intelligent systems and road safety

The way people move around has adapted to the evolution of society, the growth of cities and the new needs that have arisen. In today’s cities, more than 50% of the space comprises transport and mobility infrastructures, which play an essential role in economic, social and cultural development..

On the other hand, this type of mobility significantly impacts the environment, as it has been increasing road traffic congestion, which is the primary source of pollutant gas emissions and noise pollution. Innovative, intelligent systems have emerged in recent years because of the growing concern to minimise impact and the continuous growth of the population and its travel needs.

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are solutions and methods based on telecommunications and computer technology. Emerging technologies, such as IoT devices that provide sensors and controllers in machines or 5G communication technology that facilitates high-speed communications to control different transport systems in real-time, enable the deployment of such smart systems.

Sando Infraestructuras y Proyectos and Sando Conservación y Energía apply smart technologies to transportation to improve road safety, help enhance the efficiency of transportation infrastructure and systems, and reduce vehicle-related environmental pollution. With sensors, advanced communication technologies, automation and high-speed networks, information on road conditions and traffic situations is collected, providing up-to-date, real-time communication to road users.

ITS (Intelligent transportation system)

These new technologies and intelligent systems are embracing all modes of transport. Still, they are being further developed and implemented in road and rail transport and mobility. ITS is a technological revolution enabling another type of transport development and the implementation of intelligent roads, making getting around cities and interurban roads more comfortable, safer and environmentally friendly.

The new challenges lie in implementing the latest advancements in ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) and electric mobility. Sando Conservación y Energía has carried out innovation projects developing new transportation technologies with in-motion inductive charging systems (the VICTORIA and Electromove projects) and, in particular, has participated in preliminary market consultations for projects involving autonomous infrastructure management through sensors and smart lighting (the Innovaodiel project).

In addition, Sando Conservación y Energía has installed the entire network of charging stations on the island of La Gomera and manages their maintenance, making the island one of the first regions in Spain where electric mobility is a reality throughout its territory.

Intelligent transport brings benefits within cities and is evolving the way people move towards smart mobility, which is safer as it has been shown to reduce the human factor in accidents It is also more cost-effective, as it makes better use of available resources and allows for more preventive maintenance; it is better-managed thanks to all the data collected for monitoring and tracking; and by gathering valuable information in real-time, it provides for the management and control of vehicle traffic problems and better-informed drivers.

Finally, in the field of road safety, Sando Conservación y Energía has been a pioneer in the sector by obtaining ISO 39001 certification “Road Safety Management System,” a tool that helps organizations reduce, and ultimately eliminate, the incidence and risk of fatalities and serious injuries resulting from traffic accidents, thereby avoiding the high costs associated with accidents suffered by workers, whether while commuting or on the job.