The Role of Traffic AI in Reducing Urban Air Pollution and Congestion
why traffic AI congestion reduction is such a critical priority Wherever you live in Australia, you’ve likely noticed that traffic seems to be getting heavier. Even in rural areas, people are getting to and from work and home, not to mention the delivery trucks, school buses, and tourists and travellers also on the roads.
In our suburbs and cities, these are only amplified, making getting from A to B more difficult and time-consuming than it needs to be. In 2024, for example, Melbourne was named Australia’s most congested city, with drivers spending an average of 205 hours on the road every year. And while Melbourne may be the most congested, our other cities are clogged as well, with Sydney drivers clocking up 203 hours on the road every year.
This is why traffic AI congestion reduction is such a critical priority. Urban planners and transport agencies are turning to AI traffic solutions as a way to keep roads flowing smoothly. And while reducing congestion is a key aspect, Traffic AI also plays a role in protecting our air quality by reducing air pollution. But how does it do this?
This article explores how Traffic AI helps keep our roads moving and our air cleaner. For personalised advice, contact our team at Sensor Dynamics today.
What is Traffic AI?
Traffic AI is a self-sustaining traffic detection system combining edge processing, AI vehicle recognition, and sensors to deliver enforcement-grade data with over 98% accuracy. Some of its capabilities include:
- Vehicle identification
- Vehicle classification
- Compliance detection
- Compliance reporting
- License plate recognition
- Heavy vehicle classification
Ultimately, Traffic AI goes beyond counting vehicles by also distinguishing sedans from SUVs, trucks from heavy freight vehicles, and identifying buses, vans, and other vehicles. But how does this help to reduce congestion and emissions?
Traffic AI and Reducing Congestion
Whether you’re battling inner-city traffic or making your way from one suburb to another, traffic congestion means wasted time, and often frustration. Traffic AI helps by:
1. Enhancing Data
Because Traffic AI can classify heavy vehicles from suburban SUVs, the system gives transport authorities a detailed view of traffic composition and movement. This supports better decision-making: for example, authorities can adjust signal timings more responsively or restrict slow, heavy vehicles during peak periods to help traffic flow more smoothly.
2. Traffic Management
Traffic AI has the ability to feed into traffic management systems, allowing for real-time traffic data collection. These traffic management systems use information to adapt signal timing to live conditions instead of relying on fixed schedules. Ultimately, Traffic AI provides feedback that smooths traffic flow and reduces stop-start behaviour.
3. Aiding Safety
Traffic AI is flexible and can be used for both rapid deployment and fixed installation. With this, it can be used to enhance safety initiatives in urban and regional areas. Accidents can delay traffic and cause significant congestion, especially in urban areas, where there is typically more traffic. This means that Traffic AI may play a role in allowing traffic to keep moving, reducing bottlenecks.
Traffic AI and Reducing Urban Air Pollution
Reducing congestion isn’t just about saving time. Cars contribute to air pollution through emissions, and this means that we should be doing all we can to reduce emissions when we drive. Traffic AI takes this seriously, and aims to make a positive effect on the environment through:
1. Reduced Idling
Vehicles emit more pollutants such as CO2 during idling, acceleration, and stop-start movement. Worldwide, 45.1% of these emissions come from passenger transport, including cars, buses, taxis, and motorcycles. They then contribute to smog, climate change, and respiratory illnesses. Ultimately, reducing idling time helps to reduce emissions and improve air quality in local communities.
2. Facilitating Greener Shifts
Better traffic management and cleaner air makes alternatives such as walking, biking, and taking public transport more attractive. Walking and cycling don’t involve engines at all, making them highly environmentally friendly. Meanwhile, for every person on a bus or train, there’s one less car on the road, meaning fewer emissions being released into the air.
3. Long-Term Public Health Improvements
Reduced emissions mean lower concentrations of pollutants such as CO2 and PM2.5 . Vehicle emissions have significant associated health costs due to illnesses such as asthma, heart disease, and lung cancer, and even shortened lifespans and premature death. With knowledge of real-time traffic patterns and emission sources, authorities may be better able to implement targeted strategies to minimise exposure and create cleaner, healthier cities.
Traffic AI Provides Smart Solutions
Traffic AI congestion reduction is no longer a distant ideal but a practical, deployable strategy. By providing precise data such as vehicle identification and classification, Traffic AI provides the foundation for AI traffic solutions for pollution and smart traffic management for emissions in one. To find out more, contact our team at Sensor Dynamics today.
