Anderlecht, 18 July 2023 - SPIE Belgium, a subsidiary of the SPIE Group, independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications, has been awarded a contract by SPW SOFICO for the remote management of 54 tunnels and hoppers in Wallonia. By installing new centralised software and a dedicated server, SPIE Belgium aims to completely modernise tunnel management and offer users a safer, smoother experience. In all, the operation of almost 11 kilometres of tunnels will be optimised.
For many years, Wallonia's 54 tunnels and hoppers have been managed manually, which can cause major delays in the dissemination of information in the event of breakdown. Traffic jams are frequent and emergency scenarios are no longer adapted to today's reality. SPIE Belgium is aware of these challenges and is committed to remedying the situation by implementing innovative technological solutions.
"We are very proud to have won this contract to remotely manage the 54 tunnels in Wallonia, thereby helping to improve the safety and fluidity of road traffic. The company remains committed to providing cutting-edge solutions that meet the changing needs of users and pave the way for a safer and more efficient future in road infrastructure management," says Mario Brusselmans, Director of SPIE Belgium's Infrastructure Division.
Scalable, customised software to keep traffic flowing smoothly
Thanks to its new centralised software, SPIE Belgium will be able to create automatic scenarios tailored to the specific features of each tunnel and each environment. A concrete example for users: they will be informed in advance of the closure of a tunnel, up to 40 kilometres before reaching it, thanks to messages displayed on roadside units. This early warning will enable drivers to choose alternative routes or take advantage of the opportunity to take a break.
"The software is scalable, which means that it will be able to adapt to new technologies or user habits, and, for example, indicate the presence of electric charging points. The information collected will be used to optimise tunnel management, and we expect traffic flow around the tunnels to improve by up to 60%. In concrete terms, for users, this means that if there is a problem in the tunnels, they will save 60% of the time they lose at present", explains Norman Kabir, Business Development Manager for SPIE Belgium's Infrastructure division.
A major impact on road safety
As well as improving traffic flow, remote management of equipment and infrastructure by SPIE Belgium will have a major impact on user safety. The company will be able to quickly repair any faulty equipment, thereby limiting inconvenience for drivers. No fewer than 16 tunnel-related professions, such as video surveillance, automatic fire detection, emergency exits and temperature sensors, will be used to assess and modernise each tunnel, thereby guaranteeing optimum safety.
Norman Kabir explains: "We are currently in the identification phase and are starting to modernise groups of 5 tunnels. Our aim is to provide users with a comfortable level of safety, using the latest technology available".
