Many changes are coming to how cities and urban areas manage vehicle traffic. Globally, the intelligent traffic management market is on a healthy growth trajectory, propelled by advancements in smart city projects and the increasing adoption of digital technologies.[1]
In the Middle East, where the transportation sector serves as a fundamental pillar of economic growth, enhancing infrastructure investment is crucial. At the same time, the integration of new technologies can help drive advancement.[2]
These new technologies include artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics, backed by advancements in surveillance camera systems such as increased resolution, low-light capabilities, and higher frame rates, all culminating in an enhanced viewing experience. These are noteworthy as transport authorities and urban planners face a long list of challenges, ranging from increasing congestion and the number of drivers on the road to road wear and tear and environmental implications.
However, thanks to these advancements, the quantity, quality, and breadth of the data these systems capture and process mean authorities can do so much more than simply watch cars and trucks drive by. The introduction of surveillance-powered AI systems unlocks more possibilities for our transport systems than initially thought.
Addressing the road most travelled
While there have been improvements over the years thanks to transport authorities accounting for traffic and alternative routes, route planning is still applied using a blanket with minimal consideration towards broad, conceptual objectives.[3]
Network surveillance systems change this by providing operators with real-time data such as vehicle details (captured using visible features and licence plate recognition technology) and real-time road conditions. Weather is also a valuable resource for unlocking data-driven insights – wind speed and direction can impact vehicles’ fuel consumption and, in turn, affect their routing – as well as observations like vehicles struggling for road traction or switching on fog lights. These insights can be used to manage traffic lanes and speeds, ultimately making the difference between free-flowing traffic and miles and miles of congestion.
All of this is possible thanks to advancements in AI. Today’s intelligent traffic solutions rely on AI-powered cameras that provide real-time insights into traffic flow, pedestrian movement, and other urban dynamics. These cameras go beyond mere surveillance, serving as sensors that analyse vast amounts of visual data to identify trends, detect incidents, and predict congestion. By leveraging this data, cities can optimize traffic signal control, streamline public transportation, and create safer, more efficient mobility systems.
Beyond managing traffic flow, intelligent surveillance is also addressing another major challenge: parking. While cities such as Dubai are implementing smart parking projects to manage available parking spaces in on-street and off-street parking areas,[4] others can follow suit by using cameras to identify available spaces and, thanks to advancements in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology, allocate and direct drivers to them. The impact of this compounds when factoring in driverless vehicles that communicate with one another and with surveillance systems themselves, and that’s just one solution to solving the parking challenge.
Planning for the present and the future
Transport authorities and officials are responsible for making roads as safe as possible, minimising the potential for any accidents, and using information gleaned from accident reports to inform and enhance their decision-making. That said, accident tracking is done retroactively, meaning that remedial steps are only taken after the fact. Accidents such as near misses are also not always reported to authorities, yet they are very important for scenario planning and building risk cases. Surveillance data changes this by informing authorities on what kind of preventive measures should be taken based on tracked driver and road user behaviour. By observing variables such as high speeds, rapid acceleration, vehicle skids, and the use of horns, authorities can better measure the effectiveness of any measures taken to improve road safety.
Cameras equipped with edge computing capabilities play a critical role in processing and analysing data in real-time. They enable swift incident detection, automated alerts, and proactive responses to minimise any disruptions.
Moreover, when integrated with digital twin technologies, high-quality images from these cameras help create detailed, data-driven models of urban infrastructure. Accurate and reliable data is essential for simulating traffic scenarios, predicting travel times, and optimising traffic management strategies – ultimately enhancing the safety, sustainability, and liveability of urban environments.
Having this new pool of data gives authorities the insight to improve their decision-making even further, particularly when it comes to urban planning. Today, many cities invest in digital twins to model the impact of new proposals prior to their rollout, and surveillance systems provide both real-time and historical data that help improve the accuracy of those models. For example, in Saudi Arabia, the country’s Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing (MOMRAH) recently contracted a South Korean tech company to build and operate a digital twin platform for five major cities, utilising digital technology in multiple aspects of urban planning, including transportation.[5]
By doing so, authorities can introduce new public safety or reinvestment policies, new revenue-generating schemes, and vehicle user incentives, as well as unlock immediate benefits such as reduced congestion, a decreased likelihood of accidents, and more consistent average speeds.
These examples and more shine a light on how surveillance solutions enable the next generation of vehicle traffic and road management solutions. With the right investments and technological deployments, governments and their transport authorities can make the best decisions in the interest of citizens and businesses, culminating in an upgraded, enhanced and efficient experience.
[1] Intelligent Traffic Management Market to Witness a Steady
[2] Recommendations For The Future Of Transportation In The Middle East
[3] Enabling the next generation of intelligent traffic solutions | Axis Communications
[4] First phase of smart parking scheme goes live in Dubai – Security Middle East Magazine
[5] Korean tech giant Naver is building digital twins of Saudi cities | WIRED Middle East
