JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): Jakarta's traffic problem has become so severe that the city has had to enlist the help of artificial intelligence (AI) to solve the long-standing problem.
Jakarta's transportation agency is partnering with Google to install 20 artificial intelligence traffic lights across the city. These traffic lights use artificial intelligence to analyze the optimal duration of a green light based on the number of vehicles passing by and the time it takes to switch from one traffic light to the next.
"Until now, the length of the traffic lights has been managed by officials manually," Syafrin Liputa, head of Jakarta's transport agency, said on Sunday (July 2), Kompas reported.
"But now algorithms do it automatically and in real time."
Syafrin said the artificial intelligence has successfully reduced congestion by giving a longer green light to a busier stretch of road. The system can also recognize public transport vehicles, such as buses from city operator Transjakarta, and give them priority at intersections, he added.
The Department of Transportation has installed artificial intelligence traffic lights in various parts of the city such as Jl. Kyai Tapa and Jl. Daan Mogot in West Jakarta; J L. Gato Subroto and JL Rasuna Said Junction in South Jakarta and Jl. Senen Raya-Jl. Kwatang Interchange in central Jakarta.
According to Syafryn, this year the agency plans to install traffic lights with artificial intelligence at another 40 intersections.
Artificial intelligence traffic lights are Jakarta's latest strategy to combat the capital's intense traffic jams. The Jakarta Police Department estimates that more than 22 million vehicles use the city's streets every day, with millions more traveling from nearby satellite cities.
In 2017, Jakarta was ranked the fourth most populous city in the world by the Dutch location company TomTom.
But traffic in the city has improved to rank 46th in 2021 thanks to traffic restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of Covid-19. But as the number of Covid-19 cases falls and mobility gradually returns to pre-pandemic levels, the capital's streets are once again congested.
Jakarta was 29th on TomTom's list last year. The acting governor of Jakarta, Heru Budi Hartana, ordered the closure of 32 routes in the city, which often create traffic jams.
He also suggested that private workers start the morning twice at 8 and 10 am to reduce the morning rush. However, the local councilor asked the transport authorities to evaluate the effectiveness of the project as traffic in Jakarta has not improved.
Gembong Warsana, a council member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said it was important to compare traffic congestion before and after the installation of artificial intelligence traffic lights before deciding whether to extend the program's budget. highlighted. or done
"The agency should make the data available to the public," Antara quoted Gembong as saying on Monday.
— If the project does not produce an effect, it is necessary to implement other innovations and together with relevant organizations to solve the problem of traffic."
Until now, traffic experts have assumed that traffic control, such as traffic lights, with the help of artificial intelligence will only serve to slow down time. Instead, improving public transportation in Jakarta and its satellite cities would be a more effective solution to current transportation problems.
Some analysts have also called for the city to introduce tougher policies, such as electronic tolls and higher parking fees, to discourage people from using private cars.
Acting Governor Heru recently announced the expansion of Transjakarta routes to several destinations in Jakarta's satellite cities, including Depok and Bagor in West Java and Sukarno Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten.
