MOSAIQUE – Innovative Transport Management Network

The aim of the MOSAIQUE research and development project was to establish an efficient transport management system in the Central Germany region.

Under consideration of the existing resources, the quality of traffic flows was to be increased, the transport users were to be informed better than before and the underlying processes optimized. In order to reach this aim, innovative methods were developed and demonstrated in the transport corridor Leipzig-Halle.

With MOSAIQUE, a »tailor-made suit« for regional transport management was created that is based on cutting-edge developments and technologies, and that takes into account the requirements of both public transportation and motorized individual transport.

The project was divided into eight sub-projects:

• Transport system management
• Traffic lights in Leipzig
• Quality management and evaluation of the empircal impact assessment
• PaRIS – Park and Ride Information Security System – Integrated network balancing
• Easy.GO – Application of UMTS-based technologies
• Decentralized network and organizational framework
• IT platform for all transport management parties
• Quality increase in public transport – Applications in the Mitteldeutscher Verkehrsverbund (Central Germany transport association, MDV)

The main task of the Fraunhofer IVI was the execution of the Easy.GO sub-project. The aim of Easy.GO was to develop and implement mobile services for the public transport system of the Leipzig region. In the process, the high performativity of the landline network was be combined with the opportunities created by mobile technology.

Mobile Video Applications

If exceptional circumstances require it, the drivers of public transport vehicles can transmit images or video footage to the control center using the UMTS video sensor of their mobile devices. In addition, the control center can have images or video footage of the vehicle surroundings transmitted by the UMTS video sensor without any involvement of the drivers. This is done, for example, to make a better estimation of the transport demand. Furthermore, there is the option of integrating portable, vehicle-independent UMTS video sensors that transmit images or streams of traffic-relevant situations either automatically or on an ad hoc basis as required by the control center.
 

Integration of Passengers

In the future, authenticated passengers will be able to actively contribute to the information supply by recording video, image and text information about traffic-relevant situations via their UMTS smartphones using a Java application and sending that information to the transport providers in real-time. As a reward, they will be offered value-added services such as an online travel companion, information on their connections and information on delays or disruptions on their travel routes.
 

Real-Time-Based Push&Pull Services

It is possible to cyclically monitor the connections queried by the clients with the help of Easy.GO and their mobile devices. Should problems occur on the chosen routes, or if the clients deviate from the routes of their own volition, the system will calculate alternatives so that the destination can be reached as quickly as possible.

The Fraunhofer IVI contributed its competencies and experience gained in previous projects, such as »City Traffic Bonn« and »intermobil Region Dresden«, to the collaborative MOSAIQUE project. The institute is responsible in particular for the following topics and tasks:

• Realization of the locating and VGIS functionalities
• Intermodal routing
• Mobile, UMTS-based camera sensors
• Individual information services for exceptional situations
• Data integration
• Pilot testing of the applications developed

In addition, the institute works on interfaces to the other sub-projects and on the organizational framework of the overall project.

The MOSAIQUE project consortium was formed under the overall control of the Mitteldeutscher Verkehrsverbund (Central Germany transport association, MDV). It consisted of the communities involved, local transport providers, renowned research institutions and well-known industry partners:

• City of Leipzig
• City of Halle
• Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH (Leipzig transport provider, LVB)
  
• Hallesche Verkehrs-AG (Halle transport provider, HAVAG)
• Mitteldeutscher Verkehrsverbund GmbH (Central Germany transport association, MVB)
  
• Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI
• PTV Planung Transport Verkehr AG
• ifak – Institut für Automation und Kommunikation e.V. Magdeburg (Institute for Automation and Communication)
  
• Bauhaus-Universität Weimar

MOSAIQUE was carried out in a time span of four years and ended in 2009. All of the development work was tailored specifically to fit the conditions and requirements of the Leipzig-Halle region. However, one of the project's aims was to ensure the transferability of its results to other regions.

The project was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Technology (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie, BMWi) and received additonal support from the German Federal States Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.