Measures to improve road safety or optimise driving behaviour are often only implemented after accidents have occurred. This is mainly because the risk of accidents on specific sections of road is difficult to quantify in advance. Although serious traffic accidents are relatively rare, critical situations such as near-misses or risky manoeuvres occur far more frequently and clearly indicate an increased risk of accidents.
With the Mobility Observation Box (MOB), AIT has developed an innovative, video-based traffic monitoring system that enables objective conflict and behaviour analysis. The MOB replaces previous manual and subjective surveys with precise, continuous observation of traffic events. Automatically classified interactions between people and vehicles can be analysed over defined periods without affecting the flow of traffic. Using AI, trajectories and road safety indicators are generated from the video data. The privacy of road users always remains protected. All processing is carried out in strict compliance with data protection regulations; image data is stored temporarily exclusively in a secure area of the AIT network, and sensor information is encrypted throughout.
The versatile applications of MOB have already been demonstrated in various projects, including those carried out in collaboration with the Austrian Automobile, Motorcycle and Touring Club (ÖAMTC). For instance, the system was deployed at several school locations in Austria to identify and assess high-risk traffic situations, with the aim of improving road safety. The findings were then discussed with the schools in question. Targeted measures to improve road safety around schools were then recommended to towns and local authorities. Furthermore, MOB has been used in Austria, Germany and Switzerland to conduct comprehensive interaction analyses focusing on e-scooters. The resulting data is incorporated into guidelines and legal regulations, which are discussed in forums such as the Austrian Road Safety Advisory Board of the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure. Additionally, the system optimises traffic light timing by analysing traffic flows, thereby reducing congestion, economic losses and environmental impact.
AIT transport researchers are installing the Mobility Observation Box, which collects high-resolution traffic data anonymously and on the move for up to ten days.
