Smart Cities Could Make Traffic Jams a Thing of the Past

They’re a modern annoyance and frustration that many people feel is unavoidable. I’m speaking of traffic jams and the brutal reality of rush hour. In the largest cities in the world, and even those that aren’t so large, commuters waste hours and hours every year trying to get to work, moving forward inch by inch as other impatient drivers deal with the same ordeal. Traffic jams aren’t just annoying — they’re costly. In the United States alone, rush hour traffic jams result in billions of dollars lost in the economy. As much of a nuisance as traffic jams are, many people feel like they have no choice but to learn to cope with it. But is that really true? A solution to the ever-growing problem may in fact not be too far away. Thanks to the promise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart cities, traffic jams may one day be only a memory.

First, we need to cover a little background on the Internet of Things. Put simply, the IoT is a term used to describe how everyday items from smartphones, clothing, and appliances can communicate with users and each other through the internet. The IoT operates by placing tiny sensors in these objects, creating a way for people to receive more information and interact with them. The idea is to make life easier and more productive through advances in technology.

It goes without saying that few things would make life easier than the elimination of traffic jams. Not only would it save people time, but the overall effect on the economy would be overwhelmingly positive. So how can the IoT make this possible? One of the biggest ways is by placing sensors on the very cars we drive and the roads we use. The goal is to create a network where cars communicate with each other and the road itself. This is usually termed “smart cars,” and technology has already made significant strides in this area. The car and road sensors would be able to collect data about current traffic patterns and alert drivers when problems arise and direct them to a quicker route. Suppose you’re on your morning commute and an accident occurs three miles ahead. The IoT would spring into action, informing you about the accident and immediately suggesting a drop in speed and a different way to work.

GPS can already accomplish some of this, like advising alternate routes during times of heavy traffic. However, this analysis isn’t done in real time with current data from roads and vehicles. The IoT would make collecting this data a high priority, usually done through a central information hub that should be part of every smart city. In fact, the collection of big data may be the most crucial aspect of creating a smart city. For the purposes of eliminating traffic jams, data should be collected from sensors located in traffic lights, street signs, cameras, and lane signals in addition to roads and vehicles. The result would be real time updates giving drivers the latest information on traffic conditions along with suggestions on where to go for the most efficient drive to work.

The information collected can also take into account a variety of other factors as well. If road surfaces become damaged, you could be alerted before possibly suffering damage to your car. Weather conditions may also affect traffic patterns, which would again be part of this data analysis. All of these factors would go into streamlining traffic during every hour of every day, not just rush hour. Smart cities’ utilization of the IoT can also be used to direct you to where you should park, alerting you to currently empty spots. Less time on the road looking for a parking space means fewer cars on the road, which means less traffic.

Many estimates put this level of technology at anywhere from 10 to 30 years away, but with the recent advances in cloud computing technology, the future may arrive sooner than that. Many large cities have already put a form of this smart city technology into practice. Beijing, China; Madrid, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Mumbai, India are just a few cities with special real time traffic control systems designed to cut down on the number of traffic jams. While the technology is still in its early stages, they represent the beginnings of an exciting time where cities use the IoT to eliminate a modern annoyance. A world without traffic jams may indeed become a reality before too long.