Intelligent Transport Systems
Since the advent and creation of smart cities; safe, sustainable urban areas that promote economic growth and enhance the quality of life for people living and working in them through the deployment of connected information technologies, there has always been the question of how to use Information Communication Technology to improve the hitherto existing limitations of critical city infrastructure in key areas such as traffic and public transportation systems, utility and waste management, information management, preservation and conservation of cultural artefacts, housing and urban planning, power grids and energy optimization, health infrastructure, administration and governance, legal, construction, manufacturing and agriculture. Beyond being a way of increasing operational efficiency of city infrastructure, smart cities help to cope with rapid urbanization of cities and towns in a world with a growing population and alleviate the environmental and climate concerns that come with this growth.
The intentional development of an intelligent transport network comes from a recognition that the future of transportation in a rapidly integrated and connected world lies beyond the simple, physical construction and repair of new roads with concrete and steel. The real essence of transportation systems is in its connectivity with other areas of citizen life. The value of this connectivity is based on obtaining and sharing of relevant information (intelligence, you might presume) that empowers participants and users to make better informed transportation decisions that improve their quality of life as a whole.
How do Intelligent Transport Systems Work?
An Intelligent Transport System (ITS) refers to a combination of cutting-edge information and communication technologies that integrate operational controls and user-facing solutions, in a bid to facilitate the effective and efficient movement of people and goods across highway and inner-city road networks. An Intelligent Transport System integrates innovative road infrastructure, intelligent and connected vehicular system and information dissemination system to revolutionize mobility, promote safety, efficiency and convenience of use, through the creation of good traffic systems.
ITS mechanisms work via hardware (firmware infrastructure), software solutions, user interfaces in conjunction with the connectivity of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Internet of Vehicles (IoV). Other technologies that are present within any ITS include, amongst others:
Edge and Cloud Computing services
Artificial Intelligence
Application Programming Interfaces
Mesh Networks
Machine Learning
Wired Networks
Wireless Networks
Digital/Electronic Payment Mechanisms
Firewall security systems
Surveillance mechanisms including CCTV use
The framework of these technologies bring together data in the following progression:
a. Collection
Data is collected through sensors such as cameras, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), CCTV and GPS positioning.
b. Transmission
Data collected is sent via wireless transmission for analysis using the city’s communication apparatus.
c. Analysis
Data transmitted is analyzed using deep learning algorithms to gain meaningful insights into the operations of city services
d. Communication
Insights derived from the processed data are communicated to the city’s transportation management, using strong communication medium.
e. Application and Action
Insights derived influence decisions taken on how to control transport infrastructure, manage transport assets and streamline traffic operations.
All technologies used in the creation, maintenance and update of an Intelligent Transport System contain one or more of the features listed below:
They must be digital
They must be intelligent (be able to identify patterns after studying data generated from continuous human and vehicular interaction with transport infrastructure)
They must be ubiquitous (provide easy access to public services through any connected device or mass communication medium, such as cellular phones, traffic advisory radio, mobile apps etc.)
They must be able to generate, store, transmit or interpret large data amounts.
Categories of Intelligent Transport Systems
The full gamut of the workings of an Intelligent Transport System in a smart city is often seen in certain major applications:
1. Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) Communication and Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication Integration
Both V2V AND v2I systems employ short range communication frameworks that allow vehicles equipped and adapted for ITS to transmit data and share information with themselves and a variety of roadway firmware infrastructure supporting highway or express road networks on road incidents, conditions, travel information through an evaluation of traffic speed and trajectories. The purpose of this mechanism overall is in a bid to promote safety on the roads by reducing accidents through predictive analysis, forewarnings to road users and collision avoidance systems; preserve sanity by reducing traffic congestion through the deployment of smart traffic control signals (adaptive signal timing) and increase mobility convenience and energy efficiency through the delivery of real-time traffic information (including traffic lags, hazard forewarnings, traffic rerouting etc.) to road users.
V2I and V2V Integration employ the use of apparatus such as firmware on roads, traffic tags, lane markings, sensors, tags, inductive loop sensors, video cameras and software, along with innovative communication and connectivity modes for communication and information routing. Technological apparatus is being developed for increasingly smart functions such as blind spot detection, pedestrian and vehicle detection and bicycle to vehicle communication in a bid to keep up with the futuristic inventions being churned out by the automobile industry.
2. Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS):
Intelligent Transport Systems in smart cities have been developed to provide real time travel and traffic information to drivers. Information is obtained through devices involved in current traffic flow, transmitted to transport management systems, processed and is disseminated to the public transportation system, individual users of the road transport network and third party service providers willing to resell such information. Each step leading to the release of traffic information is facilitated by distinct technology devices, platform and features public and private involvement. It is then communicated via the aid of radio/highway traffic advisory, news bulletin, cellular-phone messages, broadcasts, smart traffic signs, navigation systems etc.
Effective traveler information systems provide real time, relevant and accurate details to road users about their precise locations; the distance between their location and their destinations; public transit routes and schedules; weather conditions that could influence traffic flow and travel time; current traffic and existing road conditions; route guidance; crash notifications; routes with incidents of possible delays in transit times due to factors like road repair work; alternate routes; closed road networks; routes with incidents of traffic congestion including areas seeing high traffic; routes with traffic signals that could cause time lags amongst other relevant information. Smart cities with highly ATIS have developed smart parking systems where drivers and smart vehicles are provided with information on closest vacant parking systems and can even reserve such spaces in advance. Another futuristic development credited to dynamic travel information is the rise of multi-mode, multi-operator travel. One of such cities witnessing such is Stockholm, Sweden.
Advanced Traveler Information Systems in smart transport systems exist to foster traveler convenience by empowering them with adequate information available on multiple platforms (whether in or out of vehicles) to make informed travel decisions such as choice of travel modes, optimal route selection and route navigation. Such informed decisions help to foster convenient transportation and cut travel time, consequences with positive, far-reaching multiplier effects. A more convenient travel experience translates to a reduction in time wasted in traffic congestion which indirectly leads to a reduction of carbon emissions, improved air quality and a greener environment; a shortage of travel time translates to a reduction in stress that could be incurred from laborious travel, an improved quality of living, improved efficiency and productivity at work and contributes to the economic development of the city due to improved tourism experiences.
3. Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS):
APTS is a category of Intelligent Transport Systems that feature applications designed to bolster public transportation system, by using information derived from bus trajectory and routes and commuters’ transportation data to predict arrival time, detect bus stops automatically and detect the level of crowding in public transit buses.
The unique thing about smart public transit system applications is that they foster a shared form of transport management using data sourced from public transit vehicles, public bus stations and commuters’ devices but demands a responsive transport system accountable to the public. APTS deploys the use of innovative navigation, information and communication technologies to improve the efficiency of bus transit systems, reduce operating costs and improve service quality.
APTS enables real time tracking and communication with transit vehicles for intelligent transport management. Through APTS technologies, commuters are granted enhanced visibility into the current location of transit vehicles, estimated arrival and departure times; guided route navigation to the nearest bus stations, available transit options, bus schedules and even offered smart payment of bus fares through cashless and contactless mechanisms. The result is lower transportation costs and increased reliability and safety on public transit systems by the public; essentially an evidence of satisfaction with public infrastructure.
4. ITS-Powered Transportation Pricing Systems:
This category of Intelligent Transport System involves the use of widespread ICT, hardware and software as well as connectivity mechanisms for the estimation, pricing, payment and management of all financial transactions involving public transportation systems and use of road networks by individual vehicles. Such pricing systems include cashless and contactless payment of bus fares done through smart cards and tokens, electronic fines and penalties payments, electronic toll collection, fee-based express lanes, congestion pricing and variable parking fees.
These pricing systems, apart from generating resources to fund investments in smart roadway infrastructure, also perform the unlikely task of reducing the impact of vehicular traffic congestion on the environment. It is believed that congestion pricing mechanisms and the increment of toll prices during traffic congestion can discourage individual vehicular movement and reduction of traffic flow, which in turn, reduces smog and carbon emissions.
Other subsystems of an Intelligent Transport System include:
Advanced/Intelligent Transport Management System
Advanced Commercial Vehicles Operations Management & Monitoring System
Emergency Planning and Management
Advantages of Intelligent Transport Systems
Improved safety of road users and pedestrians
Improved vehicular safety through preventive incident management
Delivery of more accurate and relevant travel information
Efficient decision making based on actual, collated and automatically analyzed data
Better management of infrastructural capacity
Improved climate neutrality and reduction of pollution
Better urban planning opportunities
Improved driver mobility and travel convenience
Reduction of travel time
Improved productivity and organizational efficiency
Boost in economic activity
Improved quality of life for residents
Challenges of Intelligent Transportation Systems
Expensive to create, build and run
Must be constantly maintained and updated to properly function
Large scale of operations needed to show signs of effectiveness
Efficient only when other systems are smart as well; efficiency is closely related to system interdependency
Overreliance on technology and technological services
Data privacy and security issues
If residents are opposed to it, it will be defunct as it is highly participatory and requires citizen collaboration to be adapted.
Rapid urbanization and a focus on cities with the technology alone which would widen the inequality gap in low-income, developing countries
If not planned with a perspective towards inclusion for all persons, it might create new barriers for persons with disabilities and accessibility problems
Huge waste of electronic waste which may backfire on and reverse all strides taken towards climate preservation.
It must be noted here that the existing intelligent transport systems are not perfect yet and innovations occur daily to fine-tune its application and adoption for all kinds of societies. So far, progress is still being made on the implementation of ITS. The universal truth is that the world, as we have always known it, is changing. Several countries have adopted ITS in smart cities around the world and none of the criticisms against ITS have proved insurmountable yet.