On June 14, 2022, the "Intelligent Transport Systems" laboratory at the Competence Center "Intelligent Mechatronic, Eco- and Energy-Efficient Systems and Technologies" was officially opened at TU – Sofia, Plovdiv Branch. The opening ceremony was attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Lidia Galbova, Deputy Rector for Scientific and Applied Activities; Prof. Dr. Eng. Vaelo Nikolov, Director of the Technical University – Sofia, Plovdiv Branch; Mr. Lachezar Bakardzhiev, Deputy Regional Governor; Mr. Nikolai Vasilev, Deputy Regional Governor; Mr. Todor Chonov, Deputy Mayor for Transport; Commissioner Vasil Kostadinov, Deputy Director of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs – Plovdiv; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Plamen Tsankov, Deputy Rector for Research Activities of the Technical University – Gabrovo; representatives of companies that supplied the equipment; potential consumers of scientific information from the new facility – state and municipal administration, GIBDD (State Traffic Inspectorate); and researchers from several higher education institutions.
The creation of the laboratory was funded under project BG05M2OP001-1.002-0023 of the Operational Programme "Science and Education for Intelligent Growth", co-financed by the European Union through the European Structural and Investment Funds.
In his welcome address, the Director of the Branch, Prof. Dr. Vaelo Nikolov, stated that with the new laboratory, researchers have received solid technical support for further accumulation of knowledge and the opportunity to be useful to the Bulgarian business and administration.
The head of the "Intelligent Transport Systems" laboratory, Prof. Dr. Grisha Spasov, explained: "Our system has several functions: traffic management, and capturing parameters such as the number of vehicles, dimensions, weight, and speed of movement. There are cameras that read license plates and capture the external appearance of vehicles. Inductive sensors are embedded in the asphalt, which detect speed and trigger the cameras, as well as weight sensors measuring axle load and the total weight of the vehicle. There are also sensors measuring the geometric dimensions of vehicles – width, length, and height. The entire system is very complex because it aggregates information from 3 types of weight sensors, 3 types of cameras, and includes a meteorological station measuring temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, water film thickness on the asphalt, freezing point, dew point, precipitation, and visibility. Based on this agrometeorological information, messages warning of risks can be displayed on the large screens of the overpass. All information is accumulated in a large database at our university."
From the information collected so far through intelligent traffic control systems, it is evident that the sensors and cameras have detected and recorded a significant number of overloaded motor vehicles. The capabilities provided by the laboratory have attracted the interest of the police video surveillance team. The laboratory will also cooperate with the Road Infrastructure Agency.
