Skip to main content

Access control aids Helsinki’s traffic flow

Finland’s capital city, Helsinki, has installed an intelligent vehicle access control system in an effort to increase road safety, reduce hazardous emissions and make the city centre more cyclist and pedestrian friendly. Developed by Dutch vehicle detection supplier Nedap, the system provides selective vehicle access control, enabling the city to regulate traffic move movements and reduce the volume of vehicles in the city centre, by allowing only vehicles with a valid permit to enter. The system offers a
February 5, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Finland’s capital city, Helsinki, has installed an intelligent vehicle access control system in an effort to increase road safety,  reduce hazardous emissions and make the city centre more cyclist and pedestrian friendly.

Developed by Dutch vehicle detection supplier 3838 Nedap, the system provides selective vehicle access control, enabling the city to regulate traffic move movements and reduce the volume of vehicles in the city centre, by allowing only vehicles with a valid permit to enter.  The system offers a high level of flexibility in permitting access to vehicles based on need, route, destination and time of day.

Finnish access control systems specialist Visy installed the system on three access roads to the city, using various technologies for identification and communication.  Long range RFID technology is used to identify vehicles, while a vehicle management controller (VMC) connects to barriers, traffic lights and RFID readers and controls their activity. The VMC hardware layout and purpose built embedded software provide an easily-maintained installation.

According to Nedap, access control has proved to be an effective method for reducing unnecessary traffic volume in city centres.  They say Helsinki has seen the results as positive and is currently considering increasing the number of restricted traffic zones in the city.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Hikvision maximises safety with smart video technology
    September 12, 2022
    Around the world, thousands of people are injured or killed in road traffic accidents every day. To maximise safety for motorists and other road users, cities and highways authorities are implementing smart video solutions that alert emergency teams when an accident occurs in real time – supporting faster responses and potentially saving lives, says Juan Sádaba, ITS business development manager at Hikvision Spain
  • Reducing congestion with Tomtom's historical traffic data
    December 5, 2012
    Historical traffic data provided by TomTom is being used by the local government in Spain’s Basque region to reduce road congestion at less cost. Old habits die hard. Photos from as far back as the 1930s show people counting cars by the roadside in order to provide congestion data to those running road networks. Today, such techniques are still used, albeit augmented by a range of automation technologies such as inductive loops, infra-red sensors and number plate recognition. Even with these advances, howe
  • Vivacity sheds light on cycle routes 
    June 17, 2021
    Councils in 30 sites near London, UK, will use Vivacity's AI and IoT data and sensors
  • Glasgow installs Q-Free cycling safety system
    August 26, 2021
    Scottish city to use new HI-TRAC CMU detection solution and in-road sensors to boost bike safety