Piloting of 5G and satellite communications for road safety services

5G networks offer low latency and increased bandwidth, compared to 4G networks, and hence are very interesting for time critical services, such as road safety. The Celtic-Next 5G-SAFE-PLUS project is researching how 5G technologies and related enablers, such as multi-access edge computing (MEC), can be used for improving road safety. Furthermore, especially in remote and rural areas, hybrid communications, using both 5G and satellite communications, can provide continuous network coverage for delivering road safety services. This paper describes the progress done during the project in the development and evaluation of 5G-enabled services for road weather and safety in the context of two use cases

Piloting of 5G and satellite communications for road safety services

5G networks offer low latency and increased bandwidth, compared to 4G networks, and hence are very interesting for time critical services, such as road safety. The Celtic-Next 5G-SAFE-PLUS project is researching how 5G technologies and related enablers, such as multi-access edge computing (MEC), can be used for improving road safety. Furthermore, especially in remote and rural areas, hybrid communications, using both 5G and satellite communications, can provide continuous network coverage for delivering road safety services. This paper describes the progress done during the project in the development and evaluation of 5G-enabled services for road weather and safety in the context of two use cases

Uso de técnicas de geoprocessamento na determinação de áreas de risco de incêndio e determinação de locais para a instalação de torres de observação de incêndios. Estudo de caso: Floresta Nacional de São Francisco de Paula/RS

In this work, the tools of geoprocessing were used as a subject to elaborate a map of fires risk to the National Forest of São Francisco de Paula, State of Rio Grande do Sul, and also to determinate suitable spots for strategic location of two fire observation towers, that could help for the prevention and combats to fires in the forest. Mapping fire risk was achieved by following, basically, the methodology proposed by Vettorazzi & Ferraz (1998). In this way, using the image of the satellite Ikonos /I and topographical maps that corresponded to the study area, such as realizing practice works, it was possible to generate, at the software Idrisi for Windows (32 bits), 6 layers, which were integrated using GIS, giving place to a map of fires risk to the zone. This map, associated with otherinformation about the zone and of the local habits, allowed the determination of the spots to installate the towers. It was ended that the proposed methodology adapted to the study area, and that the zone needs a strategic plan of prevention and combats to fires because of its importance as a preservation area and due to its report of fires occurrence.In this work, the tools of geoprocessing were used as a subject to elaborate a map of fires risk to the National Forest of São Francisco de Paula, State of Rio Grande do Sul, and also to determinate suitable spots for strategic location of two fire observation towers, that could help for the prevention and combats to fires in the forest. Mapping fire risk was achieved by following, basically, the methodology proposed by Vettorazzi & Ferraz (1998). In this way, using the image of the satellite Ikonos /I and topographical maps that corresponded to the study area, such as realizing practice works, it was possible to generate, at the software Idrisi for Windows (32 bits), 6 layers, which were integrated using GIS, giving place to a map of fires risk to the zone. This map, associated with other information about the zone and of the local habits, allowed the determination of the spots to installate the towers. It was ended that the proposed methodology adapted to the study area, and that the zone needs a strategic plan of prevention and combats to fires because of its importance as a preservation area and due to its report of fires occurrence.Neste trabalho, as ferramentas do geoprocessamento foram utilizadas com o objetivo de elaborar um mapa de risco de incêndio para a Floresta Nacional de São Francisco de Paula/RS e determinar os locais mais adequados para a localização estratégicas de duas torres de observação de incêndios, que auxiliem na prevenção e combate de incêndios na floresta. O mapeamento de risco de incêndios foi realizado seguindo-se basicamente a metodologia proposta por Vettorazzi & Ferraz (1998). Assim, utilizando-se a imagem do satélite Ikonos II e cartas topográficas correspondentes à área de estudo, bem como com a realização de trabalhos de campo, foi possível gerar, por meio de interpretação visual, no software Idrisi for Windows (versão 32 bits), 6 Planos de Informação, os quais foram integrados através de SIG, dando lugar a um mapa de risco de incêndio da zona. Este mapa de risco, aliado às demais informações referentes ao terreno e aos costumes locais, permitiram determinar os melhores pontos para a instalação das torres. Concluiu-se que a metodologia proposta adequou-se a área em estudo, e que a zona necessita de um plano de prevenção e combate a incêndio visto a sua importância como área de preservação e devido a seu histórico de ocorrência de incêndios

Potential of ITS to improve safety and mobility of VRUs

ITS Applications have in recent years assisted in reducing the number of fatalities in Europe. However, Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) have not benefited as much as vehicle users. The EU-sponsored VRUITS project assesses the safety and mobility impacts of ITS applications for VRUs, assesses the impacts of current and upcoming ITS applications on the safety and mobility of VRUs, identifies how the usability and efficiency of ITS applications can be improved, and recommends which actions have to be taken at a policy level to improve ITS safety and mobility. This paper describes the results of the first phase of the project, in which the critical scenarios for VRUs are identified starting from accident data analysis, and following a user needs based on focus groups and expert interviews. From this basis, the most promising ITS applications for VRUs are selected according to their potential to address the specific needs of VRUs

Current and future trends in VRU accidents in Europe - why we need ITS solutions

Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) is a collective term used to describe cyclists, motorcyclists, moped riders and pedestrians. This paper describes work undertaken within the EC’s VRUITS project which focuses on reducing VRU accidents through the use of ITS solutions. The paper determines the current accident numbers within Europe for VRUs between the years 2002 and 2012 using the CARE database. Accident forecasting is then applied to predict future accident numbers if current trends continue and no successful countermeasures including ITS solutions are introduced into the Road Transport System. This shows the number of VRU fatalities in 2030 to be almost comparable to those of car accidents since car fatality rates are reducing at a far increased proportion compared to VRUs. The results of the study emphasise why the introduction of effective ITS solutions are necessary to improve the overall safety of VRUs