Intelligent traffic control installation (iVRI)

Municipality of Velsen

Whereas ordinary traffic lights register by detection loops (sensors in the road) that traffic is passing over, 'smart' traffic lights additionally register via apps what kind and how much traffic is coming. This allows traffic lights to see traffic "arriving" earlier and thus determine how long the traffic light is on green.

Last change on 2nd of April 2025, at 14:10 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0

• Publication category: Impactful algorithms
• Impact assessment: Field not filled in.
• Status: In use

General information

Theme

Traffic

Begin date

07-2024

Contact information

[e-mail]

Responsible use

Goal and impact

• The aim is to improve road safety, traffic flow and accessibility. It should also help reduce CO2 emissions by making traffic flow smoother.
• It has an impact on everyone participating in traffic, yet we expect this algorithm to have a low impact. After all, it is more efficient, but road users may not notice much.

Considerations

The advantage of deploying this algorithm is that it allows traffic to flow better and smarter. It also offers the municipality of Velsen more control over setting certain parameters. This was less possible for the municipality of Velsen with ordinary traffic lights.

Human intervention

The municipality can set its own parameters, such as how long the traffic light is green. In addition, the outcomes are monitored and adjusted. This allows the municipality to respond to changing traffic flows.

Risk management

The system meets all applicable safety requirements and is highly secured. For instance, it is not possible to set all directions to green.

In addition, failures are monitored and the systems are well maintained.

Legal basis

The Road Traffic Act 1994 (WVW) is the basis for all traffic rules. The basic principle here is the smoothness and flow of traffic and that no one should cause hindrance or danger on the road. In addition, use has been promoted from the national Talking Traffic project and included in the Mobility Agenda.

Links to legal bases

• Mobiliteitsagenda: https://www.velsen.nl/mobiliteitsagenda-velsen
• Wegenverkeerswet: https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0006622/2025-01-01
• Talking traffic: https://dmi-ecosysteem.nl/en/theme-page-urban-traffic/talking-traffic/

Operations

Data

Flowtack uses various available data, such as floating car data, but also information from detection loops in the road surface, information about the weather, train or bridge. This information is combined and, based on this, a decision is made on which direction gets a green light and for how long.

Technical design

The traffic light receives signals about traffic approaching. The traffic light receives these signals via advanced systems from cars and applications installed on road users' smartphones, as well as from detection loops in the road. The traffic light receives information about what kind of traffic is coming (bicycle, car, truck, emergency services) and how much traffic is coming. Based on this, it weighs up who gets green and how long a traffic light is on green. A bus has a higher value than a car and multiple cars may again have more value than a single truck. The way the algorithms control traffic is a translation of local choices.

External provider

Royal Haskoning DHV (RHDHV)