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New technology aids in monitoring roads

New technology aids in monitoring roads
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Highway monitoring systems help greatly reduce accidents and accelerate action in case of emergencies. At present, technologies are available in India but largely unused, Hemant Agarwal explains how one project will perhaps start the new, much-needed safety management through newtech solutions.

Traffic monitoring on Indian high­ways is practically non-existent; in the past, no need was felt to moni­tor highways, besides sporadic use of ambulances. Now for the first time, Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) has been com­missioned for safe and ple­asurable dri­ving experience of the com­muters on the Yamuna Expressway, and a single interface solution captures info­rma­tion of all expressway activities from sub-systems like emergency call boxes, variable message sign boards, surv­eillance cameras and a video inci­dent detection system. This integrated sys­tem is designed to provide safe travel with rapid action and support in case of emergency.

Display as safety wall

Control rooms have been the backbone of thousands of command and control centres around the globe. They have been specifically designed to deliver a comprehensive view of the complete situation and are a vital tool for collaborative monitoring and decision making. The large screen video walls will not only lead to fast response time and quick troubleshooting in crisis situations but will also enhance traffic monitoring and management system in India.

ITMS is a centrally managed system operators loca­ted in a central control room are able to monitor, ana­lyse and react to inputs coming in from the field. This data could come from automatic toll collection system, CCTV cameras, speed radars, scanners, vehicle noti­fication systems, dynamic traffic light sequences, vari­able speed systems, wireless communications, variable message sign boards, GIS/GPS etc.

Large Screen Video Walls (LSVWs) in control rooms help to provide an overview of the entire system to all the operators. Delta's Videowalls provide the engineers with a snapshot view, equipping them to go into details and make better decisions and rapid response in case of any roadway incidents or emergencies.

Operation and function of ITMS is based on a centrally managed system in which operators located in the Control Room are able to continuously monitor and analyse the real situation on Videowalls and record the CCTV footage for further analysis and reference. For example, if CCTV monitors an accident event at specific highway segments, this info­rmation is passed on to the control room Videowalls and in turn inform the rescue team to respond quickly. ITMS does automatic vehicle classification and has facility to capture images of vehicles that exit from a toll lane.

Highway monitoring can align itself with the green initiatives being adopted by the government, and should be implemented for highways across the country. Technology underlying highway monitoring varies from basic management systems such as car navigation; traffic signal control systems; variable message signs; speed cameras to monitor applications, security CCTV systems etc. Advanced display tech­nologies enable better centralised management of these traffic management systems by integrating advanced display technologies like DLP and LCD that add visual and analytical intelligence. This technology can be standardised along all highways in India as the imple­mentation of ITMS technologies presents tremendous opportunities to improve the operation and manage­ment of the transportation system. When people are paying for travelling on a highway, they would not like to spend over an hour to cover a 20-25 km stretch.

Delta has commissioned an innovative video wall solution for EFKON's Intelligent Traffic Management System at the Yamuna Expressway Built by the Jaypee Group.

Yamuna Expressway will significantly reduce the travel time between Delhi and Agra. EFKON has provided a single interface solution through Delta's LCD Video wall and controllers. This system will also eventually benefit the expressway users, by way of safe and hassle-free travel, with rapid action and support, in case of emergency.

The author is Senior Director at the Display Solution Business Unit Delta displays, a division of the $7 billion Delta Group, is a pioneer in developing professional display for control room solutions for surveillance, security, traffic, command & control, utilities, process control, telecom and broadcast applications. Delta offers a wide array of display technologies including: rear projection DLP video walls with Gen2012 LED technology, super thin-bezel LCD video walls, and high-resolution indoor/outdoor LED displays with various options of Wall management suites.

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