OPTIMIZING TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT Harnessing Floating Vehicle Data Analytics by German Road Authorities

The now infamous Talbrücke Rahmede was a 453-meter-long bridge on the A-45 highway in Germany, a major thoroughfare connecting the north and south regions. In 2021, the bridge was demolished due to irreparable damage to its supporting structure. The closure of this highway section has resulted (and is still resulting) in significant traffic disruptions both on and off the highway, affecting local citizens, businesses, as well as travelers, and logistics companies from Germany and neighboring countries.

In this case study, we will demonstrate how the German highway authority (Autobahn GmbH) and the state road authorities (Strassen NRW – North Rhein Westfalen) are utilizing state-of-the-art data analytics. This involves leveraging floating vehicle data from INRIX and the self-service no-code visual analytics platform xyzt.ai. These tools enable continuous monitoring of traffic challenges and the evaluation of various traffic management measures to regulate both local and long-distance traffic on German motorways.

Initially, we will analyze the traffic situation, illustrating the impact of the highway closure on local and global traffic patterns. Subsequently, we will delve into floating vehicle data, discussing its properties and the benefits it offers. Finally, we will explore how visual analytics is utilized by road authorities to fully exploit the potential of floating vehicle data. This approach allows them to stay abreast of traffic conditions without the need for costly investments in traditional traffic measurement infrastructure.