WeCount · Project

Low-Cost Sensor Kits That Count Traffic on Every Street for Cities and Planners

transportPilotedTRL 7

Imagine if every neighborhood could set up a small, cheap sensor in their window that automatically counts cars, trucks, bikes, and pedestrians passing by — and shows it all on a live map. That's exactly what WeCount built. They gave citizens in 5 European cities these counting devices, collected real traffic data street by street, and made it available through an online platform with an open API. It's like turning every window into a mini traffic survey station, but automated and running 24/7.

By the numbers

pilot cities where sensor kits were deployed and tested

consortium partners across the project

countries represented in the consortium

SMEs in the consortium including the coordinator

total project deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Cities and transport planners currently rely on expensive, short-term traffic counting campaigns that capture only a few days of data at limited locations. This leaves massive gaps in understanding actual traffic patterns, vehicle types, and speeds at the neighborhood level. Without continuous, street-level data, local authorities cannot make evidence-based decisions on traffic calming, cycling infrastructure, or pollution reduction.

The solution

What was built

The project built a complete system: low-cost automated road traffic counting sensor kits (Telraam) that citizens can deploy in their windows, plus an integrated web platform with back-end data processing, front-end visualization, and an open API. The final version was co-designed with real users across 5 pilot cities and includes assembly guidelines and documentation.

Audience

Who needs this

Municipal transport and mobility departments needing continuous traffic dataTraffic engineering consultancies running counting campaignsUrban planning firms designing cycling and pedestrian infrastructureEnvironmental consultancies modeling street-level air pollution from trafficSmart city solution providers looking for citizen engagement tools

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Urban Planning & Smart Cities

any

Target: Municipal transport departments and urban planning consultancies

If you are a city transport department struggling with incomplete traffic data — this project developed low-cost automated sensor kits (Telraam) and a web platform tested across 5 pilot cities that count cars, trucks, bikes, and pedestrians 24/7. Instead of paying for expensive short-term manual counts, you get continuous street-level data at far greater temporal and spatial scale, with an API to plug into your existing planning tools.

Traffic Engineering & Consultancy

SME

Target: Transport consultancies and traffic data analytics firms

If you are a traffic engineering consultancy spending heavily on temporary counting campaigns that only capture a few days of data — this project built an integrated platform with back-end data handling and front-end visualization, co-designed with users across 5 cities in 5 countries. The sensor kits are low-cost and automated, letting you deploy at a spatial scale impossible with traditional methods, and the open API allows direct data integration.

Environmental Monitoring & Air Quality

mid-size

Target: Environmental consultancies and pollution monitoring firms

If you are an environmental consultancy that needs localized transport data to model air pollution and noise at street level — this project produced scientific knowledge linking local road transport volumes (cars, heavy goods vehicles, speed) to environmental pollution across 5 pilot deployments. The platform quantifies traffic by vehicle type, giving you the granular input data that generic traffic models miss.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much does the sensor kit cost compared to traditional traffic counting?

The project describes the sensors as 'low cost' and 'cost-effective' compared to classic traffic counting campaigns. Based on available project data, exact unit pricing is not disclosed, but the design goal was affordable citizen-deployable hardware with assembly guidelines included. Traditional traffic counts can cost thousands per location for a few days — these run continuously.

Can this scale beyond the 5 pilot cities?

The system was designed for scale — tested in 5 cities across 5 countries (Leuven, Madrid, Cardiff, Dublin, Ljubljana) with different urban contexts. The final platform includes an API for external users outside the consortium, which suggests it was built for wider adoption. The sensor kits come with usage and assembly guidelines for independent deployment.

What about IP and licensing for the sensor technology?

The sensor technology is called Telraam and was developed within the consortium led by Transport & Mobility Leuven, an SME. Based on available project data, the platform includes an open API for data access, but specific licensing terms for the sensor hardware and software are not detailed in the deliverables. Contact the coordinator for commercial licensing terms.

What data formats and integration options are available?

The final platform deliverable explicitly includes an API to sensor data for users outside the consortium. The platform features back-end data handling procedures and front-end data visualization. This means you can integrate the traffic counts directly into your own GIS, planning, or analytics systems.

How long did the pilots run and what was validated?

The project ran from December 2019 to November 2021. Initial pilots in Leuven and Madrid used the first platform version, followed by three additional case studies in Cardiff, Dublin, and Ljubljana. The sensor kits and platform were continuously co-designed with users across all 5 deployments, resulting in the final validated version.

What types of traffic does it actually measure?

The sensors quantify local road transport including cars, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), active travel modes (cyclists and pedestrians), and vehicle speed. This multi-modal counting from a single low-cost sensor is what makes it valuable compared to single-purpose counting equipment.

Is there regulatory or policy relevance?

The project was specifically designed to produce data for transportation policy making. It demonstrated that citizen-collected data can feed into local authority decision-making on traffic management, environmental zones, and urban mobility planning. The 5-city pilot across 5 countries provides cross-border validation.

Consortium

Who built it

The consortium of 7 partners across 5 countries (Belgium, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, UK) is led by Transport & Mobility Leuven, a Belgian SME — which signals commercial intent rather than purely academic goals. With 4 SMEs out of 7 partners and a 29% industry ratio alongside 3 universities, the mix balances practical product development with research credibility. The geographic spread across Western and Southern Europe ensures the platform was tested in diverse urban environments, from compact Belgian cities to large-scale Madrid, which strengthens the case for broader deployment.

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY LEUVENCoordinator · BE
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLINparticipant · IE
IDEAS 3493 SLparticipant · ES
POLISparticipant · BE
UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND, BRISTOLparticipant · UK
MOBIEL 21 VZWparticipant · BE
UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANIparticipant · SI

How to reach the team

The coordinator is Transport & Mobility Leuven (Belgium), an SME specializing in transport consulting. SciTransfer can facilitate a direct introduction to discuss licensing or deployment partnerships.

Order a report on this consortium See TRANSPORT & MOBILITY LEUVEN profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to deploy low-cost traffic counting in your city or integrate this data into your planning tools? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the team behind the technology. Contact us for an introduction.

Order a report on this topic More in Transport & Mobility