Verkeersfeeds

Verkeersfeeds are data feeds that provide real-time and historical information about road traffic to applications, websites and navigation devices. They are used to help users plan journeys, avoid congestion and respond to incidents. The data typically cover incidents, road works, closures, travel times, current speeds, queue lengths and sometimes weather or road surface conditions.

Sources of verkeersfeeds include official road authorities, regional traffic management centers, and private data providers. Data are gathered from road sensors, cameras, mobile device probes, connected vehicles, and user reports or agencies that issue incident notices. The feeds may also incorporate historical data to enable trend analysis and travel-time forecasting.

Formats and standards used in verkeersfeeds vary by region and provider. Common European formats include DATEX II, which standardizes the structure of traffic and travel information. Traffic content may also be delivered through TMC or TPEG for broadcast and roadside use. In addition, modern feeds are distributed via API-based formats such as JSON or XML, and some systems use real-time streams for low-latency delivery. Some providers also combine road data with transit feeds using formats like GTFS-RT where appropriate.

Access to verkeersfeeds is typically via APIs, data portals, or direct integrations for navigation apps, fleet management systems and city traffic-control dashboards. Licensing and cost can vary, with options ranging from open data to commercial licenses.

Applications include routing and navigation, dynamic travel-time estimation, urban mobility planning, fleet optimization, and traffic management. Challenges include data quality, latency, coverage in rural areas, interoperability between standards, and privacy considerations for crowdsourced data.