Page 165 - Big Data Analytics for Connected Vehicles and Smart Cities

146 Big Data Analytics for Connected Vehicles and Smart Cities The Practical Application of Analytics to Transportation 147

7.11 Why Does Traffic Management Make a Good Departure Point
for a Smart City?

Traffic management is a good departure point for a smart city, not just because
of the considerable sunk investment in transportation management systems
within most urban areas, but also because of the high level of impact the traffic
management systems can have on the smooth operation of city streets. Traffic
management could be viewed as one of the original applications of advanced
technology to transportation with electrical signal systems implementation dat-
ing back to the 1930s and earlier in Europe. Traffic management systems also
provide one of the most visible applications of advanced technology that have a
direct impact on the traveler.
Traffic management infrastructure, dynamic message signs, and traffic
signals are highly visible in a very clear sign that an investment is being made
to improve the transportation situation and the quality of the service deliv-
ery. Traffic management systems also benefit from a large base of expertise and
experience gained over several years of implementation. There are many ex-
perts available in the field of traffic operations and traffic engineering that can
support traffic management as an essential early element within a smart city
initiative. Another important reason that traffic management is a good depar-
ture point for a smart city initiative lies in the visibility to the traveler. Major
components of traffic management, including dynamic message signs, roadside
sensors, and other roadside infrastructure, are extremely visible to the driver. It
also doesn’t hurt that a traffic management center provides an ideal photo op-
portunity for a politician.

7.12 Traffic Management Analytics and Their Practical Application

Table 7.3 lists a range of services that can be provided by traffic management
along with some candidate analytics and some notes on how the analytics can
be applied in a practical context.

7.13 Transit Management—What Is It?

Transit management entails the following activities:

• Transit fleet management: The use of advanced location technologies to
develop a picture of the transit fleet at any given time. This typically
captures the location of the vehicle and the vehicle identification.