Skip to main content

Smart city traffic systems ‘to reduce congestion by 2019’

A new report from Juniper Research forecasts that smart city traffic management and parking projects will reduce cumulative global emissions in the order of 164 million metric tonnes of CO2 between 2014 and 2019 - equivalent to the annual emissions produced by 35 million vehicles. Not only will this benefit the environment, but it will also significantly impact the quality of city dwellers' lives, with some 700 million automobiles projected to be on city roads by 2019. The report, Smart Cities: Strategie
January 14, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
A new report from 7194 Juniper Research forecasts that smart city traffic management and parking projects will reduce cumulative global emissions in the order of 164 million metric tonnes of CO2 between 2014 and 2019 - equivalent to the annual emissions produced by 35 million vehicles. Not only will this benefit the environment, but it will also significantly impact the quality of city dwellers' lives, with some 700 million automobiles projected to be on city roads by 2019.

The report, Smart Cities: Strategies, Energy, Emissions & Cost Savings 2014-2019, found that high levels of city traffic congestion combined with advances in Internet of Things sensors and software solutions has driven plans to reduce high traffic levels through smart initiatives.

The report argues that the establishment of a sensor-networked and monitored city communications infrastructure, efficiently phasing traffic lights, and providing real-time guidance to drivers, can aid significantly in reducing congestion. Furthermore, digitally monitored parking spaces able to dynamically alter prices according to available spaces help control time spent cruising for parking.

Additionally, the report found that while purpose-built smart cities, such as Masdar in Abu Dhabi and Songdo in South Korea, can be considered a technological success, the benefits have not yet been fully realised owing to lack of citizen participation.

"Cooperation between all parties, as we have seen in Amsterdam for example, is essential" added report author Steffen Sorrell. "Furthermore, cities need standards and open data to avoid information roadblocks."

Other key findings include the fact that smart grids will dramatically reduce energy consumption in cities through rapid smart meter deployment and intelligent distribution automation. In addition, smart street lighting is also expected to produce significant cost savings, aided by the fall in LED fixture costs. Smart networked control systems will further add value.

Related Content

  • February 6, 2012
    European ITS Congress emphasises ITS development and deployment
    The 8th European ITS Congress is a key event for the industry. Hermann Meyer, CEO of Ertico-ITS Europe puts the event in context
  • August 26, 2016
    Montreal invests in smart street lighting
    Israeli smart city control applications provider Telematics Wireless is to supply its smart city technology for use in a new control and monitoring solution for 132,500 street lights in the City of Montreal, Canada, as part of a US$22 million (CA$28 million) contract awarded to engineering consultants Énergère for the supply and installation of an intelligent street lighting management solution. Telematics' solution will include its 7-pin external lighting control units (LCUs) and internal LCUs that will co
  • January 25, 2012
    Moveble barriers improve workzone safety, reduce costs
    Two phases of an arterial reconstruction project in Salt Lake City have provided a compelling cost-based argument for moveable barriers.
  • April 10, 2012
    Flexible, demand-based parking charges ease parking problems
    Innovative parking initiatives on the US Pacific Coast. David Crawford reviews. Californian cities are leading the way in trialling new solutions to their endemic parking problems. According to Donald Shoup, a professor of urban planning at the University of California in Los Angeles, drivers looking for available spots can cause up to 74% of traffic congestion in downtown areas. One solution is variable, demand-responsive pricing of parking.