Project Description
Trams are essential for sustainable urban mobility, yet they still face frequent safety and reliability challenges in complex mixed-traffic environments. TRACE addresses these challenges by validating the upgraded capabilities of the OTIV.TWO ADAS, including side collision avoidance, predictive collision detection, enhanced digital mapping, and overspeed protection. Using artificial intelligence and a 360-degree sensor suite, the system provides real-time situational awareness and proactive decision support to drivers, helping to prevent collisions, reduce service disruptions, and improve passenger comfort. The enhanced OTIV.TWO functionalities will be piloted on 16 trams in Ghent, Karlsruhe, and Rotterdam, generating a large operational dataset to demonstrate performance, safety gains, and user acceptance in real-world operations with more than 400,000 km of collected data. By enhancing tram safety and efficiency while paving the way for future autonomous rail operations, TRACE reinforces trams as a safe, attractive alternative to private cars and to contribute to greener, smarter European cities.
Motivation
Building on the successful ARISE project, TRACE addresses persistent gaps in tram assistance systems. While VDV191-compliant ADAS solutions offer relevant safety enhancements, they lack advanced predictive capabilities essential to further prevent collisions and improve operations in an increasingly dense urban traffic. Trams account for over 40% of rail accidents, with each incident costing operators between €50,000–€200,000 in claims, repairs, and delays. By piloting and validating next-generation ADAS features—including predictive hazard detection and digital network mapping—TRACE responds directly to operator demands for enhanced safety, efficiency, and operational intelligence, supporting the European Green Deal’s objective of reducing transport-related emissions by 90% while preparing the ground for future autonomous rail operations.
