The world of transportation is rapidly changing with technological advances and evolving societal needs. At the forefront of these changes are transportation engineers.
They analyze traffic patterns to identify problem areas and then design systems that help keep cities moving. Here are a few of the ways they are doing so.
1. Smart Traffic Signals
Inefficient traffic flow leads to lost time for commuters and stress. That translates into lost productivity and money that could be spent on better public services. It also creates a dissatisfying perception of city governments and jeopardizes support for mayors.
Smart traffic signals use sensing, video capture and connectivity technologies to collect real-time data from vehicles and the environment. The captured data is either pre-processed on the device or sent to a cloud-based Transportation engineering services for more advanced modeling and predictive analysis.
Besides reducing travel times, smart traffic signals can also increase public transportation efficiency by identifying the best routes. This also helps reduce overall traffic volumes and alleviate congestion during peak hours. And lastly, it makes cities more sustainable by lowering emissions (since less traffic means less fuel burned). These benefits translate into improved health for citizens and the planet. In fact, the UN estimates that just one hour of wasted idling in a car contributes to 30 million tons of CO2 in the atmosphere every year.
2. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
The smart technologies in ITS can optimize traffic flow by reducing congestion and improving road conditions. They use sensor data to monitor traffic and traffic systems. These systems can adjust signal phasing, ramp metering and highway message boards based on real-time traffic conditions. They can also provide pretrip travel information, en-route driver information, incident management and route guidance.
ITS can reduce the amount of time vehicles spend stopped at red lights. This helps to improve air quality and reduce vehicle emissions. This technology also allows for better control of accelerations, decelerations and stops – decreasing fuel consumption.
Another way that transportation engineers are helping to alleviate traffic congestion is by promoting alternative modes of transport like cycling and public transit. This helps to decrease the number of vehicles on the road and alleviates strain on existing infrastructure. It can also lower the cost of a trip and improve overall travel times. In addition, it reduces energy consumption and dependence on foreign oil.
3. Rethinking Intersections
Traffic congestion isn’t just annoying, it can also waste fuel and produce greenhouse gas emissions. As any driver who’s ever been stuck in a traffic jam knows, it can also cause serious accidents.
Traffic engineers strive to minimize traffic in urban areas by designing efficient road networks and implementing lane configurations and signal timings that promote smoother traffic flow. These efforts result in shorter wait times at busy intersections, reduced travel time overall and fewer collisions with reduced severity.
Increasingly, traffic engineers are advocating for rethinking how we build and use roadways. They provide data and analysis to support urban planners in creating walkable, bike-friendly communities that reduce commuting distances and thus traffic volumes. They also work with community members to educate motorists on how they can help improve traffic flows by driving defensively, respecting other drivers’ right-of-way and merging only when necessary. These are small steps that can have a big impact on traffic.
4. Improving Public Transport
In addition to optimizing roadways, traffic engineers also work hard to improve public transportation systems. This helps decrease the number of vehicles on the road and reduces congestion. It also supports the goals of promoting healthy lifestyles through reduced driving distances.
In cities, improving public transport means offering more frequent services that connect every part of the city. This allows passengers to plan ahead and reduces stress levels. It also reduces dependence on private cars and lowers emissions, which contribute to the worsening of air quality in cities and health problems like respiratory issues.
Another strategy involves setting up bus lanes that help reduce wait times. This allows buses to pass through intersections more quickly without disrupting the flow of traffic in other lanes. This can help prevent bus accidents and increase the reliability of public transport. Finally, implementing energy-efficient public transit systems that run on clean fuels can help reduce carbon emissions and promote environmental sustainability.
