ACUMEN project

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ACUMEN proposes a generic, privacy-preserving, data-driven, modular digital paradigm for advanced network management leading to​:

• more efficient and reliable door-to-door journeys for people and goods ​
• increased safety and resilience at the network level​
• playing a critical contribution to the Green Deal transport goals achievement

The main role of MobiLysis is the collection of data in the Helsinki and Athens pilot. MobiLysis focuses on collecting high quality mobility data using drones. With the collaboration of our local partners, by using our optimisation algorithms and by taking into account the drone flight regulations, our team designs the drone flight plans which are executed by professional certified pilots with commercial drones for enhanced safety and standardisation. With their birds-eye view the drones are collecting videos in a privacy friendly way, as no vehicle plates nor faces can be identified. The  collected videos are then being analysed to identify vehicles and their type (car, truck, bus, motorcycle, bike etc.) using computer vision algorithms which are then fine-tuned based on the city’s needs. No other type of information can be obtained as our algorithms focus solely on traffic and mobility related vehicles.

Helsinki Pilot

The Helsinki pilot aims to dynamically influence travellers' route and mode choices for sustainability and citizens' well-being by investigating the Helsinki West Harbour area in the Jätkäsaari district. The specific area includes major roads, different transportmodes and both passenger and freight traffic. Thus, the target population includes people who live in the area, reach the area by ferry, and/or work in the area. The pilot investigates measures to reduce congestion and pollution using soft management strategies and nudges, with or without incentives. ACUMEN tools will analyse the impact on transport and environmental KPIs, benefiting from AI-based decision support. The city of Helsinki's innovation company, Forum Virium Helsinki (FVH), in cooperation with the project consortium and involving various stakeholders, leads and supports the Helsinki pilot in developing the concept.

The results of our analyses are important traffic parameters (i.e. vehicle trajectories, speeds, acceleration, flows, etc.) that will be used for the aims of the ACUMEN project, like the calibration of the traffic simulation software and the Digital Twin.

The 1st round of drone flights took place in September 2023 with 3 drones for 3 days.

The 2nd round of drone flights took place in September 2024 with 6 drones for 3 days.
The 3rd round of drone flights took place in September 2024 with 6 drones for 3 days.

Athens Pilot

In Athens, one of Europe’s most congested capitals, MobiLysis led an extensive drone-based traffic monitoring campaign to capture high-resolution mobility data in the city centre. In collaboration with the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and DAEM SA, eight static drones were deployed during peak hours over five consecutive days, collecting more than 130 hours of traffic recordings. 

The experiment focused on understanding congestion dynamics, stop-and-go behaviour, and illegal on-street parking, which are key sources of friction in Athens’ mixed traffic environment.

By extracting detailed vehicle trajectories and stop patterns, our analysis aims to reveal how short-term and illegal stops, taxis, buses, and motorcycles create micro-disruptions that cumulatively affect traffic flow efficiency. These insights directly support the calibration of simulation models and the Athens digital twin within ACUMEN, enabling more informed traffic management and planning decisions.

More information of the project can be found here.