The Eclipse MOSAIC co-simulation environment was used to combine various simulators, e.g. for traffic, road infrastructure, communication and the individual vehicle. For example, the traffic situation on a 20 km/12.5 miles long section of the Spanish AP7 motorway near Girona could be virtually displayed within 24 hours with 125,000 vehicles on the basis of real traffic data. The traffic consisted of a mix of trucks, conventional, networked and automated vehicles. With the help of Eclipse MOSAIC, the FOKUS research team was then able to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the traffic estimation and control solutions developed in the project, such as dynamic lane allocation and variable speed specifications.

Cost-intensive expansion with variable traffic signs can be reduced through networked, automated mobility

Simulation studies for the use case of displaying variable speed limits on variable message signs have shown that traffic efficiency is improved by 15 percent. However, they have also shown that placing a few variable message signs in strategic positions results in only slightly lower performance, which can be compensated for by higher penetration rates of connected, automated vehicles. This means that the cost of expensive infrastructure expansion with variable message signs can be reduced through digitalization and communication. Equipping roads with Road Side Units (RSU) for ETSI ITS-G5 communication or densifying networks for LTE/5G is more cost-effective compared to variable message signs, as, for example, no expensive asphalt work is required for induction loops.

In the project, Eclipse MOSAIC was extended in the following points:

• Detailed improvements to the already integrated communication models for WLAN (ETSI ITS-G5) and LTE/ 5G;
• development of new models for both mixed traffic and infrastructure elements such as variable message signs and sensors;
• new interface for the seamless integration of applications, allowing the program code to be simulated directly without adaptation and then integrated in the field.

Since 2017 INFRAMIX has been working on the preparation of road infrastructure to best support mixed traffic of conventional and automated vehicles, and to make the transition period safe and efficient. The main objective of INFRAMIX was to design, improve and test both physical and digital elements of the road infrastructure - in simulations as well as live. Along specific scenarios, such as road works areas or motorway entrances, it was tried and tested how traffic can be controlled in the future in a predictable, safe and efficient way despite new requirements. The essential core element was a “hybrid” road infrastructure capable of addressing all vehicles equally during the transition period, thus forming the basis for the future automated mobility system.

The INFRAMIX project team included the Austrian road infrastructure operator ASFINAG, Siemens, TomTom and BMW. The project was funded by the European Union in the current framework programme for research and innovation, Horizon 2020.