Stadtinfo Cologne

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The Stadtinfo Köln project is a system that collects a multitude of various traffic data on a continuous basis. Stadtinfo Köln permits individuals to access specific traffic information through the Internet, in-car systems, mobile communication devices and specially installed traffic information points throughout the city. Drivers can pre-book parking spaces by submitting their number plate details which are then read by a camera and checked against a database of registrations at the car park. Stadtinfo Köln (City Info Cologne) is a research projectfinanced by the German Federal Ministry of Research that centresaround the collection of various traffic data to be distributed todiverse platforms including the Internet, portable devices such asPDAs and mobile telephones, in-car navigation systems and variablemessage signs throughout the city. The project was implemented over a four-year period from 1998 to October 2002 by 15 partners inco-operation with the city of Cologne at a cost of €16.1million. Stadtinfo Köln is a system that continuously collects various pieces of traffic data. The data collected includes: road traffic flows, construction site locations, events, route recommendations, short-term traffic forecasts, travel times between destinations, public transport timetables and fares, cancellations, comparison of travel times and cost for different modes of transport, parking information, parking forecasts, local weather forecasts and carpool services available. The data is stored in Cologne’s traffic control centre and on a dedicated server. Road traffic data is collected using existing infrastructure withtraffic sensors (inductive loops) measuring the number of vehicles and traffic speeds at a specific location that are linked to Cologne’s traffic light network. Additionally, 245 infrared sensors have been installed on 141 routes throughout the city. Thirty-seven car parks with a total capacity of around 17,000spaces are connected to the system. Users can check the availabilityof parking spaces at specific car parks as well as short-term parkingspace availability forecasts. In addition to that, around 1,000parking meters are connected to the system, which monitorsavailability of spaces as well as possible parking meter defects. The objective is to provide drivers with accurate and timelyparking information and thus reduce their travel times whiledecreasing the number of cars searching for empty parking spaces. Drivers can also log on to the system to pre-book parking spacesat car parks of their choice by submitting their number plate detailsor an identification number. When the vehicle arrives at thelocation, its number plate is read by a camera and checked against adatabase of registrations. In the future this system may be supplemented by on-boardcommunication devices employing short range transmission technologiessuch as Bluetooth to identify a vehicle. INFORMATION SERVICES The data is disseminated from the traffic control centre and theStadtinfo server to various destinations. The traffic control centredistributes collective traffic data to a parking guidance system,variable message signs, videotext, TV, radio and the print media.Individuals can access specific information through the Internet,in-car systems, mobile telephones and specially installed trafficinformation points throughout Cologne. 19 Variable message signs have been installed in Cologne to informroad users of traffic situations. The signs show messages that areautomatically generated taking into account both traffic flowinformation as well as information about the current parkingsituation. Each sign is uniquely configured and shows differentmessages according to its location and distance to an incident, suchas a traffic jam or roadworks, and indicates alternative routes asappropriate. Stadtinfo Cologne uses simulation models to calculate individualtravel times between destinations on main roads. A user can requestthis information and then choose the appropriate mode of transport,including public transport such as buses and light rail. The systemalso provides short-term traffic forecasts on the basis of the datacollected. PROJECT FINANCE AND PARTICIPANTS Stadtinfo Köln is funded by the German Federal Ministry ofResearch (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung) at atotal cost of around €16.1 million. The project is broken downinto 15 working areas, which are implemented by 15 partners incooperation with the City of Cologne. These partners include aveGmbH, BMW Group, CAOS GmbH, CarPool GmbH, Dambach GmbH, DLR e.V.,Ford Research Center, Aachen GmbH, isac, RWTH Aachen, ISB, RWTHAachen, Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG (KVB), meteomediaDeutschland GmbH, PTV AG, Robert Bosch GmbH, SfV, University ofCologne and Siemens AG.

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