Dangerous goods are transported by road each day without incident, but there is still risk involved due to the lack of information sharing between sender, delivery company, and receiver. Better communication of the risks and necessary precautions is essential to ensure public safety in the event of a traffic accident involving these goods. DG-Trac is a feasibility study to measure the potential for the tracking and tracing of dangerous goods within the medical sector in Luxembourg and Germany.

Inspiration:

When hospitals send medical goods, such as blood, vaccines, or surgical equipment, they are not required to provide detailed information on the contents to the transport company, but only to classify the contents as dangerous goods. If contents could be tracked and all stakeholders provided with complete information on the risk posed by the contents, it would greatly increase security, not only for the driver but also for the public.

Tudor Innovation:

With a view to creating better security and communication around the transport of dangerous goods, DG-Trac is a feasibility study focused on the medical sector that aims to propose a follow-up project for the development of a centralised tracking and tracing system in Europe. The study, led by HITEC with the cooperation of CRP Henri Tudor and several partners in Luxembourg and Germany, will measure the viability and sustainability of this tracking system, presenting the benefits for all stakeholders, including sender, receiver, and the public. As well, it will provide an overview of the state of the art for tracking and tracing technologies and a proposed design and set of specifications for the new system. Within the context of its Transport & Logistics innovation programme, CRP Henri Tudor will contribute its expertise in information management, clearing, and location-based services to the project.

Impact:

The proposed system would make it easier to track and trace dangerous goods, reducing risk and improving overall security, but would also provide added benefit to stakeholders. Commercial users such as hospitals and delivery companies would be better informed throughout the transportation process, able to receive updates on location and monitor conditions such as temperature, humidity and pressure. Public safety authorities would receive essential information about the transport of dangerous goods, and be prepared to quickly respond in case of an incident on the road. Following the successful completion of this study, a new development project could begin soon after. This would allow Luxembourg to become the first EU country to implement a centralised tracking and tracing system for the transport of dangerous goods, and provide a practical demonstration of the system to promote its adoption by other countries in Europe.