How Smart Transportation can transform Smart Cities?

Transportation plays an integral part in the making of a city. Smart transportation, however, can mold a city into a smart city.

Fremont, CA: Intelligent transportation is one of the essential elements of a smart city. It governs the mobility in smart cities using technologies such as sensors and payment systems to new modes of transport and platforms that assist consumers in using the transport services optimally. Smart transportation increases interoperability, the ability to disseminate information and raise general awareness. Further, the comprehensive approach to adequate placement of emergency procedures and response capabilities, approach to risk management, determine dangers such as vandalism, violence, fare evasion, and medical emergencies.      

Smart city transportation technology improves the productivity of cities while improving services to businesses and citizens. In the case of dangerous weather conditions, unsafe speeds, and heavy traffic which results in accidents and loss of life, the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) help prevent such events. With its real-time weather monitoring systems, information such as wind speed, rainfall, visibility, and road conditions are available. Further, the ITS assists in traffic management by optimizing the traffic lights based on the changing traffic patterns instead of a fixed schedule in traffic. 

Heavy vehicles can hinder the smooth flow of traffic, especially if they are overloaded. Weight-in-motion systems segregate the vehicles based on the size, type, and weight and communicate the collected data to a central server. Illegal parking causes overcrowded and hazardous city streets. Smart parking violations systems scans and documents illegally parked vehicles and transmit information to the parking meter. Electronic traffic counters are a part of intelligent transportation that can record the type and number of vehicles accessing a road or visiting a particular area of the city.

Intelligent Transport System enables drivers to monitor the movement of vehicles with the help of mobility and traffic management. ITS interconnects traffic lights, toll booths, car parks, roads, and bridges to establish a unified transport system with direct communication between vehicles and devices. ITS aids in traffic management by smooth operations of public transport as citizens can retrieve real-time information about public transportation.  Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMs) offers real-time data from various sources such as toll booths, car parking, and traffic lights and guides the traffic. Moreover, ATMs can regulate traffic lights by driving vehicles away from busy roads.

In modern times, transportation has evolved from competitive to collaborative. In adverse weather conditions, commuters use public transport, and in such scenarios, various modes of transport cannibalize each other, potentially hurting the collaborative functioning of the transportation system. Instead of driven by competition, successful smart transport should combine multiple modes of transport working in synergy to provide the best mode of transport to the passenger.

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