Rapid growth of population coupled with the improving socio-economic conditions of people and high concentration of motor vehicles in Bangalore has contributed to a phenomenal growth of traffic on the city roads. Traffic congestion is the obvious consequence especially when the scope for expansion of roads space is severely limited. In such a scenario, there is a need to mitigate the situation through adopting intelligent transportation system in traffic management
Intelligent Transportation System is a collective name for a number technology-based approaches that are designed to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of transport networks. The system often combine communication, processing and data storage modules to provide integrated travel information and traffic management systems from one or more organizations. The system collects information about the current state of transport network, process the information and either directly manage the network or allow the people to decide on their own for the best use of the network.
Some of the components of ITS in traffic management developed by Bengaluru Traffic Police over the last few years are as follows.
- Automated Signaling System:
Automated signaling is a concept wherein all the signals placed at various junctions of the city are centrally controlled from a Central Hub. Traffic signal at each junction is connected to a controller, which in turn is connected to Traffic Management Centre (TMC) using leased line. These controllers are intelligent and can be programmed to perform as per the requirements of specific location and time.
- Automated Traffic Challaning System:
Automated enforcement also known as contact less system of booking of traffic violations was initiated in the year 2003. In this system violations recorded through digital cameras and enforcement cameras are processed at Central Automation Centre and notices are sent to the owners of the vehicles involved in traffic violations. This is a highly transparent method of booking cases against the traffic violators.
- Enforcement Camera System:
High resolution cameras placed at various junctions are meant to capture pictures of vehicles over speeding or jumping signals. These cameras are connected to central server kept at Traffic Control Centre using 4 Mbps leased lines. The central server also has the capability to interpret the number plates using alpha numeric character recognition software. This registration number is matched with transport department database for generating notice to violators.
- Use of Multi Function Devices for Enforcement:
Traffic Police has equipped its officers with handheld Blackberry/Multi functional devices connected to Bluetooth-enabled printers. These devices are connected to a central server kept at State Data Center (SDC).
Online booking of violations using BlackBerry/Multi functional devices also ensures tracking of habitual traffic offenders thus ensuring enhanced punishment for them. In addition, it also track down unpaid violation notices issued in past.
- Variable Messaging Systems:
Message boards mounted on large gantries are being placed at convenient locations of the city for displaying traffic related information. This information is fed into terminals placed at TMC from where the message is relayed on to the boards using radio frequency waves. The information displayed informs the travelers about existing traffic scenario to help them avoiding traffic snarls and making alternative choices.
- Parking Information System:
All major parking places in the city of Bangalore, which are computerized are proposed to be connected to the TMC using web based services. The real time parking availability status from these parking places will be relayed to the traffic police web site and made accessible to the citizens through VMS boards and phones using SMS on need to know basis.
- Real time Traffic Congestion Mapping:
A supplementary mechanism of identifying congestion is by using density of mobile devices currently existing under a particular mobile tower. This value is processed for indentifying the level of congestion at a particular junction and subsequently the processed data is used to create a real time GIS enabled map at TMC. The higher the number of mobile devices under a particular tower the more likely is the chance for congestion. Google congestion mapping is also widely used to identify traffic congestion instantly.
- Real time Passenger Information System:
Real time passenger information system helps in to facilitate passengers to get information like arrival of busses to bus stop and details of movement of busses through mobile phone application. This system was first introduced by KSRTC in Mysore city under Global Environment facility- Sustainable Urban Transport project.
From the above it is clear that intelligent transportation system can improve the efficiency of traffic management in the city by making travel safer, less polluting, cheaper, with reduced journey time. It also helps in integrating different systems by providing a mechanism for sharing information between system and coordinating strategies across different civic agencies involved in traffic management.