MIT Researchers Fight Gridlock with Linux

nerdyH brings us a report about a Linux-based device being developed at MIT which aims to reduce traffic congestion as well as assist automotive research projects. "The current focus of the project is in developing algorithms that run on top of the portal application to help drivers plot the best route at a given time. For example, the team's MyRoute project includes applications that model delays observed on road segments as statistical distributions. Various algorithms then use these to compute optimal routes for different times of the day. 'Instead of asking the shortest time or shortest distance from point A to point B, you ask what route should be taken, say, for the highest probability of getting to the airport by a certain time depending on the time selected,' says Madden."

Re:No live data?

[farkus888]

that may take longer than you are guessing. mostly because uptake of smartphones is going to be quicker among the technically elite. judging by slashdot posts that particular crowd seems to dislike the idea of someone tracking where they are all the time. people who jump on this are probably not going to be getting gps phones till the free phone from their carrier has it. or you could go with the assumption that what is posted is likely far from what these people do in their real lives... for example how many of these privacy nuts use gmail?

Re:No live data?

[Jeff DeMaagd]

GPS isn't necessary. E911 location is probably "good enough" for this type of location and it's in every phone right now. I woudn't go for it because both systems suck down batteries. Another reason I wouldn't want to participate in a program that would help the Department of Fatherland Security anyway, they'll probably find some way to get unfettered access to the information.

Re:No live data?

[ptbarnett]

Within a few years I don't think we'll just be using statistics of past data, but rather real-time traffic data from cars that link into a real-time network. All it will take is a certain density of smartphones with GPS.

The data is already available in many metropolitan areas:

http://www.xmradio.com/navtraffic/market_coverage.xmc [xmradio.com]

The methodology for gathering the info varies, but in Houston they use the electronic tolltags, even on roads that are not tolled. By measuring the time between stations, it calculates the average speed of cars on that segment.

The results are downloaded into the navigation system in my car, and depicted as green, yellow, or red bars adjacent to the route. However, I've never been able to determine if the GPS routing uses the speed information to calculate the fastest route, as I don't live in an area for which speed information is available. A couple of years ago, it was reported on Slashdot [slashdot.org] that Baltimore was going to test monitoring of traffic speeds using (presumably generic) cellphones. This article [ntoctalks.com], although somewhat dated, reports initial results and also notes that the state of Virginia is doing the same thing.

Real time rerouting for evacuation

[Geoffrey.landis]

I wouldn't want to participate in a program that would help the Department of Fatherland Security anyway, they'll probably find some way to get unfettered access to the information.

Hmmm.... Trying to think of a rationale that might be used for why Homeland Security would have to want to look at the traffic jam data, they could say that they need the data to practice so that, if it ever happens that a disaster means that they need to evacuate a city, they could develop a system that would allow them to do wo without clogging the streets.

But actually, that would be a good us of the system; if there ever were an evacuation, it would be useful to have a system to reroute around the inevitable traffic jams...

Linux just a buzzword now?

[denzacar]

Reading the summary and article can't but wonder - what if it didn't run Linux but something else? Would it still be news worthy?

Recently I've been noticing this trend of news about "stuff" doing "things" they were designed to do and the punch line being - it runs Linux.
Now... I know its a time honored tradition at /. to ask if it runs Linux, but really - who cares? '90s are long gone. Linux is a common thing these days.
Also... If it works - it works. Does my GPS or stereo run on Linux? Who cares? It works.

If this keeps up I am guessing its only days before local mobile-phone connoisseur (that's idiot in English) informs me of the fact that his brand new communication device has "A Linux" and that its battery runs on kernels.

Re:No live data?

[buravirgil]

Reactively re-routing will alleviate congestion, but as the number of users approaches 50%, this strategy diminishes in its return. Only a minority can benefit from reaction to a majority. Early adapters, People-In-A Hurry-with-the-Money, would experience benefit while the congestion, overall, is lowered...so I figure this plan has great appeal-- bureaucrats can insist on its necessity and their monied constituency can avoid the vulgate. Smarter routing Vs. Wider roads...

Neat idea but...

[blacklabelsk8er]

I think the EasyWiFi technology that they had to develop in order to get this to work is actually the cooler aspect of this project, especially since its compatible with normal WiFi hotspots.

I could see it becoming a handy addition to any Wifi setup for a mobile device.

The system is pointless in many areas

[Travoltus]

In most metropolitan cities, ESPECIALLY in California, all local roads are hopelessly jammed during rush hour.

If you fly overhead over Sacratomato on most days, you will see tendrils of red (red tail lights) spreading rapidly all over the city between 6:45am and 8:30am, until the whole city is utterly clogged. Almost nothing is passable in this city during rush hour; by 7:30, there are no alternate paths in the city that can get you out of a traffic jam if you are, say, commuting from Elk Grove to Carmichael.

Then there are the Roseville (highway 80, 65, etc.) and West Sac 5/50 mashups - two areas (there are more but for bandwidth's sake I'll leave them out) where roughly 10 lanes of traffic join and compress into 5 or less, forcing people to lane change like crazy to get where they won't get knocked off the freeway by an offramp in their lane. Sorry, I can't leave out the Natomas mashups - I feel sorry for the fools commuting from Roseville to downtown. And you poor souls trying to get to Wal Mart off Truxel, I'm praying for you right now.

The #1 problem on the street routes are traffic lights, and then also the traffic regulators - the utterly insulting red lights that you have to wait behind to get on the freeway. I would arrange a public flogging for those who put traffic regulators on onramps and for those who don't program traffic lights to weight right-of-way more towards the heaviest traffic.

Then we can worry about planning people's routes, as by then we would have actual passable routes.

Re:No live data?

[CastrTroy]

Meh. Less people driving would probably be an equally good solution. More people carpooling or using public transportation would work a lot better. A good public transit system can get rid of a lot of cars on the road, and clear up a lot of traffic. The problem with most US cities, is that their public transportation services are atrocious.

Re:The system is pointless in many areas

[Anonymous Coward]

People want better routes, more lanes, better signals, but people don't want construction, don't want to see buildings/areas become public property for expansion, and most of all, don't want to pay for it.

Re:No live data?

[zippthorne]

How would the GPS tell you it's under the couch and not in the drawer next to the couch? The accuracy of a phone-sized GPS is not particularly good.

Re:No live data?

[toddestan]

It could tell you if it was left at work, at home, or at a friend's house, and so forth. It would be atleast a start, if you have no idea where you left it.