Airlines aren’t the only ones getting smart about technology and the Internet of Things.

When we think of how the internet of things (IoT) is having an impact on the transportation industry, our initial thoughts focus on how the airline industry is embracing IoT. While this is true with the likes of beacon technology, and facial recognition technology being introduced by airports and airlines around the world, the rest of the transportation industry is in no way new to the benefits of IoT.

This market snapshot focuses on how other forms of the transportation industry are embracing IoT, with a focus on improving a motorist’s journey on one of the busiest roadways in the U.S. We also look at how the biggest port in Europe is on a quest to become the first smartPORT, as well as how the smart ship will soon be a reality.

New Jersey’s Turnpike becoming smarter and safer

A solution that minimizes congestion, and ensures you get to your destination faster and safely is something everyone wants. No one likes spending hours in traffic, and it is also a problem that carries high costs for the economy. If nothing is done to alleviate the congestion problem, then it is expected to cost the U.S. economy $186 billion by 2030.

A project set up in May this year, by New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and IBM, is hoping to alleviate some of the problems facing motorists. The aim of the project is to ensure higher levels of safety, and a reduction in congestion and delays faced by the two million vehicles using the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway each day. The IBM traffic management system has a comprehensive view of all the highway’s road signs and the ability to access the necessary tools to manage speed limits and send travel messages to motorists.

Elly Keinan, General Manager, IBM North America said, “With IBM’s Intelligent Transportation solution, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority is providing operators a holistic view for monitoring traffic events and conditions through data collection from a variety of roadside devices. Using an Internet of Things approach in creating a modern turnpike will allow the NJTA to easily add enhancements to the road system such as advanced analytics and predictive capabilities in the future for traffic prediction, incident detection, and other roadway optimization capabilities.”

Future plans for the system will be to utilize the data generated by the more than 3,000 sensors to further improve the response times for traffic incidents and reduce any secondary accidents at the scene.

Hamburg’s smartPORT goal

Since 2010, the Port of Hamburg, Germany have been working hard to make their goal of being a smartPORT a reality. Some of their smart installations over the last five years include the ability to accurately capture traffic volumes, the type of vehicles and their speeds using inductive loops and detectors installed throughout the port. Authorities at Europe’s biggest port can automatically detect traffic incidents and alert the necessary authorities. They are also able to access weather conditions and the impact this will have on vehicles and commuters.

Recently, the Hamburg Port Authority and NXP Semiconductors announced intelligent traffic lights for the port. A line of vehicles approaching a smart traffic light can communicate with it and get it to change and remain green, allowing them to pass through quickly.

Thanks to radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, the smart traffic lights can identify vulnerable road users in the vicinity and generate automatic hazard warnings to approaching trucks.

Their plans are to have a comprehensive traffic management system in the port that will include road, rail, and waterways. Ships will be able to directly communicate with operating staff at the bridge control station. Depending on the distance from the bridge and the ship’s speed, the bridge will be raised just in time. Concurrently this information will be transmitted to mobile devices of drivers in the port. If they intend to cross the bridge, they can adjust their route, thus improving traffic flow and productivity.

Coming soon: Connected smart ships

Collaboration has started between South Korean shipbuilding giant, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd, and Accenture plc. to design the first connected smart ship. Ship owners are looking for new innovative ways to reduce vessel operating expenses and improve the efficiencies of their ships. The connected smart ship could be the answer.

A network of sensors will be built into new ships, allowing ship owners to capture a variety of ship voyage information. This information includes weather, location and ocean current, as well as onboard equipment and cargo status data. The smart ship will also provide real-time alerts regarding maintenance requirements, and scheduling information. Monitoring and maintaining of the connected devices will all be possible remotely.

Image via: Blende57, Michael Vadon | Flickr; jessmay | Pixabay