With more than a billion vehicles on roads around the world, traffic congestion affects millions of people each day. It eats up precious time, and it has psychological and physical health implications. In the world of business, it is responsible for the loss of billions of dollars in productivity. Reducing it is a struggle for governments faced with declining funding and resources.
To many, traffic congestion can seem inevitable, or at least too expensive and difficult to solve. TomTom, a global leader in navigation and mapping products, is challenging this conventional thinking. In its Traffic Manifesto, TomTom advocates using big traffic data analytics and smart mobility to reduce traffic congestion for all—starting now.
At the annual CTS research conference, Ralf-Peter Schäfer, vice president of TomTom’s Traffic and Travel Information Product Unit, will describe how a growing community of connected navigation devices can move people through traffic faster. Millions of vehicles generating data and working as a collective—perhaps as little as 10 percent of them—could guide drivers to the least congested routes and thus reduce congestion for everyone. Schäfer will also outline how these systems can be used to improve traffic planning and management, geomarketing, and connected services for road travelers.
Following his presentation, a panel of experts will share their perspectives on the implications for the future of the Minnesota road network system and its users.
The presentation and panel will kick off the 26th Annual CTS Transportation Research Conference, May 20 and 21 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. Other highlights are a luncheon presentation about the economic impacts of the Panama Canal expansion (May 20), a Roadway Safety Showcase from the Roadway Safety Institute (May 21), and a half-day Transit Transformers Workshop (May 21).
