Traffic management: the key to smooth traffic flow
Intelligent traffic management improves traffic flow, enhances safety, and plays a key role in environmental protection. It optimizes travel times and routes, reduces congestion, and maximizes the efficiency of existing infrastructure.
Discover the principles of traffic management and how cutting-edge technologies - powered by algorithms, artificial intelligence, and traffic models - are making it smarter.
What is Traffic Management?
Traffic management encompasses all measures for controlling and monitoring traffic to ensure safe, efficient, and sustainable mobility for people and goods. Modern systems go far beyond conventional traffic signals and static signage, utilizing digital technologies for precise traffic control.
In many cities and regions, the responsibility for traffic management lies with the Department of Transportation (DOT) or local transportation agencies. In larger cities or particularly high-traffic areas, Traffic Management Centers (TMCs) are employed to enable more precise traffic control.
Traffic management measures
Modern traffic management systems use a variety of measures and technologies to efficiently control the flow of traffic:
- Real-time traffic monitoring: Traffic sensors, traffic cameras, and GPS devices in navigation systems continuously record traffic volume, travel times, and speeds. This traffic data enables a precise analysis of the traffic flow and helps to identify bottlenecks at an early stage.
- AI-powered traffic models and traffic forecasts: Using intelligent traffic predictions based on historical and current traffic data, congestion or bottlenecks can be predicted and countermeasures initiated.
- Traffic signal control: Adaptive traffic signals optimize traffic flow by dynamically adjusting their timing to current traffic volumes. This can be done manually by traffic authorities or automatically using intelligent traffic management software.
- Incident management: In case of accidents, construction sites, or other traffic disruptions, effective incident management enables the targeted rerouting of traffic flows in real time. Digital systems automatically capture the situation and provide action recommendations, while staff in traffic management centers coordinate measures. They manage detours, inform emergency services, and provide current traffic information.
- Parking guidance systems: These use sensors and digital displays to show the current occupancy status of parking spaces. This guides drivers to free parking spaces and reduces unnecessary search traffic.
- Digital traffic calendar: This tool serves for forward-looking planning and coordination of traffic-relevant events such as construction sites and public events. It enables early planning of measures to minimize traffic disruptions and optimize traffic flow.
- Information provision: Travelers receive real-time traffic information about current traffic conditions and estimated travel times. This information is provided through various channels such as traffic information websites, apps, navigation systems, digital display boards, and radio.
PTV Traffic Management Software
PTV Group offers powerful traffic management software with PTV Optima and PTV Flows.
Both tools enable municipalities and traffic authorities to monitor and predict traffic in real-time. However, they differ in terms of the number of features, capabilities, and resources required for their operation.
Read more about the differences between PTV Optima and PTV Flows and find out which software is right for your requirements
PTV Optima
PTV Optima is a real-time traffic management software for multimodal networks. It delivers detailed traffic forecasts and monitoring dashboards, so users always have a complete overview of the situation and take the right actions. Key features and benefits of PTV Optima include:
Get unique traffic information for every road, intersection and lane
Find the most effective action plan for your traffic operations
Monitor and forecast in real-time both road and pt networks
PTV Flows
PTV Flows is a cost-effective and hassle-free solution for real-time traffic monitoring. This cloud-based software visualizes problems in the road network and can detect or anticipate unexpected congestion. Automatic alerts from PTV Flows help traffic operators to proactively manage traffic, reduce the length of delays, improve safety, and increase the efficiency of the transport system. Key features and benefits of PTV Flows include:
All necessary maps and data are included in the package and automatically updated
You only pay for what you need; no expensive hardware or infrastructure necessary
PTV Flows runs in the background and automatically informs the operator about current or upcoming incidents
Free checklist for efficient traffic management
Efficient traffic management is crucial for creating sustainable and livable cities. The path to an efficient traffic dashboard is much easier than you might think and, with the help of our checklist, can be ready in under a month.
