Overview

Population explosion has dramatically increased the number of on-road vehicles leading to intense traffic congestion, especially during peak office hours. Besides this, severe water logging occurs across cities during the monsoons, further worsening traffic conditions. Urban planners need to analyze traffic density, road capacity and traffic flow to draw strategies to reduce urban congestion. This will improve traffic times and reduce fuel consumption and may solve environmental problems affecting urban areas.

Here’s the solution – Drones

Roads with heavy traffic movement can be routinely inspected to identify potholes or waterlogged areas, which often lead to accidents. For example, a drone can monitor the highways and provide a quarterly report on road conditions. This data can be used by the Public Works Department for tendering maintenance contracts. City traffic maps can be created to get real-time information on traffic jams, accidents, etc., which will help in planning appropriate diversions to decongest specific areas.

Furthermore, video analytics is expected to drive decision making and assist in traffic management and route planning. Real-time information on both vehicular and pedestrian traffic movement and congestion will enable evidence-based decisions on new roadway constructions, traffic signal requirements, pedestrian signal requirements, etc.