4 Traffic Management Strategies That are Necessary to Make ‘Smart City’
Traffic management is one of the major concerns for countries across the world as the endless delays cause a major loss in productivity. If these losses were to be accounted in numbers, the figure would be quite staggering. Authorities and traffic engineering companies across the world are, therefore, are working on traffic engineering solutions that can help minimize traffic congestion and manage traffic more efficiently. In this blog post, we discuss five traffic management elements that make a city a smart city in terms of its traffic management.
1. Swept Path Analysis
It is the analysis of the movement of a vehicle. The analysis helps calculate the movement of different parts of a vehicle when it takes a turn. Swept Path Analysis was initially carried out manually and was thus not as accurate as now, with the introduction of swept path analysis software. The analysis has several uses such as design and development of new vehicles, planning the layout of a building keeping in mind whether the vehicles would be able to easily manoeuvre, and many more.
2. Intelligent Traffic Signals Installation
As the number of cars and other automobiles in urban cities is on the rise, authorities face the challenge of managing traffic lights on a real time basis. Intelligent traffic signals, or smart signals as you may call them, use automated algorithms and real time data to make traffic signals work intelligently. The smart signals help reduce the time cars spend on the traffic signals by sensing the traffic congestion conditions and adjusting the time that cars spend idling on a traffic signal.
3. Traffic Impact Assessment
Traffic impact assessment (TIA) is critical for the efficient management of the incessant road traffic. It is an analysis of the impact of projected developmental activities on the existing traffic and the improvements to mitigate those impacts. It also helps in a more efficient use of both fund and land for developmental purposes and an early identification of the areas that require a road improvement.
4. Traffic Calming
Traffic Calming, also known as Local Area Traffic Management (LATM), is the process of engaging with the locals in different localities to identify traffic and parking issues in their area, and coming up with solutions to improve the livability, safety and amenity in those areas. It also includes installation of traffic calming devices such as speed humps, roundabouts, speed cushions, bulb outs and more.
Conclusion…
Urban cities around the world are facing traffic management issues, and therefore, it is essential for authorities and traffic engineering companies to come together and brainstorm to find out various ways to mitigate these concerns. The ones discussed in this blog post are just some of the few strategies that have helped ease the traffic concerns, thereby reducing the costs associated with it and also increase the quality of life of the commuters, but there is certainly a long way to go in terms of developing new traffic management solutions.
