrier or pay machine. Instead, customers can pay conveniently from the comfort of their home.

Left: Removing car park barriers and introducing e-charging can reduce stress for motorists while increasing profits for operators and local businesses

E-mobility is key

Investing in the future early on can save you a lot of stress later. Where e-mobility is concerned, the time to act is now. Studies show that the number of electric vehicles will increase a hundredfold by 2040, with an estimated 320 million-plus electric vehicles worldwide. However, with a Skidata e-charging solution, you already have your finger firmly at the pulse of the time.

The entire charging process is easy and convenient, and payment can be made at the same time the customer collects their parking ticket. This service comes without any obligations to bind yourself to a specific energy provider. You can The number of electric simply offer e-charging as an additional service vehicles forecast on the to increase your profit. roads worldwide by 2040.

And best of all, it won’t And by this point motorists cost your customers any extra. will be used to quick and

Skidata services can be available digitally via an e-commerce solution that lets customers know in advance about available parking resources. It will allow you to plan the use of your parking capacity more confidently, and your customers will be able to benefit from a guaranteed parking space, stress-free.

What is more, barrierless mobility does away with physical gates, which makes things faster and easier for your customers at the entrance and exit as well as at the pay points. This means no more wasting time at the

320m+ easy parking

The entire charging process is easy and convenient, and payment can be made at the same time the customer collects their parking ticket.

And best of all, it won’t cost customers any extra

Winning business model

Skidata’s solution lets companies sell parking fees to surrounding business partners such as retailers, offices or hotels and bill them in full. As a result, your business partners can work with their customers while you raise your business score with improved utilization of parking facilities and the corresponding boost in turnover.

Skidata is dedicated to transforming trends into solutions and making sure that you and your customers get the most out of digitalization in parking. With open interfaces, simple integration options and the cloud-based sweb platform, we help you develop your business into the future. ■ Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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CASHLESS PAYMENTS |

Driving forward

3C Payment redefines its parking proposition with ambitious future plans Words | Gemma Eaton, 3C Payment, Luxembourg

I

n recent years, technological advances and the move towards a cashless world have revolutionized the way people park. Shifts in customer behavior have pushed parking operators, including local authorities, into focusing on delivering cashless payment solutions.

As the world of payments becomes increasingly complex, payment providers must to listen to their customers and partners to remain competitive, maintain growth and deliver the required solutions in an ever-changing industry.

3C Payment has been a leading payment service provider in the parking sector for more than 30 years, and the company is always keen to develop its support and service offering to service existing clients and attract new ones.

Transforming hardware

The 2019 certification announcement for 3C to supply the industry-leading Worldline Valina terminal with the Integra payment application has been fundamental to 3C’s recent changes.

Bringing the 3-Box (Chip reader, Contactless and PinPad) payment solution into one single device with the full range of payment options (Contactless, Chip Card reader, and Magstripe) creates a frictionless payment experience.

“With its sleek, modern design, the All-In-One Valina device offers our clients a space-saving unattended solution,” says Paul Musgrave, Global Sales Director at 3C Payment. “The integration itself and the terminal replacement process are easy and flexible, resulting in a quick install and activation process, saving on-site time for the engineer.”

Flexible payment processing

The solution is available in European, UK and USA regions. Via 3C’s panEuropean acquiring agreements, customers benefit from secure and flexible payment solutions

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through a single interface across multiple countries.

In the UK, 3C parking payments are provided directly from 3C’s payment facilitator model, offering everything UK parking operators need through one single contract.

“3C are making significant changes with a shift to a new provider to be flexible and to offer the industry the most competitive rates possible for the EU and UK market,” says Musgrave.

Security and fraud prevention are part of daily life at 3C. In addition to providing customers with pointto-point (P2PE) payment solutions as standard – the highest security standard in the industry – 3C is a trusted payment provider, approved and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Cashing in on cashless

Continual learning and development is crucial to remaining innovative and increasing revenue. Providing an agnostic approach to integrations and maintaining a solid roadmap of new developments are fundamental for merchants.

They need to know they have the flexibility to use the solution that best suits their business needs

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Above: Customers expect to be able to make cashless payments, and car park operators need support in providing the latest technology

while trusting that their provider is supplying the most up-to-date solution that adheres to industry mandates and regulations.

Moreover, installing new innovative solutions in a car park, which are already proving successful in retail and hospitality scenarios, can really transform the parking payment experience.

“3C knows the importance of ensuring merchants understand who their customers are, and we can now offer the 3C Digital Token service,”

CASHLESS PAYMENTS | says Musgrave. “This allows merchants to track consumer spending and even perform simple transactional functions to improve customer experience. This value add is a key factor where merchants are looking to offer loyalty and provide a frictionless payment offering to customers across all locations.”

All this technology can be supported by the Valina device, with its colour touchscreen which can run third-party applications, and supports multimedia and QR codes.

“Maintaining an agile delivery engine has been important for 3C to develop new integrations, and bring new solutions to market quickly,” says Musgrave.

Right: 3C Payment has invested in training and developing skills to ensure its offices provide the best possible customer support

24/7 support service and streamline onboarding and installation processes.

“3C Payment has recognized the continuing need to develop and improve service levels ensuring that service can be one of the factors to differentiate 3C from the rest,” says Musgrave. “Investing in training and developing skills with localized support across all offices is paramount for customer satisfaction and a successful future.”

With the ability to monitor all systems in real-time, and

Accelerated growth

3C Payment’s biggest asset and value is its people. The Luxembourg-based company is now truly international, increasing its headcount by 50% in two years across its Luxembourg, UK, UAE, Portugal and USA offices, and now boasts 25 nationalities companywide. Big investments have been made in Europe and USA within the operations team, to strengthen the

with log/database checks and terminal diagnostics services, 3C Operations teams are able to identify any issues as they occur and take corrective action even before customers notice any issues in their payments.

Proactively innovating while providing reliable services to parking operators remains a fundamental responsibility of payment service providers, and ultimately contributes to the growth and success for everyone involved. n

DIGITAL PARKING INNOVATION GOING BEYOND PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS

Track Customer Spend

Know & Understand your Customers

Offer Targeted Loyalty Rewards

Use In-App Functionality

Deliver frictionless Competitive Rates payment experiences and Pricing

CONTACT US TODAY ABOUT DIGITAL PARKING SOLUTIONS

3CPayment.com | sales@3CPayment.com |

21-24 APRIL 2020 VISIT US AT

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SMART PARKING |

Get set for Parking 2.0

A new model for parking services will change the way motorists find, pay for and use available spaces, and also help local businesses thrive in the smart cities of the future Words | Bert Peirsman, CEO, Amano Europe, Belgium

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n many cases we identify the operation of a parking network as purely a financial transaction between the operator of the parking spaces and the motorist.

Supply and demand are typically driven by the location, size, rates and variety of services offered by the operator, all with the aim of making the parking spot as attractive as possible for the driver.

In other words, a balance is sought between supply and demand in a typical two-dimensional model.

This model is outdated.

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Above: Amano’s Shop & Stay project in Genk, Belgium removed barriers, allowing motorists ‘frictionless’ access to parking. They can extend their stay to 90 minutes by scanning a QR code in the local shops

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Social responsibility

Both urban and private parking need to fulfil a social role, and social responsibility requires cooperation with various stakeholders. In other words, ‘parking 2.0’ will have to comply with the framework created by the authorities and municipalities that want to take into account the needs and wishes of all parties involved, such as residents, local businesses, schools, city services, the care sector, visitors, and so on. As they all have specific needs, they all should be involved in the pursuit for

a better working and living environment. We can speak of a successful Smart City project when, on the one hand, the legislator and the authorities can create such a framework and, on the other hand, solution providers can respond to it.

It is evident that parking needs to evolve, because parking as a business has an important role in this new multidimensional balance. Mobility, accessibility and local services are all elements that are necessary for parking 2.0 to be successful in this new ecosystem. Indeed, we prefer to refer to SROI (Social Return on Investment) instead of ROI.

Automation requires cooperation The second motivation for change is operational. Automation requires cooperation with providers of

| SMART PARKING secondary services and software platforms. In parallel with the emergence of autonomous cars, the parking of the future, in whatever form, will also be fully automated.

There will be less or even no need for specific machines as we know them now and the need to integrate on existing or new software platforms will explode. Operation of parking garages will become less labourintensive, and therefore cost-cutting.

Artificial intelligence will be an essential part of parking 2.0 in terms of traffic forecasts, route guidance, accurate reservations, variable tariff calculation and automatic processing of payments, including fines or fees.

Far-reaching automation and integration to other platforms naturally also means that the twostakeholder model is no longer tenable. An example of this is the hotel industry, in which platforms such as booking.com disrupted the traditional two-dimensional approach by offering added-value solutions on the shared data layer.

Shop & Stay

Amano’s Shop & Stay project in the city of Genk in Belgium is a good example of a municipality acting according to this vision. Customers are entitled to stay for 30 minutes in a well-defined shopping area.

Control and communication are seamless thanks to ANPR/ALPR, APP and SMS technology, and customers can extend their parking time to a maximum of 1.5 hours by scanning a QR code when they buy something in one of the participating shops. We already know this system to a limited extent, where certain stores do offer discounts for parking nearby.

In this case, the project was initiated by the municipality, which included other stakeholders – the shops – with the goal of boosting local business by solving a specific mobility issue in this well-defined shopping area. Expansion to other zones in the city with other stakeholders, such as car parks at stations, cinemas, homes, K&R zones, P&R zones, business campuses and hospitals are being developed.

Shop & Stay also strives, by using technology, for maximum comfort and minimum overheads, both for user and provider. Some benefits are: • Identification: In this case, identification of either the

anonymous or registered user will happen automatically, so there will be no machines when entering or leaving a car park.

ANPR recognition, a Bluetooth connection with the driver’s phone, a connection with a built-in IoT device or other form of identification will allow this process to take place automatically and without any barriers, to make it frictionless.

• Motivation: Motivators are the actions that the user can take to gain more parking time. In the traditional two-dimensional model, this is usually a payment.

At Shop & Stay this is a purchase in a store near the parking bays.

This model of parking acting as a facilitator of other services can easily be extended to other stakeholders and areas in the city, and can also be combined with the traditional model where necessary. Big data analysis

Above: Amano’s Shop & Stay project features fully automatic identification of the car park user via ANPR/ALPR recognition

will result in better models, which in turn will result in better facilitating services.

• Overcoming demotivation: The most well-known demotivator in a closed car park is the barrier. It’s simple: if you don’t pay, you can’t leave. For open, ‘seamless’ car parks there are often attendants or guards to stop potential offenders.

In a frictionless environment, however, barriers and physical control are replaced by technology solutions and automated systems as we already know them, for example on the highway.

For parking 2.0 to be successful in the new smart city ecosystem, the elements of mobility, accessibility and local services all need to be taken into account – and taking part in both the social role and the far-reaching integration with other platforms are already strong elements of Amano’s smart parking solutions. n Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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PARKING SENSORS |

Go wireless

Modern parking guidance systems are helping car park operators ensure drivers have an easy and streamlined experience

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Words | Patric Weis, CUR Systemtechnik, Germany

ontrolling the flow of traffic in overcrowded cities and avoiding congestion and frustrated drivers is the major task of parking guidance systems. They quickly guide visitors to free parking spaces along the roads, in outdoor parking areas and indoor car parks.

Modern car park systems are able to automatically monitor and control occupancy rates by detecting cars with parking sensors from either above or below the parking spaces.

The communication between the guidance system and the sensors is crucial, but these can be outdoors and difficult to reach. Unlike indoor sensors, outdoor sensors usually cannot be connected with cables.

A smart solution for this limitation is using wireless technology via Internet of Things (IoT) networks, which directly integrate the sensors into the computer-based parking guidance system.

Smart solutions

The parking guidance software Visual Control Center (VCC) from

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Above: The Internet of Things helps CUR Systemtechnik streamline the parking process by updating users on traffic flow around car parks and the available spaces inside them

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

CUR Systemtechnik is able to integrate outdoor sensors wirelessly based on the Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) datatransfer protocol.

The LoRa technology is optimized for transferring small amounts of data over long distances from a few kilometers in urban areas to over 10km. LoRaWAN parking sensors run on small, inexpensive batteries for more than 10 years. In VCC, they can be mixed with indoor sensors that are usually connected via RS485 cable technology.

VCC detects critical traffic situations and automatically reacts by controlling displays, even if these are located kilometres away from the parking area. In modern systems, this is also done primarily via wireless IoT communication.

In contrast to sensors, outdoor displays are usually connected via LTE wireless broadband communication because they need a higher data transfer rate. In VCC, these outdoor displays can also be mixed with cabled RS485 or Ethernet indoor displays.

Modular technology

The parking guidance system from CUR Systemtechnik is based on a modular and well-engineered sensor, detector and display technology.

Besides its ability to communicate with external third-party devices and traffic guidance systems, it not only controls the traffic inside parking areas but also the traffic situation outside on access roads in the urban area.

A key feature of the VCC is the web interface. It offers a REST API, which provides IoT communication with external systems and thirdparty outdoor devices. With this programming interface, several car park systems can be combined to a master panel that coordinates the traffic around the car parks. For such requirements, CUR developed the cross-platform browser framework VCC Panel, which can be used in control rooms to monitor traffic in and outside the car parks. It can also be used by web designers and app developers to provide drivers with information about the current traffic situation and to calculate the trend for the next few hours.

Recent installations

CUR Systemtechnik recently started a pilot project in Stuttgart, Germany, to integrate third-party LoRaWAN

| PARKING SENSORS outdoor sensors in the parking guidance software VCC. Another implementation in Dillingen, Germany, also integrates outdoor sensors wirelessly into the guidance system.

There is another installation in an employee car park in Hyderabad, India, where a separate traffic forecast app communicates with VCC to analyze historical occupancy data and forecast the traffic situation for the next few hours. Based on this data, employees can check at home if they will find a parking space on their arrival and can decide whether to use their own car or travel on public transport instead.

Conclusion

Modern parking guidance systems do not only control the traffic inside the car parks. By using wireless technology and standard web communication interfaces, they also integrate outdoor devices and support external software systems.

Their infrastructure also includes locations outside the car parks to avoid congestions and take the stress away from drivers. n

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PARKING PAYMENTS |

Parking made smart Incorporating the latest innovative technology into the world of parking is revolutionizing the way drivers approach the daily task Words | Luca Zanzon, El-Tra, Italy

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mart has become a very popular word. Everything must be smart and this has even trickled down into the world of parking. But how can parking be made smart?

First of all, it should be part of a city’s transportation plan, interconnected and well integrated into the transport system with the potential to share data. It should be functional, easy to reach and offering good service. Enough available space, a good layout and a simple payment system are also important.

The best form of smart parking would be a model that’s able to guarantee the desired effortless parking experience. It would likely have open parking spaces with no

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Right: El-Tra’s ELS10000 RFID card dispenser and ELG9000 RC-2 TP ticket dispenser are designed to make parking quick and easy

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

entry or exit barriers, so it is possible to get in and out without having to stop or look for a payment point.

Instead, drivers should be able to pay using cashless app technology.

Today, the minds behind the latest parking technology are certainly able to create such models, but the question remains as to whether it is really smart at

| PARKING PAYMENTS

PRAT/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

all. For some, the connotations associated with smart parking maybe do not include the above.

Data privacy, in fact, represents the main issue when modern infrastructure is in place. After years of data protection and focus on the importance of personal privacy, it is crucial to be mindful of this.

For the time being, wherever drivers want to maintain their privacy, RFID cards and paper tickets remain the best option.

El-Tra believes that shared tickets make parking smart. Smart parking facilities are those conveniently located close to city transport and where tickets are sold. An easy parking solution for commuters using public transport for the last stage of their journey limits city traffic.

El-Tra cannot foresee what will come next but it continues to offer the best hardware – such as motorized dispensers, validators, and reader/encoder units – to deal with existing technologies like magnetic, RFID and barcodes. All El-Tra’s solutions have the possibility to improve functionalities at entry and exit points, as well as at automatic

Above: EL6000 is a dispenser for magnetic/ thermal tickets

pay points in car parks. They can also be used for metro, bus and train stations where vending machines can be found to supply RFID paper tickets, RFID cards and thermal or magnetic tickets. n

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CAR PARK MONITORING |

Parking and monitoring How do you manage a large network of car parks, collect all the required data and use it for optimization and future predictions?

Words | Libor Revaj, Green Center, Czech Republic

T

he need for monitoring car park networks by cities and large organizations has been increasing steadily. Both require comprehensive solutions using hardware, software and applications designed for their largescale management and monitoring.

A solution where every car park has its own management software and its own staff separately monitoring operations in individual car parks is inconvenient and timeconsuming. Remote operators may find it difficult to focus on more than one screen while monitoring

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Above: Green Center’s Parking Monitoring Center provides the tools for all relevant personnel – from back office to field service staff – to manage their car park networks more effectively

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

all aspects of operations. As a result, incidents in car park will often go unnoticed. The analysis of unconnected databases provides only limited options.

Green Center has created an effective tool for central management known as the Parking Monitoring Center (PMC). This solution facilitates the work of those participating in the management and administration of the network of parking spaces: personnel including management centre staff, field service technicians, IT support and property managers.

All these groups need various tools

and data from parking systems at different locations. Whether it’s the checking of operational requirements such as the exchange of paper, the withdrawal of cash from the cash box or the need for high-quality data sources for statistics and source materials for making strategic decisions, PMC can deliver.

The solution includes a web application designed for access from PC or laptop, along with a mobile application for smart phone users. Individual workers can access information 24/7 from any location.

| CAR PARK MONITORING

Monitoring center

The monitoring center is the operation’s head and eyes. Operators get an overview of events on the parking lots assigned to them, communicate with customers via intercom and solve service cases.

They do this by accessing a dashboard that provides an overview of each sector.

Where necessary, technicians on the lot can create and send tasks to operators. Remote operators can also

Above: The PMC dashboard can display an overview of specific events across an entire network of car parks

manage long and short-term parking cards and reservations.

Mobile operators

The mobile technical operators use mobile applications to receive notifications about given tasks from the monitoring center. For each task, they find the parking lot and equipment names, status and accident descriptions attached. Following the service intervention, the mobile operator provides details about the finished task.

Parking management

Car park or property managers use an overview of all necessary information via the management dashboard. This includes car park status, occupancy, parking cards, equipment status and mobile operator tasks. Managers also have access to controlling and reporting functions.

Data, data, data

Left: How the PMC works.

Crucially all data is stored in, and therefore accessed from, the cloud

Important data from each individual car park is automatically saved to the cloud. From there, the data is available for individual management departments. This smart and modern solution eliminates the problems associated with physical storage.

Data saved this way can be further processed and used for the creation of a wide range of reports, predictive models or analyses to make further improvements in the future. n

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SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS |

Smart parking

The efficient surveillance of parking spaces with intelligent solutions offers an opportunity to optimize traffic flow in cities

Words | Tilo Krebs and Christian Kuppel, Hectronic, Germany

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to a cloud-based server. Via an xhe scarcity of parking algorithm, the data is processed on spaces, especially in urban this server and transmitted to the regions, tests any driver’s Hectronic management software patience. Towns and cities CityLine. The cross-platform are faced with the challenge of CityLine supplements the ensuring a smooth traffic flow, and it performance spectrum of the is in the interests of all road users surveillance system HecSpot and residents to reduce search and allows for efficient times to tackle excessive parking management. traffic as well as minimise The software is easy exhaust pollution. and intuitive to use, Smart parking HecSpot provides real-time whether in classical solutions can provide mode at the PC or while relief for cities, parking information about parking travelling with tablet or space operators and space occupancy as well as smartphone. Free and drivers alike, and one forecasts of projected use, occupied parking spaces example is the cloudwith each camera covering are identified and parking based surveillance times shown. Areas with solution HecSpot from up to 300 spaces no-parking zones can also be Hectronic, which guarantees monitored and notified. By means comprehensive parking space of different statistical methods and surveillance. The system not only based on a given situation, it is provides real-time information about possible to evaluate utilization, the current parking space occupancy Above: HecSpot parking time and incoming as but also offers valuable forecasts of cloud-based well as outgoing vehicles. projected use.

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Easy and intuitive

The functional principle is simple: following a customized picture, interval surveillance cameras or sensors generate the database for the system by sending snapshots

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surveillance processes data and sends it to the CityLine management software for efficient parking management

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Real time

CityLine can monitor the availability of the devices in the field in real time and display their status at the back office. Each warning or error message is shown without delay and, if

necessary, transmitted to the service staff. A further application scenario offers an interface which allows for data communication with third-party systems. This connection makes it possible to transmit the occupancy data to parking space information displays, traffic guidance systems and apps. Parking congestion can thus be prevented while cars searching for an available space can be redirected.

If local circumstances do not allow for a comprehensive development of the parking space, or such a measure does not make sense for economic reasons, HecSpot offers a customized solution. In such a situation, the innovative counting function ensures the parking space operator knows what to expect. As an alternative to the standard functional principle, the counting function offers real added value, in particular for unmarked parking areas.

Completely independent of an individual vehicle’s parking position, this function shows at a glance how many vehicles occupy a particular car park, and can be used, for example, for the surveillance of unsurfaced parking spaces at ski and hiking resorts.

| SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS Left: How HecSpot works, in graphic form. Two key icons here are the cloud and the padlock – to demonstrate that the system is secure

For more information please visit our website:

www.hectronic.com Come and visit us at

Individual tariff system

The counting function is also capable of distinguishing between different types of vehicles. From the snapshot taken by the camera, the intelligent algorithm recognizes whether the vehicle depicted is a car, lorry, coach or motorcycle.

The benefit of this feature is that it allows the development of an individual tariff system, which means an individual solution that takes account of the local situation and can be realised for each municipality.

Smart parking space surveillance opens up fresh possibilities for economic efficiency and userfriendliness. As a reliable partner, Hectronic stands for solutions with added value and invests in the development of new and practical systems.

The HecSpot surveillance system is constantly being developed to meet the high market and customer requirements, allowing for flexible and individual adaptation. A comprehensive after-sales service with support hotline, staff training and repair centre ensures quality of the highest standard. n

Parking Management Made Easy.

Our solutions from the areas MANAGE, AUTHORIZE, PAY and SURVEILLANCE cover the full spectrum and allow for flexible and individual combination, integration and scaling.

21 - 24 April 2020 Amsterdam Hall 2 - Booth 02.310

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PARISIAN PARKING |

French evolution

Paris is in the process of updating and evolving parking facilities across the city with the latest innovations in smart technology Words | Silvia Zarri, Hub Parking Technology, Italy

A

s local governments embrace the philosophy of smart mobility for smart cities, metropolitan areas, municipalities and busy parking facilities, they are looking for futureproof alternatives to their existing parking equipment that they can monitor with confidence.

Recently, Hub Parking Technology was contacted by two different organizations in the Paris area with queries about implementing some of the country’s most progressive parking programs. These will serve as a model for other French areas to follow.

Ville de Puteaux is an extended municipality located in the western outskirts of Paris and is home to a large portion of La Défense, the Paris business district. Every day, thousands of drivers – both occasional users and contract users – cruise the Puteaux streets trying

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to find open parking spots, thus creating congestion in the busiest commercial and mixed-use areas of the Commune. The annual counter monitored through JMS totalled more than 24,000 subscribers and 54,000 occasional users.

When determining the optimal parking management for each of the seven existing lots across the city, the municipality faced a three-pronged challenge: out-of-date technology, obsolete equipment and insufficient service. This was exacerbated by the ever-increasing demand for baseline-level parking availability and flexible management.

Delivering simplicity

The goal, as stated by the management team of the Ville de Puteaux, was to deliver effortless access to parking to the thousands who drive around Puteaux daily, making it easier both to commute

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Above: Ville de Puteaux is home to a large portion of the Paris business district. High demand for parking inspired the local authority to seek a smart solution to the challenge of accommodating both commuters and visitors

to work and visit the shops. In addition, better parking services would also increase the economic activity and competitiveness of local businesses, making the operations more efficient and more responsive in terms of service.

A few kilometers from Puteaux in Neuilly-sur-Seine stands the new headquarters of Sephora, the French brand of personal care and beauty that is present in 34 countries around the world.

The 15,000m2 building spans eight levels and has more than 700 employees, most of whom drive to work. Their transport habits and preferences might vary over time, depending on their temporary assignments, holidays and business trips, which makes it a challenge to keep the company parking allocation and the surrounding city streets free from traffic. Finding a nearby parking space can be stressful.

Embracing the digitization of work and the evolution of urban mobility and its associated services, Sephora searched for a flexible solution with monitoring capabilities that could align to the dynamism

| PARISIAN PARKING assistance. Overall, the parking site comprises more than 250 bays and is completely ticketless thanks to the license plate reading cameras that recognize and grant access/egress to registered vehicles.

In Puteaux, all of the seven car parks are now mixed use, serving both transient parkers and contract/ subscribers, and comprising more than 2,300 bays. However, among the ongoing developments planned by Hub France with the support of Horus Park, there is the integration of 15 LPR cameras that can be easily Number of parking bays retrofitted and added to existing in the mixed-use car parks solutions to existing of Puteaux, which are open facilitate the apps. Hub to both subscribers capture of license equipment plate data for also allowed and visitors audit purposes a high degree and multiple of flexibility and guidance systems. customization on the hardware, going so far as to include the municipality Smart solutions logo and, in the case of Sephora, The implementation of LPR the company logo and iconic technology is no surprise. These visual identity within the fulldays, it is an increasingly common color graphic interfaces. feature when facilities want to enter To ensure smooth installation, the fourth dimension of parking: Hub partnered with Horus Park at digitization. In fact, LPR leads the both locations. A division of Groupe way to seamless and smart parking.

Horus dedicated to professional It not only prevents car thieves or parking solutions, its field-proven ticket swapping – because ticket and expertise and technology capabilities license plates have to match at entry proved fundamental in meeting the and exit – but also allows multiple project deadlines and exceeding integrations and customizations, customer expectations. especially for contract parking. In At Sephora, the lane stations are this scenario, the user can enter and supervised with CCTV cameras and leave the car park via recognition of fitted with Intercoms, giving all the vehicle license plate. drivers 24/7 security and timely With LPR, it is also possible to enter with a pre-paid ticket or use cashless solutions. Another benefit offered by LPR at entries/exits is the possibility to book a parking space in advance, to ensure the driver a hassle-free experience. This opens up the way to integration with booking platforms.

A seamless parking experience is a major goal for smart cities to make it easier to get to work. It also contributes to increase the overall productivity and the attractiveness of the workplace, improving the quality of life in urban areas. When technology enables powerful innovations, communities are equipped and empowered to thrive in the future. ■

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and creativity synonymous with the Maison and to the expectations of its employees.

Both Sephora and Ville de Puteaux required a scalable and robust system with low-maintenance requirements and operating costs. The systems also had to be customizable, with a graphic interface to align with the Puteaux’s city branding and customized housing for the cabinets and displays that would reflect Sephora’s branding.

Another requests from both facilities was seamless integration with existing apps such as the Puteaux Mobile city app, which allows drivers to check the occupancy of the parking areas before starting their trips and receive directions to the closest available space. The management system also needed to align with the Bourse au Parking app, which works as a parking lot auction that allows Sephora employees to lend their parking spaces to colleagues while on vacation or traveling with work.

Implementing technology

In both cases, the communication between parking equipment and the company app was enabled by Hub management software Janus Management System (JMS). Through JMS External Services, occupancy data is fed to the IT interface of the app in real time.

From the earliest specification stage of of the project to the testing and onsite fine-tuning of the installation, Hub demonstrated expert and flexible management of the technical requirements, right up to the flawless integration of the

Above: At Sephora, Vehicle License Plate Recognition technology allows employees to come and go easily. The same is true for subscribers in the municipality of Ville de Puteaux (below)

Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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CAR PARK BARRIERS |

More than a barrier Safety barriers in car parks are a crucial consideration for architects planning the next generation of parking spaces Words | Burkhard Kahl-Pfeiffer, Projekt W, Germany

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rojekt W was founded in 1984 and is located in central Germany, near Paderborn.

Here, the company’s skilled employees continue to engineer and manufacture products on its own premises.

Currently, Projekt W’s main business line is its Integra product – a safety barrier for car parking garages.

The company has become a market leader in the safety barrier industry since the product’s launch in 2000, and its applications now include state-of-the-art facade design for buildings and parking garages.

The Integra product portfolio complies with the German and international quality standards. The company operates with a network

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Above: Projekt W’s Integra car parking barriers provide one solution for ensuring the safety of both vehicles and people Below: The Integra security system replaces conventional systems such as concrete parapets and guardrails with a safe alternative and a clean, modern aesthetic

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

of long-established German business partners and an increasing number of wider European partners. Integra also meets the legal requirements of the state building codes of the German Federal States, as well as the applicable European standards for collision protection systems in car parks. It has technical, economic and sustainable advantages over conventional systems.

The Integra security system prevents vehicles and people from unsecured falling and replaces conventional systems such as concrete parapets or guardrails.

As a proven safety system, it offers decisive advantages and is suitable for both new buildings and retro-fit car parking garages.

The use of the Integra safety barrier system eliminates the need for a brute concrete parapet or a thick steel profile. Dynamically acting security systems can be filigree-designed and implemented.

Integra combines a safety barrier for people as well as car crash protection in one system solution. In the instance of a crash, Integra guarantees the absorption of appearing charges into the on-site sub-construction. In addition, an optional four-point attachment can keep the deformation of the Integra safety barrier to a minimum and protect a prefabricated facade in the event of an impact.

Legal requirements and standards include DIN EN 1991-1-1

| CAR PARK BARRIERS for personnel loads; DIN EN 19911-7 for impact loads; DIBt general building inspectorate approval for Germany (No. Z-14.7-635); and ETA European approval is in progress.

In terms of specifications, the Integra’s maximum column-free span is 5,506mm, while there are two choics of system height: 943mm and 1,143mm. The product can also be used for possible applications in roads with a gradient, for example ramp and spindle ramp areas.

In addition to the safety function, there is also an architectural aspect to the product. In areas with highly frequented passenger traffic, Integra can also be equipped with a handrail profile such as round tube or a Uprofile). The materials used here are galvanized steel or stainless steel.

The profiles are factory dimensioned to the required lengths of fall protection and mounted on site by our trained personnel.

Projekt W has completed 8,509 projects with 4,144 satisfied customers. It has delivered more than 9,100 tons of steel, all made possible by the hard work of the company’s 72 employees. n

projekt w – Systeme aus Stahl GmbH Tel. +49 5258 9828-0 | info@projekt-w.de

www.projekt-w.com

INTEGRA

INTEGRA Extra

THE SMART CAR PARK SAFETY BARRIER

TECHNOLOGICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY SENSIBLE



System height 943 mm / 1143 mm, max. 5506 mm wide

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Meets the requirements of DIN EN 1991-1-7 for impact loads

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Version galvanized / powder coated according to RAL colours

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Handrail:

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Glare Protection:

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Galvanized / stainless steel Standard hight 400 mm / 670 mm Alu nature / powder-coated Perforated sheet / Plain sheet

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LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION |

From potential to reality License plate recognition technology is revolutionizing car parks for both drivers and operators, significantly boosting safety and efficiency Words | Sara PĂŠrez, Quercus Technologies, Spain

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hen people think of high-level technology, the parking industry is not always their first thought. Technological innovations are changing the industry, however.

The cost of operating parking structures has increased, and an anticipated trend of fewer cars on the road thanks to automated vehicles and ride share services may reduce revenues. Dark clouds ahead? Not necessarily.

Parking facilities can stay profitable by offering convenience and efficiency to their customers. In order to monetize their business, car park operators have an array of new ways to increase profits while minimizing costs that will not scare off their clientele.

Installing energy-efficient lighting and solar panels is an option. Using smartphone apps to help customers locate and pay for parking spaces and retrieve their vehicles is another. These can help reduce costs and create a safe, attractive environment that will benefit operators and will keep customers coming back.

All of these options are smart applications that have changed our parking expectations and experience. The foundations, however, lie on license plate recognition technology.

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Above: Operators need technology they can rely on when it comes to license plate recognition – if they have that, both they and the customers benefit

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Essential innovation

License plate recognition technology can be used at two important places in the parking facility: the entrance/ exits and the parking bays. In these locations the technology is very efficient at preventing fraud and undue access, the exchange of tickets in order to pay two stays for the price of one, fake tickets, and so on.

At the parking spot, it monitors the parked vehicle, taking photos and video of everything happening in or around the bay so that not only robbery and assault are hindered, but also false damage claims.

Identifying the plate number of every vehicle has several advantages, with one being the way it increases general safety in the facilities. The other main perk is mobility, meaning that customers will find a free parking bay or the bay their vehicle is parked in easily.

This is not just convenient for them, but is also beneficial for operators because it increases rotation, favors customer loyalty and tends to improve benefits in general.

Unlike traditional parking structures that require a lot of manpower to manage incoming and outgoing cars and tickets, a license plate recognition system brings a higher level of excellence to parking operations. The software automatically saves the images or video files from entries and exits

and links them with those from the parking spot, offering a global picture of the stay of every vehicle from the moment it enters the car park until it leaves.

During the stay, every event is related to a plate number and a vehicle. Due to its extensive range of additional functions and its high degree of integration, LPR technology enables highly professional parking management while depending on fewer hands.

If technologically speaking license plate recognition is an option, from a strategic point of view it is a must.

Global parking solution

License plate recognition technology is the key to making the most out of parking, but it might not be enough. Every parking situation is different. In order to have a professional result at the end of the day, you need to determine your priorities. Do you need to get rid of those queues that keep putting off customers or is it security your biggest concern? Is it a system to find a free spot fast or a customized app that helps the client find the car easily? Are you missing having systematic information about your clientele consumption patterns in order to adapt your prices or prepare a marketing campaign? Once you know what you need, you can then choose the perfect parking solution.

| LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION If you need fast management of vehicles at entrances and exit points, LPR-technology such as the Quercus SmartLPR Access could be the answer. If you are worried by security and mobility in the facilities, then Spot Control, a sensor that unites parking guidance and surveillance in every bay might offer you what you need.

A comprehensive software platform that unites parking guidance system, software platform and customized app, such as BirdWatch, will be able to provide required information to perform dynamic pricing based on the kind of bay used or depending on the length of the stays, the hour of the day or the time of the year to any revenue solution of control access or PARCS. You will be able to get the most of your parking in an efficient and easy manner.

Operators need technology they can rely on. Not all technology in the market uses advanced algorithms that can cope with country-specific features of the license plates or recognize both Latin and Arabic alphabets, states and number, or even

color-coded plates. Car parks need that technology to be constantly updated. If you need the highest recognition rate, Quercus’ high reliability recognition (HRR) could be what you are looking for. Two SmartLPR Access cameras are installed on the same lane to get a “double reading” of the license plate, front and rear. The sum of both captures offers maximum reliability, higher than either one by itself. This way reliability rate increases up to much more than 99% in most countries.

Real-world benefits

LPR is the present and future of parking guidance due to its

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Above: The Quercus SmartLPR Access features Spot Control, a sensor that can be used for parking guidance and surveillance

efficiency, enhanced security and because it is an extremely user-friendly technology. Clients can drive in and out without a ticket – automatically if they are subscribers – make reservations, and book in advance, all in all avoiding queues and taking care of the environment.

The operator, meanwhile, will reduce administrative expenses and workforce, investment and maintenance costs while increasing revenue and staffing efficiency.

Parking guidance certainly adds value to a garage, even if it can be difficult to define it in terms of revenue generation. These changes are helping parking owners stay profitable in a time where costs and societal changes are putting pressure on their finances. If anyone could get to choose between a car park with a comprehensive parking guidance system and license plate detection technology in every spot and one without, everyone would choose the one with guidance 100% of the time.

That’s real value and real revenue.

Quercus gives you the best tools to get that value and use it for your own benefit. n

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CAR PARK CAMERAS |

Guiding the way

Monitoring and maintaining indoor parking facilities is being made simpler thanks to state-of-the-art cameras that survey incoming vehicles Words | Philippe Schick, Schick, Switzerland

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nnovation, accuracy and efficiency turn Schick Electronic technology into the most reliable system available today where everything is thought and designed for customer comfort. The company has equipped more than 500,000 parking spaces all around the world and satisfies the requirements of the most demanding clients.

For example, Schick’s Signal Park product range provides all

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Above: Schick’s indoor camera system is based on artificial intelligence technology and features license plate recognition

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the information to save time and simplify the parking experience.

Schick Electronic is always trying to be at the forefront of technology, which is why it developed two new products to complete its compatible product range. The SP4C outdoor and indoor camera-based detection systems are a new step to develop artificial intelligence and neural networks.

A single camera can monitor up to 100 parking spaces and

can be scaled to match the number of spaces when that changes. It can also be integrated with existing Ethernet networks. Furthermore, it is easy to install, simple to set up and can boast low-cost ownership. It requires virtually no additional services and works in low-light conditions and in bad weather.

The SP4C has been on the market since the spring of 2018, with its first installations at outdoor parking

| CAR PARK CAMERAS

facilities now complete and fully functional.

This new indoor camera system is also based on artificial intelligence technology and adds license plate recognition to its list of features. This allows for the implementation of new services such as space reservations and a lost and found vehicle service.

Schick manufactures these high-end camera systems at its premises in Switzerland, which

means customers know they will get the fabled Swiss quality they deserve. One camera can monitor up to six parking spaces and is easily interconnected to other cameras in the Ethernet network. This in turn means reduced costs of installation and of ownership.

With more than 40 years of experience in the PGS field, Schick Electronic is the leading pioneer in indoor parking guidance market. â–

Above: Schick’s outdoor parking camera, which launched in the spring of 2018, is now fully operational at the first sites to install the technology

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The number of spaces a single Schick SP4C camera can monitor at any one time

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AI ANALYTICS |

Deep learning and AI in traffic analytics: not hype but reality A new approach opens possibilities for challenging environments and adapting old CCTV systems into smart ones Words | Roberto Baruzzi and Sara Giolfo, Sprinx Technologies, Italy

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he enormous amount of video data produced today needs to be transformed into enriched and searchable data for traffic management, traffic safety and urban mobility applications.

Traditional video analytics have tended to perform poorly in traffic safety applications in the case of bad weather conditions, poor illumination, fast lighting change, poor video quality and complex objects dynamics. However, in recent years, a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) called deep

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learning has dramatically improved video analytics performance, making them both effective and robust in complex scenarios.

Historical view

Theories of AI have existed since 1950. From the start two broad categories developed: symbolic AI, which focuses on the development of knowledge-based systems, and computational intelligence, which includes such methods as artificial neural networks (ANN), evolutionary computing and fuzzy systems.

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Above: An increase in computer power, a fall in the cost of hardware and the arrival of the cloud have led to the use of artificial intelligence in traffic management

Symbolic AI was mainly researched during the 1960s and 70s. In a machine-learning approach, the algorithm is fed with raw data, recognizes patterns and creates its own high-dimensional representation of the data. The algorithm learns from data without relying on rulesbased programming, allowing it to cope with a high number of possible situations that would be difficult to program. A machine learning algorithm – especially deep learning – is hungry for data and the learning process is computationally intensive.

In the past decade, an increase in computing power, the availability of relatively inexpensive hardware and large amounts of data in the cloud have together enabled the use of machine- learning algorithms in commercial applications.

| AI ANALYTICS

AI applied to traffic problems

Traffix AI is able to reduce false alarms and achieve strong Several AI methods have been performances in challenging applied to issues within the environments such as busy transportation industry. city intersections where Monitoring traffic flow for environmental conditions evaluating congestion, usually affect the routing and movement analytics. The solution requires a real-time object Years over which theories processes live video detection algorithm to streams on standard measure traffic parameter of AI have been developed.

PC-based solutions such as speed, flow They are broken down into with just an additional and trajectories, and two areas, symbolic AI GPU card. detect anomalies such and computational Convolutional Neural as stopped vehicles and Networks (CNN) are wrong-way approaches. intelligence networks where neurons However, most of the time, are organized in layers and the computational power required where each layer is connected to process video streams fails to to the next in such a way as to offer punctual and useful alerts perform a filtering operation known to control centers.

Above: Sprinx as convolution. Such architectures Following the recent advances Technologies’ resemble the organization of the in deep learning and especially Traffix AI platform combines deep visual cortex in animals. computer vision, Sprinx Technologies learning and 3D Increasing the number of layers has developed Traffix AI, a unique object tracking to allows more complex patterns to be solution for AID and traffic data improve analytics learned, increasing the accuracy of collection that includes a built-in in busy areas and detection and reducing the number deep-learning module in addition in low light or bad of false alarms. to 3D object tracking. weather conditions

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Once the object of interest (pedestrian, car, truck, bus, bicycle) is detected a Multiple Object Tracking (MOT) algorithm is required to retrieve relevant traffic parameters.

MOT tasks must handle appearance change, occlusions, disappear/reenter objects as well as performing data association. The use of 3D information of objects and scene improves the performance of the MOT. Deep neural networks in combination with 3D have proven to detect and classify objects with low false alarm and in difficult conditions such as rain, sun, overcast, twilight and night-time. This new approach makes AID software more adaptive because with deep-learning technology the quality of the analysis is less linked to a strict field of view or the installation. This makes it possible to turn existing and old CCTV cameras into smart new sensors, optimizing the investments of municipalities and national road authorities into making cities and highways smarter and safer. â–

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DATA COLLECTION |

New mobility

Autonomous solutions integrated in road systems such as roundabouts are helping enforcements agencies collect more accurate data than ever before Words | Nathalie Deguen, Parifex, France

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hat needs to be done to develop innovative mobility solutions? For the autonomous vehicle, it is a question of accelerating the emergence of the autonomy safely.

However, the complexity and unpredictability of the situations encountered on the road suggest that the level of total autonomy of vehicles – what is called level 5, without human intervention whatever the situation – will be difficult to achieve for at least a decade.

The deployment of a network of sensors on road infrastructure to supplement the equipment of the

Right: Parifex’s Nano data collection system is designed to support the safe implementation of autonomous vehicles, along with a host of other smart city applications

Nano detects all static and moving objects including pedestrians, cyclist and vehicles, and tracks and gathers dimensions, direction, speed, distance and classification in real time vehicles themselves significantly reduces the number of situations in which not all onboard systems can correctly perceive and analyze the driving environment. This leads to a symbiosis that becomes the key to the large-scale deployment of this

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technology. The more autonomous a vehicle is, the more infrastructuredependent it will be.

With intelligent infrastructure that communicates with the vehicle in real time to transmit the data essential for the perfect perception of its near and distant environment, the goal of autonomy in complete safety becomes achievable.

Data collection

With its experience in the field of speed measurement, French engineering firm Parifex has developed a data collection system named Nano. This system, which

also stems from the company’s push for excellence in the field of metrology, was created using 3D Lidar technology that allows it to collect essential data in real time and in a completely automated way.

Nano is Parifex’s latest sensing solution for intelligent transportation, advanced traffic management, vehicle profiling and speed enforcement, among many other applications. This ultra-light and compact equipment combines several functionalities, resulting in rapid, continuous and accurate detection with a 360-degree range. Nano detects all static and moving objects including pedestrians, cyclist and vehicles, and tracks and gathers dimensions, direction, speed, distance and classification in real time.

It can also monitor multiple spots at a time – such as a large area of a car park – in addition to helping enforcement if equipped with license plate detection or vehicle type recognition, surveillance and traffic management.

Parifex has provided the Nano for the installation of autonomous vehicles for different projects across France. The system has been installed

| DATA COLLECTION Nano can be easily integrated into many applications such as smart parking, the smart city, autonomous vehicles projects, and security operations. This enables integrators to make the most of the cuttingedge technology while providing high flexibility.

Parifex itself also uses the Nano in another way, by integrating it as a cinemometer in a speed control system that performs multi-offence detection. These include red light and railroad crossing; speed, lanerelated and tailgating violations; obstacle detection; and vehicles driving against the flow of traffic.

Finally, Parifex has been involved with the development of induction loop and Number of sensors in the innovative road safety radars. On top of that, and traffic management this technology offers Nano, compared to previoussolutions such as Doppler many advantages generation data-collection and 3D Lidar-based compared to video systems that would require systems for more than 30 or radar technology years. At present, around including better accuracy, a range of equipment 400 Parifex solutions are precision, range, being deployed in France and weatherproof, rapid data 200 additional ones are to acquisition time and immunity be installed by 2020. â– to lighting variations.

Left: The Nano rotates through 360 degrees, which in autonomous vehicles allows for complete coverage of blind spots at roundabouts

on roundabouts, where it covers all the blind spots and communicates any danger in advance to the vehicle, including pedestrians crossing and speeding vehicles.

New advantages

With just one sensor, this technology replaces the same functionalities that would usually require a multitude of different equipment such as ERAs,

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One

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AUTOMATED IDENTIFICATION |

Automatic identification Technological demands for the world’s roads are expanding with innovation, with the number of solutions constantly evolving Words | Christian Schnebinger, Kathrein Solutions, Germany

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ach nation, country, state or city has its own requirements to the automated identification of vehicles. Each end customer has his or her own needs as there are different types of cars, maximum speed limits and lane dimensions.

There are even several applications, such as intelligent transportation systems (ITS), electronic toll collection (ETC), electronic vehicle registration (EVR), parking and smart city.

Ruggedized hardware for outdoor use with Ethernet, Wi-Fi or 3G in addition to software for device management and transponder technology are Kathrein’s core businesses. With more than 100 years of experience, Kathrein is the perfect partner for high-frequency technology.

Kathrein Solutions, the IoT business unit, provides a modular, passive ultra-high-frequency (UHF)

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Above: How the CrossTalk AutoID software suite works, from roadside data gathering on the gantries to display options on the accompanying app

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

RFID reader and antenna portfolio.

CrossTalk, the Kathrein AutoID software suite, takes care of the device management, event creation and integration. The company’s goal is to be the technical backbone for its partners – which include system integrators and tolling operators – so that they do not have to worry about anything on the device level.

Kathrein is focused solely on the given requirements of the end customers and partners. No change in the ecosystem of the client is necessary, because the Kathrein software and hardware portfolio is modular and customizable to create a perfect match with the system in use.

Technology offerings

It doesn’t matter what hardware is being used or will be implemented in the future, nor if various technologies are applied such as RAIN RFID,

automated number plate recognition (ANPR) or any other sensor. A mix of technologies is the perfect candidate for CrossTalk.

The main aim of CrossTalk is to process and merge data that comes from several sensors. All processing tasks, crypto commands and event creation are remotely performed on the devices. Every RAIN RFID reader or ANPR camera, for example, creates hundreds of reads and images that cannot be handled directly by traffic management solutions.

Without being an expert in the AutoID sector, a customer is not able to or does not want to handle these massive quantities of RFID and optical raw data. Kathrein’s partners want to get a lean event that contains the most important information such as an RFID read. This information can then be easily integrated into the tolling, vehicle registration, parking or any other back-end systems.

AUTOMATED IDENTIFICATION |

Modular approach

The case previously described is only one out of many possibilities. Some of Kathrein’s partners have their own software solution and only require high-performing RAIN RFID

equipment. In other projects, RFID hardware is already implemented, but there is a lack of transparency and device management. Yet in other cases, RAIN RFID tags have already been distributed within

Below: Kathrein provides an array of solutions for commericial and governmental partners

the frame of a vehicle registration campaign organized by the government.

Kathrein can provide a broad portfolio of passive UHF RFID hardware, integration software and transponder technology. The global success of Kathrein Solutions is only possible with the company’s partners. These can be system integrators, tolling operators with their own strong IT departments, electronic vehicle registration companies, traffic management software providers, construction companies and so on.

Kathrein is an expert in passive UHF RFID hardware, transponders and in providing identification events in the used event format.

All raw data filtering, AES 128-bit UCode DNA encryption, camera data merge is done directly on the device to keep the process as simple and as fast as possible. ■ Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World

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EV CHARGING |

Electrifying potential As the most energy-consuming sector in Europe and the largest cause of air pollution in cities, transport needs to tackle a profound decarbonization revolution

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Words | Carlos Carmona, GIC, and Antonio Marqués, ETRA, Spain

lectric vehicles (EV) offer a unique opportunity to replace the non-efficient, polluting and imported fossil fuels used in current vehicles by the increasingly greener, self-produced and energy-efficient electricity.

Europe – and especially Europe’s largest cities – faces serious challenges in the form of pollution, traffic congestion and energy consumption. The current mobility mix in the biggest cities is still based on private, polluting combustion vehicles that are not only their major source of air pollution and traffic congestion, but are also inefficient both economically and energetically.

Transportation is a key sector in achieving the global climate targets set by the COP 21 Paris Agreement, and it has a big impact on the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Most significant of these goals are Goal 7, affordable and clean energy; Goal 9, industry innovation and infrastructure; Goal 11, sustainable cities and communities; and Goal 13, climate action.

Above: Inductive charging has allowed EMT – Madrid’s public bus operator – to introduce a fully electric line

Electric solutions

Public transportation and nonmotorized modes of transport are major parts of the solution, in conjunction with the smart planning and management of cities, which can considerably reduce the use of private vehicles. However, these options alone cannot replace all the uses that cars and motorbikes have nowadays, because in maby cases private vehicles are still considered the fastest and most comfortable option.

Electric vehicles present a perfect replacement to internal comb ustion vehicles, offering similar services and benefits but without their environmental disadvantages.

Moreover, the integration of EVs with brand new mobility services – such as shared vehicles – can reduce congestion issues in cities, at the

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same time bringing a reduction of costs due to the low ‘fuel’ prices of these vehicles. The same can be said about the integration of electromobility and renewable energy sources, which can form a virtuous circle since vehicle batteries present a high-value asset for the massive deployment of decentralized renewable energy sources.

EVs are an outstanding costeffective solution for professional drivers, who still need to rely on private vehicles for their daily operations but can benefit greatly from the lower variable costs associated to electric vehicles: electricity against oil price plus lower maintenance needs.

Because of that, the rising environmental awareness and the new mobility habits of citizens – especially among new generations – present a unique opportunity for the large-scale deployment of EVs in Europe.

The chicken and egg

The lack of charging stations and long charging times are one of the biggest concerns for users who are considering purchasing an electric

car. According to several surveys and studies, the vast majority of EV drivers have home charging and only a small percentage of them frequently use public charging stations, which they usually find inconvenient or unreliable.

Current business models and revenues generated from charging infrastructure are not sufficient to ensure a sustained and healthy market growth. This results in a lack of confidence in the EV sector as a whole and leads to uncertain users hesitating to buy EVs, triggering a vicious circle of a frozen demand because of an unsatisfactory offer and vice versa.

Similar problems arise with the regulatory framework, especially for the new electric and shared mobility modes. Citizens are reluctant to adopt these new modes if the regulation is not clear, and cities do not want to implement new regulatory conditions before analyzing the problems of a bigger rollout of these new mobility modes.

One of the key elements to break these vicious circles is to design and develop charging solutions that focus on solving and satisfying the needs and desires of users from different socioeconomic backgrounds and customer segments. Slow overnight charging, opportunity charging and ultrafast charging solutions need to be orchestrated with a usercentric approach, also ensuring interoperability and cross-border roaming capabilities.

At the same time, cities need to promote citizens’ participation in the co-creation of strategies that integrate electromobility with other smart city verticals, with mobility, energy, safety and urban planning particularly notable. Specific e-mobility smart city dashboards and instant citizens’ feedback collection are powerful tools that allow cities to monitor citizen satisfaction and acceptance levels in order to put the

| EV CHARGING availability to access charging points of most service providers.

GIC is currently partnering with key players in the EV sector such as Ionity, Hubject, PSA Group, Volkswagen Group, BMW and Nissan.

New opportunities

existing technology advances to serve their needs. Finally, solutions need to be analyzed from technical, legalregulatory and economic points of view to ensure their large-scale viability and replicability.

Charging infrastructure

GIC, a company from ETRA Group, specializes in advanced charging services for electric vehicles and offers smart charging technologies for citizens, professionals and corporate bodies both public and private.

GIC currently manages the largest charging network in Spain, operating charging points of the metropolitan areas of Barcelona and Madrid, with more than 20,000 electric vehicle users, 500 public charging points and 200,000 charging sessions.

GIC provides a smart-charging platform that allows the real-time monitoring and management of charging points distributed in different locations. The GIC app for EV drivers allows users to see the location and real-time status of charging points; book, access and pay to charge in those points; manage their personal data, invoices, cards and contracts; and filter the available charging points according to their vehicle or preferences. The app also helps to plan the best route to the selected charging point and obtain statistics about charging sessions including energy used, time spent and carbon dioxide saved.

Moreover, GIC offers interoperability services with the main operators in the market, allowing users to know the

Above: The GIC app for EV drivers allows motorists to find, book and pay for EV charging points, as well as provide detailed information about charging their sessions (below)

Electromobility is a dynamic sector in which new technologies coming from transport and energy domains meet. Some examples of relevant ongoing innovation projects are H2020 EU Projects Meister and WiseGRID, where numerous elements are being developed. These include pan EU interoperability across different platforms for the management of charging points; real-time centralized monitoring and management platforms for the charging network, with demand analysis, subscriber management, cards, contracts, rates, vehicles and bookings, consumption prediction, communication with local managers and energy transmission operators; and integration with smart grids, renewable energy sources, advance storage systems and vehicle-to-grid technology (V2G).

There are more: integrated charging systems and smart parking; web and mobile applications adapted to different profiles of end users, with real-time information, location and possibility of booking charging points, as well as ultra-fast inductive charging systems for opportunity charging; integration with shared light EV (e-bikes) and renewable energy produced on-site as a highly attractive solution for urban mobility; and smart grids technologies that allow power networks to provide adequate service to the exponentially growing fleet of electric vehicles also all feature.

To conclude, it is worth mentioning other flagship projects, such as the one undertaken by EMT – Madrid’s public bus operator – and ETRA Group on inductive bus charging. As a result of this project, a complete bus line is operating fully on electricity, by means of two inductive charging stations located at the two terminus stops of the line, which enable opportunity charging.

The inductive charging system is integrated into EMT’s fleet management system, making it possible for the company to optimize its operations. ■

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URBAN MOBILITY |

In close proximity

Closer, longer-term relationships could be the key to realizing mobility’s next great leap forward Words | Klaus Kröll, executive vice president for Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Kapsch TrafficCom

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rban mobility is undergoing generational change. The near-ubiquity of goodquality connectivity is encouraging a wide range of new stakeholders into the transport arena and giving rise to a growing number of modal choices.

The pace of development in the ICT space means that we can adapt very quickly to individual consumer and traveller needs and, undoubtedly, technological evolution presents us with numerous exciting possibilities.

However, if it is allowed to happen without careful consideration and guidance, it may also give rise to potentially serious problems.

Globally, the trend towards greater urbanization presents towns and cities with common challenges such as maintaining and improving

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Above: Truly connected urban mobility requires open standards and a modular approach to ensure every aspect of transportation – from traffic management and tolling and to Mobility as a Service and autonomous vehicles – is interlinked

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safety, addressing carbon and other mobility-related emissions, and arresting or reversing levels of congestion. At a more granular level, however, these universal issues can manifest themselves in many different, and often unique, ways.

Tackling challenges

It is the multiplicity of situations and stakeholders that is so challenging.

Not too long ago, public authorities remained the sole deciders of traffic management policy and strategy within their geographic domains.

Now, numerous private sector organizations may also be gathering, processing and providing goodquality data.

On the upside, more high-quality information is available and there is a greater opportunity to realize more

accurate and proactive – rather than reactive – traffic management. The downside is that not all stakeholders share the same aims, and nor do individual travellers.

Paid-for services imply some form of personal benefit and, while a public authority will look to provide for all road users’ needs, a private information service provider will work to service feepaying individuals’ more personal demands. This causes conflict.

For example, a public authority may have traffic management plans that address abnormal or peak traffic conditions. These channel traffic or hold it on certain routes. The private information providers, meanwhile, may advise a select group of drivers to divert onto roads that suddenly appear to be traffic-free. The public

| URBAN MOBILITY to be controlled, whether that be in absolute terms, or by vehicle type.

Take-up of city-level congestion charging may not have been as enthusiastic as was predicted a decade ago, but the technology is used in abundance in many smaller towns and cities across Europe. In Italy, in particular, many town centers feature access control solutions designed to protect historic buildings and monuments.

Across Europe, the tolling sector is characterized by universal adoption of common protocols. Notably, the development of geographically larger and more complex tolling schemes Above: Mobility has resulted in technological immensely complicated. There are partners must have development that is user and not long-standing issues to be addressed a multi-faceted provider-led. In recent years, we even before the current raft of new product portfolio have seen challenges to the concept developments. Road geometries that connects the of the traditional single-supplier can be complex and lines of sight roadside to the solution. To address this trend, obscured, making the choices of traffic management center, back office leading tolling system developers communications protocols difficult. and vehicle have moved to offer open-standard, Urban areas are also truly modular alternatives. multimodal. Private and public This allows procurement from transport users, cyclists and various sources of the different pedestrians all co-exist in close constituent part of a tolling system, proximity and all need to be which can work seamlessly together. adequately catered for in terms This modular, open-standards of safety and movement. approach provides a model that the On the procurement side, traffic management sector could this can lead to a level follow if it is serious about of conservatism that is creating a fairer market. understandable but can However, many existing hamper effective moves technologies simply do not towards a future bettersupport the convergence functioning mobility The number of different types of traffic management solution. An apparent and tolling/congestion unwillingness to make of data used to manage charging, let alone a radical changes that work urban traffic flow: historical, broadening ecosystem that – or which are perceived real-time and predictive must include e-mobility, to work – is compounded Mobility as a Service or by vendor lock-in caused by connected and autonomous traffic signal suppliers who vehicles. Knowledge and offer proprietary solutions. experience of all these domains It is common for one supplier to is necessary if success to be assured. dominate a city or geographic region This implies the need for a and we need a concerted shift towards further shift away from a strictly open standards. This will allow true defined supplier-user relationship. competition and progress in a way It means selecting a partner with that is palatable to system users. the requisite expertise and a multifaceted product portfolio, which Effective tools and partners extends from the roadside to the The convergence between traffic traffic management center or back management and tolling systems office and into the vehicle. has given planners an effective The emphasis should be on longercombination of tools with which term, symbiotic relationships with to start to tackle urban mobility a deeper level of mutual working and challenges. It combines advanced understanding. In addition, there real-time and predictive traffic needs to be a willingness to invest control algorithms with demand time and money in a greater number management. This recognizes that, of longer-term pilots designed to in many instances, the numbers advance the state of the art. ■ of vehicles in urban areas needs

Three

authority’s carefully formulated plans are thus ruined.

This effectively results in policy being set or dictated by the private sector’s ambitions. Not all of these aims are necessarily bad, but if these new influencers are here to stay then municipalities need to find ways to take back control, or else manage better in the face of permanently changed circumstances.

Finding ways to cope

With so many different scenarios to consider, there is no out-of-the-box solution. Instead, a toolset is needed that considers all existing and emerging elements of traffic and demand management.

This is because the urban environment – in contrast with the inter-urban and strategic – is

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MODULAR APPLICATIONS |

Edging ahead with modular designs Modular Edge-Server designs are supporting multiple traffic-related applications in a more efficient manner

S

Words | Zeljko Loncaric, Congatec AG, Germany

ystems designed for transportation edge applications need to be highly flexible. This requires scalable processing power, which can be provided most efficiently with computer-on-modules (COMs). Three real-world applications – ranging from LoRa gateways for smart cities to smart charging infrastructures and video surveillance servers, all with optional AI – demonstrate the benefits of this modular set-up.

The low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) technology LoRa (longrange) is deployed in many traffic application areas. Smart cities build networks on the basis of this technology to connect smart distributed devices – for example, distributed parking spaces as well as central multi-storey car parks.

Such different parking scenarios are one example why LoRa gateways need to be highly adaptable.

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Above: Congatec’s modular approach serves largescale, real-world applications

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Flexible and embedded

Flexible LoRa gateway configurations are also required because they can connect any LoRa sensor – this wireless protocol needs no physical connector. The result is that LoRa gateways can be used anywhere to cater for any application based on various mixes of LoRa devices. Smart cities can therefore also use LoRa parking gateways to track their free-floating mobility offers and to integrate charging infrastructures into parking guidance systems and so on. However, extending the tasks of smart city gateways leads to the need to integrate scalability for future demands to improve investment security. The LoRa FlexGate FGW264 Gateway from the French company Expemb offers this scalability with COMs. By using modules for the edge processor demands, the new gateway enables a flexible hardware and software

set-up to meet any LoRa-based IoT technical challenge – including artificial intelligence (AI).

The platform supports up to eight LoRa channels simultaneously to communicate with several thousand connected objects. It can further host not only one but two generations of high-performance and low-power Intel Atom processors (codenamed Bay Trail and Apollo Lake). Such high scalability beyond dedicated processor sockets has become possible by utilizing COMs on the basis of the vendor independent Qseven specification.

Towards the cloud, the LoRa gateway offers connectivity with 1Gbit Ethernet and 3G/4G. With such a limited number of interfaces, the gateway is perfect for LoRa-focused applications. Edge systems requiring more hybrid local connectivity will need more I/O flexibility. But even in such scenarios, the modular approach is a great fit for edge computers as we can see in China’s recent edge layer deployments.

Smart-charging infrastructures

China is currently deploying an edge layer for a distributed management system for smart grids in cooperation with Tencent’s Energy IoT Partner.

Such an edge server design in a traffic infrastructure context is quite interesting, as e-mobility has a bright future. E-mobility requires charging infrastructures that must be fueled by regenerative energies, because alternative options make no sense.

Regenerative energy originates from local micro grids or distributed virtual grids, and those grids need smart edge devices, capable of managing the decentralized processes in real-time.

Once the Chinese edge layer service is fully available, it will support thousands of power devices, hundreds of power protocols and online editing of common standard protocols as well as dynamic completion of common standard device types. Such a comprehensive ecosystem could be highly interesting for many worldwide deployments.

For the adaptive hardware of the new class of edge devices, the edge server designers have chosen a flexible system design based on COM Express Type 7 modules.

These modules offer server-grade

| MODULAR APPLICATIONS

performance and functionality on a standardized form factor.

First systems are based on modules with Intel Xeon D15xx processors with up to 16 cores and 32 threads. Alternative configurations are based on the Intel Atom C3xxx processors. Featuring up to 16 cores, these processors are the ideal fit for all installations that have to handle smaller package sizes in parallel while consuming as little energy as 25W TDP. The design of these systems is basically a smaller boxed system, but even edge systems in server racks can benefit from such a COM approach.

Situational awareness

In rack server designs, standardized COMs can drastically reduce the long-term investment costs for infrastructure servers used in wayside applications such as video surveillance systems that are being equipped with AI to improve situational awareness.

For such microserver installations at the infrastructure edges, vendors

cards and FPGA modules, such as Christmann also which the company also rely on Server-on-Modules physically implements (SOM) based on the in a COM Express Basic vendor-independent Server-on-Modules footprint. The modular COM Express Type 7 as address even 5G concept makes the well as the upcoming Christmann RECS COM-HPC standards. wayside edge servers Box 4.0 server family What speaks in their extremely scalable. favor is not just the These examples illustrate flexibility to adapt to recent the tremendous benefits of AI needs, but also the longdesigning edge gateways and term perspective: the second servers on the basis of COM and generation– required after three to SOM. For large-scale applications, five years as technology even the fusion of modules with enhancements evolve rapidly – is dedicated carrier boards is a common expected to cost only about 50% of strategy. So why not follow a similar the initial investment, because a approach for large-scale applications simple replacement of the processor such as 5G wayside edge servers or modules will be all that’s required in for consumer-grade e-mobility most cases. vehicles, implementing first a COM To open up the potentials of and carrier design for R&D, and later significantly reduced total costs of a full custom design by COM and ownership, Christmann rackmount carrier fusion? Embedded computer servers can be equipped flexibly with vendors such as Congatec are ready up to 27 CPU microservers with x86 to support such a paradigm change or ARM architecture. In addition, from proprietary designs towards the offering includes standardized closed-loop engineering with open modular options for parallel modular platforms. ■ processing in the form of GPGPU

5G

Industrial 3.5“ Single Board Computer

High-end 8th Gen Intel® Core™ processors Designed for harsh

environments

Long-term availability of 10+ years

High performance module for high performing digital signage

congatec.com/intel-whiskey-lake 183x115mm conga-JC370.indd 1005578_Intertraffic World TTI_congatec 1 AG.indd 1

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03.09.2019 03/09/2019 07:41:39 11:26

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Products & services

Find out more about the advertisers in this issue

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ADVERTISER DIRECTORY | and machine learning, to forecasting and managing traffic, or offering insights into smarter multimodal transportation choices.

3C Payment (page 191) 3C Payment secures EMV payments anyway, anywhere. Its hosted platform unifies multiple payment channels, allowing merchants to trade in over 40 countries worldwide. The services the company offers cover the full transaction journey, from Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE) hardware, to payment gateway services, which include online and in-app payment acceptance.

Contact details:

Tel: +352 27 753 309Email: Communication@3CPayment.com Web: www.3CPayment.com

3M Traffic Safety and Security Division (page 9) 3M Connected Roads – enabling intelligent infrastructure. 3M harnesses the power of science to make transportation safer and more efficient. The company’s goal is to help improve roadway safety and efficiency through enhanced infrastructure for both human drivers and connected/automated vehicles.

Contact details:

Tel: +34 933 171 693 Email: info@aimsun.com Web: www.aimsun.com

cleaning. Zirocco is utilized for airports, road and bridge construction, with efficient surface drying related to crack repair, road marking, line marking, safety road taping, and asphalt paving.

Contact details:

Tel: +45 74 88 58 01 Email: info@zirocco.dk Web: www.appliedturbinetechnologies.com

Airsynergy (page 27) Airsynergy invents, designs and commercializes groundbreaking, patented clean-tech products, with a focus on renewable wind and solar technology. It is a solutions provider in the area of smart off-grid power provision for critical applications, such as traffic management and information, surveillance, communications and environmental monitoring. Its leading product, the Independent Smart Pole, is award-winning technology and is deployed at some of the world’s leading technology companies. Certified to UL and CE, it can power critical applications 24/7.

Airsynergy has a distribution network across the USA, Asia and Europe.

Contact details:

Tel: +353 43 666 0855 Email: info@airsynergy.ie Web: www.airsynergy.ie

Avery Dennison (page 164) Avery Dennison (NYSE:AVY) is a global leader in labeling and packaging materials and solutions.

The company’s applications and technologies are an integral part of products used in every major market and industry. With operations in more than 50 countries and more than 25,000 employees worldwide, Avery Dennison serves customers with insights and innovations that help make brands more inspiring and the world more intelligent.

Headquartered in Glendale, California, the company reported sales of US$6bn in 2015.

Contact details:

Tel: +1 877 214 0909 Email: reflective.orders@averydennison.com Web: www.reflectives.averydennison.com

Contact details:

Tel: 1.800.558.1380 Email:3M_Transportation_Safety@mmm.com Web: www.3M.Com/ConnectedRoads

Betamont (page 63) Amano Europe (page 95) ADEC Technologies AG (page 131) ADEC Technologies AG is one of Switzerland’s leading manufacturers of innovative traffic and parking detectors. Engineers, installers and integrators worldwide turn to ADEC when looking for reliable and proven technology for their traffic and parking management solutions.

Contact details:

Tel: +41 55 214 2400 Email: info@adec-technologies.ch Web: https://adec-technologies.ch

Amano Europe NV is positioning itself in the global mobility market as a solution and service provider for parking, and has been successfully installed in 36 countries worldwide in a variety of business segments such as airports, hotels, hospitals, retail, leisure and municipalities. Recently, Amano introduced its SMART-line, focusing on cloud solutions and mobile services. Ease of integration, low cost of ownership, fast time to market, and quality assurance are the company’s four cornerstones to drive success.

Contact details:

Tel: +32 89 323920 Email: info@amano.eu Web: www.amano.eu

Aimsun (page 73) Aimsun is an international team of technologists, scientists and transportation engineers with a singular focus on solving the world’s most complex mobility problems. Successful modeling projects range from testing the impact of connected and autonomous vehicles, training artificial intelligence

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Betamont has been globally affecting traffic management for more than 25 years and it has gradually shifted from integration to development of its own systems and applications.

The product portfolio is formed by the modular measure-in-motion concept that can be flexibly implemented on roads and railways. The aim is to obtain the largest possible set of relevant data on the road or railway vehicle itself without obstructing the transport continuity at the measuring site.

Contact details:

Tel: +421 908 740 131 Email: betamont@betamont.sk web: www.betamont.sk

Carrida Technologies (page 127) Applied Turbine Technologies (page 100) Applied Turbine Technologies (ATT) is the manufacturer of Zirocco – a world leading equipment for surface and road drying and surface

Carrida Technologies is based in Germany, with an office in the USA, and the company serves international markets. The computer vision manufacturer specializes in automatic license/ number plate recognition (ALPR/ANPR). The

| ADVERTISER DIRECTORY hardware-independent Carrida software engine runs on Windows, Linux or Android, on PC or ARM architectures. The manufacturer also offers dedicated solutions for parking management and vehicle make and model recognition, as well as a network-compatible standalone ALPR camera with guaranteed availability. The company has implemented solutions providing >96% recognition accuracies for 51 countries on all continents, with more to follow.

with several unique products for traffic control, weigh-in-motion, traffic detection, traffic violation systems, road weather systems, and parking.

Invipo, the flagship product of Cross Zlín’s subsidiary company, Incinity, is a lightweight integration and monitoring platform for smart cities. Invipo won the Intertraffic Innovation Award in 2016. CROSS OptiWIM won the Infrastructure category at the 2018 Intertraffic Innovation Awards.

Contact details:

Contact details:

Tel: +49 176 6331 8508 | +1 603 598 2588 Email: info@carrida-technologies.com Web: www.carrida-technologies.com

Tel: +420 577 110 211 Email: info@cross.cz Web: www.cross.cz

Delta Light & Optics (page 7) Delta, a part of Force Technology, is a leading global supplier of retroreflectometers for roads and airports. It offers robust mobile and handheld instruments that are easy to calibrate and operate.

Delta’s instrument brands are well known – the current models are LTL-XL, LTL-X Mark II, LTL-M and RetroSign GRX.

Contact details:

Tel: +45 72 19 40 00 Email: kaa@delta.dk Web: https://madebydelta.com

CUR Systemtechnik (page 195) congatec (page 223) congatec is a leading supplier of industrial computer modules using the standard form factors COM Express, Qseven and SMARC, as well as single-board computers and customizing services. congatec’s products can be used in a variety of industries and applications, such as industrial automation, medical, entertainment, transportation, telecommunication, test and measurement, and point-of-sale. Core knowledge and technical know-how includes unique extended BIOS features, as well as comprehensive driver and board support packages. Following the design-in phase, customers are given support via extensive product lifetime management.

The company’s products are manufactured by specialist service providers in accordance with modern quality standards. Headquartered in Deggendorf, Germany, congatec currently has entities in USA, Taiwan, China, Japan and Australia, as well as the United Kingdom, France and the Czech Republic.

Contact details:

Tel: +49 991 2700 0 Email: info@congatec.com Web: www.congatec.com

CUR Systemtechnik has been successfully developing and producing electronic equipment and devices for more than 20 years. In the traffic sector, the company has a complete parking guidance solution, including visualization and control software, single-space detection, counting, LED signs, and many more components to fit every parking garage. CUR Systemtechnik is working on projects in more than 20 countries and has many partnerships with companies worldwide.

Contact details:

Tel: +49 6834 4097 0 Email: info@cur-systemtechnik.de Web: www.cur-systemtechnik.de

CWT Worktools (page 109) CWT Worktools has the tools you need to take your business to completely new levels of production capacity and functionality. We promise the best products at the best prices. Our roots are in the traditional sign-making industry, starting in the early 1960s. Over the years we have built up a solid understanding of everyday needs for reliable and productive equipment. Our patented products are developed and manufactured in Sweden.

Contact details:

Tel: +46 (0) 554 333 91 Email: info@cwtworktools.com Web: www.cwtworktools.com

Easylux Reflectometers (page 173) Easylux develops innovative, small and lightweight retroreflectometers powered by AA batteries, designed for people that do not want to carry heavy devices on the road.

Contact details:

Tel: +55 11 3438 3448 | +55 11 2564-4868 Email: vendas@easylux.com.br Web: www.easylux.com.br

EFKON (page 129) EFKON is one of the worldwide leading providers of intelligent transportation systems, electronic toll collection, and enforcement and traffic telematic solutions. The company has know-how on all the major electronic tolling technologies and provides customized turnkey solutions. EFKON’s mission is to deliver high-quality solutions for customers by fulfilling their individual needs and requirements.

Contact details:

Tel: +43 316 69 900 Email: office@efkon.com Web: www.efkon.com

Cross Zlín (page 123) Cross Zlín is a Czech Republic-based company with almost 25 years of experience in development, delivery, installation and maintenance of road traffic technology worldwide.

It covers a wide range of traffic product areas

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El-tra srl (page 197) El-tra is an Italian manufacturer of motorized modular equipment (dispensers, validators and readers) for tickets and cards suitable for several applications including parking, highways, public transportation, kiosks and access controls. Typical partners are international and local integrators from over 75 countries worldwide. The company’s main technologies are: magnetic, barcode, chip and RFID.

Contact details:

Tel: +39 011 2202545 Email: info@eltrasistemi.com Web: www.eltrasistemi.com

Grupo Etra (page 96)

Hills (page 48)

Etra is an international industrial group providing turnkey solutions and services in the fields of traffic, transportation, smart lighting, energy efficiency, security, water management and communications. The company covers the whole value chain, from technological research and innovation, to development, manufacturing, installation, commissioning and operation.

Etra combines innovative technologies with a pragmatic approach, providing advanced, environmentally friendly solutions and services for both smart cities and technological infrastructures.

Hills is a worldwide group which provides tailor-made registration and security solutions to more than 30 countries. Ethics, commitment to quality, compliance with regulations and customer satisfaction are at the heart of our company. The group has extensive experience in providing every license plate technology, material, and production system.

Contact details:

Tel: +(44) 121 623 8050 Email: export@hillsnumberplates.com Web: www.hillsnumberplates.com

Contact details:

Tel: +34 9631 34082 Email: grupoetra@grupoetra.com Web: www.grupoetra.com

Hog Technologies (page 112) Gardasoft (page 133) Gardasoft is a leading manufacturer of illumination and lighting control systems for intelligent transportation systems and machine vision.

The Gardasoft VTR and VTS LED strobes are an innovative solution for ALPR applications. The Triniti intelligent lighting platform provides a seamless, easy-to-use connection between OEM traffic cameras, hardware, software and lighting.

Contact details:

Tel: +44 1954 234970 Email: vision@gardasoft.com Web: www.gardasoft.com

Haenni Instruments (page 137) Haenni Instruments is a leading supplier of mobile wheel load scales, with more than 45,000 units sold worldwide. Its mission is to provide the best solution for mobile weight enforcement. Haenni’s scales are thin, light, robust and reliable. The variety of types, sizes and ranges enables their use in different applications.

Contact details:

Contact details:

Tel: +420 266 09090 Email: export@green.cz Web: www.green.cz

Hectronic (page 201) Hectronic offers a complete range of products and services in the parking and fuelling market segments and has tremendous world standing in terms of quality and innovation. With more than 300 employees, company headquarters in Bonndorf, Germany, three more locations in Germany and six other locations in Switzerland, France, Poland, India, Austria and the USA, the company has an international focus.

Tel: +49 (0)7703-93 88 0 Email: mail@hectronic.com Web: www.hectronic.com

Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020

Tel: +1 772 214 1714 Email: marketing@hogtechnologies.com Web: www.waterblastingtechnologies.com

HUB Parking (page 182)

Contact details:

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Contact details:

Tel: + 41 31 506 5400 Email: info@haenni-scales.com Web: www.haenni-scales.com

Green Center (page 5) Green Center is a producer and developer of smart parking technologies, automated barrier parking systems, license plate recognition technologies and parking guidance systems, verified by thousands of satisfied customers and 25 years of experience. The company also focuses on new trends in software solutions and smart applications.

Hog Technologies is the innovator and manufacturer of the award-winning Stripe Hog Waterblasting System for road-marking removal and airport runway rubber removal. Hog Technologies also manufactures the Thermo Hog for the application of thermoplastic markings, the Paint Hog for the application of pavement markings, and the Rumble Hog, which is equally effective at grinding, grooving and rumbling!

HUB Parking Technology is the FAAC Group (pedestrian and vehicle access control system automation) business unit that develops smart software and mobile solutions for the parking industry, manufactures and installs parking revenue control systems and provides pre-sales and after-sales services. As it deploys its offerings, Hub Parking Technology remains keenly focused on enhancing its technology differentiation and expanding its digital expertise.

Contact details:

Tel: +39 051 61 724 Email: info@hubparking.com Web: www.hubparking.com

| ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

Kathrein Solutions (page 58) Image Sensing Systems (page 83) Image Sensing Systems is dedicated to helping improve safety and efficency for cities and highways by developing and delivering above-ground detection technology, applications and solutions. It gives intelligent transportation systems professionals more precise and accurate information – including real-time reaction capabilities and in-depth analytics – enabling them to make more confident and proactive decisions.

Contact details

Tel:+1.651.603.7700 Email: info@imagesensing.com Web: www.imagesensing.com

J.H. Tönnjes EAST (page 120) Tönnjes EAST offers its customers vehicle identification solutions for a wide variety of requirements. These products are used to protect cars from manipulation, fraud and theft.

Equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, the company makes modular systems that meet individual specifications in security, organization and logistics.

Contact details:

Contact details:

Tel: +1 763 476 2531 | +1 800 328 3336 Email: info@intercompcompany.com Web: www.intercompcompany.com

Contact details:

Tel: +49 89 286 7436 07 Email: iot-info@kathrein-solutions.com Web: www.kathrein-solutions.com

Tel: +49 4221 795 251 Email: pr@toennjes.com Web: www.toennjes.com

Intercomp (page 141) Intercomp is the world’s largest manufacturer of portable vehicle weighing solutions and has been serving the industry for more than 35 years. It manufactures weigh-in-motion, wheel load, axle load scales and complete systems for weighing and classifying vehicles.

The Kathrein IoT business unit provides AutoID turnkey solutions, including hardware, software, services and support. The ability to offer all the necessary components and tools from one source enables it to offer its customers the most powerful solutions. It provides radio frequency (RF) simulation, application support, software integration and implementation, as well as operation and maintenance – all from a single source.

Kamber (page 88) Kamber is a leader in spraying systems for road marking machines. It offers a large range of products for spraying cold paint, hot thermoplastic, two-component and glass beads. Kamber listens to its customers and offers its services with innovations in more than 60 countries via an international network of distributors, including the major road marking machine manufacturers.

Contact details:

Tel: +41 21 691 69 51 Email: info@kambersa.ch Web: www.kambersa.ch

Kelly Bros International (page 117) Kelly Bros International has been working in the road marking industry since the early 1950s. It has more than 60 years of experience manufacturing and applying quality-assured thermoplastic and MMA Cold Plastic road markings and anti-skid products that are innovative, sustainable and, most importantly, safe. The company’s commitment to safety has seen it push the boundaries of regulation and quality, setting new standards in road safety innovation and environmental performance.

Contact details:

Tel: +353 49 8547173 Email: info@kellybros.ie Web: www.kelly-bros.com

International Road Dynamics (IRD) (page 96) IRD’s traffic monitoring/management products and solutions measure traffic, collect data and provide information on operations and performance of transportation infrastructure and systems.

Along with providing advanced technologies to detect and weigh vehicles at highway speeds, IRD integrates other ITS technologies into web-based solutions to improve safety and mobility.

Contact details:

Tel: +1 306 653 6600 Email: info@irdinc.com Web: www.irdinc.com

Kapsch (page 38) Kapsch TrafficCom is an internationally renowned provider of intelligent transportation systems in the fields of tolling, traffic management, smart urban mobility, traffic safety, and connected vehicles. As a one-stop solutions provider, the company offers end-to-end solutions covering the entire value creation chain of its customers, from components and design to the implementation and operation of systems.

Contact details:

Tel: +43 508 110 Email: tc.office@kapsch.net Web: www.kapsch.net

Kistler (page 32) Kistler’s Weigh In Motion and Speed Enforcement business segments are supporting road owners and operators to manage infrastructure and increase traffic safety. Its WIM solutions include a comprehensive range of certified measurement systems from sensors to software. With some 2,100 employees worldwide, the Kistler Group posted revenue of US$473m in 2018.

Contact details:

Tel: +41 52 224 11 11 Email: info@kistler.com Web: www.kistler.com

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Lector Vision (page 147) Lector Vision designs, develops and manufactures ALPR systems and other applications based on computer vision. Its systems are used in different environments related to traffic management and car parking, providing the ability to monitor and control vehicles, improving management and increasing road safety and infrastructure efficiency.

Contact details:

Tel: +34 91 651 06 44 Email: info@lectorvision.com Web: www.lectorvision.com

Parifex (page 215) MAV Systems (page 12) MAV Systems is a specialist ALPR camera provider to users worldwide. Over the past few years, the company has grown its range of products and it is now recognized as a key provider of intelligent ALPR cameras for ITS applications. MAV Systems’ in-house design and manufacturing capability ensures full control over quality and delivery times, enabling it to respond to its customers’ specific needs.

Parifex is a specialist in the design of speed control systems (lidar or Doppler in mobile, or fixed traffic radar equipment) for road safety purposes. It has developed a range of innovative and highly efficient speed control systems, from the captor to the supervision.

Contact details:

Tel: +33 1 39 20 80 60 Email: ndeguen@parifex.com Web: www.parifex.com

Contact details:

Tel: +44 333 800 3050 Email: anpr@anprcameras.com Web: www.anprcameras.com

Lumenera Corporation (page 51) Lumenera Corporation develops and manufactures high-performance digital cameras. Specializing in custom and OEM imaging solutions, Lumenera’s cameras are used worldwide for industrial and scientific applications. The company provides an extensive range of high-quality digital cameras with custom combinations of speed, resolution and sensitivity to satisfy the demands of today’s imaging applications.

Contact details:

Tel: +1 613 736 4077 Email: info@lumenera.com Web: www.lumenera.com

Meiser (page 57) For more than 35 years Meiser Straßenausstattung GmbH has been dedicated to the development, production, assembly and worldwide distribution of a wide range of restraint systems. Our product range covers all requirements of modern restraint systems – both on motorways and on federal and country roads. Steel crash barriers clad with wood, steel sliding walls for securing construction sites and noise barriers round off our delivery options. For more than 20 years, this company has also specialized in the installation of protective equipment, fall protection systems, railings and noise barriers. We can guarantee a professional and smooth assembly of our products by efficient assembly teams, which you can find everywhere in Germany.

Pexco (page 16) Pexco’s Davidson Traffic Control products division is a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-quality traffic safety solutions, including: the new sleek, ultra-high-impact City Post; FG 300 channelizer posts and lane separator curb systems; roadside delineator posts; guardrail and concrete Jersey barrier reflectors; and temporary pavement markers.

Contact details:

Tel: +1 253 284 8000 Email: peter.speer@pexco.com Web: www.pexco.com/traffic

Contact details:

Tel: +49 6887 9590100 Email: b.louis@meiser.de Web: www.meiser-group.com

Macq (page 77) Macq, a Belgian company founded in 1923, is an uncontested authority in the development and manufacturing of fully automated ALPR camera solutions for traffic management. Its innovative hardware and smart software systems are successfully used by the most demanding clients worldwide (governments, over 70 different police forces and the nuclear industry). They offer extremely high reliability and low maintenance.

Contact details:

Tel: +32 491 71 03 50 Email: sales@macq.eu Web: www.macq.eu

Mitsubishi Electric (page 2) Mitsubishi Electric is a world-leader in control room display solutions, offering the latest technologies for maximum efficiency and total reliability.

Products include DLP video wall, ultra-narrow bezel LCD and direct-view LED, all of which are designed and built in Japan specifically for demanding 24/7 applications such as traffic management.

Contact details:

Tel: +31 297 28 24 61 | +1 888 307 0349 Email: info@mitsubishielectric.nl Web: www.mitsubishielectric-displaysolutions.com

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PrismaTibro (page 177) Prisma Teknik, Prisma Light and Prisma Care are all part of the PrismaTibro brand. PrismaTibro has three decades of experience in developing and manufacturing unique, high-quality products with advanced and reliable technology: pedestrian signals, deflection indicators, push buttons and LED streetlights. ISO 9001-certified.

Contact details:

Tel: +46 504 40040 Email: contact@prismatibro.se Web: www.prismatibro.se

| ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

Projekt w (page 205)

Sernis (page 22)

Projekt w is a medium-sized company founded in 1984 with headquarters in Salzkotten, Germany.

All production steps are carried out in its 12,000 m² factory. The two main product groups are divided into Integra Safety Barriers – dynamic safety barriers for multi-storey car parks, and Urban Systems – system housings for storage areas, carports, pavilions and pergolas.

Reflective Measurement Systems (page 35) RetroTek’s technology offers the next generation of dynamic vehicle mounted retroreflectometers. It collects road marking/striping data across full lane widths in one pass. Efficient and safe, it identifies essential maintenance areas with interactive mapping and video for analysis. It is evaluated to CEN EN1436 and ASTM E1710.

Sernis is a Portuguese company that manufactures and supplies a wide range of high-quality road safety solutions. Its efforts in continuous research and development have been recognized and awarded several times worldwide. It is one of the world’s leading road-stud specialist and develops and manufactures flexible bollards, ITS, LED signs, controllers and variable message signs.

Contact details:

Contact details:

Contact details:

PUMATRONIX

Saferoad (page 25)

Signal Group (page 43)

Saferoad is a leading supplier of road safety and road infrastructure solutions in Europe. The group’s core business comprizes design, manufacturing, sales and installation of a wide range of products and solutions that improve the standard of road safety and road infrastructure.

Signal Group is one of the largest intelligent traffic solutions manufacturers in North America, with operating companies providing industry-leading technologies in intelligent transportation systems, traffic signaling, traffic control and management, data collection and classification, access control and detection. The Signal Group family of companies includes Peek Traffic and Rayolite in the USA and SEMEX in Mexico.

Tel: +49 5258 9828-0 Email: info@projekt-w.de Web: www.projekt-w.de

Pumatronix (page 157) Pumatronix is a leading supplier of cameras and flashes for speed enforcement in Brazil. Acting in markets such as parking, urban mobility and security, it has a complete portfolio of solutions with software, hardware and libraries for vehicle image analysis. Pumatronix is constantly growing its presence in the Latin American market, supplying solutions and generating results.

Tel: +353 1 254 9261 Email: info@reflective-systems.com Web: www.reflective-systems.com

Contact details:

Tel: +47 70064000 Email: mail@saferoad.com Web:www.saferoad.com

Contact details:

Tel: +351 253 300 440 Email: sernis@sernis.com Web: www.sernis.com

Contact details:

Tel: +1 281 453 0200 | +1 800 245 7660 Email: sales@peektraffic.com Web: www.peektraffic.com

Tel: +55 41 3016 3173 Email: marketing@pumatronix.com Web: www.pumatronix.com

Schick Electronic (page 40)

Quercus (page 207) Quercus Technologies manufactures advanced detection solutions for parking facilities and is known worldwide for its automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) technology. The company’s solutions include ALPR, parking guidance and ALPR-based spot monitoring, video recording, and the BirdWatch software suite, which relies on all these smart technologies and provides total control of car lots.

Contact details:

Tel: +34 977 300 377 Email: info@quercus.biz Web: www.quercus.biz

With over 40 years of experience, Schick Electronic is a long-standing world leader in parking guidance systems. Its Signal-Park product is a revolutionary parking guidance system that detects, counts and advertizes parking space occupancy in real time, for both indoor and outdoor car lots. Signal-Park is a powerful, efficient and versatile solution capable of guiding vehicles in all kinds of parking lots, be it in airports, stadia, malls, public or private.

Designed, manufactured and assembled in Switzerland by the company’s collaborators, Schick Electronic’s products offer Swiss know-how and quality, ensuring compatibility, longevity and full control over the technology.

Contact details:

Skidata (page 61) An international leader in the fields of parking management solutions, Skidata has more than 8,500 installations in the parking industry and more than 10,000 installations in total providing secure and reliable access and entry control.

Skidata places great value in providing solutions that are intuitive, easy to use and secure.

Contact details:

Tel: +43 6246 8880 Email: info@skidata.com Web: www.skidata.com

Tel: +4121 635 06 12 Email: info@schick-sa.com Web: www.schick-sa.com

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Sprinx Technologies (page 69) Italian software development and engineering company Sprinx Technologies, Spirit of Research and Innovation, is focused on designing and providing intelligent video surveillance systems for the traffic and transportation industry. Sprinx is one of the few market players able to provide total solutions for video monitoring of roads, highways, tunnels and smart cities. The company has supplied intelligent video solutions to monitor and detect events in more than 200 tunnels and more than 1,500km (932 miles) of roads and highways.

Contact details:

Tel: +39 0362 341040 Email: info@sprinxtech.com Web: www.sprinxtech.com

SwissTraffic (page 75) SWISSTRAFFIC is a planning and consulting firm operating internationally in the fields of mobility, road safety and signalisation. Since 2008, SWISSTRAFFIC is, furthermore, working within the topic of smart city – smart mobility, and of late also in the internet of things – Mobility 4.0. The company combines innovative planning with the latest technology, and meets the highest demands of quality as a result. Our strengths lie in customer orientation, a dedicated and on-time service, and the continuous search for optimal solutions.

Contact details:

Tel: +33 1 39 04 05 50 Email: vincent.saubaber@scancoin.com Web: www.suzohapp.com

Tel: 0800 180 000 Email: office@swisstraffic.ch Web: www.swisstraffic.ch

Telegra (page 236) For more than 20 years, Telegra has been operating as a leading supplier of advanced traffic management systems (ATMS) for highways and tunnels worldwide.

The company offers design, supply and maintenance of complete ITS solutions for inter-urban and urban traffic and tolling requirements, with its all-in-one, completely customized integrated system solutions.

Contact details:

Tel: +385 1 33 88 500 Email: info@telegra-europe.com Web: www.telegra-europe.com

TripleSign (page 119) Swarco (page 19) Swarco improves quality of life by making the travel experience safer, quicker, more convenient and environmentally sound. The Austrian traffic technology corporation provides a large range of products, systems, services and turnkey solutions in road marking, urban and inter-urban traffic control, parking, public transportation, streetlighting, infrastructure-to-vehicle communication, electromobility, and integrated software solutions for more liveable cities.

Contact details:

Tel: +43 5224 58770 Email: office.ag@swarco.com Web: www.swarco.com

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Val Plastika manufactures road safety products, including delineators, snow poles, beacons and other accessories for optimal visibility and functionality.

Contact details:

Tel: +386 1 422 85 88 Email: info@valplastika.si Web: www.valplastika.si

Contact details:

SuzoHapp (page 187) Technology company SuzoHapp provides software and hardware for cash handling automation and self-service solutions to more than 25,000 customers across the world. The company’s solutions include cash deposit, recycling, processing and payment systems, as well as a broad range of self-service component technologies. The brands of Scan Coin, Comestero and CashComplete all operate under the SuzoHapp umbrella.

Val Plastika (page 88)

TripleSign VMS can be installed in projects for tunnels, highways, toll stations, bridges, traffic management vehicles and portable traffic signs for road work. The company has active partners in Poland, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Italy, Scandinavia and the Middle East. The most important benefit is that the natural security of the message compared with LED VMS can save lives.

Other benefits are the extreme reliability and the long lifetime of the system, lower investment, a flexible PLC-based internet control system, lowest power consumption of all VMS on the market, and excellent prerequisites for solar.

Contact details:

Tel: +46 8 6267350 Email: info@triplesign.com Web: www.triplesign.com

Vitronic (page 91) Vitronic is a world leader in machine vision. Its core competency in traffic technology is the monitoring of vehicles. With the Poliscan family of products, Vitronic offers LIDAR-based systems for speed enforcement, red light enforcement and license plate reading. Toll system operators use Tollchecker to automate toll collection and enforcement.

Contact details:

Phone: +49 611 7152 0 Email: sales@vitronic.com Web: www.vitronic.com

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create the right mix of members and we want to really cover the ultimate challenges to meet the needs of our mobile society.

The Netherlands is one of the pioneers when it comes to cooperative intelligent transport systems and smart mobility. At Dynniq we are proud to have our HQ here – our customers and technology partners are part of the ecosystem we need to drive our smart mobility solutions.

What are the important foundations of a smart mobility ecosystem?

I sincerely hope that in Europe we can cooperate more. The Talking Traffic initiative that has taken place in the Netherlands means that hardware infrastructure has been standardized, and the interfaces with software have been standardized.

So now each service provider can put its application service on top of underlying traffic controllers. I sincerely hope that such architectures will now get adopted by other countries. We are pushing hard for that.

If countries like the UK, Belgium, France, Nordics, Germany would start to adopt a Talking Traffic-like architecture Dynniq could really start to scale up its FlowSense services internationally.

This would be interesting for our competitors, too, because they could run their applications on our hardware, and vice versa. By establishing such an ecosystem we would add value to services provided to citizens. We are focused on what’s best for the ITS community.

What new smart mobility solutions do you see on the horizon?

Cees de Wijs is one of the most recognizable faces in transportation in the Netherlands, he is a former chairman of ERTICO, still serves on its board, and also helps to lead innovation in the industry in his role as CEO of Dynniq In what ways can we help the transportation industry to work more efficiently?

I think it is important to bring all parties together at industry expos and conferences. Such events make for a fantastic platform for knowledge exchange and help to bring the public private sector together. But they can become even more valuable if we bring more logistics companies to the table – and ecommerce companies like Amazon – who, like all of us, face mobility challenges when it comes to last-mile solutions.

I think it’s powerful to bring those companies together. At ERTICO we are investigating how to

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One concept we are investigating is around shared, electric vehicles. They might require different safety spatial boundaries and could be given greater priority. We are also trying to connect that to how cities deal with bridge or tunnel management. We believe that once you have access to that data you can do tunnel management in a smarter way. Highways in the Netherlands sometimes becomes crowded because lanes to tunnels get blocked since the road authorities don’t want queues in tunnels.

This could be done in a more intelligent way. For instance we could block 2-3km ahead of the tunnel using VMS and keep the left lane open for EVs because with zero emissions they do less harm queueing in a tunnel. There are all kinds of possibilities. It’s about incentivizing the use of these technologies.

What is your dream for the future?

I envisage a mobility future where we will move freely and safely across Europe. Interoperability is key. It’s about climate neutral, energy efficient transportation and smart mobility systems. There is still plenty to be done, but we have a lot of commitment from the right entities to do it. n

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