Technology in the service of traffic congestion

Urbanization processes have grown at an accelerated pace in recent years. According to the United Nations (UN), in 2020, more than 300,000 inhabitants, representing 60% of the world's population, said they lived in one of the 1934 metropolises. 

The increase in the number of inhabitants and rapid urbanization have led to the emergence of new challenges. Undoubtedly, one of the issues facing governments is the management of public transport. 

From developed countries such as the United Kingdom to developing countries such as Colombia, Brazil and Mexico, there are mobility challenges. The increase in the number of vehicles in these places has triggered, for example, constant congestion. 

According to the latest ranking on world traffic(Global Traffic Scorecard 2020), regardless of their location, to a greater or lesser extent, metropolises suffer from traffic congestion. However, he pointed out that the five cities with the most mobility problems are Bogota, New York, Moscow, Philadelphia and Paris. 

Faced with this problem, governments have developed and implemented innovative technologies aimed at sustainable mobility in cities. GovTech solutions include:

Intelligent traffic lights.

‍Insome cities, traffic lights are connected to sensors that monitor the time and number of vehicles stopped at the red light to synchronize light cycles and ensure traffic flow. 

Sensors in the street. 

‍Throughsensors installed in the pavement, which communicate with traffic management systems, users can know what is happening on the roads, for example, if there are accidents, construction works, buses in circulation and so on. 

Camera systems.

‍Video-analytics software integrated into city transportation systems collects information related to the number of vehicles, average speed, and road occupancy. These have served to improve traffic planning, modify routes and redirect cars to other roads. 

Parking applications.

‍Incountries such as the United Kingdom, it is estimated that 10% of urban traffic congestion is caused by drivers looking for a parking space. As a result, platforms have been created that allow users to view available parking spaces and even reserve the parking spot before arriving at the location. 

Smart payments.

Less time spent waiting to pay tolls or pay for parking means faster travel speeds and less congestion. 

Traffic control centers.

Oneexample is the city of Medellín's Intelligent Mobility System (SIMM). Using the latest technology, SIMM collects, processes and analyzes traffic data from the systems installed in the city to control traffic and reduce its negative effects. Through SIMM, it has been possible to reduce the level of traffic incidents, optimize traffic lights, and publish real-time information on traffic conditions. 

In short, cities are implementing technological tools to reduce vehicular traffic and contribute to a more sustainable urbanization.