Skip to main content

Monotch and Cohda join New Zealand road worker safety V2X trial

Proof of concept project will aim to communicate warnings from workzones to road users
By Adam Hill February 19, 2024 Read time: 2 mins
Around 40 deaths or serious injuries are reported on New Zealand's roadworks sites annually (© Rod Hill | Dreamstime.com)

Monotch and Cohda Wireless are working on a Vehicle to Everything (V2X) technology project which aims to improve safety for workzones on New Zealand's roads.

There are around 40 deaths or serious injuries reported on New Zealand's roadworks sites annually, so the collaboration will implement a proof of concept (POC) to provide warnings from road works to other road users.

Starting in April and set to last three months, the project will be a small-scale deployment involving multiple devices across various road works vehicles, after which feedback will be sought so that the technology can be refined "for future scalability".

The project aims to demonstrate real-time and bi-directional data exchange based on cellular networks, showcasing data flow from works vehicles to in-car messages for road users via navigation apps such as Waze and Google Maps. 

Monotch says success will be measured by the effectiveness of the technology and the lessons learned from various user groups.

The company is providing the data platform in its first project outside of Europe, using its TLEX solution.

The work will cover several sites in the Wellington and Nelson regions, with potential expansion to Christchurch. The mixture of rural and urban sites and static and mobile works operations is designed to ensure a diverse dataset.

“Because of the proven technology, I am confident this proof of concept will work as expected," says project manager Mike Steere. "Perhaps our biggest learning will be to understand the perceived challenges we must overcome in New Zealand.”

"This country is looking at the future of mobility and wants to implement the best and proven solutions available. We are confident that we, together with the consortium partners, provide an amazing learning experience," says Gary Lin, business development manager for Monotch.

Monotch is involved in many European projects, including the Talking Traffic, Mobilidata and NordicWay programmes. 

“Our TLEX platform provides the foundation for digital infrastructure and connected vehicles," says Menno Malta, the firm's CEO and founder. 

"We have already done many projects throughout Europe, showcasing the potential of bi-directional and real-time mobility data exchange to make journeys safer, more efficient, and more sustainable. 

Fulton Hogan, Resolve Group and Haumaru Health & Safety make up the rest of the consortium for the New Zealand work.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Car to car communications a step closer
    December 14, 2012
    Vehicle manufacturers have targeted 2015 for the first cars to roll off European assembly lines fitted with operational V2X technology. They and their partners in the Car 2 Car Communications Consortium are confident of meeting the target, reports Jon Masters. Around three years from now vehicles should be appearing in showrooms boasting the capability of communicating with each other. Manufacturers will have started fitting the first proprietary car-to-car driver-aid safety devices and deployment of ‘vehic
  • Reducing injuries and deaths in US workzones shouldn’t be this complicated
    April 17, 2023
    In National Work Zone Awareness Week, surely the least we can do is to help get road workers home safely at the end of the day, says One.network's boss
  • Cohda achieves C-V2X certification in China
    October 30, 2019
    Cohda Wireless has announced its cellular vehicle to everything (C-V2X) software stack is compliant with Chinese standards and specifications via the IMT-2020 certification. Cohda says IMT-2020 is regarded by many OEMs as one of the interoperability standardisation processes that is likely to be adopted – alongside others such as the China Society of Automotive Engineers’ CAICV. The company will now undertake road trial testing of its applications with a range of Chinese OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers organise
  • With C-ITS we can get ourselves connected
    June 27, 2025
    Workzones need to be safer for drivers and workers – and the technology exists to harmonise safety with mobility needs, says Swarco’s Daniel Lenczowski