Traffic TechnologyVITRONIC supports study on impact-driven management of German road infrastructure
Why condition, usage, traffic load, and impact need to be considered together.
Germany's road and bridge infrastructure is under increasing pressure. Traffic jams, closures, and an aging infrastructure place strain on transport and the economy. At the same time, the new study “Digital Road Germany – From Budgeting to Impact System” shows: More investments alone are not enough. What matters is to deploy existing funds more purposefully where they will have the greatest impact on the performance, availability, and economic significance of the road network.
The study was conducted by Bridge the Momentum and EY-Parthenon as independent authors and supported by VITRONIC and DKV Mobility as private sector partners. Boris Wagner, Head of the Traffic Division at VITRONIC, contributed his expertise during the study's expert discussions.
Investing more is not enough
84 percent of companies now see the transport infrastructure as an economic burden. Annual congestion costs are estimated at 5.3 billion euros. At the same time, according to the study, the network's level of modernity is declining despite increased investments.
A key challenge: Information on condition, usage, traffic load, investments, and impact has so far not been sufficiently integrated into a comprehensive overview. Yet, this overall picture is crucial for better identifying needs for action and prioritizing measures based on their likely impact.
This becomes especially clear with critical infrastructure such as bridges, where it is evident that assessing structural condition in isolation is not sufficient. The actual usage, traffic load, and the importance of a structure to the entire road network must also be considered in decision-making.
Technology as the foundation for better decisions
For VITRONIC, the study underscores the importance of smart sensors, connected data, and data-driven analysis, in order to more effectively combine infrastructure condition, real-time traffic, and traffic loads.
The technological building blocks for a smarter road are already available. Innovative sensors, digital modeling, and data-based analysis, as well as efficient operations, make it possible to develop a better overall picture from the infrastructure's condition and traffic situation. The next step is to consistently utilize this information for prioritization and impact measurement."
The study's authors suggest, among other things, the Economic Reach Index (ERI) and a digital twin of the road network. The objective is to better link infrastructure condition, actual usage, and economic impact, thus providing a more robust basis for investment decisions.
From VITRONIC's perspective, the study highlights an important path for development: moving away from isolated data and systems to a connected overview that brings together infrastructure condition, traffic events, and traffic loads, thereby enabling better decisions.
The full study “Digital Road Germany – From Budgeting to Impact System” can be found at EY-Parthenon (available in German only):
About VITRONIC
VITRONIC is the world's leading innovation driver for machine vision, enabling its customers to master the challenges of tomorrow.
The global group of companies develops forward-looking solutions in the form of specialized products and software for image-based quality inspection, identification and process optimization, which find application in the growth sectors of automation and traffic engineering.
VITRONIC solutions make an important contribution to helping shape a safe and sustainable world. The existing limits of what is economically feasible are constantly being questioned in order to achieve the highest quality and productivity, for example in the production of automotive and pharmaceutical companies. Worldwide, Auto-ID solutions in logistics centers and at cargo airports, take over the reliable and efficient recording of shipments and thus ensure a transparent flow of goods.
In the transport sector, VITRONIC offers leading technology for increased safety on the roads, for optimizing traffic flow and for recording road usage.
Open and honest dealings with our customers form the foundation for jointly exploiting technological and process potential to the full. Joint success forms the basis of long-term cooperation with companies such as B. Braun, BMW, Daimler, DHL, UPS, Fresenius and Sanofi as well as with public clients.
Since its foundation in 1984, VITRONIC has been growing continuously for 40 years. The current annual turnover (2025) is 231 million EUR and the company is currently represented on five continents in over 80 countries with approximately 1,400 employees. Since 2024 the company is part of ITIS Holding, leveraging the strengths of both entities, creating a strong end-to-end ITS and automation provider.
Development and production of VITRONIC systems are located at the company headquarters in Wiesbaden. VITRONIC subsidiaries span across all continents, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Additionally, a global network of sales and service partners ensures localized support for international customers.