Sacyr is part of this pilot project with case study 12 “Connected operators and smart traffic cones”. It is about capturing information for the real-time protection of the people working on road conservation in the field.
“The idea is that the different actors working on road maintenance have a universal language to communicate with the DGT 3.0 management platform; so that any application can connect with the road and collect information of interest," explains Jorge Zarzuelo, head of innovation, procurement and machinery park of Sacyr Maintenance.
As for our project, it is planned that the smart traffic cone will have a device that, when activated, uploads its position to this platform to warn that work is being done on that road.
These devices can also be connected to navigation systems to report incidents on the road, emergency or tow truck services, etc. It is a step forward in terms of infrastructure communications with the user, with the regulatory body, a logical step, on the other hand, with the arrival of connected or autonomous vehicles.
"We have yet to decide on the final solution for the smart traffic cone to locate the device, but we are close", Zarzuelo explains.
In addition, Sacyr is collecting information on other case studies, for example, the sensors that the operators will wear to connect with the DGT, traction control of cars; use of fog lights, etc.
“Our goal is to enforce bilateral communication to strengthen the safety of our workers, inform the user, reduce risks, and therefore, make a higher quality service,” emphasizes the expert.
Future car drivers might also have access to it through a mobile app, an open-source technology so that it does not depend on anyone and at the same time be used.
Although Sacyr Maintenance is involved in this project, it is also planned to see it passed on to Sacyr Concesiones.
How DGT 3.0 works
It is an public cloud IoT platform developed by the Spanish traffic authority (DGT) with scalability, availability, security and portability potential, which allows interconnectivity between all the actors involved in the traffic and mobility ecosystem, such as: vehicle and signaling devices manufacturers, public transportation platforms, municipalities, insurers, and application providers related to safe and intelligent mobility and the different road users.
The objective of this platform is to achieve target 0 deaths, 0 injuries, 0 congestion and 0 emissions, through the use of a technological platform that allows to keep the different road users connected in real time, offering information that allows to create a digital ecosystem of mobility solutions in the urban and interurban environment that improve traffic circulation and congestion and pollution levels.
