TRAFFIC INFORMATION PROVIDING SYSTEM USING MULTI-MEDIA ADVANCED TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM OF TOKYO METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT

The concentration of politics, the economy, and many other fields in the Tokyo Metropolitan area is causing various traffic problems, such as traffic jams, accidents, and pollution. Since new construction or improvement of roads requires much money and time, the Strategic Real-Time Control for Megalopolis-Traffic was initiated. This system will improve urban functions through effective utilization of existing road networks via use of signal controls as a part of the advanced traffic control system of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. This system provides drivers with traffic information for dispersing or inducing traffic flow, thus minimizing drivers' irritations. It provides useful information from its prompt and accurate collection of abundant data. With the traffic information providing system for the advanced traffic control system, the information deemed most valuable to drivers is extracted from edited traffic information data. It is then converted into pictures or voices according to the requirements, then transmitted to drivers. The information provided includes traffic jams, predicted travel time, accident information, construction work, traffic regulations, and full-or-vacancy information about parking lots. The information is provided in various ways, including information boards installed above the road surface, roadside radio, and telephone or facsimile with possible expansion to the car navigation system terminals, thus meeting the diverse requirements of drivers. This paper outlines the concept and operation of the traffic information providing system as a part of the advanced traffic control system.