(City of Science Darmstadt)
Using Data for Environmentally Sensitive Traffic Management
The Wissenschaftsstadt Darmstadt (City of Science Darmstadt) is one of the pioneers of a data-driven, sustainable mobility strategy.
With the DANALYTICS project, implemented between 2019 and 2022, the foundation was laid for a digital traffic management system that balances road safety, efficiency, and environmental compatibility.
By deploying Exasol as a high-performance data platform, the Traffic Planning and Management department is able to capture and analyze extensive real-time traffic and environmental data and translate it directly into actionable recommendations.
Organization: Wissenschaftsstadt Darmstadt – Office for Mobility and Civil Engineering / Mobility Department / Traffic Planning and Management Division
Project Staff: Olaf Arras, Project Officer
Project Duration: 2019–2022 (DANALYTICS), measures continued since 2022
Strategic Goal: Establishment of an environmentally sensitive traffic management system based on Big Data Analytics
Germany
35
Public Sector
Analytics Acceleration
Since 2019, Darmstadt had been under significant pressure to act: court rulings required the city to implement consistent measures against exceeding NO₂ limits.
Diesel driving bans on central road sections highlighted how urgent a new approach to traffic management had become.
The administration not only had to comply with legal requirements but also improve the quality of life for its citizens.
Traditional, reactive management approaches were no longer sufficient – what was needed was a forward-looking, data-driven traffic management system that accounted for both traffic flows and environmental impact.
As part of the funded DANALYTICS project, the vision of an analytical data platform (DAP) for digital traffic management was created.
A decisive component: a powerful database technology capable of reliably and quickly processing large volumes of real-time data.
Following intensive workshops and design phases, Exasol was chosen.
The key factor: its outstanding performance in the use case – combining traffic and environmental data in real time.
With Exasol as the core of its data platform, Darmstadt was able to significantly modernize its traffic management:
Analyses now run automatically and almost in real time, instead of through manual queries and preparation.
Dashboards make complex relationships understandable – traffic flows and environmental impacts become visible.
Traffic management decisions are based on data, not assumptions.
Measures to reduce emissions can be specifically developed and monitored.
This success story demonstrates: with the right data strategy, even complex challenges such as air quality management and traffic control can be tackled – efficiently, sustainably, and in a citizen-focused way.
The journey is not over.
Wissenschaftsstadt Darmstadt is already planning its next steps, including:
