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Cellular-based probe system delivers real time traffic data

Toll and traffic management solutions provider IBI Group and Cellint Traffic Solutions, a provider of real-time road traffic information based on cellular data have successfully completed the data validation phase of the regional traffic data system (RTDS) project in Vancouver. The project aims to collect, disseminate and archive real time traffic flow information for the road network in Metro Vancouver and display real time traffic flow and travel time information on regional ATIS.
October 7, 2013 Read time: 3 mins
Toll and traffic management solutions provider 5897 IBI Group and 5898 Cellint Traffic Solutions, a provider of real-time road traffic information based on cellular data have successfully completed the data validation phase of the regional traffic data system (RTDS) project in Vancouver.

The project aims to collect, disseminate and archive real time traffic flow information for the road network in Metro Vancouver  and display real time traffic flow and travel time information on regional ATIS.

The probe data was validated by a thorough comparison process with several types of sensors, including inductive loops and Bluetooth, in addition to drive test comparison.

Results show excellent match in detecting speed changes immediately, as well as highly accurate speed over short segments and travel time between junctions.

Cellint's TrafficSense takes the huge amount of location aware data from all active phones in the network anonymously, and assigns GPS coordinates to each such data sample, by matching it with cellular signalling maps prepared in advance.

This unique technical approach enables TrafficSense to match the quality of road sensors, as validated by many road agencies and DOTs in North America and Europe.

IBI’s traffic management and traveller information systems provide the software shell that collects, aggregates, stores, manages, and reports the real-time data from Cellint’s TrafficSense. Roadway authorities can use the information to better manage traffic; the public can use the information to improve travel decisions; and engineers and planners can use the historical data to make more informed decisions about roadway improvement investments. The combined offering is providing a complete solution for road management in Smart Cities and Smart Regions.

Scott Stewart, managing director at IBI Group, said: “Our joint system enables municipalities and road agencies to provide real time traveller information and traffic management services including all of the associated traffic data collection and processing in a very cost effective manner, but more importantly in a small fraction of the time it would take to design build and install conventional traffic data solutions.

Commented Ofer Avni, Cellint’s CEO: "Finally road managers can actually see links’ status in real time on their entire road network and react according to the facts. There is no need to relay on partial data sources coming from limited coverage of road sensors, or sporadic GPS samples. The complete traffic map is at the tip of their fingers.”

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