The PHOEBE Project has reached a significant milestone with the completion of its deliverable report ‘New and Enhanced Models/Simulation Environments and User Support Materials (Beta ed.)‘. Development has highlighted vulnerable road users as the cornerstone of safe urban environments, numerous barriers to properly evaluating their safety, and the significance of data.
Le financement de l'UE ‘Projet ’ Approches prédictives pour un environnement urbain plus sûr » (PHOEBE) Ce projet vise à améliorer la sécurité routière des usagers vulnérables, notamment ceux qui utilisent des modes de mobilité active et des trottinettes électriques. Il s'appuie sur les atouts des outils d'évaluation de la sécurité routière de iRAP et sur les technologies de simulation et d'intelligence artificielle d'AIMSUN pour proposer des outils de prédiction de la sécurité harmonisés, intégrés et de pointe à l'échelle mondiale, qui prennent en compte le sexe, l'âge et le niveau de capacité afin d'anticiper les besoins futurs en matière de mobilité.
The Beta report is an interim deliverable that explores the current stage of technological development. It captures the preparation and development of the enhanced models, simulation environments and user support materials ready for testing in the three PHOEBE pilot sites of Athens, Valencia and the West Midlands.
Specifically, it includes the preparation of several aspects for integration into the AIMSUN traffic simulation environment, including:
- Mode shift and induced demand models to facilitate dynamic outputs, reflecting fluctuations in traffic flow and speed.
- Human behavioural models to enhance the understanding of user interactions and decision-making processes.
- Road safety assessment model enhancements, including refined data segmentation and dynamic risk ratings based on variable speed and flows.
- Upgrades to the ‘AIMSUN Next’ simulation environment, aimed at improving simulation accuracy and realism.
- Integration procedures and strategies for representing behavioural changes and induced demand in simulation scenarios, highlighting the project’s commitment to addressing complex urban mobility challenges.
Amidst these advancements, two critical lessons have emerged:
Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) Remain Central to Urban Safety:
It is firmly established that VRUs constitute the cornerstone of safety in urban environments. However, the PHOEBE project team has encountered numerous barriers in properly evaluating their safety. These obstacles range from the absence of dedicated data and the need to enhance models for these users to a lack of studies in specific fields. There is still much to be developed in the realm of VRU safety. PHOEBE’s role is to address the gaps in the project’s scope and highlight others for the road safety community.
Data Emerges as a Core Pillar:
Data is the backbone of the PHOEBE project, driving both model development and calibration/validation processes. However, navigating data complexities, including access, compliance, and processing, poses significant challenges. Project partners actively map data sources and develop guidelines to streamline data utilization within the framework, facilitating broader adoption and applicability.
A subsequent deliverable of the PHOEBE Project will present the complete documentation for each component and the integration protocols.
