German traffic and transportation, mobility and logistics software and consulting services company PTV Group will support research and development at the Stellenbosch University (SU) Smart Mobility Laboratory with its software solutions for transportation modelling and simulation.

The partners will also collaborate closely on mobility and intelligent transport system projects, and have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to underpin their joint commitment to innovation in smart and sustainable mobility.

PTV Group becomes an industry partner of the Stellenbosch Smart Mobility Laboratory (SSML) and the partners are collaborating on a project to reduce congestion in the town of Stellenbosch.

The SSML focuses on technology solutions and data applications for transportation engineering. The SSML provides a state-of-the-art research and teaching environment for the development of innovative and cost-effective transportation solutions for developing countries.

With access to PTV’s leading transport modelling and simulation software PTV Visum and PTV Vissim, students can conduct their mobility studies under realistic transportation planning conditions, and become better prepared for their future working environments, SU said.

The SSML also has a vision to make Stellenbosch the first transport-oriented smart city in South Africa. SU and PTV are working with the Stellenbosch municipality on a project to coordinate traffic signals in the town in real-time, to reduce congestion.

For this project, the SSML uses a PTV transport model for testing and calibrating the adaptive traffic signal control systems in the town, which are also based on PTV software.

“SU and the PTV Group have maintained a close relationship for many years. I am pleased that we can now give this an official framework with the signing of the MoU,” says PTV Group CEO Christian Haas.

“Our joint project with the Stellenbosch municipality shows how fruitful this partnership already is. Together we will empower cities in South Africa on their way to smart, sustainable mobility,” he notes.

“I’m very excited that we now have this arrangement with PTV Group. Our students benefit from the software of the industry leader when learning, working and researching in the SSML. This enables them to do realistic transportation planning and makes them sought-after transportation planners and engineers on graduation,” adds SU Intelligent Transportation Systems associate professor Dr Johann Andersen.