Potsdam introduces traffic management system

The German city of Potsdam, which is the capital of the federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region, has introduced an ‘Environmental Traffic Management’ system. The aim of the scheme, which is currently unique in Germany, is to improve air quality and reduce levels of PM10 (Particulate Matter with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less) and NO2 (Nitrogen Dioxide) in the city. The Environmental Traffic Management system is designed to reduce peak pollutant concentrations by temporarily activating traffic management measures, in order to influence vehicle flow during periods of high pollutant-concentration levels.

The system uses IVU Umwelt’s ‘IMMISmt’ software product as an extension to the city’s traffic management system, in order to determine the current pollutant concentrations in known traffic hot spots in near real-time. If defined pollution levels are reached, the IMMISmt software can issue warnings or initiate traffic control measures. The software also monitors the effect of the applied control measures on the entire road network. IMMISmt is a real-time monitoring system for air pollution and noise, which is based on: online traffic data; measurements from air-quality stations; vehicle emission data; and real-time weather data. When operated in its simulation mode, the software can be used to assess the future effects of intended traffic control measures and scenarios, giving assistance to city traffic engineers in the planning of suitable and effective traffic control schemes.

IMMISmt consists of several modules that can be combined according to specific requirements and can be connected to a variety of data interfaces, such as OPCI, within existing IT-infrastructures. The system is scaleable and is able to process data for a few streets, as well as the extensive road networks of lager cities or conurbations. All the input and output data is stored within a database, which can be both file-based or operated as a client/server database management system.

25 June 2012