Vaisala Xweather enriches road condition dataset with NIRA’s connected car data
After a long and exciting anticipation, we're thrilled to announce our partnership with NIRA Dynamics for the release of an advanced road condition dataset. This integrated dataset strengthens Xweather's AI- and ML-based road weather forecasting models by incorporating billions of data points supplied by NIRA Dynamics, sourced from connected cars.
"Partnering with NIRA Dynamics aligns seamlessly with our mission to connect road users, automotive manufacturers, and maintenance teams through data," said John Liljelund, Director, SaaS at Vaisala Xweather.
We are only beginning to explore the full potential of the data set and this collaboration – the opportunities for automotive innovation, increased safety, and operational efficiency are limitless.
John Liljelund, Director, SaaS , Vaisala Xweather
The future of driving is fueled by data
The future of driving is going to be heavily dependent on more accurate and real-time road weather and road condition data as the availability of autonomous and assisted driving features are highly influenced by the driving conditions. Currently, as seen in many Electric Vehicles (EVs), the assisted driving functionalities are disconnected to secure driver safety based on crude weather and road condition estimations, such as a temperature drop to under 4 degrees Celsius or a change in tire rolling resistance.
Real-time data from connected vehicles on tire grip, road friction, surface quality, and weather conditions combined with leading industry-specific weather forecasts create an aggregated data set with multiple use cases already today. Examples of these are reducing the likelihood of accidents by increasing the autonomous and assisted driving features’ availability in poorer road weather conditions, enhancing the condition of the road network with computer vision analysis of defects and assets, and minimizing resource consumption, such as the overuse of salt in winter road treatments benefiting all road users.
Third-party data brings future opportunities
This data integration paves the way for future partnerships in road safety and road condition analysis applications. Leveraging third-party data from diverse sources, Xweather is currently exploring opportunities in areas such as EV range optimization, road asset management, insurance, and road accident prevention through road condition alerts.
“At NIRA Dynamics, we are focused on creating safer, more efficient travel solutions," said Lisa Åbom, CEO of NIRA Dynamics. “With Vaisala Xweather, we can offer access to road weather data which helps road maintenance professionals, automotive manufacturers, and navigation providers become future-proof. We all understand the impact of weather on road safety, and with Vaisala Xweather, we are pushing the industry forward."
By combining connected car data with advanced road weather models and enhancing it with insightful visualizations, this collaboration paves the way for future advancements in road safety, efficient road maintenance, and the growth of autonomous driving technologies.
