Experts discuss data issues around new driving technologies
Posted on: 13 September 2016
Rapidly accelerating developments in connected vehicles and automated driving is bringing new challenges to all involved in the traffic information and traffic-management services, and the interdependency between both continues to get stronger.
Experts discussed some of these challenges and their potential solutions at the DATEX II User Forum at Trinity. Hosted in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Intelligent Transport Systems Ireland, Trinity, and assisted by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, this is the first time it has been held in Ireland
DATEX II is a unique data standard and service enabler for the management and exchange of traffic and travel data. The DATEXII User Forums are held every two years and have previously been held in Prague, Stockholm and Berlin. Over 100 experts from all over the EU, from both public government and private industry, will attend.
To achieve all the promised features and expected impact of the new driving technologies (e.g. self drive vehicles, accidents, weather reports, traffic delays, etc.), information needs to be in a common language throughout all mediums for the end user, whether it’s a Traffic Control Centre (TCC) or an individual using Google Traffic.
To achieve this, DATEX II is used as the standard to maximise the capacities of road networks and reduce the negative effects of congestion, by disseminating relevant information to all stakeholders in as quick and efficient a manner as possible, thus providing a positive environmental impact, while also improving safety.
DATEX II’s programming applications also support the exchange of information across all modes of transport including trains, buses, and trams, etc. This functionality helps support the interoperability between various modal control centres to create greater mobility management for all private and public transport managers and users.
Most recently, DATEXII has been specified as the required data exchange standard in the European Directive 2010/40/EU, commonly referred to as the ‘ITS Directive’. This directive mandates the open publication and exchange of intelligent transport systems traffic related data.
The goal is to not only enable EU member states and their various operators to seamlessly exchange traffic information in an automated way in real-time between national and international control centres, but also to disseminate relevant traffic information to service providers (such as Tom Tom, Garmin, and Google Traffic) in a standardised way.
Welcoming delegates to the event, Dean of Trinity’s Faculty of Engineering Mathematics and Science, Professor Vinny Cahill, noted that improving the safety, sustainability and efficiency of transportation networks was a focus of research right across the College, bridging the strategic research themes including sustainability, smart cities, and telecommunications.
Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering, Dr Brian Caulfield, and a board member of ITS Ireland was involved in organising the event. He said: “Hosting this event in the heart of Dublin in the Trinity College campus is a real honour. It will showcase the ground-breaking work being conducted in this field in Trinity, ITS, and in Ireland.”