Artificial intelligence: Roads in DHA are a little smarter with automated traffic signals

Traffic wardens relieved as 10 intersections in DHA now have smart signals.


Saad Hasan March 27, 2012

KARACHI: Karachi’s first ‘smart’ traffic signals are now functional at 10 intersections of Defence Housing Authority (DHA), making the wardens heave sighs of relief.

Known as fully-actuated control signals, they have been installed along Khayaban-e-Shamsheer and Khayaban-e-Mujahid, said Zafar Naveed, the chief executive of PGE, the company which built the system.

The traffic signals can automatically adjust the time for green light and can also increase it to a maximum of 45 seconds if there is too much traffic, said Naveed.

The red light turns on by itself if the flow of traffic breaks. If a particular road has more traffic the duration of traffic lights can be increased up to 50 to 60 seconds, Naveed elaborated.

“We should have done this a long time back,” said the CE. “These signals have been working in Islamabad for five years. In these times, computerised traffic signals have become a must for busy intersections.”

How do the signals work?

Copper wires have been laid underneath all the four roads converging at the Saudi Consulate intersection and two volts of power run through them. The current creates a magnetic field which registers the traffic on the road.  Whenever there is a gap of few seconds between the moving vehicles the red light is switched on, letting traffic from other side to move along.

At night when there are fewer cars on the road the smart signals reduce the time span of the red light automatically to a few fixed seconds so that the green light can remain on.

How smart is the
investment?


PGE will spend Rs15 million for installing 14 smart signals in DHA alone. The DHA authorities held an open bidding and PGE’s rates were 40 per cent cheaper than foreign competitors.

Although the idea has been taken from international companies the entire system, including hardware and software, was manufactured in Pakistan. “We knew the local environment,” said Naveed. “This is why we used thick copper wires as sensors.” Conventionally the automatic signals use a pressure pad system. Pressure sensors are placed strategically before a signal and detect vehicles as they come, hence, changing the signal lights. But they are more expensive than copper wires.

How do the traffic wardens react?

Ghulam Abbas was the only constable responsible for overseeing the traffic flow Saudi Consulate intersection on Monday afternoon. “In the 15 days since this system has been placed we haven’t shut off a signal once,” he said. The old signals used to change lights by fixed timings which often choked the busy roads. The traffic wardens then had to switch off the signals and manage traffic manually because frustrated drivers who were held up by red lights for too long started breaking the traffic rules.

“These signals have also reduced the workload,” said Abbas. “There used to be three wardens on duty here constantly. Now there is no need for that.”

But, rules are rules

However, PGE’s Zafar Naveed said that for any computerised system to work efficiently, it was necessary that the people followed traffic rules. “The Karachi police must start fining people just like it is done in Lahore and Islamabad.” More accidents take place in Karachi because people know they can easily get away over-speeding and breaking signals, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2012.

COMMENTS (3)

Asif | 11 years ago | Reply

err, wat if electricity goes out? What would happen then? Smart signals won't be smart then.

Pakistan politics | 12 years ago | Reply

I m amazed with this technology, especially the logic of detecting traffic flow on the roads

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