Pilot project for sensor-supported detection of cycle path condition, ride comfort, traffic light stopping times and danger spots using mobile trackers in the Digital Twin Munich.
In an innovative pilot project, the integration of bicycle-based sensors into the city's digital twin was tested in order to analyze the condition of cycle paths. Over a period of three months, 25 mobile trackers were issued to 30 test subjects with different cycling profiles. These trackers, developed by the start-up Upride, were attached to the bicycle frame and used an IMU (inertial measurement unit) to record a variety of data, including riding comfort, road quality, traffic light stopping times and potential danger spots such as potholes or unexpected braking maneuvers. By using GNSS-supported glocalization, the automated measurements could be assigned to individual journeys and processed into interpretable data sets. The aim of the project was to analyze this data to identify new opportunities to improve the urban cycling infrastructure and thus increase safety and comfort for cyclists. The data collected provided detailed insights into the quality of cycle paths in Munich. Individual sections of the route showed a high level of cycling comfort, while other sections were identified as problematic due to uneven surfaces. Intersections were also analyzed in terms of waiting times and turning patterns in order to identify dangerous areas.
The results of the project confirm the benefits of such technologies, but also make it clear that a higher number of data sets and extended sensor profiles are required for more precise analyses and reliable results.
