Connected Vehicles

Connected vehicles are transforming the way that cities nationwide are addressing increasing levels of traffic, congestion and pollution while improving traffic safety. Connected vehicles use technology that enables cars, trucks, buses and emergency vehicles to communicate real-time information with each other and with city infrastructure like traffic lights, tollbooths and programmable road signs. By providing a clear and real-time picture of the volume, speed and flow of traffic throughout the city, connected vehicles can help to make dramatic changes in the way cities manage transportation.

The advantages of connected vehicles are striking.

• By communicating with smart traffic management systems, connected vehicles enable cities to route traffic more efficiently to reduce congestion and commute times while alleviating the stress of commuters and reducing carbon emissions.
• At intersections, connected vehicles provide data that smart traffic lights can use to adjust the duration of signals to move traffic through congested crossings more efficiently.
• Two-way communication with connected vehicles allows drivers to receive alerts about traffic congestion, weather conditions, accidents ahead, alternative routes and other information that allows them to make better choices about how to get to their destination.
• Sensors on public streets that identify the movement and trajectories of people and bicycles can communicate with drivers of connected vehicles to warn them about the presence and potential contact with pedestrians and bicyclists.
• When emergency vehicles need to make their way through congested city streets, connected vehicles enable smart city traffic technology to easily direct traffic to open up lanes for passage that allow first responders to get to emergencies more quickly.
Technology for connected vehicles may also allow city buses to communicate real-time information about schedules with riders, while city managers can coordinate the movement of construction, utility and garbage trucks to keep streets clear and traffic moving.
• Connected vehicles can communicate with each other and use automated breaking and stopping technologies to prevent accidents.

The technology that enables connected vehicles

Connected vehicles rely on a variety of smart traffic management technologies that are common to most smart city solutions.

• High-speed connectivity. Connected vehicles typically communicate with other vehicles and with city infrastructure through GPS, broadband wireless and cellular connections. To realize the potential of connected vehicles, cities require high-bandwidth, high-speed networks with ultra-low latency, 100% reliability and optimal security over a variety of connection protocols.
• IoT-enabled devices. Sensors, cameras and other Internet of Things devices provide a stream of real-time information about the volume, speed and direction of vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians, as well as weather conditions, road closures, the status of public transportation and other data points that provide a comprehensive view of transportation within the city.
• Analytics. Data from a myriad of sensors and from connected vehicles is transferred via a high-speed network to an analytics platform where it is aggregated, processed and analyzed in near-real time to produce actionable intelligence that can automatically manage the flow of traffic.
• Interfaces. Smart traffic lights, smart signage, smart phone apps, onboard information technologies, GPS systems and other interfaces translate the intelligence produced by smart city traffic management in ways that guide and inform drivers and commuters.

Spectrum Enterprise: connectivity for connected vehicles

With a wholly owned fiber network that spans 840,000 miles nationwide, Spectrum Enterprise provides the high-speed connectivity that smart cities needed to realize the potential of connected vehicles. Spectrum is already a trusted partner to many smart cities, and with an additional $25 billion in expanded capacity and capabilities planned by 2021, Spectrum is enabling even more communities nationwide to adopt a wide variety of smart city technologies.

To support the needs of connected vehicles, Spectrum Enterprise provides:

• Symmetrical connection speeds up to 100 Gbps on a two-way, fully interactive digital network.
• Gigabit connections for homes and businesses.
• Cellular connections over one of the country's largest LTE cellular networks.
• WiFi connectivity at more than 350,000 WiFi hotspots nationwide that will soon offer wireless connection speeds up to 1 Gbps.

Learn more about Spectrum Smart Cities at www.spectrumsmartcities.com.