probe data validation we see exactly
where roadworks are taking place.
That’s important information, where
we make the difference. Likewise,
official government sources might
report an accident with a TMC
location, but that’s based on loops
and not always accurate. We can see
where the jam is more precisely. So
we validate it using floating car data.”
TomTom is then able to
send out warnings of jams,
not only to TMCs but also
drivers using its navigation
tools both in onboard
devices and embedded
automotive navigation
systems, via its OEM
partners.
For those working in the TMCs
comparing different data sources
is essential. For, as advanced as
floating car data is, there are still
certain parts of the overall picture it
cannot glean. “With floating car data
we cannot see, for example, if it’s two
lanes closed or one lane closed or
what’s causing the obstruction.
We need additional TMC input.
Above: Connected
cars can help to reveal
the type of incident
to other approaching
connected vehicles
That is gained from roadside
cameras,” adds De Smedt.
However, aggregating the various
data streams can be an arduous and
time-consuming task for traffic
managers to undertake. Many TMCs
simply don’t have the resources to
build reliable systems from these
streams. This is where a service such
as PTV’s Optima can come in.
“We use as much data as possible
and the system is flexible,” says PTV
business manager Robin Huizenga.
“If you go to one data source and for
whatever reason it’s down and you
miss it, we can switch to another. We
have the platform if you want to API
our solution and in the background
we will sort out whether we use
Official government sources
might report an accident with
a TMC location, but that’s based on loops
and not always accurate. We can see
where the jam is more precisely
Maarten De Smedt, strategic account manager,
TomTom Maps
| Probe Data
TomTom or Here or loops or whatever
else there is. That’s our responsibility.
We ensure that your system is still
running and we will fill in the gaps
with algorithms for the modelling
part. So government doesn’t need to
look at a data source but describe
what they want as a functional
specification and let us decide which
data source is best to make a reliable
system. We are partners with TomTom,
Here, Inrix and many more.”
Out of the loop
While roadside cameras and loops
have their place, the high cost of
installing such systems means that
their days may be numbered,
particularly in countries that are only
just beginning to bring advanced
traffic management systems online.
In such locals the obvious solution
is to skip high-cost infrastructure
and go straight to low-cost floatingcar
solutions.
“There’s been a lot of investment
in fixed sensors,” says Dominic
Jordan, chief data scientist at Inrix.
“But the quality and breadth of data
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