Cities have homes, stores, offices, restaurants, entertainment, and so much more. But having all these places grouped together in a metropolitan area only makes sense if you're able to get to them. What’s the point of a city full of exciting places to be if you have no way to get from point A to point B?

This is why we have transportation technology. Whether public or private, in a car, bus, or on a micromobility scooter, having a way to get people from place to place is essential. However, in many ways, the advancement of these modes of transportation has caused just as many problems as it’s solved. Pollution, traffic, and accidents are all common and range in severity from nuisances to life-threatening dangers. Thankfully, the Internet of Things, or IoT, can provide some solutions.

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How IoT is used in traffic control

• 1. Smart traffic signals
• 2. Emergency assistance via IoT technology
• 3. Optimized commutes with apps such as Waze
• 4. Smart parking technology
• 5. Safer truck driving and fleet management
• 6. Predictive vehicle maintenance
• 7. Enhanced tolls and ticketing

Benefits of IoT in traffic management

How IoT is used in traffic control

So how does IoT work? The simple answer is that smart sensors (or devices that can connect to the internet) provide a real-time flow of data between the devices themselves or back to a central control system.

In smart cities — cities that use smart technology to improve their infrastructure and operations — IoT sensors and devices can be placed on roads and highways to monitor, analyze, and share data to improve certain functions. This can result in less pollution, traffic, and accidents.

IoT in traffic control has many potential use cases. Let’s look at some common ones:

Recommended reading: Everything you need to know about IoT smart cities

1. Smart traffic signals

Smart traffic signals might look like your typical stoplight, but they use an array of sensors to monitor traffic in real-time. Often, the goal is to reduce the amount of time cars spend idle. Using IoT technology, the various signals communicate with each other and adapt to changing traffic conditions in real-time. Not only does this mean less time in traffic jams, but it cuts carbon emissions that cars release into the atmosphere. Carnegie Mellon University is part of a pilot program in Pittsburgh that has been testing this type of technology, and the initial data is very promising. The pilot run showed 40% reductions in vehicle wait time, 26% in travel time, and 21% in projected vehicle emissions.

2. Emergency assistance via IoT technology

Among people aged 1-54 in the United States, road crashes are the leading cause of death. Getting into cars and driving to work or school is, statistically, a dangerous activity that many people have to engage in every day. IoT technology could make it a little safer. Potentially, this could look like real-time accident detection and notification, reducing the critical time an injured person sits unattended. In New Orleans, the city has deployed IoT solutions across different emergency response personnel, such as the fire department, police officers, and EMTs. Using IoT, 911 dispatchers can streamline communications to these responders, allowing them to harness data and make quicker, more informed decisions.

3. Optimized commutes with apps such as Waze

Every driver on the road with Waze, or a similar app, essentially acts as an IoT sensor. Waze collects and analyzes data for every road someone drives on. With the help of a powerful algorithm, it’s able to make suggestions, determine optimal routes, give advance notice of accidents or traffic jams, and even suggest the best time to leave. In a pilot test in Europe, Waze reduced driving time by 19%. Like smart traffic lights, less time on the road means less pollution, and it’s generally more convenient for everyone.

4. Smart parking technology

One of the more frustrating aspects of city driving is finding a place to park. It seems there are never any on-street parking spaces available. The second one driver leaves, the next pulls in. And lack of available parking isn’t just an issue that comes up from time to time; drivers spend about 17 hours a year driving in circles, just looking for a place to cut the engine. Smart parking technology is already tackling this problem with apps and smart meters that can alert drivers when parking spots are available, allow them to reserve the spot, give directions to the spot, and give the driver the option to pay for the space directly from their phone.

5. Safer truck driving and fleet management

From the trucks that deliver packages to the trucks local governments use — like fire trucks, or school buses — fleet management is important for any entity that requires vehicles to operate. These automobiles must get from one place to the next safely, efficiently, and in the most cost-effective way possible. IoT fleet management solutions can do all of that. IoT sensors can monitor important safety elements on the vehicles themselves, like tire pressure, and alert drivers to any issues. IoT devices can also follow the cars in real-time, redirecting drivers to the most efficient route or allowing the owners to track the vehicle from a computer.

Recommended reading: 9 ways IoT is transforming the fleet management industry

6. Predictive vehicle maintenance

Imagine driving around without a fuel gauge on your car. Instead of knowing when it was time for a fill-up, you just had to take a guess and hope for the best. Sounds pretty inefficient, not to mention dangerous, right?

In many ways, that’s how a lot of other parts in our cars work. Many times, you don’t know there’s an issue with a car until something has actually happened. Although more technologically advanced, predictive vehicle maintenance in IoT works a lot like a gas gauge. Sensors monitor various aspects of a vehicle — like oil or fuel consumption, temperature, light, or vibrations — and inform owners when there is an issue. This way, the driver can get it fixed before the situation worsens, and they also won’t spend unnecessary money or time checking a vehicle that doesn’t actually need attention.

7. Enhanced tolls and ticketing

While tickets and tolls may not be drivers’ favorite parts about being on the road, they’re a common element of most major cities. While IoT can’t make a ticket or toll go away, it can make it a little easier for the driver to pay and be on their way. With a modern car, IoT devices and sensors can automatically pay these bills and debit the owner’s bank account.

This technology already exists to some extent; products like E-Z pass let drivers go through tolls and pay automatically without stopping. However, government bodies are already thinking up ways to take this a step further. A pilot program in California has been studying how IoT could be used to replace the gas tax the state currently uses to fund road repairs and construction. In this system, drivers would owe money based on how much they drive. IoT sensors would track this data and automatically charge the user based on this information.

Benefits of IoT in traffic management

Roads and transportations systems are huge pieces of infrastructure, and implementing IoT and smart technology is not an overnight project. However, the many benefits make the effort worth it. Greener, safer, more efficient roads are all possible outcomes. Let’s look at each of these in more detail.

Safer commuting

There are many ways IoT can make commuting safer, some of which we’ve already discussed. More efficient emergency alert notifications mean first responders can get to an accident faster and have more easily accessible information about the nature of the accident. Shorter commute times mean a smaller likelihood of accidents in general, and predictive maintenance ensures cars are running smoothly while on the road. IoT sensors may also allow road planners to monitor roads in real-time and understand where road conditions are dangerous, enabling them to address issues quickly and with the least impact on drivers.

Encourages a cleaner world

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 29 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation. Systems like the one posed in California that charge drivers based on how much they drive may encourage citizens to only go where they need. Additionally, smart traffic management using IoT-enabled signals could also decrease the number of standing cars caused by traffic jams, which leads to greater carbon emissions. Overall, IoT across various industries and sectors is expected to decrease our carbon footprint.

A more productive and efficient process

Designing roads and transportation systems is not an easy thing, but with improved data and analytics from IoT sensors, urban planners will be better equipped to make decisions about the infrastructure we use every day. Whether that’s updating certain roads or putting in a stop sign at an intersection where multiple crashes occur — IoT gives access to information that helps people make smarter decisions.

When there are problems on the road, like speeding or reckless driving, IoT will allow for a more productive court system. Data from IoT devices have already been used as evidence in court cases worldwide. In the transportation sector, better analytics and evidence from IoT sensors along the road or within a car could create a more equitable court system where both plaintiffs and defendants have access to all data.

Get connected with Hologram

IoT in traffic management can save time, money, and resources while making roads and transportation safer. Hologram’s global IoT connectivity platform makes it easy to deploy and monitor your IoT technology. Explore the ways Hologram is making connectivity simpler with our multi-carrier global network, IoT SIM cards, and cloud-based device management platform.