The University of Michigan recently conducted an experiment using in-car GPS data to try and alleviate the issue of long traffic signal stops. The 18-month study is claimed to be the world’s first large-scale, cloud-based traffic signal retiming system.
It used GPS data from General Motors cars traversing Birmingham, Michigan. Researches say by using this limited data, they were able to reduce the number of stops by 20-30 percent at signalized intersections. U-M states the study “represents a major opportunity for communities to recalibrate their signal patterns at reduced costs.”
