If you are nearby Al Saadah Street in Dubai, you will see the first ever smart pedestrian traffic signal which has been installed by the Roads and Transport Authority.
How does it work?
The smart pedestrian traffic signal communicate with each other and adapt to changing traffic conditions to reduce the amount of time that cars spend idling, it uses a sensor-based smart system through an optical ground system. Using sensors and cameras, the smart signal detects pedestrian movement and controls the traffic flow. Inputs from sensors and the optical system are processed by a computer that also controls the signal lights.
It spots the movement of pedestrians on the pavement before crossing the street or during crossing and automatically modifies the timing of the signal’s light accordingly.
Did you know that smart traffic signals has been developed at Carnegie Mellon University and is being used in a pilot project in Pittsburgh in an effort to reduce vehicle emissions in the city.
Initial results from the pilot study are encouraging: the amount of time that motorists spent idling at lights was reduced by 40% and travel times across the city were reduced by 26%.