Launching SmartZone Buffer as new application from the DMI ecosystem

The Dutch Municipality of Helmond, SWARCO, MAPtm, V-Tron, Coding the Curbs and Future Mobility Park will sign today during Intertraffic 2024 the collaboration from the DMI ecosystem, through which we will put the SmartZone Buffer project into practice in many municipalities in the Netherlands in the coming years.

The city of the future can no longer allow road safety, livability and climate to be compromised. Space in cities is limited. Livability and road safety are coming under increasing pressure. Smart steering will have to take place in this city already at the “gate. For example, traffic must be directed away from schools and places where there are already many emissions.

The SmartZone Buffer is a collection of services for the so-called 'Data15', the fifteen most important points of information for availability assurance and traffic information for a smart, safe and livable city. With the SmartZone Buffer, we want to realize static and dynamic zones. SWARCO's team is working together to ensure that the urban mobility management platform, SWARCO MyCity has access to various traffic control devices in the Helmond municipality, to map accurate traffic conditions. A pilot setup of SWARCO AirDec also measures climate data and noise, and light intensity to make intersections smarter.

Partner V-Tron is working on an Intelligent Speed Assistance System (ISA) application. Cars that are ISA-enabled can read roadside traffic signs. For example, the municipality can check whether newly placed traffic signs, such as setting a speed limit, match the advice given in a zone. With this information, we optimize the SmartZone Buffer system.

MAPtm implements the Traffic Management Service Desk for digitizing and translating urban mobility policies into operational data-driven traffic management services.

SWARCO is already working with partner TomTom to realize an integration of the TomTom system with the built-in car navigation so that the municipality can advise road users on the best route. In the map of the municipality of Helmond, for example, we will show real-time air quality in addition to the best travel times in the future. TU/e and HAN will conduct research into user experiences and effect measurements.

The Municipality of Helmond can use this to realize an environmental zone or, with a so-called dynamic zone, assign the function of parking space, loading and unloading area and terrace on a single day. In the future, logistics parties can use the SmartZone Buffer App, a development by partner Coding the Curbs, to make a time reservation for loading and unloading at a specific location.

In this way, with all parties involved, we are creating a solution focused on intelligent connectivity. The SmartZone Buffer is one of the new applications being realized from the DMI ecosystem: a public-private partnership focused on smart, sustainable urbanization and mobility system, made possible in part by the 'Nationaal Groeifonds', a Dutch Fund to stimulate growth in Innovation.