Within the next five years, smart cities around the world are expected to produce business opportunities valued at over $2 trillion. According to experts, this is thanks to the rapid adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), local governmental support, and citizen interest. That said, for smart cities to really take off, many analysts say we must leverage more smart devices with the potential to enhance the “conversation” about IoT.
Considering that recent data shows traffic-related deaths spiked by 24% in 2020 despite a 13% drop in Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT), more intelligent and connected vehicles or Vehicles to Everything (V2X) are shaping up to be the most timely and fitting solution to safer roads, more efficient travel, and reduced human error.
How Connected Vehicles Interact with Smart City Infrastructure
Because vehicles are able to move across cities, they can further enrich and fast-track the accumulation and circulation of data when they are connected. Furthermore, mobility is a key consideration for most smart city programs. V2X technology can provide planners with a wide array of information to guide decision-making for improved mobility. And, of course, having all of that information brings about multiple benefits.
How Smart Cities Benefit from Connected Vehicles
- Improved Safety through Driver Assistance Systems, Real-Time Traffic Mapping
Did you know that human error accounts for 94% of all road crashes and fatalities? Driver-assistance systems that automate and improve tasks performed while driving a car will substantially improve safety as they become more widely adopted. The shuttles in the AvCo project take it a step further by using LIDAR sensors to “see” their surroundings and allow them to drive autonomously (without a human driver), thus demonstrating how technology can safely interact with traffic, road users, and pedestrians to minimize human error.
Another substantial cause of road accidents outside of human error is unforeseen road conditions, so it stands to reason those unfortunate incidents can be drastically reduced with real-time data dissemination. Thankfully, one of the most empowering aspects of V2X is real-time road and traffic mapping. Through this, drivers can see traffic jams, the speed and location of other vehicles, upcoming pedestrians, roadblocks, and other incidents that may alter their journey via IoT-empowered navigational systems. However, this increased connectivity opens up the possibility of cyberattacks. Because of this, the demand for cybercrime specialists who’ve graduated from cybersecurity programs is expected to rise by 31% in the next decade. Most of which will come from online programs due to a massive shift in education to meet the shortfall. Cybersecurity specialists skilled in hacking and forensics will be particularly useful as V2X relies on timely and tamper-free data. - More Accurate Transportation Management for the Entire City
While eliminating traffic has been a long-time goal in smart cities, there has been difficulty and pushback in the current efforts to address this. Mainly, this is due to a lack of “thoughtfulness” among the smart solutions that are to be implemented in the community. People feel that the smart solutions are being shoehorned in. Luckily, V2X fixes this issue by creating uniquely scalable initiatives tailored for a specific locale. For instance, in a bid to address their location-specific traffic concerns, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) recently turned an 18-mile stretch of Interstate 85 into a V2X testing site. By deploying roadside units and V2X-connected test vehicles, GDOT can study the technology’s capability to improve overall safety and traffic times. - Smarter, More Efficient Parking Management
In the U.S., the average daily driver wastes more than 17 hours and roughly $345 annually, just looking for parking. V2X aims to alleviate the issue by connecting vehicles with parking infrastructure. This way, drivers will know exactly where there is a vacant parking spot. This simultaneously sends back data patterns to parking lot operators and planners, who can then adjust their operations and parking layouts. An example of this is the Austin Transportation Department’s test run of smart parking meters. The initiative helped track and gather data on parking habits and revenue, which can inform potential smart parking management systems. Such systems can reportedly reduce idling, streamline parking payments, and help improve air quality thanks to the reduction in congestion.
Although it may seem a bit far-fetched now, data indicates that by 2030 V2X will be a global presence. This means in as short as a decade, we will begin to see communities empowered with better mobility and liberated from current transport limitations.
Guest article by Robin June
Exclusively for coloradosmart.city
