Title: Intelligent traffic management system-part 1

Type: Original report

Reporter: Christine Zang

Supervisor: June Lee

Date: 14 July 2008

Cue:

Up to now, vehicles in Beijing have reached 3.34 million and it continues to grow by nearly two thousand a day.

To address the ever-increasing gap between road infrastructure and travel demand, high priority has been given to the improvement of traffic technology, the technical applications in traffic management has also been constantly adopted.

Ten intelligent traffic systems have been in operation to ensure safe and smooth traffic for the upcoming Olympic Games.

 Christine Zang files this report.

Feature:

Based on the integrated traffic command and dispatching system, a three-level Olympic traffic command technical system has been set up, comprising Olympic traffic command center, Yangshanqiao traffic escort command center and 38 traffic control rooms at Olympic venues and clusters.

In case of emergency, the police force positioning system allows the commander to directly dispatch traffic command and communication vehicles and the front-line police taskforce to where necessary.

The command and dispatching system also allows the commander synchronizes the operation of traffic signal control system and traffic guidance system for swift response.

Sui yagang, deputy director of the Beijing traffic management bureau, explains:

Male voice: ‘The systems enable us to manage the traffic more efficiently. If there was an incident or traffic control in an area, the signal system would work to reduce the traffic flow to the spot. In addition, guidance information will be given to notify drivers for alternative road, thus mitigating traffic congestion at the incident scene. ’

The first-ever digital monitoring system of high definition has been installed in the Olympic Green Central zone.

Sui yagang again:

Male voice: ‘Five functions are combined in this system, such as video surveillance, volume calculation, vehicle recognition, incident and violation detections. It enables all-round surveillance around the clock over the traffic going in and out of the Olympic central zone.’

According to Sui, 126 signalized intersections allowing for preemptive control over buses have been completed for the Olympic Games on the roads with bus lanes or Olympic lanes, to meet the demand for large-capacity and high speed passenger traffic.

Male voice: ‘While detecting a bus entering the intersection, the road sensors for buses will send the message to the computers of the traffic signal control system. The system will then shorten the green time for the opposite direction or prolong the green time for the same direction of the bus, minimizing its delay by giving it the preemptive right of the road.’

Meanwhile, more than 1000 pieces of real-time traffic information will be distributed by 228 message signs installed alongside the major roads and ring roads, including Olympic traffic control, road passage restrictions and alternative routes for detour and so on.

Christine Zang, for City Rhythm