Reducing the Traffic Headache: Three Technology Solutions Cities Should Consider

The average British and American commuters spend more than 40 hours a year sitting in traffic. Germans fare slightly better, with Berliners, myself included, spending about 35 hours per year in traffic. So, what if we could eliminate traffic jams and get all that time back?

Vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) technologies, intermodal transportation and autonomous driving, some of which are being powered by artificial intelligence (AI), are leading us down a path where that may just be possible.

As the BBC and my colleague, Markus Schlitt, examined, Siemens Mobility is offering cities the ability to analyze traffic patterns, prioritize traffic thoroughfares, control traffic lights, alter freeway speeds and optimize public transport lanes. http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20181212-can-artificial-intelligence-end-traffic-jams

Using #digital technologies to enable mobility operators makes #infrastructure intelligent, increases value sustainably over the lifecycle, improves travelers’ mobility experience and guarantees availability.  They will also decrease road congestion and enhance road safety.

47% less waiting time

What are some examples of this coming to life? In Hagen, Germany, we’re using AI to optimize traffic life control, which reduces the waiting time at an intersection. Siemens Mobility is using its power to create a self-learning traffic control, which has the goal of optimizing existing traffic control while being less time consuming to create and maintain. First tests in simulation have shown a decrease in waiting time of up to 47% in comparison with a basic signal plan.

1400 eBikes in Lisbon

In Lisbon, Portugal, Siemens Mobility is operating a fleet of 1400 (e)Bikes for the city of Lisbon as enhancement of their public transit system. Operide (our AI-based fleet management system) uses machine learning (including various data sources like weather) to predict the future demand of eBikes at each of our 140 eBike-sharing stations to provide optimal availability of bikes and docks for return and therewith establish it as a viable transport mode. By ensuring availability of this alternative transportation option, passengers are decreasing vehicle congestion on the roads, resulting in faster and more efficient first/last mile commute times.

Autonomous mini-bus fleets

Autonomous driving, particularly demand responsive transportation, also has the power to reduce road congestion. With more efficient operations, autonomous mini-bus fleets and vehicles can maintain optimal separation, braking and lane changes, reducing unnecessary stops. This is coming to life on the Siemens Campus in Neuperlach (Munich) where Siemens Mobility has started field tests to better understand the interplay of #intelligent infrastructure, cloud-based software services and autonomous electric vehicles.

While these may not be immediate fixes, the future of mobility has the end to traffic jams on its horizon. And ultimately, we will have more time.