Nottingham City Council, VivaCity partner to reduce congestion, emissions across the city
Nottingham City Council has partnered with VivaCity, the transport technology company, whose core aim is to modify cities into smarter and more efficient places to live and work, to help in decision-making and improve journeys in the local area.
Across Nottingham, VivaCity is installing 219 sensors with a mix of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), traffic monitoring and smart signal control system capabilities.
These sensors use their artificial intelligence (AI) capability to gather accurate, detailed and anonymous data 24/7 on transport modes, traffic flow and travel times, supporting decisions to help enhance the transport network and improve urban infrastructure. The new technology can identify each individual vehicle type, from heavy goods vehicles and coaches to bicycles and pedestrians. As the data is received in real-time, i.e. as it occurs, this will increase the capacity to make rapid decisions to keep traffic moving freely around Nottingham.
The technology will also enable us to understand how different transport mode volumes affect pollution levels. The sensors will be delivered in four parts with the first sensors to be installed in February 2023 and the final sensors in November 2023.
The city’s first smart junction, which will be on the Ring Road at its junction with Aspley Lane, will use VivaCity sensors to help make the traffic lights more reactive to current traffic levels and help reduce waiting times. If it is successful, then it is intended that more smart junctions will be installed across the network. The technology will be upgraded as new functions are developed over the coming years. For example, the AI capability is currently being further developed to identify many more vehicle types such as taxis, minibuses, mobility scooters etc.
Nottingham City Council’s portfolio holder for highways, transport and parks, councillor Audra Wynter, says “Our city needs the best, latest technology to help us in our fight to become carbon neutral by 2028. To help us to monitor traffic flow and analyse the behaviours of road users in the area, we’re looking forward to working with VivaCity to help make accurate decisions on future schemes and to reduce pollution in the heart of our city.”
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