TISGRADE in Practice: European Webinar Sheds Light on Traffic Data and Mobility 

The session reflects Connekt’s ambition to contribute actively to European cooperation, with a focus on knowledge exchange and cross-border connection. With participants from the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Estonia, Italy, Poland, Romania, Latvia, Spain, Belgium and Finland, the hour-long session offered an accessible introduction to the TISGRADE project and its practical relevance to improve traffic information services across Europe. 

The webinar was opened by Marije de Nijs (Smart Mobility Embassy, Connekt ITS Netherlands), moderated by Barbara Waltmans (Bureau Buiten), and presented in depth by Annet van Veenendaal (NDW), project coordinator of TISGRADE. 

Improving traffic information across Europe 

TISGRADE (Traffic Information Services upGRADe Europe)  is a European collaborative project funded through the CEF (Connecting Europe Facility) programme. It brings together 21 countries and 54 partners, including road authorities and service providers such as HERE, TomTom and Google Maps. 

During the webinar, it was explained that despite significant progress in digital mobility, traffic information across Europe remains fragmented. Traffic data is often incomplete, outdated, or stored in different formats, making it difficult to exchange and use across borders. In many cases, real-time traffic information is either unavailable, of insufficient quality, or not shared according to European standards. 

As a result, service providers do not always have access to accurate and up-to-date information on roadworks, road closures, speed limits, and other traffic measures. This can lead to inconsistent route guidance for road users and slows down the deployment of smarter and more efficient mobility services. 

The project aims to improve the availability, quality and accessibility of this data, so that traffic information can be better used in practice and creates a stronger foundation for reliable traffic information services and better-informed travel decisions. 

A central part of the approach involves so-called pre-deployment validations (PDVs), in which solutions are tested in real-world conditions before being rolled out at scale. Launched at the end of 2025, TISGRADE is currently in the phase where these first applications and improvements are being developed and trialled. 

Three types of situations 

To make the impact of traffic data tangible, three types of scenarios were discussed: roadworks and diversions, tunnel and bridge closures, and undesirable routing of traffic. These examples illustrate that the problem often lies not in an absence of data, but in how that data is shared and applied. 

The Brenner Pass: a topical case 

A particularly timely example – one that made the news just this past weekend – is the situation surrounding the Brenner Pass in Austria. Closures and traffic congestion there cause navigation systems to divert vehicles from the motorway onto local roads and through villages, with heavy goods vehicles following the same routes. The result is recurring disruption and safety issues in the region, which, as was evident again this weekend, has already prompted protests from local residents. 

Measures have been put in place to limit through traffic on local roads, but the webinar emphasised that such measures primarily address the symptoms rather than the underlying cause. 

The case clearly illustrates how navigation systems guide traffic based on available data. When information about closures, diversions and local traffic measures is incomplete or not delivered in time, vehicles can end up on routes never intended for that purpose. TISGRADE addresses exactly this challenge: by making traffic circulation plans and temporary traffic measures better available in digital form, route recommendations can be more accurately aligned with local conditions and real-world circumstances. 

Collaboration as the key 

Throughout the webinar, it was emphasised that improving traffic information is not purely a technical challenge. It requires cooperation between multiple parties: public authorities that supply data, platforms that provide access to it, and service providers that apply it in navigation and mobility services. TISGRADE actively works to strengthen this collaboration, including through knowledge sharing and the joint development of solutions. 

Key takeaways 

The webinar underlined that traffic data plays an increasingly important role in mobility. Data is often present, but not yet used to its full potential –  while navigation systems significantly influence the behaviour of road users, making data quality directly decisive for traffic flows. 

It also became clear that local effects, such as liveability and road safety, are not yet always adequately reflected in route recommendations. European collaboration helps to make data more scalable and applicable, but requires close alignment between public and private parties. 

The central conclusion was that not technology alone, but collaboration and shared ownership of data, are the essential prerequisites for better mobility. 

Next steps 

Looking ahead, those interested in TISGRADE can follow developments via the project website, subscribe to the newsletter and follow the LinkedIn page. Follow-up webinars and TISGRADE Talks are being organised to explore specific topics in greater depth, the next one is on 23 June. For questions or further information, contact the project team via Barbara Waltmans via e-mail: barbara.waltmans@bureaubuiten.nl 

Participants in this webinar have already received a concise two-pager and the presentation slides.