A consortium led by Belgian smart mobility solution provider Be-Mobile has been awarded a contract by the Flemish government to deliver a connected mobility project that aims to make traffic in the region safer, smoother and more sustainable through smart data management and technology.
The €18.2m (£15.4m) Mobilidata project forms part of the Flemish Road Safety Plan, which aims to increase road safety, improve traffic flow and reduce emissions by harnessing sustainable digital data infrastructure and stimulating the use of data in innovation applications.
Mobilidata will realise 31 technological traffic applications via a digital road management network of intelligent traffic control devices (iVRIs) that will enable real-time traffic information to be passed between traffic lights and drivers’ onboard devices so that traffic light-controlled intersections can better respond to different mobility needs.
For example, should a priority vehicle approach an intersection, the traffic light will automatically switch to green so that it can proceed smoothly.
Be-Mobile will oversee the rollout of the iVRIs, alongside consortium members Flitsmeister, NDrive, Bosch, Monotch, Transport & Mobility Leuven, Tractebel, Movias and Sirus, to help the Flemish government better reconcile traffic safety and traffic flow, both for active road users, public transport and motorised traffic.
Drones and camera technology will also be used to proactively screen traffic situations so that adjustments can be made if necessary.
Flemish minister of mobility Lydia Peeters said: “Making traffic light-controlled intersections as conflict-free as possible is an important key point in the traffic safety plan. But there are other benefits as well.
“In bad weather, we can make the traffic light turn green more quickly when a group of cyclists approaches the intersection so that they have a smoother passage.
“We can also anticipate driving behaviour by, for example, warning road users of tailbacks or inappropriate speed at construction sites. In other words, a clear added value for our traffic safety.”
The programme also aims to set up a mobility ecosystem, so that in addition to the contractor, start-ups, scale-ups, companies and other stakeholders can use the data to realise smart mobility solutions.
Jan Cools, CEO of Be-Mobile, said: “With Mobilidata, we are bridging the gap between hardware on the street and the road user in order to bring about behavioural change among travellers, companies and governments.
“C-ITS is the next fundamental step to bring the mobility ecosystem and their individual interests closer together. Public-private partnerships like Mobilidata are proving to be an important point of progress in this regard.”
Mobilidata project partners comprise the Agency for Roads and Traffic, imec, Department of Mobility and Public Works, Department of Economy, Science and Innovation, Flemish Agency for Innovation and Enterprise and Connecting Europe Facility.
