Eco Road Markings and AI Traffic Prediction: Cracow University of Technology Wins EU Innovation Grants
Researchers from PK Krakow University of Technology, together with business partners Orange Polska and KON-TUR, are developing two innovation projects aimed at improving road safety, streamlining traffic management, and raising the quality of road infrastructure across Poland. Two PK KUT research consortia, from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and the Faculty of Materials Engineering and Physics, have secured multi-million PLN EU funding under the European Funds for Modern Economy programme (FENG 2021–2027).
Predicting accidents with mobile data
In partnership with Orange Polska, our engineers are developing a web-based system that uses mobile network data (GSM/LTE/5G) as a large-scale traffic sensor. Unlike existing solutions, the system will cover not only vehicles but also pedestrians and cyclists. Its algorithms will estimate traffic speed, detect anomalies, classify road users, and generate short- and medium-term risk forecasts, contributing to smarter ITS integrations and infrastructure planning tools.
“Our goal is to develop a system that uniquely uses cellular data as a universal, scalable traffic sensor — reducing the need for costly measurement infrastructure while improving response times to road incidents,” says Prof. Jacek Chmielewski, the project’s R&D lead.
The project engages researchers from the Department of Transportation Systems and Logistics and the Department of Roads, Railways and Traffic Engineering: Prof. Jacek Chmielewski (R&D lead), Prof. Rector Andrzej Szarata, Prof. Mariusz Kieć, Prof. Vitalij Naumov, Mariusz Dudek, PhD, and Krystian Woźniak, PhD.
The total project value is PLN 13.4 million, with EU co-funding exceeding PLN 10 million, of which over PLN 4.9 million will go to our research teams.
A greener generation of road markings
Together with KON-TUR, our materials scientists will develop a more durable, abrasion-resistant, next-generation thermoplastic road-marking compound. It will be significantly more sustainable than products currently available on the market. Applied at lower temperatures and manufactured with recycled materials, while completely eliminating petroleum-derived paraffinic oils, the newly obtained compound will enhance road safety and reduce the environmental footprint of road maintenance.
“The new product will be tougher, greener, and will help keep road markings visible longer — directly contributing to safer roads,” says Prof. Stanisław Kuciel, R&D project leader.
The project also foresees the construction of a new production and warehouse facility for KON-TUR and the installation of photovoltaic panels. The research team includes Prof. Stanisław Kuciel (R&D lead), Patrycja Bazan, PhD, Dariusz Mierzwiński, PhD, Szymon Gądek, PhD, Paulina Romańska, PhD, and Karina Rusin-Żurek, Eng. The project is managed by Dr. Karolina Mazur (a PK KUT alumna) who also chairs the Consortium Board. KON-TUR is represented by Jolanta Zimnik (substantive project coordinator) and Agnieszka Korżyńska (company project director).
Total project value: PLN 18.9 million, with EU co-funding of PLN 11.6 million, including over PLN 1.1 million for KUT.
Both projects were selected from 515 applications in the FENG Smart Path competition run by Poland’s National Centre for Research and Development. It is worth mentioning that only 64 of the projects received funding.
