Früherkennung von Gefahrenstellen im Straßenverkehr (American english: Early Detection of Dangerous Areas in road traffic), often shortened to FeGiS, is a road traffic safety research project for the early identification of danger points in road traffic and for the prevention of traffic accidents in Germany. The project was launched in December 2017 and was funded by the "mFund" of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport in two second funding stages, due to the successful completion of the FeGiS feasibility study[1] in 2018.

Background

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The number of accidents and injuries caused by road fatalities in Germany has risen again over the last decade.[2] Increased traffic volume, stress in everyday life, or distractions while driving can be factors in road fatalities. Situations are often not correctly assessed, or they are recognised too late. Early recognition of danger points can prevent accidents through timely warnings of danger zones for road users or by eliminating the danger through appropriate measures. The European Commission pursues "Vision Zero" (zero road fatalities) and hence, outlines the proactive identification of danger points in road traffic as one of its priorities in the EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021–2030.[3][4]

Feasibility study

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The feasibility study of the project was also sponsored by the "mFund" of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. During this first funding stage, the crowdsourcing platform "gefahrenstellen.de" / "dangerspots.org" developed by the "Initiative for Safer Roads" in cooperation with the Institute for Road Engineering at RWTH Aachen University (ISAC), was successfully tested between 2017 and 2018.[1] The focus was on the cities of Bonn and Aachen. Thanks to the extensive reporting in Newspapers,[5][6][7] Web portals,[8][9] and on radio and TV, a total of 1,500 danger reports with around 3,500 supporters were generated for the two cities over a period of approximately 6 months. A subsequent research analysis by RWTH Aachen University confirmed the high validity of the hazard reports. In addition to the identification of already-known accident black spots, road users also reported danger spots that had not yet become conspicuous due to accidents but showed a high risk potential during site inspections.[10] This form of crowdsourcing was thus confirmed as a method for the early detection of danger points, so that it was decided to continue the project with an extended project approach.[11][12]

Development of FeGiS+ (EDDA+)

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During the second funding stage between 2019 and 2022, the FeGiS concept was further developed for the studied model. The focus during this development phase lies on analysing the correlation between the different data streams and on aggregating the information to extract "smart data" as a result.[13][14] Such data will be tailored and adapted to the needs of the different user groups. The extensive experience and knowledge of the partners of FeGiS+ will be instrumental in the further development of the project.[15][16]

Furthermore, the intention of FeGiS+ is to generate a new database for up-to-date information about danger spots and thus, the FeGiS+ approach could also serve as blueprint for other countries (road safety in Europe). In this line, the development plan of the research project also includes a test of the applicability of the FeGiS+ approach in neighbouring European countries.[17]

FeGiS+/EDDA+ Hazard Score Map

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As a core result of the research project, the FeGiS+/EDDA+ Hazard Score Map for the entire German road network was published on gefahrenstellen.de in the summer of 2022.[18][19] Stakeholders in road safety work have access to the detailed database, which is updated regularly. The hazard score map is also the basis for the digital school route planner.[20][21] The application finds the 'safest possible' route to school using the open-route service of the Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology.[22]

The proactive approach of the danger score methodology is in development. Partial aspects are scientifically accompanied within the framework of research projects.[23]

Awards

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In October 2022, the FeGiS+/EDDA+ Hazard Score Map received the Excellence in Road Safety Award in the Technology category and the Jacques Barrot Audience Award from the European Road Safety Charter, led by the European Commission.[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Project description and results of "FeGiS". German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Road traffic accidents in 2018". Destatis. Federal Statistical Office – Germany. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  3. ^ European Commission. Directorate General for Mobility and Transport. (2020). Next steps towards 'Vision Zero': EU road safety policy framework 2021 2030. LU: Publications Office. doi:10.2832/391271. ISBN 9789276132196.
  4. ^ "Texts adopted - EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 – Recommendations on next steps towards "Vision Zero" - Wednesday, 6 October 2021". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  5. ^ Bauer, Sabrina (28 April 2018). "App form Bonn brothers is to warn of danger spots". General-Anzeiger Bonn (Print) (in German).
  6. ^ Müller-Sieckarek, Georg (12 June 2018). "Warn for danger spots in traffic with an app". Aachener Zeitung (Print).
  7. ^ Offermanns, Hannah (26 March 2019). "Online users identify 250 danger spots in Aachen". Aachener Nachrichten (Print) (in German).
  8. ^ "That's how the RWTH app "gefahrenstellen.de" works". Aachener Zeitung / Aachener Nachrichten on YouTube (Video) (in German).
  9. ^ "New digital danger map – also usable by cyclists". ADFC – KV Bonn/Rhein-Sieg (Article on web potal of German Cycling Club) (in German). 28 May 2018.
  10. ^ FeGiS – Früherkennung von Gefahrenstellen im Straßenverkehr: Final report. Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology University Library: Initiative for Safer Roads, RWTH Aachen University. 2019.
  11. ^ "Scientist of Aachen believe on smart data with website". Aachener Nachrichten (Print) (in German). 6 October 2019.
  12. ^ "9 mouse clicks to road traffic safety". Runter vom Gas (German road safety campaign by German Road Safety Council and Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure) (Online Publication).
  13. ^ "Project approach and description of FeGiS+". German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Data-Driven Road Safety: developing a systematic framework for proactive and comprehensive Road Safety Management – ETC Conference Paper". Association for European Transport. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  15. ^ Ehlers, Jörg; Kathmann, Thorsten; Heel, Emanuel von; Sutter, Christine; Bode, Tina; Luchmann, Inga; Dahl, Alexander; Grahl, Michaela (March 2022). "Früherkennung von Gefahrenstellen im Straßenverkehr durch Smart Data - FeGiS+". Straßenverkehrstechnik (year 66, No. 3): 182–189.
  16. ^ Bode, T.; Mbaye, L.; Thater, A.; Sutter, C. (March 2022). "Early detection of dangerous areas in road traffic using smart data (EDDA+) and the police insight into dangerous traffic situations" (PDF). in: S. Malejka, M. Barth, H. Haider & C. Stahl (eds.): Abstracts of the 64th TeaP. University of Cologne.
  17. ^ "EDDA+ Presentation on ROADPOL Online Seminar 29.07.2020". Roadpol (European Roads Policing Network) – Newsletter August 2020.
  18. ^ Ehlers, Jörg; Wolter, Arno (October 2022). "Combining traffic accident data, crowdsourced data about dangerous spots and vehicle kinematic data - FERSI Conference Paper" (PDF). Forum of European Road Safety Research Institutes (FERSI).
  19. ^ Wolter, Arno; Grahl, Michaela; Ehlers, Jörg (2022). "Continuous, Systematic Risk Mapping of Roads as an Input for Dynamic Risk Management (DRM) in Autonomous Systems". In Marrone, Stefano; De Sanctis, Martina; Kocsis, Imre; Adler, Rasmus; Hawkins, Richard; Schleiß, Philipp; Marrone, Stefano; Nardone, Roberto; Flammini, Francesco (eds.). Dependable Computing – EDCC 2022 Workshops. Communications in Computer and Information Science. Vol. 1656. Cham: Springer International Publishing. pp. 46–53. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-16245-9_4. ISBN 978-3-031-16245-9.
  20. ^ Lübke, Johanna (10 August 2022). "Gefahrenstellen-Portal: So sollen Schulwege in Bonn sicherer werden". General-Anzeiger Bonn (in German). Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  21. ^ Müller-Sieczkarek, Georg (20 July 2022). "Der digitale Schüler-Lotse". Aachner Zeitung (Newspaper of Aachen). Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Gefahrenstellen.de Uses ORS for a Safer Route to School | Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology". 26 August 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  23. ^ "BMDV - Harmonizing Mobility: Wie Verkehrsdaten das Miteinander verschiedener Verkehrsteilnehmer und eine sichere Verkehrsinfrastruktur fördern können – HarMobi". Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  24. ^ "Our 2022 Excellence in Road Safety award winners announced | European Road Safety Charter". European Road Safety Charter. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
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