Update on AI-backed Smart Traffic Light Control System for Public Roads
Ministry of TransportSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns an update on the Cooperative and Unified Smart Traffic System (CRUISE) project, raised by Mr Murali Pillai regarding the use of artificial intelligence for real-time traffic control. Minister for Transport S Iswaran stated that the Land Transport Authority is collaborating with A*STAR’s Institute for Infocomm Research to trial multi-sensor data integration across traffic junctions. Following laboratory simulations in 2020, data collection trials began at Corporation Road and Boon Lay Way in May 2021, after being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The project remains in the early research and development phase, where algorithms will be refined through further controlled testing and expanded on-site trials to improve road network operations. Minister for Transport S Iswaran emphasized that the system must clear rigorous safety and performance evaluations before the government considers large-scale implementation as the next-generation smart traffic light system.
Transcript
86 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Transport whether the Ministry can provide an update on LTA's Cooperative and Unified Smart Traffic System (CRUISE) project involving the development of the next generation of a smart traffic light control system leveraging on artificial intelligence to deal with real-time traffic situations.
Mr S Iswaran: Our current traffic light system is an adaptive system which can adjust traffic light timings based on traffic flow.
LTA has been working with A*STAR’s Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) on the CoopeRative and UnIfied Smart Traffic SystEm (CRUISE) project. The project will trial the use of artificial intelligence and multi-sensor data integration across multiple traffic junctions, to achieve further efficiency in road network operations. If successful, this could form the basis of our next generation smart traffic light control system.
With laboratory simulation and controlled testing completed in 2020, LTA is now conducting trials along Corporation Road and Boon Lay Way to gather data. These trials had been planned to commence in end 2020, but the timelines were pushed back to May 2021 due to the impact of COVID-19.
The project is still in its early R&D phase. The algorithms would have to be refined using collected data, before progressing to further controlled testing and expanded on-site trials. The project would also need to clear robust and rigorous testing to ensure safety and performance before large-scale implementation can be considered.