'Eye in the sky' was a research project funded by DG INFSO that contributes to the development of a European intelligent transport infrastructure. The project aimed to develop a number of services based on the synergy of surveillance, communications and digital mapping technologies.
The project provided commercially viable integrated solutions addressing issues of traffic monitoring, fleet management, customised mobility information and emergency services support for the better organisation of large scale events. The test area of the proposed services was the sky and city of Athens, which hosted the 2004 Olympic Games.
The cost-effectiveness of the applications proposed derives from the fact that the technologies used are proven, technical know-how is abundant hence minimising research and development and training costs. Successful application of the proposed services in Athens will inevitably initiate the development of modern market activities in other peer cities inside the European Union.
The 'Eye in the sky' project was concluded in May 2004. During the development of the project's system numerous goals were achieved. Some results were more important than others, some were direct results according to the initial project objectives and others were secondary. In the following paragraphs an overview of these results can be found, categorised under four main categories.
Scientific / technological quality and innovation
'Eye in the sky' main contribution to technology was the development of state-of-the-art services related to transport, mobility and security for supporting large scale events and European citizens' every-day life based on the synergy of various technologies.
The project's main results and achievements with respect to the project's objectives concerning scientific/technological quality and innovation are summarised in the following paragraphs.
- Development and validation of intelligent transport infrastructures based on the synergy of surveillance, communications and geographic information/digital mapping technologies.
- Provision of images from sensor, mounted on low-altitude platforms, offering advantages such as high spatial and temporal resolution, or dedication to pre-identified areas for selected time-period.
- Near real-time downloading and acquisition of sensor data to ground station and near real time processing of the data into traffic information.
- Set up of a complete digital road/traffic database, for the first time for the specific urban area, to serve as a geo-reference for multiple layers of relative information like road types, signs and restrictions, topographic data and the statistic traffic flow model. This geo-reference could also be used to geo-reference the optical sensor's outputs.
- Development of software for unification of data, derived of different sources (optical sensor, FCD), into an integrated information product.
- Development, implementation and validation of a GPS/GSM-based methodology for mobile traffic sensoring and traffic data transmission for inner-urban applications (FCD in urban areas).
Community added value and contribution to EU policies
The project results and achievements to contribute to EU policies through the:
- Development, testing and validation of services in the specific conditions of large-scale events that may be extended to everyday life applications.
- Increase of the opportunities for employment prospects and European competitiveness in state-of-the-art technology and industries.
Contribution to community social objectives
The project results and achievements contribute to community social objectives through the:
- Development of intelligent infrastructures for transport and security operations and provision of improvements for everyday mobility problems of people in cities.
Economic development and S&T prospects
The project results and achievements contribute to the economic development and scientific and technological prospects through the:
- Definition and analysis of mobility management services with a view to create a commercially viable company offering services to individual end users (drivers) and also to the public authorities (transport operators etc.).
- Generation of new individualised as well as public services derived from integrated dynamic traffic data management (content management).
- Provision of dynamic fleet management services based on the actual traffic situation through vehicle and mobile equipment that is used for delivering traffic information services via FCD.
- Exploitation of state-of-the-art technologies for the production of cost-effective general interest services, facilitating daily citizen needs.
