Intelligent transport systems from Saxony-Anhalt

Pioneering projects for sustainable logistics in the battle against traffic chaos

The challenges for future-orientated traffic management systems are huge; a limited traffic infrastructure, an increasing traffic volume in the big cities, increased air and environmental pollution as well as the changed requirements for mobility caused by demographic change all require innovative solutions. In Saxony-Anhalt, scientists and economists are working together to research and develop technologies for intelligent traffic management. The key areas of activity are determined in the IVE framework plan of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. In future, local mobility options will be linked with one another and with satellite-based road, traffic and travel data. Innovative systems in the field of car-to-infrastructure and car-to-car communication support traffic management. The existing transport routes and means can be used better in the future, both in terms of the amount of traffic volume and low-CO2 transport solutions.

Galileo transport - applied transport research in Saxony-Anhalt

The potential of European or American satellite navigation systems such as GPS, Galileo and GLONASS, in combination with terrestrial tracking, navigation and communication systems are the basis for a wide field of research in Saxony-Anhalt. The Galileo test field in Saxony-Anhalt, run by the Otto-von-Guericke University in Magdeburg, is developing application-orientated solutions for future mobility and logistics in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and IFF Automation, the ifak Institut für Automation und Kommunikation e.V., Hallesche Verkehrs-AG and Satelliten Navigation Sachsen-Anhalt e.V. The development of the digital infrastructure will above all accelerate the digitalisation of mobility and the applied research will open up innovative potential for flexibility, automation and networking. The Galileo test field in Saxony-Anhalt is an innovation centre for digital infrastructure, mobility and logistics, the infrastructure of which stretches across the cities Magdeburg and Halle (Saale), providing the best requirements for the development and testing of communication solutions in transport and logistics, both on a test level under laboratory conditions and also in real-life traffic. Additionally, the MOSAIQUE test field in Halle (Saale) has tested hardware and software for modern traffic management. For this purpose, a tram has been equipped with a measurement data logging system that has a highly-precise GNSS satellite receiver and sensitive sensors. It enables a 3D route model and further information about the urban surroundings to be created, stored in databases and be retrieved via different communication channels.

Because of the intelligent connection between the infrastructure used in the test fields with modern simulation technology, there are good prerequisites for the research and development of reliable intelligent traffic management systems.

Sustainable logistics thanks to electromobility and real-time navigation

The transport solutions of the future must be sustainable, environmentally friendly and low in CO2. Only with innovative mobility solutions can the growing traffic volume be consistent with climate protection. Under the coordination of NASA GmbH (Saxony-Anhalt's public transport service), a consortium of eight companies and research partners has been tasked with the "Green Mobility Chain" project. The goal is to develop and test an attractive range in Central Germany that is linked with public transport. Using a specially developed app (in a test phase), mobility offers such as train, bus, car, bicycle, electromobility and car and bike sharing will be intermodally connected. The result could be a mobility navigation system that will enable the shortest or quickest way to get from A to B for the travellers' respective needs, using a mobility navigation system. Instead of sitting in a traffic jam or searching for a parking space, the legs are sensibly and time-sparingly linked using car-sharing and public transport. At the same time, the partners are examining how electromobility in the business model of the public transport network can be integrated within the energy supply or housing construction.

Another requirement for visionary intelligent assistance systems is the real-time networking of vehicles with one another and with the infrastructure. For this purpose, the "fast traffic - integration, evaluation and testing of real-time based, cooperative traffic applications" project has been started, based at the ifak Institut für Automation und Kommunikation e.V. in Magdeburg. One of the goals is to develop a real-time capable test system for highly distributed Car2x applications, in order to display the reliability of the new developments in extensive tests.

The technologies and system solutions developed in Saxony-Anhalt can be transferred to urban logistics requirements worldwide. The region's own network of scientists and economists make Saxony-Anhalt an appealing location in Europe for investors in Germany and abroad.

Caption: Galileo test field in Saxony-Anhalt.

Author: Miriam Fuchs

Photo: Fraunhofer IFF