Málaga has become the first city in Europe to test Kapsch TrafficCom’s dynamic signalling system and real-time traffic optimiser for the improvement of urban mobility. With a duration of two years and the possibility of two annual extensions, the projects in the Spanish city will complement tests carried out in other European locations.
 
“It is very satisfying for Málaga to be the first city in Europe to realise a project of this magnitude,” said José Del Río, Málaga’s councillor for mobility. “The technology will optimise the city’s traffic for the benefit of our citizens’ quality of life, resulting in less time in the car throughout their journey. This project also reinforces Málaga’s position as an urban laboratory for testing technological initiatives.”
 
The main objective of the demand management project is to provide vehicle users with alternative routes, thereby reducing traffic saturation during peak periods or in the case of unforeseen events. Through a dynamic signalling system with variable message signs (VMS) and a virtual VMS mobile application developed by Austrian company Kapsch, the most appropriate route advice will be displayed and indicated via audio in real time to vehicle drivers when they near a decision point.
 
It uses the information from the traffic light system for calculation and decision making to select the most recommended route dynamically in every situation. The development of the capacity management allows for the use of a real-time traffic optimiser, which dynamically modifies the duration of green areas on the route depending on the traffic conditions detected by the installed sensor system.
 
“Public-private partnerships allow faster progress in the evaluation of innovations for new mobility,” said Juan Marín Cruzado, city director at Kapsch TrafficCom. “The agreement we have signed enables the city of Málaga to be a showcase project for the use of demand and capacity management systems, which we will develop, implement and evaluate as part of a ground-breaking proof of concept in Europe.
 
The agreement does not provide for financial compensation by either party and will enable the city of Málaga, once the two developments have been implemented, to continue to include all the city’s roads and receive free real-time information on the city’s traffic situation through navigation development. This will enable the city to offer citizens ways to improve traffic and reduce emissions, as well as alternative routes for their journeys.
 
Kapsch TrafficCom provides intelligent transportation systems in the fields of tolling, traffic management, smart urban mobility, traffic safety and security, and connected vehicles. As part of the Kapsch Group, Kapsch TrafficCom with headquarters in Vienna has subsidiaries and branches in more than 30 countries. It has about 5000 employees and generated revenues of €738m in fiscal year 2018/19.
 
The picture shows the signing of the agreement from the project. From the left are: Trinidad Hernández, mobility director in Málaga Council; José del Río; and Juan Marín Cruzado.