In the ongoing ambition to improve road safety, traffic flow and smart mobility, Brussels Mobility has successfully conducted a Proof of Concept (PoC) involving LiDAR technology. The test took place at the busy and multimodal intersection of General Jacques Avenue and Avenue de la Couronne/Kroonlaan in Ixelles - a strategic location where pedestrians, cyclists, cars, buses and streetcars converge daily.
Working with SWARCO Belgium, system integrator of the solution and of the Traffic Light Controller (TLC), a LiDAR sensor was installed and interfaced with Ouster's AI-driven BlueCity software.
This combination enables the collection and analysis of highly accurate, real-time traffic data, without the use of cameras or privacy-sensitive images.
Smart data, concrete applications
The PoC demonstrated the power of LiDAR technology for various mobility and safety issues. Some of the use cases tested:
Counting of waiting pedestrians at crosswalks
Detection of turn movements, driving directions and vehicle deceleration
Analysis of near misses via sudden speed changes, conflicts and minimum distance
Estimation of pedestrian crossing times
Detection of illegal maneuvers and red light violations
Crosswalk occupancy and speed analysis by transportation type
The data collected provides the ability to dynamically tune traffic lights to real-world situations and identify conflict-prone points early.
Collaboration between technology and policy
Brussels Mobility demonstrated its role as a pioneer in data-driven mobility management with this project. SWARCO Belgium provided sensor integration, real-time data processing and interfacing with the city's existing IT systems.
This PoC proves that LiDAR technology is already a valuable addition today. It provides insights that are difficult or impossible to gather with traditional means. This allows Brussels Mobility to take targeted measures to better protect vulnerable road users and make the city safer, smarter and more sustainable.
Source: SWARCO