AI in reinforcement to fight against road congestion

Is the installation of circulation lights powered by artificial intelligence a solution to. Meanwhile, reduce road congestion? Nevertheless, The city of Toronto believes in it and moves up a gear.

These fires rely on sensors and algorithms to react to the needs of the moment. However, They adapt the duration of green and red lights according to traffic, the presence of bus, pedestrians and cyclists. In addition, An advance supposed to improve fluidity and safety, especially in the less dense sectors of the city.

Intelligent fires work much better on the outskirts. However, where there are more traffic lanes, competing priorities between vehicles, public transport, pedestrians, cyclists.

Currently installed at 211 intersections. Furthermore, these adaptive fires, which are part of a deployment project initiated in 2023, should equip 655 crossroads within 4 to 5 years, says Roger Browne, director of traffic management in the city of Toronto.

Intelligent lights use artificial intelligence technology to change the lights automatically. Consequently, So there is not ai reinforcement fight against road really a need for human intervention [pour les configurer]he explains.

From a cost-benefit point of view. Meanwhile, we see that they are much more effective on the outskirts than in the city centerhe adds.

The city of Toronto is currently installing between 60. Consequently, 70 per year, but intends to speed up the rate in the fall ai reinforcement fight against road To try to reach a rhythm of 100 to 120 installations per year.

A time saving for buses – Ai reinforcement fight against road

Bigs also benefit from a dynamic priority thanks to this system.

We have a very strict policy of unconditional priority for public transport. So if the smart fire detects a bus. it anticipates the green light to allow it to cross the intersection quicklynote Roger Browne.

According to the city, corridors equipped with this technology recorded time saving of up to 10 to 15 minutes.

A way to strengthen security. depending on the city

Roger Browne maintains that these facilities improve pedestrian safety, especially in school or residential areas.

If someone presses the button. this allows, from the point of view of security, to extend the time granted to pedestrians to crosshe adds.

These fires therefore bring an additional layer of security to these axes. on the urban outskirts.

However, despite these advances, some experts warn that artificial intelligence will not be enough to solve traffic problems in the metropolis alone.

A partial solution to a structural problem

These intelligent fires are only a piece of a larger puzzle. for Baher Abdulhai, professor of civil engineering at the University of Toronto. Congestion comes above all from a structural imbalance.

The traffic challenges in Toronto are severe. […] The demand, that is to say the number of cars on the road, exceeds the capacity of infrastructure. We do not have enough space so that everyone can drive alone by car, park in the city center, etc. It is a major cause of congestionhe explains.

Beyond the overload, it also evokes the loss of efficiency linked to the turbulence of traffic.

Any infrastructure. any system, when it is overloaded, its own capacity degrades even more, which means that when you force too much on traffic, you lose 10 to 20 % more capacity, mainly because of turbulencespecifies Mr. Abdulhai.

His team collaborates with the city on a pilot project to test an even more advanced version of smart lights on four intersections. including that of Don Mills et Sheppard, A crossroads known as an important congestion point in Toronto.

I would say that this technology has been tested excessively in the laboratoryunderlines Baher Abdulhai.

These evaluations are expected to take place in September. The objective is to obtain a reduction in deadlines of around 20 to 40 %. A reduction of 5 to 10 % of emissions is also expected [de gaz à effet de serre]he adds.

But the question also goes beyond algorithms. because for him, the management of road congestion also requires a change in mentalities.

Intelligent signaling lights will ai reinforcement fight against road not make disappear [à eux seuls] cars..

We need technology […] of a properly controlled system, properly developed infrastructure and appropriate behavior on the part of users. […] It therefore seems that it is a holistic solution. There is no miracle solution. You have to do it all abovehe recalls.

Despite the challenges, Baher Abdulhai says he is optimistic.

If we act preventively, applying these technologies before the traffic jams are formed, then we manage to avoid them. So yes, it’s proactive in this sensehe concludes.