CARNET Kicks Off the Pilot for IMMENSE, a Project to Improve Traffic Management

The kick off for the satellite toll pilot in Esplugues de Llobregat (Spain) and Munich, part of the IMMENSE project, led by CARNET, has recently taken place. This pilot involves the implementation of a satellite-based distance toll simulation in urban environments, managed by AMS, covering both the back-office management and a citizen app, and is co-funded by the EIT Urban Mobility.

Over the next two months, the system will undergo testing with users in Esplugues de Llobregat and Munich. It will utilize an integrated system platform and an end-user application, capable of managing urban traffic demand through dynamic pricing strategies.

The IMMENSE project aims to develop innovative toll systems and strategies that encourage shared transportation and active mobility while reducing private vehicle usage. The platform for traffic demand management allows participating cities to simulate traffic management strategies based on satellite data, along with an app enabling users to monitor their road infrastructure usage.

This approach, tested with citizen participants, simulates demand-based pricing, offering users a fixed rate for entering low-emission zones and a variable fee based on kilometers driven, usage level, and congestion at the time of access. By incorporating gamification into the tool, IMMENSE overcomes resistance and garners public support for congestion charging mechanisms in various urban areas.

The project’s ultimate goal is to help municipalities enhance the effectiveness of their Low Emission Zones. To ensure scalability and utility in other cities, IMMENSE actively involves Munich and Esplugues de Llobregat, each with established traffic management schemes that encompass low-emission zones and vehicle access regulations. The project will serve as a platform for city authorities to simulate, implement, and evaluate these schemes, as from previous indicators it has been seen that traffic demand management strategies significantly benefit public life, reducing congestion and pollution while enhancing safety and air quality, thereby improving overall environmental and public health.

Furthermore, IMMENSE will generate valuable data through through its implementation, offering a comprehensive framework for tailored traffic demand management strategies. This approach aligns with the European Union’s mission to create “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030,” while advancing the vision of EIT Urban Mobility to establish accessible, fast, safe, clean, and efficient mobility.

The project is developed by CARNET, with the collaboration of AMS Abertis, Cima Engineering & Environmental, L., the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC), City of Munich and Esplugues de Llobregat City Council.