Sensors for advanced traffic analysis to be tested in Veberöd
In recent years, many tests of various sensor solutions have been carried out to measure traffic flows, including through the Future by Lund project FLOW and LOSC. For this type of measurement to work, a series of conditions need to be met. One of these is power supply to devices, something that can be a bigger concern than you might think. Now Veberöd has become an advantageous place to test sensors, because the lighting through new LED luminaires in units that can be controlled individually also makes it easier to connect sensors to the posts. Another important component is, of course, finding a sensor that not only counts passes but can also determine what kind of vehicle it is and when and in which direction it passes - while not compromising personal privacy. And finally, the signals should be able to be transmitted, read and analyzed in a good way.
- Now we are testing a solution that has the potential to meet all our requirements, says Anders Trana, project manager for FLOW. This test includes both a test of the lampposts as a starting point for switching on the appropriate sensor and an innovative way to transmit exactly the data we want without compromising personal privacy.
In early summer 2024, image sensors were installed from Axis Communications high on a lamppost along Sjöbovägen in Veberöd. The AI assesses the type of road users passing by — whether it is a bus, a truck, a car, a bike/motorcycle or a pedestrian — and then the data is passed on to provide data on the traffic situation along Veberød's main street.
Participates in the project Sigma Technology which implements an innovative system to enable smart traffic analysis.
- A significant obstacle to implementing traffic analysis systems has been the high threshold for obtaining permission to install cameras classified as surveillance, says Danilo Chinchilla, CEO of Sigma Technology Embedded Network. To solve this, Sigma Technology uses a low-bandwidth and long-range protocol called LoRaWAN. This protocol only transmits metadata from the cameras, not for example image or video. This becomes possible because all processing takes place at the local unit. This approach protects the privacy of citizens and provides traffic insights without disclosing personal data and without sending or saving video or images.
Sigma Technology aims to address several different urban challenges through its system, where they want to be able to use video, radar and other sensors in a way that ensures the privacy of individuals. LoRaWAN is a wireless transmission technology for, for example, sensor signals with a long distance capability and efficient handling of metadata, which makes it well suited for the type of applications made, for example, in Veberöd.
- We would like to express our gratitude to Veberöd, Future by Lund and Lund Municipality for their willingness to embrace and test cutting-edge technologies, continues Danilo Chinchilla. This collaboration marks a significant step towards building smarter and more efficient urban infrastructures, and we look forward with excitement to future opportunities.
In Veberöd there is Smart Villages, which, among other things, is a test bed for new technologies in a smaller society. The goal of participating in this project is to improve traffic flow and thus provide citizens with a better quality of life.
- The innovation village of Veberöd and the Smart Villages project show how smaller communities can act as test beds for new technologies, with the village feel as a central part, says Jan Malmgren, Smart Villages. In a village, you know and care about each other, which is crucial to getting residents involved and actively participating in processes of change. By scaling up the successes and lessons learned in Smart Villages, similar systems can then be implemented in larger cities.
Participates in the Flow project Lund Municipality, Mobile Heights, California, Axis Communications, Sensative, MiThings, Smart Villages and Acconeer.
FLOW runs until the end of December 2024 and is funded by IoT Sweden.
