Skip to main content

Seattle goes with the Flow

Traffic Signal Management platform will be deployed across city’s University District
By David Arminas April 19, 2024 Read time: 2 mins
Seattle's University District (© Cpaulfell | Dreamstime.com)

Flow Labs, a transportation software technology leader specialising in artificial intelligence, will deploy the company’s Traffic Signal Management platform across Seattle’s University District.

Flow Labs will analyse key corridors in the district to generate detailed information concerning traffic patterns, congestion points and other factors affecting traffic flow. This will enable Seattle’s Department of Transportation to understand the effectiveness of signal timings and overall traffic network performance.

Flow Labs’ Integrated Connected Vehicle Data Platform will integrate the city’s roadway infrastructure data, capturing high resolution data from traffic signals, detection systems and connected vehicles. It provides Seattle with a comprehensive real-time view of roadway conditions at every level.

“The Seattle Department of Transportation is a very progressive agency that understands the importance of analytics in delivering the safest, most efficient conditions for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists,” said Jatish Patel, Flow Labs’ chief executive and founder. 

“By leveraging the data that’s already flowing from our roadways and road users, Seattle DoT will have complete visibility into roadway conditions and the ability to adjust traffic patterns as often as needed to ensure streets work better for everyone.”

Seattle’s University District is an urban residential and business community. It is home to the University of Washington’s main campus, including the more than 70,000-seat Husky Stadium, which dramatically impacts the area’s traffic volumes on football game days. The Flow Labs platform enables Seattle DoT to proactively manage traffic signals taking into account pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle safety while balancing efficiency goals during large scale events.

Flow Labs uses AI to clean and analyse data from multiple sources, including connected vehicles and detection devices, to provide previously unachievable traffic volume accuracy and the clearest picture of intersection efficiency available - all with no hardware required.

“Performance measurement has always been difficult, particularly getting clear metrics on overall mobility, efficiency and sustainability. The necessity of expensive hardware and manual fieldwork has always been a barrier to improving traffic conditions,” said Patel.

“The Flow Labs platform taps into the power of integrated transportation data and AI so agencies can orchestrate the entire transportation ecosystem for improved safety, accessibility and quality of life in cities for all road users."

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • AWS finds new solutions
    December 8, 2021
    Forward-thinking public agencies are turning to a new breed of solutions provider to address current traveller needs. They work with system integrators, independent software vendors, and consultants to innovate using Amazon Web Services (AWS) to improve traffic safety, construction project management, analytics and reporting, and secure identification. Phil Silver, a state and local government transportation leader at AWS, provides examples of how builders on AWS are transforming transport using technology
  • GridMatrix maximises power of existing infrastructure
    August 5, 2023

    GridMatrix’s breakthrough software platform for multimodal data collection and analytics is revolutionising transportation planning and decision making across the US. 

    Powered by artificial intelligence and combining the latest advances in cloud computing, machine learning and advanced sensing, GridMatrix’s platform is deployed in New York City on the world’s busiest bridges and tunnels, trusted by multiple state departments of transportation, and in a fast-growing number of American towns and cities. 

  • Flow Labs finds the funds
    April 26, 2023
    If success is defined by demand, Flow Labs says the company is on its way. The “find issues, fix problems, fund projects” company has three speaking slots throughout the week at the ITS America Congress & Expo. It will also unveil a low-cost pedestrian safety module in the Education Theatre on Wednesday.
  • Why integrated traffic management needs a cohesive approach
    April 10, 2012
    Traffic control is increasingly being viewed as one essential element of a wider ‘system of systems’ – the smart city. Jason Barnes, Jon Masters and David Crawford report on latest ideas and efforts for making cities ‘smarter’ Virtually every element of the fabric and utilitarian operations that make urban areas tick can now be found somewhere in the mix that is the ‘smart city’ agenda. Ideas have expanded and projects pursued in different directions as the rhetoric on making cities ‘smarter’ has grown. App