How to save resources with smart traffic management

Traffic is increasing in growing cities

Cities worldwide are constantly growing – a challenge for the infrastructure. Since an increasing number of residents means more people who need to move, the public transport as well as the streets have to be expanded. However, one of the main obstacles is the steadily increasing traffic volume. Big cities suffer from congestion and polluted air due to high CO2 emission.

Moreover, car drivers know how annoying it is to get stuck in traffic jams or to circle around the neighbourhood looking desperately for a parking spot. In order to cope with the increasing traffic volume in cities new managing systems are needed. These systems help maintain traffic flow and use the capacity of the existing streets as sufficiently as possible. Furthermore, reducing travel time needed from A to B consequently reduces CO2 emission. In this way, smart traffic management systems kill two birds with one stone.

Smart traffic management for better flow

Even though public transport is constantly expanded, new bike lanes are developed and car sharing communities are growing daily, there are still a lot of private vehicles on the streets. In order to avoid traffic jams and to maintain the flow in case of high congestion, smart traffic management systems are implemented. They help use existent infrastructure more efficiently and consequently reduce CO2 emission. With the aid of various sensors, the factors, which influence the traffic stream, are measured. These sensors are integrated in the topping or placed above or beside the street and measure congestion, speed and weather conditions. The data is processed and transported to the city’s centre of traffic management, where the information about the traffic situation is used to improve the flow by diverting traffic for example.

Whereas the traffic management system has originally been fully controlled by humans, smart traffic managing is partly done by the system itself. Being able to make “if, then”-decisions, the smart systems are able to manage routine situations like handling increasing congestion by diverting traffic or reducing the speed limit in case of bad weather conditions. However, some decisions need still to be made by human traffic controllers who also observe the systems decisions and intervene in case of mistakes.

How smart traffic management systems connect with drivers

By adjusting the indication, variable message signs and signposts allow to react on upcoming traffic situations. In this way, lanes can be easily blocked, traffic can be diverted and the speed limits can be adapted to changing weather conditions. The smart traffic management system does not only make contact with the driver via street signs, but also the smart phone or the vehicle’s internal navigation system can be connected to the guidance system. In this way, the driver is always informed about traffic and weather conditions and guided in order to bypass traffic jams.

Moreover, with the aid of sensors in the flooring the smart systems can guide drivers to free parking spaces which is a great relief for all desperate drivers searching for a parking space. Additionally, the systems on the smart phone or integrated in the car show ideal speed adjusted to the traffic light sequence. This service helps avoid annoying waiting on red traffic lights.

Managed lines give way to priority vehicles

Every driver has already dreamed of it when being stuck in traffic: having a private extra lane which allows only you to pass the infinite solid line of cars. What sounds like a dream comes true with managed lines. Similar to bus lanes, these lines give way to multiple-occupant vehicles. To enable this service, the number of occupants is recognized by sensors. However, not only multiple-occupant vehicles have access to these reserved lines. For a fee, also people who want to drive faster can use it. Usually, the amount of the toll for the priority lane depends on current traffic. That means the more traffic, the more people who want to drive faster, the higher the price for the priority lane.

Smart traffic managing: some technical obstacles need to be managed

Managing traffic in a city by collecting data from the current situation on the street is a good way to face congestion. However, the systems still need some improvement to become independent of human control. A big problem is that traffic management systems are easy to hack. Like Kapersky showed in Moscow, it is possible to hack the sensors when passing. Instructions and controlling software for these systems are easy to find on the internet by searching for the model number.

Furthermore, controlling the system is possible via Bluetooth since in most cases the authentication process is not secure enough. In this way, criminals can falsify or delete the measured data and sabotage or even destroy the city’s traffic management. In order to avoid such hacker attacks, the name of the producer and other evidence on the model should be removed. Moreover, it is important to have a two-step Bluetooth-authentication and a secure password.

Spiders confuse the sensors

Hackers are not the only problem for smart traffic management systems, also nature can cheat the sensors. If spiders build up their nets on the sensors which measure the sight distance, the system diagnoses dense fog. Consequently, the speed limit is reduced drastically. On a bright beautiful day, a sudden speed limit of 40 km/h on a motorway does not only confuse the drivers but can even be dangerous. Noticing the speed limit and fog warning, drivers might slow down abruptly. Nevertheless, if there is no apparent reason for the reduced speed limit and no fog in sight, usually most drivers will not stick to 40 km/h for a long time.

Smart traffic management still needs human control

To avoid these kinds of mistakes, decisions of the system always have to be checked by a human controller. Therefore, smart systems which observe the conditions on traffic development and weather conditions are a great support for efficient traffic management but still need human control for recognizing technical mistakes as well as for more complex decisions.