New Jersey Gets Safer Roads, Thanks to IoT and IBM

IoT on the road means telematics, driverless transportation and safety. On May 20, IBM and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) announced a new transportation management solution to minimize congestion and improve traffic flow on the turnpike. The solution, which is part of NJTA's Advanced Traffic Management Program (ATMP), will operate on both the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. IBM has created a traffic management system with a comprehensive view of all the road signs on the highways with access to the tools necessary for managing speed limits and travel messages to drivers.

“This first of its kind transportation management solution will help minimize congestion and improve traffic flow for the Garden State,” said Elly Keinan, General Manager, IBM North America. “With IBM's Intelligent Transportation solution, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority is providing operators a holistic view for monitoring traffic events and conditions through data collection from a variety of roadside devices. Using an Internet of Things approach in creating a modern turnpike will allow the NJTA to easily add enhancements to the road system such as advanced analytics and predictive capabilities in the future for traffic prediction, incident detection, and other roadway optimization capabilities.”

The management plan created by IBM employs advanced rule-based technology for sign message management with situational awareness and proactive incident management and avoidance. Once it’s been running for a while, the ATMP will use data generated from its more than 3,000 sensors to improve response times for traffic incidents.

This system provides a suite of services to improve responses to the constantly changing situations on one of the busiest roadways in the world. The rules-based design, along with a significant degree of abstraction for all types of devices, like signs and cameras, has enabled a shift in management strategy from simple device management to more comprehensive roadway management.