Potholes, lanes that are too narrow and unprotected, inadequate signage, and incomplete cycle path networks: The infrastructure of German cities does not meet the requirements of bicycles, pedelecs and e-scooters. In the future, sustainable micromobility vehicles are intended to close the vehicle chain for short distances. But how can these forms of mobility achieve a breakthrough if the infrastructure does not permit safe journeys?
Long decision paths for infrastructural measures
Micromobility participants share the road with larger vehicles such as cars and trucks. But collisions with them lead to 80% of fatal accidents (cf. International Transport Forum 2020: 21). For the safe integration of vehicle types, a fundamental new approach is needed in the division of limited traffic space (cf. International Transport Forum 2020: 62).
Infrastructural measures must be negotiated between the individual institutions of a city, i.e. between the mayor, city council, committees, district councils and administration. Often the police have to carry out research over several months using speed cameras, traffic censuses and observations to create a data basis. Given the current political and bureaucratic structures, decision-making processes take several years (see Münchner Kreis Volume VII 2017: 69).
Uncoordinated, selective measures additionally lead to misinvestments, loss of time and sometimes even increase the risk of accidents. Cities lack a comprehensive overview of all road users that would enable them to include their safety requirements in infrastructural measures. Municipalities have no experience and thus far no data basis.
Transforming data into safety.
Cirtō solves exactly these problems. The system creates more efficient political decision-making processes by using micromobility data in infrastructural adaptation, planning and implementation processes. With cirtō data becomes a working tool for decision making in urban policy and administration.
Transforming data into strategies for safety.
Front light with built-in sensors
Micromobility vehicles in a city, such as commercial vehicles or sharing fleets, are equipped by cirtō with a sensor system that is built into a front light. Thus, about 1000 vehicles measure the city every day. Hazardous areas, such as potholes and health hazards, such as places with high levels of particulate matter, can be identified by the sensors. Cirtō accesses the scattered sensor data and combines them.
In order to generate knowledge from the collected data, it is analyzed and serves as training material for an artificial intelligence. This enables correlations to be established between the data, so that hazardous patterns in micromobility can be identified.
A dashboard will be the centre of all future discussions in the transport policy and administration of a city. Through interactive, intuitive data visualizations, infrastructural strategies can be developed and decisions can be made quickly. Cirtō promotes digital coordination and collaboration between the decision makers of a city through the platform.
Transforming data into safe driving experiences.
But cirtō also makes the data available to the drivers themselves: Cirtōs navigation enables a more relaxed, healthier driving experience by intuitive route guidance, avoiding danger spots.
App for safe navigation
In addition, cirtō offers owners of micromobility vehicles a rear light with a reverse radar. City residents are provided with a data-based safety system that is supplemented by real-time radar data. This allows to act in real time on danger spots ahead as well as on risky situations.
A SAFE MICROMOBILITY - FOR EVERYONE AND EVERYWHERE
During the course of the project's 15-week development, statistics show that 25,066 people were injured in bicycle accidents in Germany, and a further 128 people died (see Statistisches Bundesamt 2020). Data allow time savings in the development of infrastructural measures that can reduce these figures. Through the data ecosystem, cirtō is pursuing the mission "Transforming data into safety" in order to realise the vision of "safe micromobility - for everyone and everywhere".
