Traffic Management

Urban areas are facing increasing challenges in traffic management, as both population growth and use of cars continues to climb. Excessive congestion in cities slows commute times, reduces productivity, makes it harder for first responders to reach emergency situations, and has a negative impact on air quality and the environment.

Intelligent traffic management is part of a trend toward smart city solutions that harness the power of data, analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve outcomes and efficiency in a broad range of municipal departments.

Smart city traffic management typically includes several layers of technology:

• Data collected from IoT-enabled sensors, cameras, vehicles, connected vehicles, GPS, emergency vehicles, mobile devices, transit timetables, public transportation vehicles and other sources provides comprehensive and real-time intelligence about the flow of commuters, drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists through the city.
• An analytics platform receives data as it streams in from a myriad of sources and transforms it into actionable intelligence and useful information that can automatically manage and direct the flow of traffic. Data can also be shared with commuters and drivers via smart phone apps and onboard navigational systems, providing them with intelligence about areas of congestion, roadway accidents, and alternative routes for reaching their destinations faster.
• User interfaces such as smart traffic lights and digital signage use the intelligence produced by data analytics to adapt to real-time conditions and to more efficiently and safely regulate the flow of cars, pedestrians and bicyclists along city streets and through intersections.

With an intelligent traffic management system in place, traffic signals at intersections can automatically identify and calculate the number of waiting cars and adjust the duration of traffic signals to allow them to pass through more quickly. Sensors that detect the movement of pedestrians and bicycles can calculate their trajectories and warn drivers about their presence. Roads can be cleared for emergency vehicles more easily, and drivers can be alerted to dangerous conditions ahead.

The benefits of smart traffic management

Smart traffic management helps to solve a wide variety of challenges facing urban areas. By implementing an intelligent traffic management system, cities can:

• Improve pedestrian and traffic safety.
• Reduce commute times by relieving congestion and providing drivers with recommendations for alternate, shorter routes.
• Lower the volume of vehicle emissions, helping to improve air quality and reducing the impact of greenhouse gases on the environment.
• Accelerate response times for emergency vehicles and first responders.
• Create a higher quality of life for city residents by alleviating stressful commutes.
• Improve productivity and economic competitiveness by enabling workers and residents to spend less time on the road and more time on commerce and productive tasks.
• Reduce the cost of fuel consumption as well as the expense for maintenance, repair and replacement of overused infrastructure.

Spectrum Enterprise: high-speed connectivity for intelligent traffic management

A smart city traffic system requires connectivity solutions with high-bandwidth, ultra-low latency, 100% reliability and superior security. Data flowing between sensors, IoT analytics platforms, smart streetlights, traffic controllers and connected vehicles must be collected, analyzed, processed and disseminated in real-time or near real-time, making a high-performance network a mission-critical piece of the smart traffic management technology stack.

As a leading provider of connectivity solutions to the nation’s largest businesses, Spectrum Enterprise is currently a partner to many smart cities throughout the country. With a wholly owned fiber network that spans 840,000 miles, Spectrum is currently investing an additional $25 billion to expand capacity and capabilities to more communities.

To support the technological needs of an intelligent traffic management system, Spectrum Enterprise provides:

• A two-way, fully interactive digital network with symmetrical connection speeds up to 100 Gbps for enterprise clients and local governments.
• Gigabit connections for homes and commercial facilities, enabling residents and businesses to fully participate in smart initiatives.
• More than 350,000 Spectrum W-Fi hotspots throughout the country that will soon add 5G and 802.11ax technology for wireless speeds up to 1 Gbps.
• Cellular connectivity through one of the country’s largest LTE cellular networks, providing an additional set of connection protocols for smart traffic management devices.

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