On Tuesday 20th of February, three projects followed up by INEA and funded by the EC Framework Programme Horizon 2020, managed by DG MOVE & DG RTD in the framework of Horizon 2020, organised their first clustering meeting. The SAFER LC, SAFE-10-T and SAFE STRIP projects convened at the ERTICO-ITS Europe premises in Brussels to discuss complementary activities and project results and look into common dissemination and exploitation possibilities. The meeting was attended by the INEA project officer Sergio Escriba and DG MOVEs’ Maria Christina Marolda, replacing Paola Chiarini. After the introduction made by Cristina Marolda on the focus and expectations of the call topic and how this has changed over the years,  Marie Hélène Bonneau of the UIC (SAFER LC), Julie Clarke of GDGEO (SAFE-10-T) and Maria Gemou of CERTH/HIT (SAFE STRIP) provided a detailed insight in their respective projects.  Some important synergies were identified between SAFE STRIP and the SAFER LC and SAFE -10-T projects.  SAFER LC, which researches how train level crossings can be made safer, and will, among other tasks inform road drivers on approaching trains. This information can be used as an additional input to the SAFE STRIP Use Case related to the unprotected railway crossings. In specific, the smart detection system of SAFER LC will provide feedback to the Road Side Bridge of the SAFE STRIP system. CERTH is developing the respective parts in both projects which will allow for an easier cooperation. The specific Use Case can be tested in Thessaloniki. In addition the data produced by the SAFE STRIP pavement condition monitoring Use Case provides useful input to the Safety Framework developed by SAFE-10-T. Although SAFE-10-T is concerned with broader infrastructure maintenance planning across road, rail and inland waterway networks, the outputs of the complimentary projects will provide further inputs to the global risk framework to support risk-based infrastructure management to improve safety, mobility levels and the overall resilience of multi-modal networks.

 The projects will join forces and participate in cross project dissemination events and activities where this is appropriate and useful (through social media, common sessions in upcoming conferences to be announced, exchange of advisory board and user fora experts for mutual benefit, common policy paper, etc.). The outcome of the meeting was experienced as very positive and a follow-up clustering meeting is foreseen for early 2019 in Paris, UIC Headquarters. For this new meeting other projects related to SAFER LC, SAFE STRIP and SAFE -10-T will be invited as well.

SAFER LC (Safer Level Crossing by integrating and optimizing road-rail infrastructure and design) aims to improve safety and minimize risk by developing a fully integrated cross-modal set of innovative solutions and tools for the proactive management and design of level-crossing infrastructure. More information about SAFER LC can be found on the SAFER LC website: http://safer-lc.eu/

The SAFE-10-T project will develop a Global Risk to ensure high safety performance while allowing longer life-cycles for critical infrastructure across the road, rail and inland waterway modes. More information about SAFE -10-T can be found the projects’ website: http://www.safe10tproject.eu/

SAFE STRIP aims to introduce a disruptive technology that will embed C-ITS applications into existing road infrastructure, including I2V and V2I communications as well as VMS/VSL functions into low-cost, integrated strip markers on the road. More about SAFE STRIP can be found on the website: http://safestrip.eu

From left to right:

Marie Hélène Bonneau                             UIC

Erwin Vermassen                                      ERTICO

Maria Christina Marolda                          DG MOVE

Paul Doherty                                             GDGEO

Julie Clarke                                                GDGEO

Rita Bhandari                                            ERTICO

Maria Gemou                                            CERTH/HIT

Josep Maria Salanova                               CERTH/HIT

Evangelos Bekiaris                                    CERTH/HIT

Sergio Escriba                                           INEA