Trafik Stockholm uses data gathered from Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to alleviate congestion

Trafik Stockholm (TS) has chosen Blip Track technology from Denmark-based Blip Systems to alleviate congestion on the city's road by providing live traffic information via real-time and historical travel flow data from road users’ Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices. Travel times are continuously updated in line with the behaviour of road users so that by considering their route and the time they depart, they can help to reduce bottlenecks and keep traffic moving. The technology provides a birds-eye view of the
November 20, 2017 Read time: 3 mins

Trafik Stockholm (TS) has chosen Blip Track technology from Denmark-based Blip Systems to alleviate congestion on the city's road by providing live traffic information via real-time and historical travel flow data from road users’ Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices. Travel times are continuously updated in line with the behaviour of road users so that by considering their route and the time they depart, they can help to reduce bottlenecks and keep traffic moving.

The technology provides a birds-eye view of the traffic network and statistical information on the travel times, average speed, dwell times, and movement patterns.

Additionally, the empirical data is used to detect driving time anomalies to pinpoint road sections and intersections where driving times deviate from the norm. These can include scenarios such as construction projects, incidents, roadwork, faulty traffic lights and other factors.

If driving times deviate from the typical driving time, the system automatically raises a flag. As the system logs and visualises all deviations, traffic engineers can create historical performance and reliability reports. Managers are provided with an overview of the current situation and tendencies over time, to allow for road improvements and development where needed.

Otto Astrand, traffic analyst at TS, said: “We use the data for measuring the development in traffic density, speed and congestion. South of Stockholm, where we first installed the solution, will be a roadwork zone for many years ahead, when building the Stockholm Bypass. It will not only affect the main highway (E4) running through the work zone, but also the surrounding roads. With BlipTrack we are able to measure the capacity and traffic flow in real-time in and around the area. This allows us to take proactive steps to initiate countermeasures, if traffic build-up should occur. It also helps us to understand various traffic-related matters, such as the impact of traffic control, weather-related patterns, congestion patterns at roadworks, accidents and events, and driving behaviours and patterns. With this information, we can evaluate and validate existing traffic models and make informed decisions about where to prioritise expansions and optimisations to help the daily commute.”

Astrand added that the analysed data is also used to display live traffic information on signs around the city. “We also use the data to display live travel times via Trafiken.nu, which is our traffic information hub, and on around 40 VMS [variable message signs] placed around the city. The travel times help road users to make informed decisions about their journey, both in real-time and for those planning their daily commute."

Urban Traffic Control

Related Content

  • Trust is the key, says Cubic’s Crissy Ditmore
    August 7, 2019
    Trust is the key to encouraging people to take up shared mobility and MaaS services, thinks Cubic Transportation Systems’ Crissy Ditmore. She tells Adam Hill why sharing must be the way forward Crissy Ditmore is on the move. Director of strategy at Cubic Transportation Systems since September last year, she lives in Boise, Idaho, but doesn’t see a great deal of the city as she is “90% of the time on the road”. This is appropriate for someone whose business is working out how to get people from place to p
    Read More
  • Road space utilisation improves travel times, reduces costs
    February 1, 2012
    For major road works schemes, necessary lane closures are timed to minimise congestion, most frequently at night and on weekends when traffic is at its lightest. As a result, rigid timetables are used in planning, programming and implementing work. In the UK, to calculate the expected traffic demand through roads works, historic profiles from the loop-based MIDAS (Motorway Incident Detection Automatic Signalling) system were used. These provided a valuable indicator of anticipated traffic behaviour but were
    Read More
  • IBTTA’s Jones sees turbulent times and a bright future for tolling
    November 10, 2017
    Colin Sowman talks to IBTTA’s Pat Jones about the future of tolling in a fast-changing world. Pat Jones may have been executive director and CEO of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) for 15 years but in his words: “Never before have I seen so much change coming so fast in the transportation and tolling industry.” Amidst all this change, tolling companies are asked to provide funding for roadway building or improvements which will be repaid for over, say, a 30-year concess
    Read More
  • CBS Radio uses TrafficLand service to deliver real-time traffic video
    April 21, 2017
    US live video aggregator TrafficLand is to supply its video management technology (VMC) to CBS Radio, providing regional news operation centres and individual radio stations with 24-hour access and the ability to monitor rush hour patterns, traffic bottlenecks and how incidents affect traffic conditions. The VMC service also lets users set up multi-camera displays in logical groupings that can be stored for repeat use and viewed as needed for quick reference updates. The TrafficLand VMC service provides in
    Read More

Highlighted Content