At Flow Analytics by AGC, we are constantly exploring new ways to enhance urban mobility and safety. In our latest initiative, we have launched our first near miss measurement project in Oulu, leveraging LiDAR technology and our advanced data system to gain deeper insights into road safety and traffic behavior. This project represents a significant step in our mission to create smarter, safer cities through data-driven solutions. This initiative comes as a response to local authorities' concerns following a recent accident on a busy Saaristonkatu street in Oulu, highlighting the need for improved traffic safety measures within the Vision Zero framework and efforts to reduce incidents within the fatality range.
Why Measure Near Misses?
Traditional traffic safety analysis often focuses on recorded accidents. However, near misses—incidents where collisions are narrowly avoided—serve as early warning indicators of potential safety risks. By identifying these situations, city planners and mobility experts can proactively enhance road safety infrastructure, traffic flow, and urban mobility before accidents occur.
Our innovative road safety solution allows cities to move beyond reactive safety improvements and take a data-driven, predictive approach to traffic safety. Near miss measurement helps uncover dangerous patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed, such as areas with frequent sudden braking, unsafe pedestrian crossings, or high-risk cyclist-vehicle interactions. By addressing these risks early, cities can prevent traffic accidents, reduce injuries, and lower fatalities.
Moreover, the ability to measure and analyze near misses provides valuable real-time traffic insights into how road users behave in urban environments. This knowledge enables authorities to implement targeted traffic management strategies, optimize urban planning, and create smarter, safer transportation networks. Ultimately, near miss measurement represents a next-generation approach to urban mobility, pedestrian safety, and intelligent traffic control.
How It Works
We are collaborating with Alvidiotech specializing in signaling solutions, which plays a crucial role in this project. Our approach goes beyond just measuring and detecting near misses—we also take action by implementing real-time safety enhancements and optimizing traffic management to reduce risks.
Using high-resolution LiDAR sensors, we collect precise, real-time data on road user interactions, including:
· Pedestrian and cyclist movements in high-traffic areas
· Vehicle interactions at intersections and crosswalks
· Traffic flow patterns and potential conflict zones
Our data processing system, combined with advanced signaling technologies from Alvidiotech, not only analyzes these interactions to detect near misses and assess risk levels by enabling real-time safety adjustments and traffic optimizations for city planners, transportation agencies, and other stakeholders, but also helps act immediately to prevent accidents.
What This Means for Oulu
In 2024, Finland recorded 171 fatalities and 3,437 injuries from road traffic accidents, with a significant portion occurring in urban areas like Oulu. Studies indicate that 46% of road traffic fatalities in Northern Finland happen in city environments, underscoring the need for targeted safety interventions. These figures highlight the importance of proactive measures to enhance road safety in Oulu.
Oulu is dedicated to improving urban safety through forward-thinking initiatives, including innovative traffic management strategies and preventive measures led by local authorities. The city's police department plays a key role in public safety, conducting education programs and awareness campaigns to mitigate risks and prevent accidents.
With this project, we aim to support the city by enhancing pedestrian and cyclist safety, optimizing traffic signal timing and road design, and reducing high-risk interactions in urban environments. In the following months, we expect to generate valuable insights that can guide urban mobility improvements and inform future city planning decisions.
Looking Ahead
This project is just the beginning of our work in near miss measurement. As we gather and analyze data, we will continue to refine our approach and explore how it can be applied in other cities looking to improve road safety.
If you are a city municipality or urban planner looking for innovative ways to make your streets safer, we’d love to collaborate. Get in touch with us to learn more about how near miss measurement can help improve traffic flow, reduce accidents, and create a safer environment for all road users. Fill our contact form below: