PARTNERSHIP TALKING TRAFFIC

Description

Under the auspices of the Beter Benutten (‘Optimizing Use’) program; Partnership Talking Traffic is a collaboration between the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, 60 regional and local government authorities and 20 nationally and internationally operating companies; in establishing and expanding Intelligent Traffic System (ITS) infrastructure and services within and around the Netherlands to tackle the ever upcoming boom in traffic management problems arising due to continuous increase in urbanization.

Related Projects

SPITS

PARTNERSHIP TALKING TRAFFIC

Project Status

Ongoing (June 2017 - November 2020)

CONTACT

Caspar de Jonge

Caspar.de.jonge@minienm.nl

Jan Bert Dijkstra

Jan-Bert.Dijkstra@minienm.nl

Objectives

Providing real-time information to traffic participants through smarter infrastructure to enhance flow of traffic and increased road safety and install 1200 intelligent traffic control systems (iVRI) throughout Netherlands in the coming year.

Partners

Cluster 1

These are partners working together to accelerate the development, roll out and deployment of traffic light data; comprise mainly of Vialis, Dynniq, Swarco, Sweco, Ko Hartog Verkeerstechniek, Royal HaskoningDHV, Ziut and Monotch. The Traffic Light Exchange (TLEX) Platform of Monotch connects all intelligent traffic control installations and road users in the Netherlands, while the others are mainly involved in setting up of iVRIs in different sectors of Netherlands.

Cluster 2

These are partners responsible for second shared goal of processing, enrichment and distribution of a wide variety of data, for subsequent conversion into tailor-made data sets and information available in real time; mainly comprise of Be-Mobile, KPN, Fortgang (Siemens-Ericsson-Simacan). The data is derived from Intelligent Traffic Light Controllers (iTLC) also known as iVRIs, matrix signs, parking garages and various other sources; including the NDW (National Data Warehouse for Traffic Information), the NWB (National Road Database), the RDW (National Road Administration), but also TomTom (HD Traffic). Notably, KPN’s Data Services Hub formed along with partners TomTom, Dynniq, Vialis, and Technolution connects parties in realizing smart mobility by facilitating the safe and reliable exchange of information between people, machines and organizations. The Fortgang decides the types services to be provided to the road user.

Six "use cases" have been defined for practical applications

Solutions with which the road user can view the maximum speed at any time via a navigation system in the car or on the smartphone
Road users see whether there are threats on the horizon, such as the weather situation or an approaching piedtail tail
Giving priority to certain road users, such as cyclists, trams or buses and emergency services
Bring data from traffic lights such as the time-to-green to the road user
Network optimization, transfers schemes for intersections from the VR terminal to the cloud to promote traffic flow
Includes apps that guide road users to free parking spaces

Siemens Mobility is involved in categories 3, 4 and 5 and makes all links with the VRI. Simacan makes data suitable for routing and links real-time data to dynamic routes for navigation systems and self-driving cars. In addition, Simacan enriches the data with additional traffic information from commercial sources and validates data on reliability, among other things (Transport Cloud). As a 'front door' of the system, Ericsson provides communication with companies that build the apps. Authorization, authentication and security are also in the hands of Ericsson (IoT Accelerator - Connected Urban Transport). At a later date, Ericsson is also setting up a payment platform so that more services can be offered and these can be paid for use (as-a-service).

Cluster 3

These partners are in charge of making this information available to a wide range of road users via their smartphones, PNDs and built-in navigation systems; comprise mainly of Flitsmeister, MTVNL-ARS, Locatienet. V-tron provides the aftermarket on-board fitments to enable the vehicle interact with ITS infrastructure.

Inputs

On Board Unit (OBU)

Though many vehicles, such as from the Volkswagen Group, will already be fitted with on-board chipsets to interact with iVRIs; but the Ministry has emphasized to avoid the dependency upon any in vehicle fitted hardware for ITS connectivity, such that every road user can avail ITS services through readily available PDAs and smartphones. The smartphones can connect to ITS using 3G, 4G LTE PC5 and upcoming 5G protocols while the on board chips can connect with all these in addition to short range ETSI G5. Marvell® 88W8987xA, NXP RoadLINK™ SAF5400, Qualcomm® C-V2X 9150 are some of the common on-board chipsets.

Road Side Unit (RSU)

These are the iVRIs that will share to and fro information between the OBUs and traffic information centers. The iVRIs are able to connect with the OBUs and nomad devices using multiple communication protocols though, in talking traffic 3G, 4G LTE PC5, DSRC ETSI G5 and 5G are preferred. Every iVRI can be provided with an ITS application, e.g. ImFlow from Dynniq, with a control algorithm that continually calculates the most optimal green distribution for the traffic lights. The application continuously distributes the available capacity at the intersection on the basis of policy objectives of the road manager and the current traffic of the various road users. In addition to optimization, the standard options include conditional priority for public transport, emergency and emergency services, green extension for heavy freight traffic ("magic green"), priority for cyclists' platoons, and buffering traffic, for example, at bridge openings or ramp-dosing installations. The cluster 1 partners are involved in establishing iVRIs throughout Netherlands.

Data Processing Hub

The national Traffic Light Exchange (abbreviated to TLEX) from Monotch, is the central point for the automated exchanging of real-time data between the new smart traffic light installations (iTLIs) and road users via the Fortgang brokers. The presence of TLEX places the Netherlands at the front of the pack. TLEX is the place where millions of data messages pass backwards and forwards between road users and intersections. Data from all iTLIs (in other words from all suppliers of traffic light systems) are accessed via TLEX, thereby generating national coverage. Some of the features of TLEX are

Scalable near infinity
Redundant application architecture with integrated load balancing
Data encryption (TLSv1.2)
Layred authorisation model
Session logging and tracking with automated failsafe mechanisms
Secure software design
DDoS attack protection
Monthly presenting
24x7 support, management and monitoring
Average latency +/- 8 ms
+/- 45 million messages per minute between TLC’s and road users (SPAT/MAP/DENM/CAM/SRM/SSM)

Communication Technology

Using the existing telecommunication networks means the investments are kept relatively low and that road users with a smartphone have access to the services. This approach also ties in with the pragmatism of the Dutch hybrid C-ITS strategy, according to which C-ITS applications can make use of both cellular technology in existing and future telecom networks (4G, LTE/-V, and 5G) and short range communication (ITS G5), depending on the application. This also ensures the availability of different Talking Traffic services through apps throughout the Netherlands.

Assets

Intelligent Traffic Lights (iTLIs or iVRIs)

Within the Partnership Talking Traffic, a new generation of intelligent traffic light installations (iTLIs) has been developed, that know which cars, cyclists or buses are approaching them. Every car of every marque and every navigation system and every smartphone can be linked to every intelligent traffic light installation from every supplier. All the technology and interfaces comply with international ETSI standards (SPaT, MAP, CAM, SRM, SSM, DENM). This fact makes it possible to harmonise traffic flows more efficiently, via dynamic traffic light controls. iTLIs are also able to give ‘priority’ to certain traffic flows above other, for example cyclists, emergency services or public transport. The traffic light can also automatically ensure that a convoy of trucks can pass through green in one light change. This reduces stopping and starting thereby saving time, fuel and CO2 emissions, as well as money. It has been calculated that society overspends to the tune of 90 million euro a year, because not all traffic lights are adjusted often enough. New iTLIs constantly adjust the settings, automatically. In other words, the investment pays for itself very quickly.

Five features of an iTLI:

The traffic light is connected via the regular cellular telecommunication network;
Technology and controls (hardware and software) are disconnected;
Controls are optimally harmonised with the real-time traffic situation;
An iTLI delivers data (such as time to green) for information services (for road users)
Both technology and interfaces are internationally ETSI standardised and as a result identical for all suppliers of iTLIs, smartphones and cars

Various mobile apps for road users

GreenFlow app from Dynniq for three target groups: heavy vehicles that want to get turnkey green at intersections, public transport vehicles that require conditional priority and emergency and emergency services that require specific and almost immediate evacuation of the relevant lanes.
CrossCycle secure app from Dynniq for cyclists who want to cycle as much as possible and/or get priority in groups.
CrossWalk special app from Dynniq to help the slow (often older) pedestrian with an extra-long green time on the crossing.Five different travel information services/apps for different target groups namely GoAbout, Filejeppen (from Technolution), Mobile Ninja (integrated in Flitsmeister), Timesupp (from Innovactory International BV) and ViD.
RET Real Time, Calendar42 apps for providing multimodal travel informations.
Blikr, Smoover, ZOOF and FlowPatrol apps in for driving task assistance in Brabant region.

Achievements/Benefits

First new iVRIs successfully subjected to chain tests

To this end, three so-called intercluster test locations have been put into use: in the province of Noord-Holland several iVRIs (TLC, RIS and ITS application) from Swarco in Hoofddorp, in the municipality of Deventer an iVRI from Dynniq and in the municipality of Apeldoorn several iVRIs from Vialis. All these iVRIs have already successfully completed the type tests, use case tests, interoperability tests and acceptance tests. The Swarco iVRIs were put into operation on 22 November, the Vialis iVRIs on 4 December and the Dynniq iVRI on 8 December. On 13 December, all cluster 2 parties, Be-Mobile, Fortgang and KPN, subjected Dynniq iVRI in Deventer intensively to the very first end-of-life tests with iVRIs. It has been tested whether the iVRI has properly processed the agreed messages, such as SPAT and MAP data, and received messages such as priority requests and CAM messages with the position and speed of approaching vehicles. This yielded positive results with homework for fine tuning limited for a few parties. In the third week of January 2018 the final chain tests were planned to take place based on baseline 2.0. In this case, iVRIs are involved with an ITS application from Sweco (in Apeldoorn) and RHDHV (in Deventer). Once these last chain tests have been successfully completed, the iVRIs of all suppliers have passed all agreed tests successfully. TASS International also acts here as an independent external party and as a witness and advises on this basis on the issue of Verification Statements. These statements give road authorities the assurance that iVRIs function safely and properly.

Status of orders iVRIs

In total, the counter of orders for iVRIs stood at 581 mid-December. A large number of regions have already fully ordered the previously agreed numbers (such as Groningen/Assen, Leeuwarden, Maastricht, Twente and RWS), with Stedendriehoek and especially Zwolle-Kampen even more orders for conversion to iVRIs have been placed then agreed. Other regions, provinces and cities already have a part but not all agreed iVRI orders have been placed. Especially the Metropolitan Region Rotterdam, the Hague (municipality of The Hague), the

Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (municipality of Amsterdam) and the Central Netherlands region (municipality of Utrecht) still have a task to ensure the implementation of agreements made and thus the broad coverage
of new iVRIs, spread across the Netherlands. The iVRIs correspond to the below list

N205: First smart way in the Netherlands ready for Talking Traffic

N205 in Noord-Holland is fully equipped with smart traffic lights and thus the first smart way in the Netherlands, ready to provide road users with real-time travel information. Road users may receive personal warnings for impending traffic hazards, stationary traffic and suddenly changing local weather conditions. Later it is also possible to receive real-time information about how long it takes for a traffic light to turn red or green. The live demonstration together with Nissan, Swarco and Siemens to Elisabeth Post showed how road users are personally informed via an app on their smart phone about how long it takes for a traffic light to turn red or green.

Up-to-date road works data availability in Central Netherlands region

Successfully ensuring up-to-date and accurate road works data availability via NDW to providers of in car services (via app or navigation system) in the Central Netherlands region, through collaboration of authorities from Rijkswaterstaat, the Province of Utrecht and municipalities already having one planning for road works and a joint traffic center.

Open parking data availability

Accessible static parking data, published by RDW, such as capacity, rates, opening hours and location details of public parking spaces currently at about 150 municipalities where regulated parking has been introduced, subjected to open data policy. Public and private parking organizations can supplement this dataset with additional information, e.g. GPS coordinates of entrances and exits, clearance height, wheelchair accessibility of parking facilities.

Multimodal travel information (MMRI)

Multimodal travel information (MMRI) service, started in Brabant and now spread over the rest of the Netherlands, that informs the traveler about the fastest journey and includes all the desired options: walking, cycling, bus, tram, metro, train, car. Five market parties together developed smart software in an open source environment and set up the Plannerstack foundation. In this Foundation, (competitive) companies and experts work together with the aim of providing the traveler with the best travel information. Within a year, eighteen parties already participate as participants in the foundation or as a user of products.

Brabant in-car III (BIC III)

Traffic flow on motorway A67 in province of North Brabant greatly improved using BIC III driving assistance by ITS in the car. Three services have been delivered (Blikr, Smoover and ZOOF). These services provide driving task support (speed, insertion, lane and distance) and tailgate warnings via an app or navigation system. 85 percent of the users sometimes follow the advice. Also shockwaves on A58 in Brabant region were reduced with aid of ZOOF and FlowPatrol apps under Spookfile project.

Project Blue Wave

Blue Wave project implemented to improve the exchange of information between waterway managers, waterway users and road traffic, with regard to real-time opening times of bridges and locks and the availability of berths at Haaglanden and Rotterdam.

Seamless connectivity with iVRIs irrespective of suppliers

All iVRIs in the Netherlands are connected to the cloud systems of service providers. The user apps should be able to connect with the iVRIs irrespective of the app developer or the iVRI supplier. Dynniq provides on such example involving its cloud environment Prio Broker and SDK, ensuring that Talking Traffic becomes a truly open eco-system. The Prio Broker supplies dashboards to both the road manager and the users of the connected services, thus, connecting the services to road users or groups of road users (fleet owners) with the public traffic management infrastructure. In order to make access to the cloud and the connected iVRIs in the Netherlands easily accessible, Dynniq supplies the so-called SDK, the Software Development Kit. This SDK can be integrated into iOS or Android apps from third parties that can provide a total service to the road user. The SDK also supports Java code, so integration into embedded vehicle systems is possible. The SDK ends up with apps and systems for trucks, public transport, emergency and emergency services, pedestrians and cyclists. Dynniq has ensured that the message structure of the SDK is compatible with the international ETSI-G5 standards for V2X and V2V communication.

Availability Everywhere

Talking Traffic employs 4G LTE PC5 communication network which is well established throughout Netherlands, ensuring that talking traffic services are equally available throughout Netherlands once the iVRIs are in place.

Services Provided

Road works’ progress – The driver gets in car information about current road, distance to destination, appropriate speed limits, closed lanes, also possible alternate routes when relevant.
Maximum/ideal speed – Always providing the driver the currently and locally applicable legal speed limit, also dynamic (accident, traffic jam) and custom speed limits (road works, weather) as per traffic situation/circumstances; for the vehicle type through navigation, dashboard or smartphone.
Information on lanes – Suggest timely choice of the right lane in case of dynamic traffic scenarios such as unexpectedly closed roads, closed or open roads at rush-hour, end of rush-hour and other additional available lanes.
Overtaking – The truck driver receives information about overtaking bans for lorries. The information is current and reflects temporary overtaking bans or specific times when the ban.
Potentially dangerous situations – Driver receives distance information, speed, route and lane guidance to avoid current and potentially dangerous situations such as bridge openings, sudden congestion, incidents of various kinds, an approaching ambulance or other emergency service with siren and blue flashing light, special situations around major events, stationary vehicles on emergency or extreme weather events (such as code orange and red KNMI).
Parking information – The driver receives real time information about parking lots as well as temporary parking locations near destination, parking fees, opening times and the number of available places.
Traffic lights priority – Certain road user groups like the elderly, emergency vehicles, public transportation, heavy truck traffic, a platoon of vehicles or a group of cyclists; requiring longer green light at signals given priority as determined by the local government
Traffic light information – Users at traffic lights get current information about the time to green, to red and the remaining waiting time. To this is also attached a recommended speed with which the driver can enter a green wave.
Traffic flow optimization – Adjusting traffic lights soon continuously and automatically, taking into account the current traffic and type of traffic at an intersection or route using intelligent software that can better distribute traffic across the city network, thus, eliminating peak periods more quickly.

Limitations

At this point the limitations are little difficult to figure, however, some can be as below

The viability of business cases of certain services
Many services in the pipeline, waiting for infrastructure
The higher latency of 4G LTE service
Only limited deployment of G5 roadside infrastructure
Cybersecurity of user information still being worked out
Ensuring periodic software upgrades from partners subjected to policy changes
The legal side of service still being figured, limited permission is given by ministry through bypassing certain legislation for specific test sites and participating users