NEWS
GLOSA improvements tested: ready for use with adaptive traffic control
Be-Mobile, a European provider of smart mobility and traffic management solutions, took part in a project led by SmartwayZ.NL to test improvements to GLOSA (Green Light Optimized Speed Advisory). Road tests in Breda and Helmond confirmed that GLOSA can now be used reliably together with adaptive smart traffic control. Road authorities can deploy the improved system on selected road sections to support traffic flow and road safety.
Four improvements for adaptive smart traffic control
In February 2022, SmartwayZ.NL together with several partners — including Be-Mobile — tested the improved GLOSA. The assessment of the road tests was completed just before the summer and led to four improvements for the smart traffic control application.
First, red and green times are based on a reservation: a few seconds before the light changes colour, the controller sends very precise information to approaching vehicles that will no longer change in that period. Second, the speed recommendation is also reservation-based: when the controller is unsure about the usefulness of the recommendation, it does not supply it. Third, the application supplies information about the queue (the number of waiting vehicles) in front of the traffic light. Fourth, the recommendation applies to the entire road section between two traffic lights, supported by larger MAP messages that contain the layout of the intersection.
These improvements mean GLOSA's usefulness improves, including for adaptive traffic lights. During the tests, GLOSA supplied a reliable speed recommendation in 90% of the test vehicles.
Ready for Dutch roads
It is now up to the road authorities to decide on which road sections the improved GLOSA can be used. This can be done locally and does not need to happen everywhere at once. The next step is the creation of 'GLOSA-enabled corridors': road sections carefully selected by the road authority on which GLOSA data can be used for driving task support and traffic management.
A correctly working GLOSA helps reduce braking and accelerating. The TNO study showed that GLOSA reduces NOx emissions of trucks that unnecessarily accelerate by up to 75%, and CO₂ emissions by up to 20%. GLOSA also increases driver comfort by creating a 'green wave', which is expected to help guide traffic to preferred routes.
Towards a European standard
In due course, the improved GLOSA can also be used in the rest of Europe. The project consortium has consulted C-Roads, a European platform that works on the standardization of smart mobility technology, to support that pathway.
The project is being carried out in collaboration between SmartwayZ.NL (MobilitymoveZ.NL), TNO, V-Tron, Be-Mobile, Monotch, Swarco, Vialis and the municipalities of Helmond and Breda.
“Collaborating with C-Roads is a hugely important step in this process. If there is sufficient support to include the results of our GLOSA project in standardization items, it is possible that GLOSA will be assisting authorities throughout Europe in the future. We are not there yet, but with these improvements and possible collaboration, we are that much further.”
Why this matters
- Road tests showed GLOSA could be used reliably with adaptive smart traffic control, not only fixed-time signals.
- GLOSA produced a reliable speed recommendation in 90% of the tested vehicles.
- TNO found reductions of up to 75% in NOx and 20% in CO₂ from unnecessary acceleration by trucks.
- Road authorities could deploy GLOSA corridor by corridor, while consultation with C-Roads created a pathway towards possible European standardisation.
About Be-Mobile
Be-Mobile Group is a European leader in smart mobility solutions, providing real-time traffic information, safety services, and connected driving technologies. Through its consumer platforms, including Flitsmeister, the company serves millions of drivers with community-driven insights and in-car experiences. In addition, Be-Mobile delivers data-driven solutions and services to businesses and public authorities, enabling smarter traffic management, safer roads, and more efficient mobility ecosystems across Europe.
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