UNTYING THE KNOTS ON METROPOLITAN TRAFFIC

The article describes ways in which metropolitan areas are attempting to unclog heavily congested roads, and shows how officials in Los Angeles and New York are using sensors, computers and robot video cameras to break up rush-hour congestion. Many urban areas are turning traffic control over to computers. The most advanced of these new electronic systems are being installed in New York City and Los Angeles, where engineers are connecting computer networks to sensors in imbedded in roadways, and setting up emergency teams that speed to jams spotted by computers and robot viedo cameras. Successful traffic control innovations used in London and Paris that have been adopted by New York traffic managers are described. The running of New York's traffic signals, coordinated by computers fed by data pulsed in from sensors is described. Traffic control measures in Los Angeles are also described.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00377333
• Corporate Authors:

  Smithsonian Associates

  900 Jefferson Drive, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20560
• Authors:
  • Wolkomir, R
• Publication Date: 1986-4

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 42-51
• Serial:
  • Smithsonian
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Smithsonian Associates
  • ISSN: 0037-7333

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Electronic equipment; Information processing; Peak hour traffic; Robots; Sensors; Technology; Traffic congestion; Traffic control; Urban areas; Videotapes
• Old TRIS Terms: Electronic devices
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00454821
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 1986 12:00AM