Adaptive Traffic Control: A Possible Solution to Sydney’s Growing Traffic Troubles

Traffic congestion not only accounts for countless lost hours, but also has a negative impact on the economy, environment, and people’s quality of life. That explains why traffic management is a major concern in all emerging and developed parts of the word, with Australia being no exception, especially if we talk about larger cities such as Sydney. While traffic control and other regulatory authorities are implementing progressive policies to revamp the existing traffic management system, a lot of ground still needs to be covered to weed out the inefficiencies. In the current landscape, a holistic traffic network integration along with high-end technologies, which is what best describes an ‘Adaptive Traffic Control System’.

What is an Adaptive Traffic Control System?

Adaptive Traffic Control System, or ATCS for short, is a traffic management system that utilizes real-time traffic data to minimize traffic congestion by optimizing the timing and length of traffic light signals. The aim of this system is to minimize stop times, delays, and congestion in the urban areas. Studies suggest that installing ATCS effectively:

• Reduces travel times/delays
• Minimizes the number of stops, intersection delays, and queue lengths
• Increases average speeds

ATCSs are widely used in the major Australian cities such as Sydney to counter the problem of traffic congestion. The Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System (SCATS) and the InSync are two popular adaptive traffic control systems. Let’s take a closer look at these advanced traffic management systems.

Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System (SCATS)

SCATS is one of the most widely used traffic management systems in Australia, which was developed by the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) of New South Wales in the 1970s. The system uses inductive loops placed beneath the surface of the roads and placed just before the intersection stop line of a road. This system effectively measures the degree of saturation and traffic flow by detecting the presence of a vehicle on the road.

InSync

This traffic management system was developed in 2005 by Rhythm Engineering. The system uses Internet Protocol (IP) detection cameras located at traffic intersections to detect and quantify traffic situations from an Internet browser. In addition, the system also allows live monitoring of traffic intersections.

Last Few Words

Considering the fast urbanization process and increasing number of vehicles, it is imperative that the authorities formulate robust strategies to minimize traffic congestion with the help of a traffic engineering company in Sydney. At EB Traffic Solutions, we are focused on providing high-end traffic engineering services and minimizing traffic congestion for seamless transportation. Addressing the need to resolve the increasing traffic woes in Sydney and other parts of Australia, we are continuously working on the existing ATCS to identify areas of possible improvements. To consult us on any traffic engineering needs, give us a call at 0408 395 729 or check our services section to learn more about our capabilities.