STA SMART TALKS WITH JOSEPH MARRA: HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR ROADSIDE SAFETY EQUIPMENT
STA is delighted to announce the release of the sixth episode of the STA Smart Talks.
STA President and Host, Dr José F. Papí, invites Mr Joseph Marra, Chief Business Development Officer at GDTech, for an insightful discussion into the integral role of simulations within the wider context of the development of roadside safety equipment, underscoring the critical necessity of simulations in the continual advancement of road safety.
During his opening remarks, Mr Marra provides a concise overview of GDTech and its core initiatives. GDTech offers comprehensive services that span the entire product development process, extending beyond the automotive sector to various other domains.
Mr Marra emphasises the significance of the EN 1317 standard introduced back in the day by the European Union, designed to define common testing and certification procedures for Road Restraint Systems (RRS) and to certify the quality and safety of vehicle containment systems. This standard involves subjecting systems, such as parapets or guardrails, to a test methodology adhering to specific criteria applicable throughout Europe. Notably, simulation emerges as a pre-test solution, reducing costs and ensuring more efficient results.
Mr Marra also details GDTech's simulation efforts involving a diverse range of barriers composed of different materials, including steel, concrete, plastic, cable, wood-steel, and absorbers. Additionally, distinctions between safety road signs and light poles are explained.
Beyond safety equipment, the podcast features real-case examples related to security equipment designed to restrict access to sensitive areas and avoid black spots on European highways.
Mr. Marra underscores the fundamental necessity of simulations and details GDTech's involvement in the preliminary stages of crash testing. Four primary aspects are highlighted:
New Product Development: GDTech transforms information about a product, received in printed or digital form, into their software. Successful and unsuccessful crash test examples are presented during the episode, which are then sent back to the design department to adapt the functionality and design of the tested product.
Certification: Following TR16303 standards that specify requirements on the impact performance of safety barriers, various simulation aspects are considered for product certification.
Adaptation to Site Conditions: Each country determines its desired level of safety on motorways, with the potential for additional investigations into configurations, such as connecting two barriers, to ensure the safety of all parties involved.
Accident Reconstruction: Mr. Marra notes the current lack of road equipment inclusion in existing accident reconstruction software.
To close the podcast episode, simulations serve as a cost-efficient solution, offering the unique opportunity to assess a product comprehensively from various angles and perspectives—an advantage not easily achievable in a real crash test.
Mr Marra will attend the Intertraffic Amsterdam 2024 taking place on 16-19 April 2024 and will be present at GDTech’s stand (10.126).
Visit the dedicated section of the 2019 STA Annual Conference & Innovation Awards Proceedings and find the presentation Accident Reconstruction: Highlighting the Need for Roadside Safety Equipment Adaptation to Site Conditions, by Mr Joseph Marra at the time.
Stay tuned for more and do not forget to subscribe to the ‘STA in Action’ Newsletter and be the first one to learn all updates on the path towards Smart Transportation Infrastructures.
Author: Eftychia Koliou (Smart Transportation Alliance)