The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is piloting an automatic traffic-management system on four city roads to optimise vehicle flow and reduce traffic congestion in the capital city of Thailand. Under the Bangkok Area Traffic Control Project (BATCP,) the smart system has been deployed at 13 intersections on Rama VI Road, Ratchawithi Road, Phahon Yothin Road and Pradiphat Road.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) assisted the BMA in rolling out the system at the test sites.
The intelligent system will collect data related to density, wait time and tailback locations. The data will then be used to enhance traffic management and prevent congestion. The BMA has plans to extend this smart system to cover 500 locations throughout Bangkok by 2026.
In the future, drivers will have the ability to access traffic information on their phones, allowing for journey planning. Intersections will be equipped with cameras that connect to a city-wide control system, improving network synchronisation. Additionally, congestion-detecting equipment will be installed to calculate traffic signal timing, while volumetric data will aid the police in traffic management.
BMA expected the Area Traffic Control system to increase traffic flow by 10 per cent during peak hours and by 30 per cent during off-peak hours.