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FIA European Bureau takes part in new FOT networking activity
Publication date: 04 December 2008
Pan-European Field Operational Testing:
Recent decades have seen a large number of ICT-based transport applications successfully developed and demonstrated in collaborative research projects throughout Europe. Although their positive impact on traffic safety and efficiency are now widely accepted, market penetration still lags behind – mainly due to lack of awareness of their societal benefits.
Currently only limited amounts of data are available on real-life operation of these applications in ordinary traffic. There is a growing need for answers to key questions such as: How do drivers use them? What are the short- and long-term effects? How can the systems’ performance be further improved? Previous experience in Europe, US and Japan has shown that large-scale field operational tests (FOTs) are an excellent way of raising awareness, of assessing the quality and acceptance of collecting real data and enhancing take-up of ICT solutions. Their results have helped business leaders make informed decisions on market introduction and policy makers to establish the necessary policy framework.
Previous European examples of FOTs include testing of lane departure warning systems for trucks organised in the Netherlands and intelligent speed adaptation (ISA), with trials in Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK (mostly with national government funding). Previous European FOTs were largely operated at national level and were typically confined to controlled conditions – reflecting both availability of equipment and restrictions on operating experimental equipment in real traffic conditions. The growing recognition of the need for larger-scale activity within a common European framework has led to the launch of new pan-European FOTs such as euroFOT (which will test near-market advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS)) and TeleFOT (which will assess the impacts of aftermarket and nomadic devices installed in vehicles for driver support and other potential applications, and increase awareness of their traffic safety potential).
FOT-Net
Another major step towards a common European framework is the ERTICO-led FOT-Net support action, funded by the European Commission’s DG Information Society and Media under the 7th Framework R&D Programme (FP7). It brings together national, European and international FOT organisers on a single, strategic networking platform designed to spread and feed a common methodology (as defined in the EC-funded FESTA project).
The FOT-Net platform is encouraging debate on key issues needing close attention such as legal aspects, start-up and planning, equipment, users, consumer relations and marketing, data handling, assessment and policy making support, and next generation FOTs (cooperative systems testing integration of information between vehicles and (roadside) infrastructure equipment).
Between 2008 and 2010 the FIA European Bureau is taking part in the FOT-Net project together with:
- Chalmers University of Technology
- CTAG – Technological Automotive Centre in Galicia
- ERTICO-ITS Europe
- ITS Bretagne
- Orange France
- Polis – European Cities and Regions Networking for Innovative Transport Solutions
- Rijkswaterstraat – Dutch Directorate General of Public Works and Water Management
- TNO – Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research
- University of Leeds
The FIA European Bureau is involved FOT-Net’s dissemination and awareness activities and in the operation of the FOT Networking Platform.
For more information: www.fot-net.eu
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