Inclusive Mobility Mapping: Enhancing Safety for Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) with Reduced Mobility

Purpose and goal

This project is focused on improving the safety and understanding of Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) with reduced mobility across various traffic environments. Our research will provide a thorough understanding of their motion patterns and the safety challenges they face in different environmental settings - both in terms of external threats and perceived danger. The insights derived from the collected data will guide practical recommendations for infrastructure improvements and tailored safety measures.

Expected effects and result

Building on the insights and data collected during this project, we will lay a robust foundation for the Proof of Concept phase, which will focus on building an AI-enabled inclusive and infrastructure-aware traffic monitoring and analysis system. The detailed understanding of VRUs´ challenges and motion patterns coupled with different types of infrastructure will guide the design and functionalities of the upcoming system development. This ensures that the system is not just technologically sound but is also addressing the genuine needs of VRUs in real-world traffic scenarios.

Planned approach and implementation

The project is structured through 4 WPs. The objective of WP1 is to compile existing safety research data including a critical review, environmental analysis, and interviews with relevant stakeholders. In WP2, we will analyze the motion patterns and behaviors of VRUs with reduced mobility in urban and suburban environments through user studies. An inclusivity-focused real-life multi-sensor dataset will be collected in WP3 for benchmarking AI-based VRU detection and tracking algorithms. Finally, in WP4, we aim to establish a viable objective and a detailed plan for the next steps.