06/2024: Cooperation with RWTH Aachen University "AdaptIn"

The City of Aachen is a partner of RWTH Aachen University and supported the Chair and Institute of Road Engineering (ISAC) from December 2023 as part of the"AdaptIn" research project (Adaptive infrastructure with the aim of influencing individual behavior in traffic).

The aim of the project is to develop behaviorally effective, adaptive interaction systems for the traffic infrastructure, with the help of which the individual behavior of road users in potentially risky situations can be made safer. The human-technology interaction system developed for this purpose makes it possible to proactively influence a situation and thus minimize risk.

In the specific scenario, a thermal camera is used to adaptively trigger a visual nudging measure: a motorized road user approaching a bicycle ford and turning into a free right turn is automatically prompted to react (look to the side). As a result of the behaviour-influencing measure, the motorized vehicle reduces its speed and is ready to slow down for the bicycle traffic crossing the ford. A conflict is defused or avoided.

This subconsciously effective measure provides early warning of potentially critical traffic situations.

This approach was developed by the Institute of Highway Research and evaluated in simulative traffic psychology studies.

The project passed through the following milestones:

• 07.12.2023: Presentation of the system to the Cologne district government and the NRW road construction authority. Definition of the next steps for a test phase in the public space at the Vaalser Straße / Pariser Ring junction.
• 04.04.2024: Test phase with data collection
• 07.05.2024: first press conference on site
• 09.06.2024: second press conference on site