Flanders

Optimising the (re-)use of traffic measurements 
Cluster: Data for Mobility Planning 

The Flanders use case aims to enhance traffic data usability and integration across regions. 
 

This includes: 

• Further developing the Flanders Smart Data Space for traffic measurements (VSDS): Supporting the creation of a domain-agnostic data space ecosystem. 

• Cross-border interlinkage: connecting the VSDS traffic measurements data space with other regions through the EMDS. 

• Improving data usability for consumers: an additional low code or no code interface will be developed to further simplify access for data consumers without technical skills. 
   

This initiative will enable Flemish data consumers to easily access and utilise traffic data through user-friendly interfaces. Data will be discoverable, reachable, and understandable which again supports better traffic monitoring, planning, safety, and sustainability. Two research questions will be analysed by using data from the data space. The first research question centres on comparing Sustainable Urban Mobility Indicators (SUMI) across different implementation sites. Flanders aims to calculate and compare certain indicators (i.e., modal split, emissions, traffic noise levels) between the Flemish region and at least one other implementation site automatically, using the traffic counting data that is made available by this implementation site. The second research question explores the potential of the transfer learning technique. Initially, a model will be trained on Flemish traffic counts for analysis and prediction. Subsequently, the model will be transferred to a different region, such as Barcelona, where data may be less abundant or not entirely equivalent in terms of completeness, terminology, quality, or granularity. This scenario showcases an advanced application of the interlinking layer, utilising it not only for data harmonisation but also as an important component enabling transfer learning across different countries and regions via semantic equivalence. 

Background: 
The use case aims to enhance data sharing and integration across borders. Traffic data in Flanders is currently fragmented, siloed across over 500 entities using different technologies and protocols. Existing data exchange methods are mostly bilateral and ad hoc, data reuse is limited.