INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

Improving traffic flow, reducing emissions and synchronizing traffic signals for public safety and public transportation vehicle priority are just a few of the uses for intelligent transportation systems (ITS).  Intelligent traffic solutions collect information at signals all around the city, correlate the real-time data and can automatically regulate traffic policies across a city. ITS includes a range of applications that can benefit cities such as:

• Intelligent Traffic Signal Management - Actively managed and coordinated traffic signals can reduce congestion and moderate traffic speeds, smoothing traffic flow and reducing auto emission levels.
• Video Analytics - Real-time video enables traffic controllers to identify problems, record and ticket red light runners, gather traffic analytics information and enforce special traffic zones. Public safety workers may also access the video to identify traffic conditions so they can route around congested roads when responding to an emergency.
• Information and Alerts - Variable message signs can quickly broadcast information such as weather, road conditions, stolen vehicle and other timely local information to drivers.
• Real-Time Public Transit Information - Up-to-the-minute information on busses and other public transportation vehicles can be published to the web and bus stations, improving schedule accuracy and helping increasing ridership.
• Automated Parking Meters – Real-time centralized management of meters, improving revenue capture, improving parking availability, and providing payment option flexibility for visitors

High-speed wireless broadband access with Tropos and its Troposphere Solution Partners are being used in cities to manage vehicle traffic, connecting traffic signals with traffic control centers (TCC)s:

• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma installing centralized traffic light management and coordination.  Expectations are that they will reduce the average commuter’s travel time by five percent and reduce the number of traffic light stops by eight percent, improving traffic flow and helping reduce vehicle emissions.  
• Tucson, Arizona gathers real-time information on red, yellow and green lights and on pedestrian densities in order to optimize traffic settings for various days and times. The city saves $200,000 per year in telecommunication fees.
• Edmonton, Alberta helps buses to keep on-schedule by using priority request generators on the buses; traffic lights at intersections are alerted when a bus is approaching so that the lights can be changed to allow the bus through as quickly as possible.