Skip to main content

Siemens introduces new software for “talking” traffic intersections

The city of Abilene, Texas, in the US is using new adaptive traffic control software from Siemens to increase traffic flow along a heavily travelled corridor, where two state highways meet at two intersections about 750 feet apart with elevated railroads passing between them. SEPAC Peer-to-Peer software allows intersection controllers to share information with one another on traffic and pedestrian conditions, allowing the on-street network of controllers to adaptively respond to changing traffic conditions
July 19, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
The city of Abilene, Texas, in the US is using new adaptive traffic control software from 189 Siemens to increase traffic flow along a heavily travelled corridor, where two state highways meet at two intersections about 750 feet apart with elevated railroads passing between them.


SEPAC Peer-to-Peer software allows intersection controllers to share information with one another on traffic and pedestrian conditions, allowing the on-street network of controllers to adaptively respond to changing traffic conditions in real-time.

In the field, a controller can transmit information about a large number of vehicles to a controller at the next traffic signal. This allows extra green time for the group of cars to move through multiple intersections, making traffic more efficient for operators and the travelling public.

According to James Rogge, traffic engineer for Abilene, since the implementation of the technology, the City has seen significant improvements in traffic flow through the once congested area.

The Peer-to-Peer feature gives operators a greater level of insight into traffic conditions and more accuracy in adapting traffic patterns to increase flow and ultimately reduce congestion. The SEPAC software can be installed in existing traffic controllers and requires no additional equipment or IT infrastructure.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Cooperative infrastructure systems waiting for the go ahead
    February 3, 2012
    Despite much research and technological promise, progress towards cooperative infrastructure system deployment is still slow. Here, Robert Cone and John Miles take a considered look at how and when it might come about. From a systems engineering viewpoint it looks logical and inevitable that vehicles should be communicating between themselves and with the road infrastructure. But seen from a business viewpoint the case is not proven.
  • Ken Leonard talks to ITS International
    August 21, 2014
    Ken Leonard, director of the USDOT’s ITS Joint Program office made time in his schedule during the Helsinki Congress to speak to ITS International. It has been 18 months since Ken Leonard took over as the director of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office at the US Department of Transportation. With 30 years of technical experience behind him, to say he is enjoying the challenge would be to put it mildly: “It is incredibly exciting to be working in intelligent transportation systems, th
  • Urban takes IoT Control
    April 27, 2022
    Urban Node 324 Cellular 'works straight out-of-the-box just like a smartphone'
  • Data holds the key to combating VRU casualties
    May 8, 2015
    Accident analysis software can help authorities identify common causes and make best use of their budgets, as Will Baron explains. More than 1.2 million people die on the world’s roads each year and according to the World Health Organisation, half of these are pedestrians and vulnerable road users (those whose vehicle does not have a protective shell, such as motorcyclists and cyclists). While much has been done to improve road safety and cut the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, a great d