Mercury Programme

Mercury. Smart Sustainable Mobility

Programme objectives

With the Mercury Programme. Smart Sustainable Mobility , Autostrade per l'Italia group is working to build a large unitary and coordinated hub for technological innovation to guarantee safer infrastructures and play a leading role in the revolution that decarbonisation, digitisation and new transport services are bringing to all mobility systems.

This programme has been named after Mercury , the patron deity of travellers, and is also inspired by the historic 'Project Mercury' , the first American space programme involving manned space missions, as we face a challenge that will change the mobility of the future.

Project carried out by Autostrade per l'Italia, in collaboration with its subsidiaries:

The programme will make it possible to modernise assets and extend their useful life, to fluidify traffic by increasing safety, and to intensively contribute to the process of decarbonisation and energy transition, bringing significant benefits to the community and the environment.

Mercury has solid financial foundations in Autostrade per l'Italia's Business Plan, which envisages investments of over EUR 20 billion with considerable benefits in terms of employment and the economy for the entire country system.

The projects

Infrastructure digitisation initiatives and activities to enable systems and technologies, collect and exchange information

Projects in the field of traffic flow improvement through intelligent road systems infrastructure

Initiatives in the area of digitisation and automation of collection systems

Activities in the field of environmental sustainability and energy production from renewable sources

Initiatives to improve services and mobility solutions in urban centres

Connected Infrastructure represents the set of initiatives aimed at enabling the other projects of the Mercury Programme. It includes both the infrastructure and the technologies capable of detecting, transmitting and processing data from the network in real time and enabling all subsystems within the V2X (vehicle to everything) connectivity.

Enabling systems

Initiatives

Description

Optical Fibre. Transmission systems along the infrastructure.

Creation of an extensive optical fibre network to cover the last mile currently covered by copper (1500 km) as a key enabler for advanced services and infrastructure-vehicle connection technologies

V2X, V2V communication system

Implementation of V2X (Vehicle to Everything) connectivity via Wi-Fi technology to enable communication between vehicles and between vehicles and infrastructure.

Advanced traffic processing and traffic control centres

Data processing and traffic control centre on the relevant sections with analysis and predictive flow modelling functions for optimal flow management (development of real-time models in the future)

Detection systems

Installation of cameras, MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) sensors, lasers, etc., for a timely and continuous collection of vehicle flow data along the network

Actuators

RSU (Road Side Unit) radio antennas positioned close to the roadway. PMVs, radio channels, etc., required for data transmission along the existing infrastructure for communication between vehicle and all road subsystems (V2X)

Intelligent Roads is the core initiative that implements, coordinates and integrates systems detection, transmission, processing, communication and execution to improve road safety, traffic flow control and quality, infrastructure monitoring, and to inform and assist users.

Traffic Safety Systems

Initiatives

Description

Tutor

The aim of the project is to extend the Tutor system - average speed measurement system to the entire managed network for the purposes of safety and compliance with speed limits. Given the widespread nature of the system's installations, it will be used to collect traffic data for statistical purposes.

Detection of dangerous goods

System for tracking the route of vehicles carrying dangerous goods and identifying the routes with the highest number of transits.

Counter identification

Identification system for vehicles driving on the wrong side of the road in order to prompt inform users along the section and reduce the intervention time in case of emergencies. *

Geolocation rescue

Operational management of rescue operations and optimisation of event resolution times

Smart Tunnel

Automatic tunnel traffic monitoring and detection of smoke, stationary vehicles and objects in the roadway

Accident risk analysis

Preventive accident risk analysis through the use of Machine Learning (ML) for prioritising interventions.

Mobile worksite monitoring

Geolocation system and control of mobile worksites for an overall enhancement of traffic and personnel at work safety.

Collision avoidance systems for company vehicles

Introduction of collision warning system for company vehicles to protect personnel on the road

* In preliminary study phase

User information and assistance systems

Initiatives

Description

Proactive Mobility Management

Platform for optimising the planning of roadworks according to traffic volumes and expected travel times

C-ITS Services Day 1

Implementation of cooperative C-ITS road safety systems, anticipating information on road and traffic conditions on a first level (day one)

Traffic control systems

Initiatives

Description

Vehicle tracking

A system for collecting traffic data, routes, travel times and vehicle classification through the use of cameras for automatic recognition of number plates coupled with sensors.

Dynamic lane management

The Dynamic Lane management system provides for the emergency lane to be transformed into a traffic lane in order to facilitate the flow of traffic in heavy traffic conditions or in case of events altering the flow of vehicles. The implementation of an AID (Automatic Incident Detection) system allows the automatic detection of traffic events on the section, in order to ensure that the opening and closing of the emergency lane, as well as normal operations, take place under safe conditions for travellers and operators.

Dynamic speed limits

A system that allows speed limits to be managed dynamically to improve traffic flow.

4th generation Navigators

Use of advanced mathematical models also for environmentally friendly route optimisation*.

* In preliminary study phase

Infrastructure control systems

Initiatives

Description

ARGO (maintenance management platform)

Infrastructure lifecycle management and monitoring platform and support for inspection and maintenance planning. Digitisation of infrastructure assets, database for data and process management and control, Mobile APP to support field inspection

Dynamic monitoring of vehicle weight

Measurement and control of the weight of vehicles, a warning system for vehicles exceeding the permitted limits and activation of detention procedures coordinated with the police forces. This is also a road safety initiative, as overloading is one of the main causes of accidents.

Geolocalised network quality monitoring

Platform for collecting information on the state of pavements and safety barriers to schedule repairs

Flexible Pricing encompasses initiatives to transform tolling systems in order to digitise the payment experience and thus reduce congestion and waiting at toll booths, improving the travel experience.

Toll management

Initiatives

Description

Station/2.0 Track project

Refitting and evolving the collection systems to state-of-the-art technologies, overcoming constraints and limitations imposed by the current architecture and plant solutions, to allow the gradual transition to a system without barriers (Full Free Flow).

Trip Pricing

Study of possible tariff modulations of the toll (times, route and type of vehicle, etc.) with the aim of reducing congestion on the motorway network and consequently increasing safety and reducing pollution.

Green Solutions encompasses key energy transition initiatives such as the widespread installation of high-powered electric charging stations, the distribution of compressed hydrogen and LNG, and the deployment of large areas of solar panels.

Decarbonisation

Initiatives

Description

Electric charging stations

Installation of high-power electric charging stations in about 100 service areas by 2023. The network of charging stations is designed in a modular manner and is sized according to the estimated evolution of the electric vehicle market over the next few years.

H2 and LNG refuelling stations

Creation of LNG and 'green' hydrogen recharging stations to support the rapid and neutral energy transition *

Photovoltaic panels

Installation of photovoltaic systems along the network for green electricity production

* In the preliminary study phase

Urban Mobility includes initiatives which, starting from the solutions and technologies already adopted on the motorway network, aim to develop new, sustainable and innovative mobility models with the objective of optimising vehicle flow and safety in urban centres, ensuring tangible benefits for the entire community

Multimodal digital mobility services

Initiatives

Description

Motorway/metropolitan cities interconnection

Creation of a digital and interconnected ecosystem to accompany travellers from the motorway network to urban centres

Access monitoring in areas of interest

Implementation of restricted/controlled traffic zones (ZTL / ZTC) in city centres, consisting of access gates and traffic congestion monitoring systems. The system supports the decisions of the managing bodies to implement pollution reduction measures (e.g., dynamic pricing).

Monitoring and management of goods flows

Management and optimisation of the flow of commercial vehicles in urban areas and towards logistical nodes (ports and interports), also through routing-optimisation systems, satellite parking, etc.

Urban traffic management with intelligent traffic lights

Development of systems for monitoring the level of congestion in urban traffic and dynamic regulation of flows through intelligent traffic lights*.