LiDAR-Based VRU Detection at Smart Intersections
Traffic safety is often discussed in terms of accident statistics. But for cities, the real challenge is identifying risks before accidents happen, especially where vulnerable road users (VRUs) such as pedestrians, cyclists, and e-bike riders interact with fast-moving vehicle traffic.
In the City of Papendrecht, two busy roundabouts connect local streets directly to the highway. During peak hours, these intersections handle high vehicle volumes alongside cyclists and pedestrians. As e-bike usage increased, average cycling speeds rose as well, creating a more dynamic and less predictable traffic environment.
Why Traditional Detection Systems Fall Short
The roundabouts were previously equipped with infrared and thermal detection systems. While effective in many situations, these technologies showed clear limitations at this location. Fast-moving e-bikes were not always detected early enough, blind spots appeared, and movements across both roundabouts could not be analyzed together.
As a result, warning signals are sometimes activated too late or are continuously activated, leaving limited reaction time for drivers. For VRUs, this increased the likelihood and severity of near-miss situations. From an Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) perspective, the issue was not road user behavior — it was that the infrastructure no longer matched real traffic conditions.
Designing a Smart Intersection with LiDAR and ITS Principles
To close this safety gap, the City of Papendrecht upgraded the intersection using a LiDAR-based sensing approach. Sixteen thermal sensors were planned and replaced with three strategically positioned LiDAR units mounted on existing lightning poles.
This setup provides a single, unified view of both roundabouts and their connecting paths, while being more cost-efficient, as it eliminates the need for 12 additional poles and cabling. Instead of treating each intersection as an isolated location, the area now functions as one smart intersection with a shared understanding of movement across the entire zone.
LiDAR technology enables precise, all-weather detection and tracking of pedestrians, cyclists, and e-bikes. Unlike camera-based systems, LiDAR does not rely on visual identification and performs reliably in low light, rain, and dense traffic, while fully preserving privacy.
How LiDAR Improves VRU Detection and Real-Time Warning
The LiDAR system continuously detects, tracks, and classifies individual VRUs, measuring speed, direction, and trajectory in real time. This allows fast-moving e-bikes to be identified early and treated differently from slower road users.
Adaptive Signalization Based on Real Movement Behavior
When a VRU enters the crossing area, adaptive LED signalization is activated to warn approaching vehicles. Signal timing and intensity are dynamically adjusted based on the actual behavior and speed of each road user, rather than on fixed assumptions.
This real-time responsiveness improves driver awareness, reduces vehicle speed at conflict points, and significantly lowers the risk of near-miss events, especially during peak traffic periods.
From Traffic Data to Preventive Safety Insights
All movement data is transmitted via 4G to the cloud, where it is continuously analyzed. Traffic flows, heavily used routes, and dominant directions are visualized through clear, color-coded patterns. Near-miss events are detected automatically, providing early insight into potentially dangerous situations.
For traffic engineers and city planners, this enables proactive traffic safety management. Safety improvements can be evaluated based on real behavior, not only historical accident data, supporting long-term planning and evidence-based decisions.
ITS and Vision Zero in Practice
By combining LiDAR sensing, adaptive signalization, and continuous data analysis, Papendrecht transformed two conventional roundabouts into a smart intersection focused on VRU safety.
The project reflects key ITS and Vision Zero principles: acknowledging human behavior, adapting infrastructure to changing mobility patterns, and preventing serious injuries through system design rather than enforcement or user intervention.
Sensor Configuration
For this project, the system was deployed using three Hesai LiDAR sensors: two OT128 units and one XT32, strategically positioned to ensure full coverage of both roundabouts and their connecting paths.
Interested in Smarter Traffic Safety?
If you’re working on traffic safety, ITS deployments, or smart intersection design, LiDAR-based sensing can provide a clearer and more reliable understanding of how road users actually move — especially vulnerable road users. Talk to our team to explore how privacy-first LiDAR sensing and data-driven insights can support your next traffic project.
Meet Us at Intertraffic Amsterdam 2026
If you are attending Intertraffic Amsterdam 2026 (March 10–13), we invite you to meet our team at our booth and explore these topics together.
Booth location: Hall 3 – Booth: 03.110E- RAI Amsterdam
We will present this and other LiDAR-based traffic safety solutions at Intertraffic Amsterdam 2026.
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