Skip to main content

Big data, virtualisation to dominate smart transportation says ABI Research

ABI Research’s latest report, Smart Transportation Market Research, covers ITS data, physical roadside transportation infrastructure virtualisation technologies and a systems approach to transportation management, as well as relevant connectivity, analytics, cloud platform, security and identity technologies. Traditional smart transportation approaches to address traffic congestion, safety, pollution, and other urbanisation challenges are expected to hit scalability and efficiency obstacles by the end of
January 6, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
5725 ABI Research’s latest report, Smart Transportation Market Research, covers ITS data, physical roadside transportation infrastructure virtualisation technologies and a systems approach to transportation management, as well as relevant connectivity, analytics, cloud platform, security and identity technologies.

Traditional smart transportation approaches to address traffic congestion, safety, pollution, and other urbanisation challenges are expected to hit scalability and efficiency obstacles by the end of this decade. Traveller information systems such as variable message signs, intelligent traffic lights, camera-enforced urban tolling and traffic monitoring centres will ultimately prove ineffective and prohibitively expensive, threatening to stall economic growth, especially in developing regions. According to ABI Research, global yearly spend on traffic management systems alone will exceed US$10 billion by 2020.

“What will really be required is a step change towards virtualising smart transportation solutions via in-vehicle technology, and cloud-based control systems whereby information is sent directly to and from the car, bypassing physical roadside infrastructure all together. Low latency, peer-to-peer, and meshed-network type connectivity based on DSRC-enabled V2V, 4G, and, in the next decade, 5G, will be critical enablers of this transformation,” comments VP and practice director Dominique Bonte.

ITS virtualisation will heavily rely on big data with car OEMs such as 1686 Toyota, 609 Volvo, and PSA already exploring generating hyper-local weather and/or traffic services from car probe data, to be shared with both other nearby vehicles and, in aggregated from, governments and road operators. Other examples include 260 Continental’s partnership with 7643 Here and 62 IBM on its dynamic eHorizon solution.

However, a closed-loop systems approach will ultimately become the key paradigm, allowing Artificial Intelligence-powered self-steering and learning demand-response solutions influencing traffic levels through dynamic speed limits and variable road use and toll charges. Autonomous vehicles, in an ironic twist, will be managed collectively and controlled centrally, remotely and dynamically adjusting routing and other parameters.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Scandinavian cloud-based C-ITS project closer to reality
    February 17, 2015
    Volvo Cars, the Swedish Transport Administration and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration are working together on a project to enable cars to share information about conditions that relate to road friction, such as icy patches, or if another driver in the area has its hazard lights on. The research project is getting closer to real-world implementation; with the technology in place, the testing and validation phase is about to begin. In this phase, Volvo Cars will expand the test fleet 20-fold and broa
  • High level support for US DOT decision on vehicle to vehicle technology
    February 4, 2014
    The US Department of Transportation's (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is to begin taking steps to enable vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology for light vehicles. This technology would improve safety by allowing vehicles to communicate with each other and ultimately avoid many crashes altogether by exchanging basic safety data, such as speed and position, ten times per second. DOT research indicates that safety applications using V2V technology can address a large
  • Communications hold key to expanding ITS wireless network expansion
    December 21, 2017
    Wireless transmission of data and control information is making smarter traffic management easier and cheaper to install. It has long been known that connectivity is the key to improving traffic management and many cost-benefit studies prove that investment in new technology can be justified in terms of reduced congestion, shorter travel times, improved safety and air quality. However, many authorities’ cap-ex budgets only cover urgent matters, not improvements, making it difficult, if not impossible to
  • Need for secure approach to connected vehicle technology
    January 7, 2013
    Accidental or malicious issue of false messages to connected vehicles could result in dire consequences, so secure systems of authentication and certification are likely to be necessary, write Paul Avery and Sandra Dykes. Connectivity among vehicles in urban traffic systems will provide opportunity for beneficial impacts such as congestion reduction and greater safety. However, it also creates security risks with the potential for targeted disruption. Security algorithms, protocols and procedures must take