The pilot smartphone app pictured in use on the M50 motorway and showing a congestion warning.
Summary
ROD-AECOM Alliance was appointed technical consultant and project manager for Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s C-ITS (Co-operative Intelligent Transport System) pilot, Ireland’s first large-scale, connected vehicle infrastructure project.
Our commission spanned the business case, pilot planning, deployment, operations and evaluation phases of the pilot.
The pilot helped TII to:
- understand the improvements connected vehicle technology could offer in terms of road user safety, traffic efficiency and the environment
- assess whether connected vehicle technology could satisfy the needs and expectations of its users
- prepare government and industry for the future roll-out of connected vehicle technologies
Funding was largely through a successful application for ‘EU Connected Europe Facility’ funding whereby the Alliance was also part of an EU Technical Platform (C-Roads) to jointly develop harmonised specifications and guidance.
Awards
Winner of the technology category award at the European Commission Excellence in Road Safety Awards 2025.
Solution
The project involved designing, procuring, installing, testing, operating and evaluating C-ITS services on the motorway network around Dublin and some key interconnecting roads.
ROD-AECOM managed volunteer onboarding and data compliance for the pilot’s 900+ participants, each of whom received messages from TII’s Motorway Operations Control Centre relating to incidents, journey times, and safety via in-vehicle equipment or a mobile app. Pilot user data was stored and accessed securely through the dedicated development of a pilot participant data platform.
The pilot’s bespoke data analysis platform was used to leverage ‘big data’ analytics to evaluate, in conjunction with traffic modelling, the usage and impact of the C-ITS services on the goals of improving road safety, traffic efficiency and carbon reductions.
Working with TII to technically and operationally integrate C-ITS into TII’s new traffic management system meant harmonised, verified, trusted and accurate notifications of hazardous locations and road conditions could be provided directly to drivers, at the right time and at precise locations.
We planned and developed all project requirements, including the specification and procurement of the control system, data platforms, communications, road-side devices, vehicle equipment, and a purpose-built smartphone application to deliver real-time information to participating drivers across 470km of Ireland’s core road network.
Highlights
Of the 19 EU Member States implementing connected vehicles services, Ireland is among the first to integrate C-ITS with daily traffic management operations for real-time, accurate and secure messaging.
The evaluation of the C-ITS pilot identified measurable benefits in safety and traffic efficiency. Analysis of millions of vehicle log data records showed positive driver behaviours resulting from drivers receiving C-ITS notification versus those that did not.
Drivers generally found the messages accurate, timely and useful, resulting in better decision-making and reduced speeds on approaches to hazards. Microsimulation of this behaviour suggested that wide-scale adoption of C-ITS would significantly improve safety and contribute to carbon savings on the road network, positioning Ireland as a European leader in connected vehicle innovation.
Approach
Throughout the project, ROD-AECOM facilitated stakeholder engagement across EU technical platforms, state agencies including the Road Safety Authority, academia, industry and pilot participants.
We provided knowledge transfer to TII and industry partners, ensuring the project was delivered successfully and with full support and understanding. This approach paved the way for future developments, additional services and greater penetration of the services to a wider user base across the strategic road network and city regions.