Skip to main content

TTI launches Smart Intersection initiative

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), Texas A&M University and the City of College Station are joining forces with seven key private sector companies to help design, develop and test safer, smarter intersections, where vehicles alert drivers to stalled traffic miles before the queues begin – and suggest alternate routes. They say the ability to detect traffic flow and volume, analyse complex traffic data in real time, calculate multiple route alternatives and send the resulting recommendations to
June 8, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), Texas A&M University and the City of College Station are joining forces with seven key private sector companies to help design, develop and test safer, smarter intersections, where vehicles alert drivers to stalled traffic miles before the queues begin – and suggest alternate routes.

They say the ability to detect traffic flow and volume, analyse complex traffic data in real time, calculate multiple route alternatives and send the resulting recommendations to vehicles approaching a congested intersection will change the congestion equation. Rather than dealing with traffic choke points on an intersection-by-intersection basis, such technologies promise to address the problem systemically – to dynamically shift traffic patterns on the fly. The convergence of intelligent vehicle systems, traffic monitoring technologies, and active roadway infrastructure will shift mobility management from a reactive strategy to a dynamic, real-time system.

The Smart Intersections Initiative is the first of several promising developments coming out of the Transportation Technology Conference sponsored by TTI and held last month at the Bush School’s Annenberg Conference Center in College Station, Texas.

Several key players in transportation-related automation, among them 6692 Econolite Group, EDI, 73 Iteris, 772 McCain, MoboTrex, Savari and 189 Siemens, have indicated preliminary interest in the initiative. Talks are underway with others.

The project will be based at The Texas A&M University System’s new RELLIS campus.

The research will be conducted in three distinct environments: laboratory; a controlled environment featuring several intersections constructed at the RELLIS campus; and ultimately at live intersections in the City of College Station.

Work will centre on practical application of evolving automated and connected vehicle and infrastructure technologies. The goal is to streamline signal operations, enhance safety and improve overall mobility.
UTC

Related Content

  • January 25, 2012
    IBM and Telvent to create smarter traffic solutions for smaller cities
    Telvent and IBM have announced that together they will develop smarter traffic solutions that are affordable and customised for small cities, university and government campuses and business districts. The solution can integrate and analyse data traffic control, road sensors, bus schedules, real-time GPS location and IBM's advanced analytics.
  • July 24, 2012
    Driving forward cooperative intersection safety applications
    Gregory Davis, FHWA, John Harding, NHTSA, and Mike Schagrin, ITS Joint Program Office (RITA) chart the course for cooperative intersection safety applications being pursued as part of the IntelliDrive programme. Crashes at intersections accounted for 8,703 highway fatalities in the US in 2008. Research and development is moving forward on IntelliDriveSM safety applications designed to help drivers avoid intersection accidents. These new safety systems could substantially drive down the highway death and inj
  • May 10, 2017
    3M reflect on why CAVs need lines and signs
    Tammy Meehan and Thomas Hedblom of 3M consider the ongoing development of technology needed to introduce connected and autonomous vehicles. The transportation industry is in the midst of the most dramatic shift since Henry Ford introduced horseless carriages. Already we are seeing the increased use of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) which, along with the introduction of autonomous vehicles in the next few decades, will bring profound changes to vehicles and the environment in which they operate.
  • April 1, 2021
    How intelligent video security supports smart mobility
    The ease of getting from point A to point B, the effective movement of goods and services, and the flexibility and integration of various modes of transportation are key aspects of mobility today. Jayden Xu, senior manager, ITS Solutions, at Hikvision, details the role of intelligent video security technology for improved traffic management