Travel-time Measuring System for Efficient Traffic Information Service

OVERVIEW: Traffic control systems for automobile traffic are being set up that allow more advanced traffic signal control according to traffic conditions and provide drivers with the real-time traffic information that they need to make their own driving decisions. The traffic information required by the driver includes traffic regulations, degree of congestion, parking space availability and so on, but the need to know “How long will it take to get to my destination?” is high. The Ooita Prefectural Police Headquarters introduced a travel-time measurement system in 1999. That system employs a travel-time estimation algorithm to calculate the required travel-time from vehicle information obtained by a travel-time measurement terminal (AVI: automatic vehicle identifier: automatic vehicle number reading equipment) and traffic volume information obtained by vehicle sensors. Traffic volume information is already being collected over wide areas, so travel times can be calculated accurately for all areas within Ooita City. The travel-time information calculated by this system will, in the future, be made widely available to users via the VICS (vehicle information and communication system) service, information boards, the Internet, facsimile, and other such media. Hitachi, Ltd., on the other hand, has developed an advanced map information system, which may in future develop into a traffic information management platform. We have also implemented a system that can effectively search for and display traffic information for automobile drivers. Yutaka Sano Souichi Furukawa Fuyuki Takamura Ken’ichiro Yamane