As the PoDIUM project enters its third and final year, it continues to play a vital role in advancing Connected, Cooperative, and Automated Mobility (CCAM) in Europe. The project addresses critical challenges to the deployment of CCAM services to foster their development and enable higher levels of vehicle automation. Within PoDIUM, ERTICO leads the dissemination and international cooperation activities, a key aspect to promote the project outcomes and raise awareness of the benefits of CCAM solutions. Dr Nikolaos Tsampieris, ERTICO’s Head of Transport and Logistics and ERTICO lead in the project, tells us more about PoDIUM and its significance for ERTICO.
- Can you tell us more about PoDIUM? How does it support and advance ERTICO’s broader vision, particularly regarding CCAM?
PoDIUM contributes to the deployment of advanced and reliable CCAM services in Europe. Launched in October 2022, the project concentrates on key Physical and Digital Infrastructure (PDI) technologies, focusing on multi-connectivity, interoperability, hybrid data management, software integrity, and data truthfulness. PoDIUM evaluates different connectivity and cooperation enablers to support the integration of automated vehicles into the overall transport system. In a nutshell, PoDIUM works on enabling effective, sustainable, and trustworthy CCAM through enhanced connectivity and data sharing to foster the development of advanced CCAM solutions.
PoDIUM introduces various key innovations in several areas to create a more connected, efficient, and sustainable transportation ecosystem, addressing major challenges of smart mobility, such as advanced communication technologies (V2x and 5G integration), trust and security frameworks (data integrity and privacy-preserving technologies), user-centric solutions, and sustainability initiatives. These innovations, which centre around interoperable connectivity, secure data governance, and sustainability-oriented mobility solutions, align closely with ERTICO’s goals to establish a cohesive, trusted, and sustainable ecosystem for CCAM.
PoDIUM fully aligns with ERTICO’s vision to accelerate the deployment of safe, infrastructure-supported, and inclusive CCAM services that complement existing transport solutions to achieve a safer, more efficient, and sustainable transportation mobility ecosystem across Europe. PoDIUM also contributes to the objectives of the CCAM Partnership, in which ERTICO is actively involved, and specifically to Cluster 4 by supporting the integration of automated vehicles into the overall transport system, a critical aspect to make the rollout of automation technologies a reality.
- What challenges does PoDIUM aim to address in the current mobility and infrastructure landscape, and how is ERTICO contributing to overcoming these challenges?
PoDIUM is addressing several critical challenges currently present in the mobility and infrastructure landscape, such as fragmented connectivity, secure data exchange and user privacy, public trust and social acceptance, sustainability, scalability, and gaps in policy and regulation. To address these current barriers and reach higher levels of vehicle automation, the project proposes the following innovations:
- Advance Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) as an enabler of new use cases (UCs) and services
- Data fusion (locally generated and distributed computed data) to build enhanced environmental models towards digital twins
- Extend C-ITS messages for enabling advanced CCAM use cases
- Ensure software integrity, trust and truthfulness of CCAM data, their exchange and their processing
- Integration of Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs).
In line with the project’s objectives and the ERTICO CCAM Roadmap for 2035, ERTICO promotes the project’s solutions following a multi-stakeholder approach. Through cross-industry collaboration and the ERTICO Partnership, involving Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), technology providers, and public authorities, we promote innovative standards and advocate for secure data governance and adherence to regulatory frameworks that protect user privacy and energy-efficient infrastructure. Furthermore, we are working closely with the CCAM Partnership and European policymakers to establish regulations and facilitate long-term CCAM growth while ensuring public safety and security.
- Can you outline ERTICO’s contributions to PoDIUM and highlight where our expertise has been most impactful?
We lead the dissemination, exploitation, and international cooperation activities, which also include the project’s communication strategy and tools. As a multi-stakeholder platform, we bring together vehicle manufacturers, public authorities, infrastructure providers, and more, to work on mobility challenges collaboratively. We bring high visibility to PoDIUM’s activities and outcomes by ensuring a strong presence at relevant events and active online engagement through our website and social media platforms. We also support the dissemination of the project results by involving the relevant research organisations as well as business stakeholders in fora and consultation workshops to ensure the widest diffusion of the project’s outcomes, helping to achieve the vision and strategy of the CCAM Partnership.
- As PoDIUM enters its third and final year, what are you most proud of in terms of the project’s progress and outcomes so far?
While the project’s technological achievements are important, the smooth running of the project is what I value most. Up to now, all project activities have been timely executed and the associated milestones have been realised as planned, indicating the overall successful delivery of the project.
