Stuttgart, March 17, 1995
STORM, Stuttgart's regional traffic management system is now entering the critical test phase. All component systems of the project, which officially commenced in January 1993, are to be tested during the course of the current year. An interim balance of the entire STORM project was introduced at a press conference in Stuttgart's Ministry of Transport building. In attendance were: Baden-Württemberg's Minister of Transport, Hermann Schaufler, Stuttgart's mayor, Oberbürgermeister Dr. Manfred Rommel, and, as the representative of the participating industrial consortiums, Dr. Peter Zimmermann, chairman of the board of management of Daimler-Benz subsidiary ITF Intertraffic GmbH.Stuttgart's traffic guidance system "STORM" is signposting the way into the future with Park & Ride signs along the B27 near Degerloch, the B14 in Vaihingen, and the A81/B10/B295 in Weilimdorf; the most modern subway platform information displays at the U7's terminals; and information counters located throughout the city. A network of infrared beacons spans almost the entire city of Stuttgart. Around one hundred test participants are out on the streets in their STORM-equipped vehicles, logging their experiences with the individual guidance system. Continually updated display boards outside the train station in Fellbach inform bus drivers of the actual arrival times of connecting light railroad trains. Thanks to the automatic emergency call system, reaction times of emergency units hurrying to the scenes of accidents are considerably reduced. Whereas it previously took an average of 14 minutes to respond to an accident inside the city limits, it now takes only 8 minutes for help to arrive using the emergency call system. Outside the city limits, the reaction time can be cut from 21 minutes to 12.
Minister of Transport Schaufler called the attention of the media to the advances that have been made over the last few years in the field of telecommunications in the transportation sector (telematics). As a result, traffic information systems have become a permanent fixture in transportation policy and can no longer be left out of future planning. Hermann Schaufler expects that the real-time traffic information will lead to more intelligent use of that scarce commodity known as "mobility." STORM's telematics will not order motorists about. "We have faith in the sense of personal responsibility of each citizen," explained Minister Schaufler, "Those who understand the interconnections within the system will conduct themselves in a more reasonable manner."
Schaufler went on to demand that STORM would, in the long run, have to make it possible to provide everyone with traffic information. The construction and operation of such a state-wide transportation and travel information system would be realized through the efforts of private operating companies. He also announced that the state intended to contribute its share, above all to ensure that the "heart" of the integrated traffic information system - the cooperative combination of all traffic data existing under the name of "MobIN, Baden-Württemberg's mobility information network" - was realized. Branching out from STORM in Stuttgart, the area of coverage will first be extended to take in the remaining urban areas, then expanded step-by-step to include all of Baden-Württemberg. "All participants will benefit from the information provided by STORM," Schaufler said, "We will mobilize all the forces at our disposal to ensure that this crucial network will be a state-wide reality by the year 2010."
Stuttgart's mayor, Dr. Manfred Rommel, emphasized the forward-looking implications STORM has for the entire Stuttgart region and pointed out the excellent opportunities for revitalizing the public mass transit system. "Public mass transit should be increasingly used for trips in and around the city center. If possible, cars should be parked on the outskirts of town." Since STORM would augment these goals, those technical information systems which have already been completed are being promoted by the city council. Mr. Rommel has every confidence that future applications will be found for this collectively acquired "know how." The city is already holding talks with industry on how STORM's advanced guidance and information systems might be operated and marketed by firms in the private sector.
Dr. Peter Zimmermann, speaking on behalf of the participating industries, said, "The decision to go with the integrated traffic management and guidance system STORM has paid off for Stuttgart and the entire state of Baden-Württemberg. The results seen thus far are themselves the clearest indication that the employed technologies are functioning to the satisfaction of all involved." With the advent of STORM, the region has assumed a leading position in the field of traffic management systems, not only in Germany, but in the rest of Europe as well. In the process, the capability of Baden-Württemberg's industry was also convincingly demonstrated. According to Zimmermann, this further proves that joint action undertaken by administrative bodies and industry can get results. Everything now hinges on a consistent and committed implementation of the positive preliminary test results into daily practice at all levels.
In the test phase now underway, all those with a stake in the STORM system want to prove before year's end that all the component projects work flawlessly together and that all the goals set out at the beginning of the project are attainable. Preliminary results and evaluations conducted by different engineering firms and scientific institutes already indicate that the right course of action was taken.
A decisive factor in the long-term success of STORM is the clear prospect of practical, private sector applications of these modern technologies. One example of this will be seen this year in the soon to be marketed "personal navigation system" being developed under the direction of the private venture COPILOT, which was co-founded by Daimler-Benz's subsidiary ITF Intertraffic, Bosch, Siemens, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen. In addition, the VVS, SSB, and DB announced on March 14, 1995, their willingness to set up a "service company for public transit information" which will supply still more traffic information. The STORM partnership confidently announced that additional solution proposals will follow.
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© 1995 Daimler-Benz