IBM Plans To Ease Congestion And Make You A Smarter Traveler

IBM’s new research project on Smarter Traffic aims to reduce road congestion and make the commute to work more bearable. In the U.S. alone, congested roads cost $78 billion a year in the form of 3.7 billion hours lost and 2.3 billion gallons of fuel wasted.

The Smarter Traveler system uses real-time traffic information to help people choose the quickest route to their destination. There is a traffic prediction tool that aims to enable commuters to avoid congestion before it occurs and help transportation agencies to better understand and manage traffic flow in cities. Data gathered from tolls, traffic patterns, eyewitnesses, turnstiles, meters and cameras would all become connected and utilized. Buses, trains and subways would be synched and react in real-time so if a train was late, an extra bus could be sent out.

There is a website, where drivers will be able to check their route and set their preferences so alerts to be sent out to them by email or text before they set off on their journey. IBM is also developing a Smarter Traveler app for smartphones.

IBM: The Smarter City

[via brandchannel]

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