Organizations responsible for citizens’ safety and comfort are facing various challenges because of rapid urbanization. The main reason is the number of vehicles is increasing on the road. Traffic has become more insane.
As a result, traffic accidents are common. Meanwhile, traditional traffic control systems are unable to control traffic. Therefore, cities require modern solutions to improve the safety of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
In recent years, we have seen massive advancements in modern technology. One of the terms that you often hear is “Smart Cities.” Cities equipped with cutting-edge technology are called smart cities. IoT-based solutions are used to control and manage several urban sections. Various technologies can help control traffic, and LoRa wireless technology is also one of them.
LoRa doesn’t only help manage traffic, but it also reduces passenger stress. Moreover, it prevents accidents.
We’ll discuss all these use cases later in detail. So, in this article, we’ll find out how LoRa can help wireless technology with traffic control.
How Does LoRa-Based Traffic Control Work?
Transportation systems can integrate LoRa-based solutions with existing infrastructure to solve traffic problems. For example, IoT-based traffic monitoring systems can help reduce traffic density in various areas. As a result, it reduces downtime. So, LoRa-based traffic control systems can help smart cities perform the following tasks:
Traffic Flow Detection
With a smart traffic system, authorities can quickly detect stopped vehicles on the road and prepare the corresponding response. For complete coverage, a high transmission range is required. ZigBee and BLE have low transmission ranges (only a few hundred meters), that’s why they’re not suitable.
But for long-range transmission, LoRa, LTE, NB-IoT, and SigFox are the best. All these technologies are best for traffic flow detection over a long range.
Detecting Traffic Jam
Smart cities contain cameras and sensors. These devices can help monitor intersections. City traffic control centers can help traffic police and technicians to monitor all streets in a town. As a result, they can find roads with traffic jams and fix the problem quickly.
Congestion Detection
Modern solutions can help reduce pollution by detecting congestion. Drivers can make some quick adjustments. LoRa-based solutions provide adaptive control over entry alarms, traffic lights, and express bus lanes.
Interaction with Connected Cars
Nowadays, vehicles are connected to roadside devices. Smart traffic management ensures that cars can communicate directly with intersections. Moreover, your friend or other drivers can get there whenever there is an emergency.
Emergency Routing
Another key feature of a smart traffic management system is emergency routing. It provides priority access to ambulance, fire, and police vehicles.
What Are the Benefits of LoRa-Based Traffic Control?
Using IoT technology, sensors can be installed in railway platforms, bus stops, and street lamps. Moreover, sensors can be installed in vehicles. It can help reduce accidents. LoRa-based traffic control can help enjoy the following benefits:
Safe Travel
With smart technology, you can track metrics like vehicle speed and carriageway temperature. Drivers can choose the best path that can help them save time and fuel. It means IoT-based technology can help reduce accidents and ensure safe travel.
Efficient and Real-Time Monitoring
Government organizations that adopt modern technologies can enjoy productivity benefits. For example, it helps them monitor critical infrastructure in a better way. Moreover, they can design efficient processes. Finally, they can increase system throughput and reduce operating costs.
Help Reduce Air Pollution
LoRa-based solutions are helpful for drivers because they provide information about changing traffic patterns. Drivers can use real-time data to plan their routes better. Moreover, better congestion monitoring helps reduce air pollution and energy consumption. As a result, it can impact the environment positively.
Smart Traffic Lights
IoT-based LoRa devices contain sensors and smart devices for data collection. Moreover, they’re equipped with heat and moisture-sensitive sensors, and they can help manage smart traffic lights in a better way.
These smart traffic lights work best in areas where extreme weather conditions don’t allow cameras and other sensors to work. With IoT, organizations can adjust the brightness of street lights. It can prevent road accidents that are caused by blinding lights. Moreover, it saves energy.
Finally, CCTV cameras contain smart sensors that can help change lights intelligently when required.
These are just a few benefits of LoRa-based traffic control. It’s an emerging technology that will help transportation systems in many ways in the future.
Challenges for Implementing IoT in Traffic Control Systems
IoT-based solutions are undoubtedly very effective for traffic management, but implementing LoRa wireless technology in traffic control can improve some challenges.
Increased Security Requirements
When the number of devices connected to the central network increases, confidential data becomes vulnerable to attacks. Therefore, each traffic management solution should have an additional layer of security. Some best practices are data encryption, device authentication, and user access control. So because of highly secure data transmission, the LoraWAN network can be a perfect IoT solution for secured traffic management.
High-Tech Network Infrastructure Is Required
Implementing high-tech solutions requires proper infrastructure. It requires massive investment upfront.
For example, cellular technology can help collect data from sensors and IoT devices. cellular technology is inexpensive, and integrating it with other IoT devices requires high-tech network infrastructure. but LoRa technology is relatively more cost-effective than other wireless technology. LoRa doesn’t need to use a bandwidth license.
Additional Investment
No doubt, IoT technology can help control traffic and prevent accidents, but initial integrations require investment. For example, vehicles should be connected to IoT solutions. Moreover, there should be a system for data collection and monitoring.
But these challenges shouldn’t bother you much because the benefits of LoRa wireless technology for traffic management are far more than these challenges.
Conclusion
In the last few years, we have seen a massive increase in the number of vehicles on the road. Traditional traffic control systems are unable to cope with the challenge of road blockage and accidents. But every problem has a solution. LoRa technology is the best solution to rapid urbanization.
LoRa-based solutions help transportation systems in many ways. We have discussed some of its advantages in this article. So, if you want to enjoy these benefits and search for LoRa design services, you can contact Arshon Technology.
Author: Sherry Mosleh IoT Development Engineer at Arshon Technology Inc.
