Initiative details
Roadside workers are among the most exposed and least protected road users in Europe. Every day, road maintenance crews, recovery operators and temporary workers perform their duties only a few meters away from live traffic.
According to the Spanish Traffic Authority (DGT), seven roadside workers were killed on interurban roads in Spain in 2024: five tow-truck operators and two road maintenance and conservation workers. Similar risks exist across Europe wherever temporary roadworks, lane closures or roadside interventions take place.
Research by RACE-GOODYEAR and Ponle Freno-AXA has shown that a significant proportion of pedestrian fatalities on roads occur during signaling and roadside intervention activities, particularly in low-visibility conditions and on high-speed roads.
The underlying challenge is operational blindness. Temporary work zones have traditionally been protected through physical signage and manual reporting. Control centres often have limited real-time visibility of the exact location and status of roadside operations. If a cone is displaced, knocked over or removed, there is no automatic notification. Drivers only become aware of the hazard when they physically see the work zone, sometimes too late to react safely.
Our initiative addresses this challenge by transforming temporary roadside hazards into digital, real-time traffic events that can be shared instantly across the connected mobility ecosystem.
According to the Spanish Traffic Authority (DGT), seven roadside workers were killed on interurban roads in Spain in 2024: five tow-truck operators and two road maintenance and conservation workers. Similar risks exist across Europe wherever temporary roadworks, lane closures or roadside interventions take place.
Research by RACE-GOODYEAR and Ponle Freno-AXA has shown that a significant proportion of pedestrian fatalities on roads occur during signaling and roadside intervention activities, particularly in low-visibility conditions and on high-speed roads.
The underlying challenge is operational blindness. Temporary work zones have traditionally been protected through physical signage and manual reporting. Control centres often have limited real-time visibility of the exact location and status of roadside operations. If a cone is displaced, knocked over or removed, there is no automatic notification. Drivers only become aware of the hazard when they physically see the work zone, sometimes too late to react safely.
Our initiative addresses this challenge by transforming temporary roadside hazards into digital, real-time traffic events that can be shared instantly across the connected mobility ecosystem.
Initiative date
Who was/is your target audience?
Public authorities
Company employees
Fleet operators
Topic
Improve vehicles and infrastructure
Provide alternative solutions
Organisation details
NETUN SOLUTIONS
Enterprise
Spain
Madrid
Contact name
Alejandro González
Telephone number
607901703
alejandro.gonzalez@netun.com
Website link
Project activities
If you work together with external partners, list the most important partners and briefly describe their role.
The DGT plays a key role through its DGT 3.0 connected mobility platform. The authority has supported testing and validation activities and provides the infrastructure that enables connected cone information to be distributed within the connected traffic ecosystem.
Serveo, one of Spain’s largest road maintenance operators, acts as the principal field deployment partner. The company has provided operational environments for testing, validation and real-world deployment of the connected cone solution.
Serveo, one of Spain’s largest road maintenance operators, acts as the principal field deployment partner. The company has provided operational environments for testing, validation and real-world deployment of the connected cone solution.
Please describe the project activities you carried/are carrying out and the time period over which these were implemented.
Netun has developed a connected signalling system that converts standard traffic cones into geolocated digital safety assets.
The solution consists of a self-contained smart device (Netun NDS-P01) that is inserted into a standard traffic cone. The device uses GPS positioning and mobile connectivity to report its location and operational status in real time. Each connected cone becomes visible simultaneously to field operators, control centres and the Spanish connected mobility platform DGT 3.0.
The connected cone operates as part of Incidence Pro, Netun’s operational management platform, which includes a web portal and a mobile application. The platform enables real-time supervision, automatic service opening and closing, alert generation and complete deployment traceability.
The project was developed and tested progressively:
• July 2022: first live trial during the Gran Fondo Ézaro cycling event, geolocating road closures in real time.
• October 2022: public demonstration together with the DGT in a real roadside working environment.
• December 2022: deployment with road maintenance and conservation crews in operational work zones.
Since then, the device has achieved certification and compatibility with DGT 3.0 and has entered manufacturing and pre-commercial deployment, with demonstrations and validations conducted in real road environments.
The solution consists of a self-contained smart device (Netun NDS-P01) that is inserted into a standard traffic cone. The device uses GPS positioning and mobile connectivity to report its location and operational status in real time. Each connected cone becomes visible simultaneously to field operators, control centres and the Spanish connected mobility platform DGT 3.0.
The connected cone operates as part of Incidence Pro, Netun’s operational management platform, which includes a web portal and a mobile application. The platform enables real-time supervision, automatic service opening and closing, alert generation and complete deployment traceability.
The project was developed and tested progressively:
• July 2022: first live trial during the Gran Fondo Ézaro cycling event, geolocating road closures in real time.
• October 2022: public demonstration together with the DGT in a real roadside working environment.
• December 2022: deployment with road maintenance and conservation crews in operational work zones.
Since then, the device has achieved certification and compatibility with DGT 3.0 and has entered manufacturing and pre-commercial deployment, with demonstrations and validations conducted in real road environments.
In terms of implementation, what worked well and what challenges did you need to overcome?
Several factors contributed positively to the implementation of the project.
Netun was able to build on its previous experience developing Spain’s connected V16 emergency beacon ecosystem. This provided existing expertise in geolocation technologies, connectivity, cloud platforms and integration with public traffic authorities. Collaboration with road maintenance operators also allowed the solution to be tested under real operational conditions from an early stage.
One of the main challenges was developing a connected device that could be integrated into standard traffic cones without changing established operational procedures. The solution needed to be simple for field crews, robust enough for demanding roadside environments and capable of operating autonomously for extended periods.
Additional challenges included ensuring reliable positioning and communications in different roadside scenarios, integrating temporary work zones into the DGT 3.0 connected mobility ecosystem and creating an operational platform capable of managing deployments in real time.
Another important challenge was demonstrating practical value beyond the device itself. The project required the development of a complete operational ecosystem including supervision tools, automatic alerts, traceability and integration with public traffic information systems.
These challenges were progressively addressed through field testing, collaboration with road operators and close coordination with the DGT.
Netun was able to build on its previous experience developing Spain’s connected V16 emergency beacon ecosystem. This provided existing expertise in geolocation technologies, connectivity, cloud platforms and integration with public traffic authorities. Collaboration with road maintenance operators also allowed the solution to be tested under real operational conditions from an early stage.
One of the main challenges was developing a connected device that could be integrated into standard traffic cones without changing established operational procedures. The solution needed to be simple for field crews, robust enough for demanding roadside environments and capable of operating autonomously for extended periods.
Additional challenges included ensuring reliable positioning and communications in different roadside scenarios, integrating temporary work zones into the DGT 3.0 connected mobility ecosystem and creating an operational platform capable of managing deployments in real time.
Another important challenge was demonstrating practical value beyond the device itself. The project required the development of a complete operational ecosystem including supervision tools, automatic alerts, traceability and integration with public traffic information systems.
These challenges were progressively addressed through field testing, collaboration with road operators and close coordination with the DGT.
Evaluation
Please summarise how you have evaluated the initiative’s impact (e.g. social media reach, survey, feedback forms, statistics).
The initiative has been evaluated through operational testing and field deployments in real roadside environments.
The primary focus has been on measuring whether temporary work zones can be transformed into connected, digitally managed safety assets. Evaluation indicators include the number of connected cones deployed, the number of work zones successfully geolocated, the percentage of devices reporting their position and operational status in real time, and the response time to operational alerts such as displaced cones, low battery levels or connectivity loss.
The project also evaluates the effectiveness of information flows between roadside deployments, the Incidence Pro platform and the DGT 3.0 ecosystem. Field demonstrations confirmed that temporary work zones could be geolocated, monitored and distributed as real-time traffic information.
In addition, the platform creates a complete digital audit trail of every deployment, including location, activation time, status changes and service closure. This provides objective evidence of operational performance and enables continuous improvement.
The initiative has also been validated by the Spanish Traffic Authority (DGT) and by road maintenance operators participating in field trials. Feedback from demonstrations and deployments has confirmed the operational feasibility of integrating connected work zones into the wider connected mobility ecosystem.
The primary focus has been on measuring whether temporary work zones can be transformed into connected, digitally managed safety assets. Evaluation indicators include the number of connected cones deployed, the number of work zones successfully geolocated, the percentage of devices reporting their position and operational status in real time, and the response time to operational alerts such as displaced cones, low battery levels or connectivity loss.
The project also evaluates the effectiveness of information flows between roadside deployments, the Incidence Pro platform and the DGT 3.0 ecosystem. Field demonstrations confirmed that temporary work zones could be geolocated, monitored and distributed as real-time traffic information.
In addition, the platform creates a complete digital audit trail of every deployment, including location, activation time, status changes and service closure. This provides objective evidence of operational performance and enables continuous improvement.
The initiative has also been validated by the Spanish Traffic Authority (DGT) and by road maintenance operators participating in field trials. Feedback from demonstrations and deployments has confirmed the operational feasibility of integrating connected work zones into the wider connected mobility ecosystem.
What has been the effect of the activities?
The project has demonstrated that temporary roadside work zones can become real-time digital safety signals rather than relying solely on physical visibility.
In operational tests, connected cones successfully geolocated work zones, transmitted their position and status to the management platform and integrated with the DGT 3.0 ecosystem for wider distribution. As a result, information about roadside operations can be made available to traffic authorities, control centres and connected mobility services before drivers reach the affected area.
This creates earlier awareness of workers ahead and gives road users more time to react safely. It also provides road operators with real-time visibility of deployed safety assets and allows them to detect incidents such as displaced or fallen cones more quickly.
The broader effect is a shift in how temporary roadside hazards are managed. Work zones become digitally visible, traceable and monitorable throughout their lifecycle. This improves situational awareness for all stakeholders involved.
The initiative also demonstrates a model that can be replicated across other road networks. By turning temporary roadworks into connected traffic information, the project contributes to safer roadside operations and supports the long-term objective of reducing collisions and run-over incidents involving roadside workers.
In operational tests, connected cones successfully geolocated work zones, transmitted their position and status to the management platform and integrated with the DGT 3.0 ecosystem for wider distribution. As a result, information about roadside operations can be made available to traffic authorities, control centres and connected mobility services before drivers reach the affected area.
This creates earlier awareness of workers ahead and gives road users more time to react safely. It also provides road operators with real-time visibility of deployed safety assets and allows them to detect incidents such as displaced or fallen cones more quickly.
The broader effect is a shift in how temporary roadside hazards are managed. Work zones become digitally visible, traceable and monitorable throughout their lifecycle. This improves situational awareness for all stakeholders involved.
The initiative also demonstrates a model that can be replicated across other road networks. By turning temporary roadworks into connected traffic information, the project contributes to safer roadside operations and supports the long-term objective of reducing collisions and run-over incidents involving roadside workers.
Please briefly explain why your initiative is a good example of improving road safety.
The initiative improves road safety by providing earlier awareness of roadside hazards and The initiative improves road safety by providing earlier awareness of roadside hazards and workers ahead. Through the use of connected cones and real-time geolocation, temporary work zones become digital traffic events that can be shared with traffic authorities, control centres and connected mobility services.
Through integration with DGT 3.0, information about roadside operations can be distributed to navigation systems, connected vehicles and roadside variable message signs before drivers reach the affected area. This allows drivers to receive advance warnings that people are working ahead, giving them more time to adapt their speed, increase attention and react safely.
The same connected traffic information can also support future automated and connected driving systems, enabling vehicles to become aware of temporary work zones before they are physically visible.
This approach increases visibility, improves operational monitoring and extends protection beyond the immediate work zone itself. By making temporary roadside hazards digitally visible, the initiative helps protect some of the most exposed road users, roadside workers, while supporting the broader objectives of connected, cooperative and data-driven road safety systems.
Through integration with DGT 3.0, information about roadside operations can be distributed to navigation systems, connected vehicles and roadside variable message signs before drivers reach the affected area. This allows drivers to receive advance warnings that people are working ahead, giving them more time to adapt their speed, increase attention and react safely.
The same connected traffic information can also support future automated and connected driving systems, enabling vehicles to become aware of temporary work zones before they are physically visible.
This approach increases visibility, improves operational monitoring and extends protection beyond the immediate work zone itself. By making temporary roadside hazards digitally visible, the initiative helps protect some of the most exposed road users, roadside workers, while supporting the broader objectives of connected, cooperative and data-driven road safety systems.
How have you shared information about your project and its results?
The project has been presented through live demonstrations, operational deployments and collaboration with the Spanish Traffic Authority (DGT). Information about the initiative has been shared through the DGT’s official communication channels, industry events and field demonstrations involving road maintenance operators.
The project has also received extensive coverage in national and specialist media, including ABC, La Vanguardia, El Español, El País Motor, La Voz de Galicia, 20minutos and Versys Posventa. Media coverage has focused on the use of connected cones and real-time geolocation as an innovative measure to improve roadside worker safety.
The project has also received extensive coverage in national and specialist media, including ABC, La Vanguardia, El Español, El País Motor, La Voz de Galicia, 20minutos and Versys Posventa. Media coverage has focused on the use of connected cones and real-time geolocation as an innovative measure to improve roadside worker safety.
