Dynamic Traffic Management
Dynamic
traffic management is a broad concept but will typically involve this
harnessing of real-time information to control traffic flows, perhaps
by optimizing signal systems at entry and exit points to a road, or
by switching traffic to contra flow lanes. It means getting more timely
information about indents and breakdowns to emergency services, and
indeed to other drivers.
We expect significant
developments on collaborative vehicle-to-vehicle communications systems
and advanced vehicle-to-infrastructure communications. The next decade
will bring smart vehicles and intelligent infrastructure alive. Dynamic
traffic management could bring fundamental benefits to all transport
modes. Camera ID is itself only an interim technology. In the near
future all vehicles, trains, ships and even cargos will be able to
transmit ID and other useful information about themselves directly
to data processing centres. This offers traffic managers comprehensive
real-time views of all movements on their networks as well as a range
of interventions they can make to adjust and optimize those traffic
flows.
This total management
concept means that (for instance) port operators can monitor multi-modal
movements around the port and co-ordinate the arrival of ships and
freight transport to ensure an optimum transfer of cargos. It means
that rail managers gain much more granular control over train movements,
signaling and platform capacity, helping to move more trains at higher
speeds over the network.
