City of Ulm relies on Metz Connect

The role of the MCO IP69k from METZ CONNECT in modern transportation infrastructure

In the age of digitalization and urbanization, smart cities are no longer a distant vision, but are increasingly becoming a reality. The city of Ulm is one of the leading cities in Germany that uses intelligent networking to make people's everyday lives easier and is also committed to sustainability

Intelligent intersections and connected mobility

Smart cities face the challenge of integrating and protecting a large number of technical devices and systems at traffic junctions. Autonomous vehicles and intelligent traffic light systems will play a decisive role at intersections in the future, particularly in the area of traffic management. Vehicles in Ulm, whether conventional or autonomous in the future, should be able to “see around corners”.

This means that cars, trucks and streetcars, for example, will receive information in advance about the intersections ahead. By evaluating video footage in real time, vehicles will receive wireless information such as “when will the traffic lights turn green?”, “is there an accident at the junction?” or “how high is the volume of pedestrians and cyclists?”.

At the same time, ambulances, police and fire department vehicles on duty are given priority at junctions, i.e. the traffic lights are switched so that every light is green. Streetcars also have priority over normal road users.

Demands on data network technology in outdoor areas

The use of data network technology (DNT) components is subject to special challenges. The exact requirements depend on the application and the area of use. Particularly in outdoor areas, there are temperature fluctuations and many other disruptive influences that have a negative impact on the network infrastructure.

Solid housings must reliably and permanently protect the DNT components in outdoor areas against weather influences such as rain, snow, solar radiation and ozone in order to prevent malfunctions or ageing processes.

Furthermore, strong vibrations, temperature fluctuations and road salt can also play a decisive role. The city of Ulm, for example, has repeatedly experienced difficulties with condensation in its signal masts and in the original protective housing for DNT applications. The decision to replace the conventional protective housing with the MCO IP69k from METZ CONNECT has proved successful. Since then, the problems with corrosion and ageing of the network connections inside the masts have been completely eliminated.

City of Ulm relies on METZ CONNECT – quality of the MCO IP69k impresses

The city of Ulm relies on PoE cameras at its traffic light intersections to ensure that vehicles can “see around the corner”, emergency vehicles arrive at the scene on time and streetcars run on time. These cameras are supplied with power and data via a single cable, which simplifies installation and increases reliability at the same time.

As signal masts sometimes fall victim and are knocked over, and technological progress is constantly producing innovative products such as cameras with integrated artificial intelligence, the connecting cables must be flexibly replaceable and expandable. This is where the MCO IP69k from METZ CONNECT comes into play.

In combination with a C6Amodul, it offers an additional RJ45 interface that makes repairs or extensions to the traffic system much easier. Instead of having to tear up the entire road to the next traffic management distributor in order to extend or repair a cable, for example, the corresponding data line can be quickly and easily adapted to the new situation.

Another problem is that standard connectors or outdoor network cables often do not fit into the intended camera interfaces due to their dimensions. This is where the MCO IP69k shows another strength: it makes it possible to reduce the cable diameter. This means that a robust, thick outdoor cable can be connected to one side of the MCO IP69k protective housing, while a more flexible outdoor patch cable is used on the other side, which can be connected directly to the active component.

Conclusion

The city of Ulm impressively demonstrates how innovative technologies can make a significant contribution to the development of a smart city by improving quality of life and safety while also taking sustainability aspects into account. The MCO IP69k from METZ CONNECT is an important piece of the puzzle for the successful implementation of the “Smart City Strategy Ulm”. Thanks to its outstanding resistance to environmental influences and its high flexibility, it is ideally suited to the demanding conditions and supports a reliable and long-lasting network infrastructure.