VM50kCity – Automation and digitalisation of traffic control on major roads in small and medium-sized cities

On behalf of the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt), the DLR Institute of Transportation Systems and the project participant PRISMA solutions Deutschland GmbH are working on the project "Automation and digitalisation of traffic control on main roads in small and medium-sized cities" (VM50kCity).

The established categories of measures are analysed in terms of their potential and feasibility for small and medium-sized cities with a view to the state of the art in science and technology. The result is a practical guide that forms the basis for sustainable, environmentally friendly and digitalised traffic management in small cities and municipalities.

Measures that can actually be implemented are described and related to their expected effects and categorised as follows:

  1. Measure Digitalisation dashboard & data
    (Sensor equipment traffic volume/parking spaces/utilisation, improvement of data exchange, data collection, estimation of visitor numbers)
  2. Measures Traffic infrastructure
    (variable message boards + dynamic traffic signs, speed reminder systems in urban areas, variable speed limits, traffic light control, use of standardised interfaces (OCIT), cooperative systems C2X)
  3. Measure Routing
    (city-compatible routing: bypassing the urban area, alternative routing)
  4. Public transport measure
    (stop information, public transport priority, on-demand, autonomous shuttles from stations/P+R to certain destinations)
  5. Measures for stationary traffic
    (parking information/ parking guidance system, P+R and carpool parking spaces, car park management and management)
  6. Other measures
    (construction site management system, bike sharing/car sharing)
  7. Soft measures
    (website/app, incentivisation, gamification)

A transport model was created using Landau as an example municipality and selected effects of some measures were simulated.

Traffic simulation of the city of Landau.
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Evaluation of the traffic simulation of the city of Landau.
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Dynamic traffic sign.
Credit:

PRISMA solutions Deutschland GmbH

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Project title:
VM50kCity - Automation and digitalisation of traffic control on major roads in small and medium-sized cities

Duration:
10/2021 to 09/2022

Project volume:
€ 100.000

Contracting authority:
Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt)

Project coordinator:
DLR Institute of Transportation Systems

Project participant:
PRISMA solutions Deutschland GmbH

This project is managed by the department:

Research Design and Assessment of Mobility Solutions

In this department scientists develop solutions for cities and regions to transform the mobility system by developing user-friendly designs and simulation and evaluation tools, as well as researching operational optimization and creating acceptance.

Contact

Dr.-Ing. Christian Meirich

Head of Department
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Transportation Systems
Research Design and Assessment of Mobility Solutions
Lilienthalplatz 7, 38108 Braunschweig