As smart cities grow in both in size and scope, their infrastructure must adapt to meet the needs of a rising population and an increasing demand for smart transport.
Q-Free began in 1984 as Micro Design, a small firm of Norwegian engineers developing electronic systems of toll collection. Over the last 34 years, the company has expanded its remit and now operates a wide range of Intelligent Transport System (ITS) solutions, including tolling, car park monitoring, infomobility solutions and traffic management.
As a tech-friendly, forward-looking smart transport company, Q-Free aims to anticipate and shape the future developments of smart city infrastructure. By approaching road infrastructure as a platform providing a range of services, all of which must be efficient, user friendly and environmentally sustainable, Q-Free offers bespoke technological innovation and unique traffic management expertise.
The role of transport in health and the environment
The sustainability and emission reduction potential of transport infrastructure is an increasing concern worldwide, as countries work to minimise and mitigate the impact of carbon emissions on climate change and global warming. By diminishing the air pollution produced by idling cars stuck in traffic or waiting at toll booths, Q-Free’s sustainable infrastructure enhancements can help wider efforts towards environmental change.
Meanwhile data capture facilities, while they can prove deeply beneficial to analytical results, have raised questions about the duty of smart city and smart transport endeavours to securely retain and protect users’ data. Q-Free examines smart cities’ responsibilities regarding the handling and retention of data, including the potential implementation of a standardised system of data protection across smart infrastructure technologies.
This eBook also covers:
- Tolling – Q-Free’s first and still its most wide-ranging infrastructure application, including electronic toll collection; truck tolling, which charges vehicles based on weight, emissions and classification; and congestion charging in high-traffic urban areas;
- Parking – showcasing Q-Free’s Parking Guidance Solution, which provides dynamic real time information about available parking options;
- Infomobility – the collection and analysis of traffic data; and
- C-ITS – cooperative intelligent transport systems, the future of smart transport.
