The world we live in currently is such a nice and joyful place. It is recorded that the majority of the people are now moving into urban areas. This attraction is attributed to the lifestyle in these cities as well as employment opportunities. However, the technology which is the scope of everything has streamlined all fields in the cities. It’s undisputed that the level of technology is increasing and this has made man’s work easier. During this technological advancement period, most of our activities are covered with modern technology. The various sectors such as agriculture, communication, and transport have always been on the upper hand when it comes to technological advancements. The transport industry has seen the development of smart technologies in sectors such as air, rail, water, and road transport. In road transport specifically, there is a significant milestone that is being achieved in the smart city traffic sector.
The traffic in the cities has always increased with the number of vehicle owners increasing every day. In recent days, there have been traffic problems which are brought about by the congestion of many vehicles. Smart city projects have come up with sub-projects in the transport industry that will see in various ways how traffic problems can be curbed in the cities. Traffic management systems are being employed on the roads and streets in the cities to improve the traffic and flow of vehicles. However, technology has also given this sector a boost in many ways.
Common technologies in smart city traffic
There have been many visions that have been shared with various stakeholders in the smart city models. The real-time traffic data collection and distribution help make the life of motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians in these cities as safe and as comfortable as possible. As the traffic continues to increase in these areas, the transport network becomes complex. As such, a comprehensive formula has to be drafted on how to deal with this menace. This is where the technology systems come at hand.
The common technologies applied in the traffic systems include intelligent transport systems that can promote the safe transportation of both people and goods on these roads. The smart city transport systems include smart connected traffic solutions such as IP cameras, sensors, and mobile applications. The sensors can give alerts of impending dangers such as collisions and accidents ahead. There can be controlled traffic signals and sensors which can help in controlling the traffic flow and give directions to motorists. There is software that has been designed to coordinate traffic such as SCOOT. The other technology that can be used is the inbound flow control used in the outermost sets of traffic lights to help in their control.
How smart city traffic impacts the citizens
Positive impact
Smart city traffic systems have largely benefited the citizens living in various smart cities. There are reduced congestion in the cities because these systems have eased up traffic congestion in the cities. Traffic was a main time-waster in the cities some time back with the majority of the citizens reaching their destinations very late and faulting the lateness to the traffic. Smart city traffic use encourages the use of smart buses in the cities for the transportation of people and goods instead of everyone using their cars. As a result, there are reduced levels of pollution from emissions done by vehicles. Smart buses are energy efficient, and they can be used by many car owners to reduce the number of vehicles in the cities. There is an effective response to traffic incidences since the mobile app and software can pass crucial information to other motorists and the administration.
Negative impact
The traffic systems have some negative impacts on people. The cost of installing the sensors and the systems is high. The government has to raise taxes to improve infrastructure. As a result, the cost of living is always on the rise. Understanding how the systems on the roads work might be complex for the few people who have no knowledge of understanding them. The residents may feel marginalized. They need to be trained on how these systems work. Most of the efforts in smart city traffic are channeled toward the safety of motorists while pedestrians and cyclists are not considered. This is segregation since they all ought to be considered because they are stakeholders in the transport field.
Applications of smart city traffic
Smart city traffic applies to all road construction engineers because they are the pioneer planners and innovators of how to make smart cities’ road transport comfortable. Vehicle-making companies can also use these technologies when making their vehicles. The vehicles can be embedded with systems that coordinate with the systems on the streets. The government departments that deal with traffic such as the police can also apply the use of these systems to detect where problems might arise.
