Evolution into a new-generation Traffic Data Platform to support emerging interoperability and multi-modal traffic applications

Traffic is getting smart, participants and infrastructure are getting connected and more data is digitally available. Different kinds of platforms were set up to support new applications and use cases: to manage traffic, to operate fleets, to influence and optimize routing, to provide essential data such as highly precise and local dynamic maps as well as to collect data about the traffic infrastructure. If traffic stakeholders and their interacting use cases incorporate, then also the data platforms should be fused to improve interoperability. The German Aerospace Center’s Institute of Transportation Systems (DLR-TS) also operates three specialized data platforms to improve emergent traffic applications and support mobility research.
The Traffic Data Platform (TDP) provides all basic tools for storage, map-matching, processing, fusion and management of traffic data from various sensors and third party sources such as floating object data, observed data and data from sensors like induction loops or traffic eyes as well as different road networks. Additionally, information about infrastructure and exceptional events such as natural disasters are integrated.
The Bahnserver (railway server) provides methods for centralized collection, automated processing, 3D visualization of rail network infrastructure elements as well as position-based real-time information of vehicles. It provides tools for merging and validation of different data sources in one database, plotting of units with automatic telemetry reporting and intuitive visualization of geo-referenced measurements.
The Digital Atlas collects heterogeneous geodata about road networks and urban infrastructure to provide 3D environments and detailed topographical and topological road descriptions on lane level with high accuracy for driving simulators and advanced driver assistance and automation systems.
These three platforms are operating in the same traffic environment and have similarities in used data and supported applications. Therefore it is obvious to fuse these platforms to make use of the best of the three worlds: DLR is migrating the Digital Atlas and the Bahnserver into TDP to extend it with their features. This supports inter-map-matching to use maps with different levels of detail from different sources, harmonized visualization services, enhance user management for fleet operators using only few maintenance units or thousands of private end-users. This paper will present the three platforms and their use cases, describe the approach of fusing the systems and give prospects about the potential of the new-generation traffic data platform.