A functioning traffic management system depends on the most complete knowledge possible of the current and future traffic situation. A complete spatial and temporal automatic registration of traffic flows may be desirable but due to technical and economic reasons not always possible. After the introduction of intermodal transport control systems (ITCS) and passenger information systems, transport companies face the problem that reliable delay forecasts for public transport also need to take into account the traffic situation of the motorized private transport.

In the German federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, a comprehensive traffic situation is implemented, which predominantly is based on stationary detectors and network models for the completion of data as well as floating car data (FCD). As this approach does not exist in many cities, it is fruitful for transport companies to deploy own resources to achieve an overview of the traffic situation.