Less traffic, cleaner air, a clearer future – MyCity Dachau

Inner-city traffic jams can be incredibly frustrating because they make everyday life more stressful and unpredictable. You stand in the slow-moving traffic and watch as the minutes tick by – the feeling of loss of control intensifies with every meter that you only move at a snail's pace. The constant stop-and-go movement strains the nerves and makes even short distances drag on. The noise level increases and exhaust fumes accumulate in the air, polluting the air we breathe and worsening the urban climate. At the same time, the already limited space in the city center is unnecessarily blocked. Often there is no choice but to wait, even if the destination is only a few hundred meters away – a real test of patience.

Cutting-edge technology – for traffic management at the highest level

A problem that is a thing of the past in the city of Dachau: although the inner-city traffic situation there was also a challenge for a long time, proactive action by the city administration should soon bear fruit here: to counteract the congestion problems, the city developed a traffic management concept. Originally, the plan was to equip intersections with Bluetooth sensors that monitor travel times between each two intersections. As soon as these times exceed certain thresholds, traffic signals at the city entrance automatically switch to a program that regulates and redistributes the flow into the city. This intelligent traffic control was initially to run via the existing TOPic monitoring system.
But after extensive discussions and consultations, Dachau decided on a more future-oriented solution: the cloud-based system MyCity. This not only offers better scalability and convenience, but also a more comprehensive overview of the traffic situation. “We wanted to offer a solution that is simpler and simply better. A solution that grows with the city's requirements and allows the customer to react flexibly to changes,” says Christian Peter, sales representative at SWARCO Traffic Systems GmbH.

Everything under one roof


The new system includes a total of 40 Bluetooth travel time sensors and 100 cameras with object tracking and thermal imaging functionality, all integrated into MyCity. The sensors continuously collect travel data, while the cameras provide classified traffic data – from the type to the size of the vehicles. This detailed information is essential for making informed decisions for signal scenarios, but also for future traffic planning. MyCity offers the advantage of having all data and control options bundled in one system, which enables convenient and clear control.

Always the right strategy at hand


MyCity's strategy manager plays a central role in this. Based on empirical values, programs have been developed to control traffic signals, which can be activated as soon as necessary (i.e. as soon as sensors detect certain conditions). “Sometimes it is enough to extend or shorten the red phase by a few seconds, and traffic flows much better,” explains Peter.
Another useful feature of MyCity's strategy manager is its event management. Construction sites, events and other temporary events can be entered into the system so that traffic can be flexibly rerouted if necessary.

Your own sensors vs. publicly accessible data – a matter of taste

But why does Dachau rely on its own sensors instead of the widely used data from third-party providers such as TomTom, which can be used for a fee? “Data collected in-house is trustworthy, and we know the algorithms behind it,” is how those in charge explain it. This database therefore provides an exact basis for optimizing traffic flow.
Ultimately, it is a matter of taste. For customers who prefer data from third-party providers, MyCity also offers this option.

Dachau – future-proof on track with MyCity

MyCity has already significantly improved the traffic situation for the residents of Dachau. But visitors to the city also benefit from it: thanks to the new technology, guests or people passing through can also view information on current travel times on the city's homepage. This not only makes driving through Dachau more plannable, but also shows that the city is willing to find modern and innovative solutions to its traffic problems. The combination of sensors, cameras and intelligent software provides a future-proof basis for sustainably improving traffic in the city and increasing the quality of life for residents.
The decision in favor of MyCity shows that Dachau is investing in networked and smart urban development that keeps pace with the times, making it a pioneer for other cities on the road to a greener city center.

Holistic Traffic Managment by SWARCO
SWARCO MyCity

The versatile, flexible smart city solution for smarter and greener cities

SWARCO MyCity is an urban mobility management solution for small, medium and large cities. It was developed to support cities in addressing two key challenges: the rapid changes in urban mobility and the IT landscape needed to support it, and the rapid urbanization and its impact on the urban environment.