What is AIMES?
AIMES (Australian Integrated Multimodal EcoSystem) is a world-first integrated transport and technology
project, running in real time from the streets of inner-city Melbourne. We have one goal: to link all
transport infrastructure and users in cities together to deliver safer, cleaner and more sustainable urban
transport.
In a six-square kilometre segment of inner city Melbourne, we have collaborated with more than 50 local and
global partners and government bodies to establish the world’s first, and largest, transport ecosystem in a
real-world environment.
But it’s not just about the movements of the public transport network,the AIMES connects to all aspects of the
transport system, from vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists and drivers using Bluetooth, to
sensors placed on buses, trams and trains, to environmental sensors recording pollution and noise in different
areas. Using smart sensors placed at intersections, tramways, bus stations and roadsides, our partners
are revolutionising the development of vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-vulnerable road users, and
vehicle-to-infrastructure communication systems.
View map here
Where is it?
AIMES covers an area of 100km of Melbourne’s inner North and is densely instrumented with a suite of smart
sensors and systems.
Key
- Installed Sensors
- Future Sensors
What does it do?
The AIMES network currently utilises many different types of technology. Each piece of technology serves a
specific purpose, obtains valuable data and is fed into the AIMES Internet of Things (IoT) Platform. IoT is
connecting physical devices to the Internet so the devices can communicate and interact with each other and be
remotely monitored and controlled.
The AIMES IoT Platform creates a holistic picture of the transport network in AIMES.
IoT layer
All of the data collected from the devices and sensors across AIMES is accumulated and fed into the
IoT platform.
Display layer
The data collected is displayed on a dashboard powered by Cubic Transportation Systems which gives
us a real-time view of everything that’s happening in AIMES.
Optimisation layer
PTV Group’s Optima is a predictive platform that enable us to see into the future and to make the
best decisions for the transport network as a whole. Optima combines real-time data
with historical data to develop a predictive view of the near future – seconds, minutes and hours.
25 X DSRC Devices
Dedicated Short Range Communication devices (DSRCs) are our communication backbone connecting
devices and objects in the AIMES network. DSRCs allow us to send important data between devices over
urban distances of 300 to 500 metres.
25 X Edge Computing Devices
Instead of using time to send a request to the cloud or a data center, we can compute important
decisions at the roadside thanks to Edge Computing Devices, which will save precious time. When it
comes to
safety, seconds count! Edge Computing Devices allows us to easily make split second decisions around
safety.
4 x WiFi Sensors
WiFi sensors will pick up the location and movement of people with mobile phones.
2 x Edge Fog Computing Cameras
These cameras classify different types of traffic directly from the roadside edge.
1 X LiDAR Device
LiDAR is a light radar that can detect objects by throwing beams of light hundreds of times per
second. LiDAR can help us detect all manner of moving objects and people to deeply understand the
inner workings of our city’s transport. We use LiDAR for detecting people and objects that might not
be otherwise picked up by other sensors such as DSRC and Bluetooth.
100+ Bluetooth Connections
The AIMES network has a reliable way of counting car drivers, cyclists, motorcyclists and
pedestrians travelling past a vast number of sensors – using Bluetooth! Bluetooth is essential to
helping the AIMES system understand travel times in an urban area, and the AIMES communication network
makes the most of this technology.
5 X Environmental Sensors
We have five advanced environmental sensors to tell us the levels of pollution and noise in a
certain area. The new sensors (arcHUBs)- monitor air quality and provide detailed information at the
local street level. Poor air quality is often due to changing conditions such as traffic and building
works. So, we use the sensors to monitor airborne particle concentration hourly and can detect sudden
spikes in pollutants.
What’s connected
We have distributed smart sensors that provide data in real time across the multimodal network, detecting
types of vehicles, their speed, location and what may be nearby such as building works or collisions. This
information feeds into the AIMES platform to create a complete and holistic view of the transport environment.
This predictive view is made available to road operators and other third parties so they can make decisions
about,
such as traffic flow and alternative routes, delivering real-time efficiency and safety benefits.
From cars and cyclists, to trams and shuttles, to stationary sensors placed at intersections and roadside
cabinets, we are creating an integrated multimodal transport network.
Some of the most congested and dangerous areas of our inner cities are
intersections where more than one third of serious crashes occur. It’s vital that we make our
intersections smarter by connecting all people and vehicles travelling through them. We have coordinated
intersection trials within AIMES’ Carlton testbed to further develop AIMES technologies and prevent
traffic incidents without the need for human intervention.
Roadside cabinets enclose and protect our AIMES technology at the roadside,
collecting real time traffic information that’s fed into our IoT platform and build our predictive
analytics.
There are three vehicles in the University of Melbourne fleet, which have been
installed with Cohda Wireless DSRC sensors. These cars are used in our connected transport trials. We
can create a connected pop-up fleet of cars using our portable DSRC technology for use in larger scale
trials.
Five Transdev buses have been installed with QFree DSRC and Cisco Edge Fog Fabric
sensors. Buses with this technology can become smarter and safer by advising road users of their
location
and speed. This technology can also detect bus occupancy and inform priority treatment in peak times.
For example, in peak times, a high occupancy connected bus may receive priority at busy intersections to
transport more people through a congested urban area.
Toshiba ran trials with Yarra Trams and the AIMES network, utilising
groundbreaking technology and
high-definition cameras that detected and counting pedestrians crossing the road and at the tram stop.
The
cameras can also detect cars and other objects in the path of the tram, along with car queuing length at
intersections and tram stops.
The AIMES fleet also includes an automated shuttle bus. Designed for low-speed
urban environments, the shuttle includes open platform technology provided by EasyMile, which can be
enhanced by University of Melbourne researchers and improved as automated vehicle software advances.
Pedestrians are a major part of the transport network and are often considered the
most vulnerable. The AIMES project is working on methods of passive and active detection of vulnerable
road users to
create a safer travel environment.
Phase one and two of the AIMES technology trials involved these detection methods
and delivered real-time safety messages to vehicle operators.
With its multimodal focus, the AIMES network can build a more complete picture of
the
transport environment to deliver safety benefits and influence decisions on how transport is offered,
such as ride-sharing and automated services.
The AIMES project is working with partners to install connected technology on
trucks that
travel through the Carlton testbed. Woolworths trucks have been fitted with DSRCs to run trials
focusing on road side management such as parking, clearways and loading zones and to improve the
efficiency of movement around loading stores.
AIMES is partnering with road safety organisations to gain an in-depth
understanding of cycling black spots within AIMES. The ultimate goal is to apply technological solutions
to bring positive road safety changes.
The AIMES project is partnering with road safety organisations to better
understand the most
dangerous situations for motorcyclists. The ultimate goal is to apply technological
solutions to bring positive road safety changes.
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