A true "smart road" that can increase safety, traffic flow, and driving comfort, as well as energy savings and sustainability. It is the ENEA Smart Road, which was developed as part of a project that includes the adoption of a self-driving electric car and 22 high-tech streetlights capable of ensuring a dense communication network with an innovative processing and decision support infrastructure. Just over half a kilometer long and 6 meters wide, the ENEA smart road collects data from vehicles in transit and from the 22 smart poles with which it is equipped and directs them towards an innovative urban processing and decision support system called CIPCast (Critical Infrastructure Protection risk analysis and forecast), based on a GIS (Geographic Information System) system. CIPCast generates real-time maps for the management of any warning and alert conditions, as well as for suitable pricing planning. Communication can also take place in the opposite direction, from CIPCast to the car, by transmitting information concerning potentially harmful situations, such as road network difficulties caused by extreme weather events or calamities. Sensors mounted on the electric vehicle detect position, speed, particulate matter, battery state of charge or road surface state, while cameras, Bluetooth buoys, and connection equipment mounted on the 22 smart streetlights allow you to observe and measure the density of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, natural lighting, and pollutant concentrations. As road traffic and weather conditions change, the light intensity of the lighting fixtures can be adjusted, resulting in energy savings and a decreased environmental effect. Wi-Fi access points have been affixed to select poles in order to facilitate the integration of intelligent road features. These access points are linked to the ICT network of the Casaccia Center through optical fiber, enabling them to interchange data pertinent to the experiment and establish communication with the autonomous vehicles that traverse the road.
|