Imagine A Youngstown Part III: Smart Traffic Control System Making A Smart City With High Tech Jobs

smart traffic light system in Youngstown

Smart Traffic Control System

While traffic jams are not quite a problem in any of the Mahoning Valley’s cities and towns, setting up a smart-traffic control system has a few benefits to consider. Firstly, let’s define what we mean by “smart traffic control system”. The idea in mind is a computer-vision system driven by Artificial Intelligence that works on most, if not all, of the city’s traffic lights and allows for more efficient and convenient traffic flow. This is a system that monitors the flow and build up of traffic and takes over when the timer-based and road-weight systems are not logical.

There is no need for a vehicle to wait at a light when there is no oncoming cross-traffic. Imagine it being 12:30 AM and a driver reaches the corner of South Avenue and Indianola Avenue, and is demanded to be stopped by the light. Chances are that there will not be any vehicles coming down Indianola that would necessitate a wait for the motorist traveling on South Avenue. Rather than the motorist wait for 2-3 minutes for the light to change, burning gasoline (all the while emitting carbon dioxide into the air from the car’s exhaust) which costs money to the motorist (albeit a very small amount, but a cost no less), and not to mention making themselves vulnerable to the crime that is know to occur in that area by being stopped at the light (and this is the case at similar intersections in Youngstown, the southside of Youngstown in particular), the traffic system could “see” that there are no on-coming vehicles and change to green to allow the motorist to pass. This also speeds up travel time and makes travel more efficient. The less time a person has to spend in traffic or on the road along their journey, the better for the motorist, the traveling parties (lets assume it’s a taxi, Uber or someone giving a friend a ride), the fuel-efficiency of the vehicle, and ultimately the environment.

This system could also work where there is traffic congestion. If there is a situation where there are significantly more cars waiting to pass along a certain street or road than there are on the cross-road, then the traffic system can detect this and pause traffic for the road which has the less amount of vehicles, and give way to the road where there are far more vehicles needing to pass. This lessens the chance of a traffic build up at the intersection, and quite possibly the intersections behind, as the congestion of vehicles is given way. This also eliminates the situation where there is a line of stopped vehicles waiting for the light to change and emitting exhaust fumes into the air while not moving. Again, this also saves money on gasoline for the motorists as they are maximizing the operation of their running vehicle and not just burning fuel waiting for a light to change. This is a small, but added benefit to the economic situation of an area whose residents need to realize savings in all as many ways as they are able to.

The development of the Traffic Control System is an endeavor that would attract higher-end computer programming talent — particularly in the AI space. It goes without saying that this would add to the tax base, disposable income being spent throughout the Mahoning Valley, and added need for housing — whether rental or ownership. Where would we get this talent from? We would need to attract it. While it’s doubtful that the city will take up this initiative, a move by someone or a group with wherewithal could start by buying houses or procuring houses/rental property to recruit individuals skilled in the advanced programming and project management. Of course a staff of personnel for this task wouldn’t be as vast as the one needed for the road material development project, but we can estimate that at least 20-30 people would be required to carry out this development in a expeditious timeline. This would require the formation of a new company or companies to develop this system, and of course contracted by the city or working in conjunction with the city — perhaps even the county or collection of governments.

What Would It Cost? How Would It Be Paid For?

As with the road project, this endeavor could be funded by a grant or multiple grants (from the state, Federal Government, endowment centers, etc.) obtained by the city specifically for this project (or under a blanket initiative which includes the roads), as well as endowments by well-off Youngstowners and Youngstown natives who share the vision and desire to see Youngstown prosper. As well, the city can fund this project itself (in part, and in addition to the grants of course) through public funds. It would be diligent for the city administration to do a dollar-cost-benefit analysis of this project to justify the funding and to secure the grants and or approval.

What this would do on as a residual benefit is further open the door for Youngstown to become involved in activity that is future smart and high-tech oriented. It will open the door to a world which would begin to attract tech talent to the area, spark the interest of young (and perhaps even older) people as the automated, computer-vision driven traffic lights would capture the curiosities. Youngsters would wonder how the lights “know” or can “see” that the traffic. This begins to spark the inclination of people wanting to venture off into a world and career of technology, and Artificial Intelligence at that. The culture of high tech begins with the sparking of interest of minds.

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