Traffic radars are producing open data for researchers and developers in Jätkäsaari
Jätkäsaari Smart Junction is one of the essential intelligent transport system (ITS) projects underway in the Jätkäsaari district of Helsinki. The project is both developing new simulation models as well as generating open data to fuel further innovation activities. The first radar installations in the urban environment are done with APIs available to access the data. The API implemented by Conveqs is providing Aalto University researchers with lane specific traffic flow data such as vehicle counts and speeds. Besides the researchers, the data is available for interested third party developers as well.
In the project, Aalto University is developing modeling of the traffic flows and traffic light optimization in the area. The idea is that accurate real-time information enables the development and testing of new and optimized traffic light signaling simulation models. Besides radar data, the model will integrate the traffic light system status information as well as tram data. The goal is to develop a model that could later be used to improve the traffic flow and define signal prioritisations based on the context and preferred parameters. For example, ensuring that the traffic and especially heavy vehicles coming from the busy harbour in the area would get out more smoothly.
The first radar is installed near the Clarion hotel and produces data for the road section of Jätkäsaarenlaituri to the North. More radars are already on the way with further installations starting later this year and continuing next year to cover the important junctions towards the Länsiväylä motorway.
The radar data is available for interested developers. The API requires a key which can be requested from Conveqs. More information about the data and the APIs can be found here.
The project is one of many in the Jätkäsaari district which serves as Helsinki’s testbed area for smart mobility. More information about the projects and opportunities for developing your own innovations there can be found from the Jätkäsaari Mobility Lab website.
