Transport Minister eyes AI to solve traffic jams on highways

[snoop1130]

Transport Minister eyes AI to solve traffic jams on highways

 

 

BANGKOK, 25 August 2019(NNT) - The Transport Minister, Saksayam Chidchob, has instructed the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) to address traffic congestion in front of toll booths to alleviate people’s travel problems. In the long run, the information will be linked with the Department of Land Transport and related agencies.

 

At the Traffic Control Center, the Transport Minister delivered his policy and assigned high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Transport to seek a solution to the problem. The Transport Minister instructed the EXAT and the Inter - City Motorway Division to conduct tests and collect statistical data related to the operations of cash-based toll booths and Easy Pass booths. This will ensure that there are adequate personnel to cover all shifts.

 

In the long run, an artificial intelligence (AI) system will be used to link the database with the Department of Land Transport, the Royal Thai Police and related agencies. Surveillance cameras will also be used to capture vehicles’ license plates, and bills will then be delivered to motorists at the end of each month. The plan will improve traffic flow, while the AI system will be operational within a year.

 

Currently, there are seven expressways, covering a distance of 200 kilometers. There are 1.9 million trips per day. The EXAT Deputy Governor for Operation, Dumkerng Pankam, said today the seven traffic control centers have already been working closely with the Traffic Police Division to deal with traffic congestion in front of toll booths, with an average traffic flow of 350 to 420 vehicles per hour. Traffic is usually congested near the tollway exit, where it often connects with public roads.

 

The Permanent Secretary for Transport, Chaiwat Thongkamkoon, proposed that the speed limit should be monitored on tollways, while fines should be raised for those refusing to pay their toll fees. Motorists committing traffic offences will also have their driver’s license points deducted. More severe penalties will include attending workshops or having their driver’s licenses revoked.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2019-08-26

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[Matzzon]

Quite understandable. When human resources fail, then you gotta to find an artificial replacement.

[mok199]

The flying car will be on the market by then..

[HeyHeyHey]

Who is going to install and maintain the AI software and hardware?

 

In 2019 they can't even make a functional website.

[Fred white]

How can someone refuse to pay their toll there's a gate if they don't pay arrest them and impound the car

[dcnx]

Yea, do that. Spend billions getting this all together and put some numb nuts in charge of it all and don’t maintain it so you end up right back where you started.

[Rama]

Great, it will allow you more time to sit in line at the Sukhumvit exit. Probably best if used to connect the different hubs together.

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, mok199 said:

The flying car will be on the market by then..

God help the Thai death toll figures then.... no pilots licenses !

[kwonitoy]

When all else fails.

When nothing works, try a little high tech wizardry, like a first world country, because we are one ????????????

[shady86]

They can blame AI when something goes wrong

[essox essox]

16 hours ago, Matzzon said:

Quite understandable. When human resources fail, then you gotta to find an artificial replacement.

but it aint going to help in my opinion....

A I would be better used in government offices...much better than the brainless dodos there now

[VocalNeal]

Are we allowed to ask why they didn't design the system properly in the first place? 

 

From Hwy 7 to Hwy 9 only one lane each way?

from Hwy 7 entering Bangkok has to merge with 4 lanes coming from the 60? million passengers a year airport onto the existing 3 lanes and then the exit to Hwy9? 

Coming south on the 3 lane 2nd stage expressway, have to merge with the new 3 lane link from Ratchapruek straight into the congestion where the expressway merges yet again, etc, etc.

 

The expressway that comes from RamaII merges with the expressway that comes from the north at the port, etc, etc.

 

It is not lack of AI, it is just basic bad design. What is that thing one cannot polish?

 

Transport Minister is eyeing the bung he can get from the AI contract?

 

[essox essox]

4 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Are we allowed to ask why they didn't design the system properly in the first place? 

 

From Hwy 7 to Hwy 9 only one lane each way?

from Hwy 7 entering Bangkok has to merge with 4 lanes coming from the 60? million passengers a year airport onto the existing 3 lanes and then the exit to Hwy9? 

Coming south on the 3 lane 2nd stage expressway, have to merge with the new 3 lane link from Ratchapruek straight into the congestion where the expressway merges yet again, etc, etc.

 

It is not lack of AI is is just basic bad design. What is that thing one cannot  polish.

 

well said/put.....bad planning as with most things here...

example is all the roadworks in Pattaya.....

[bronzedude]

Get some of those police from inactive posts out to the highways for traffic control. 

[Srikcir]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Transport Minister eyes AI to solve traffic jams on highways

Why not just use a six-year old?

• Researchers who've developed an IQ test for artificial intelligence report that Google considerably outsmarts Siri and Bing -- but with an IQ that's less than a six-year-old's. According to researchers Feng Liu, Yong Shi, and Ying Liu, Google's AI has an IQ of 47.28 based on tests carried out throughout 2016. https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-ai-vs-siri-vs-bing-iq-tests-show-one-is-smartest-by-a-mile/

[Redline]

AI will just say “there are too many car n*** nuts”.

[Matzzon]

On 8/26/2019 at 2:44 PM, Fred white said:

How can someone refuse to pay their toll there's a gate if they don't pay arrest them and impound the car

Are you trying to make the paper pushers lose their work?

[Fex Bluse]

I feel like 50% or more of the "news" articles are now from this state media NNT.

 

They should really be in their own news section.

[josephbloggs]

Yet another article short on information.  An AI system that delivers you a bill each month?  Why?  Will you then have to go to the 7-Eleven to pay?  What a waste fo time.

 

At least it would be a big improvement.  Nearly all the major delays and tailback are because of toll booths, and even with Easy Pass you still get delayed significantly by these queues. 

If you're going to implement an "AI" system - whatever that is - why not go the route of Dubai's Salik or Singapore's ERP?  Each car has an RFID device, tolls are automatically deducted, you don't need to slow down or stop to pay, you don't get sent a bill (Unless you drive without a device or you have no credit).  That would be such a massive massive improvement, although it would put a lot of people out of work.

[sniggie]

And while you are at it, how about looking into traffic light systems that measure demand? Reduce the two-minute delays on main highways while a single motorbike and a samlor chug out of a side turning and the lights stay in their favour for another 30 seconds while a 200 metre tailback develops on the main road.

[Sydebolle]

Whoa, how glad am I that yet another "expert" on the traffic subject is heading the ministry. His predecessors, over the 30+ years I've been here, had all failed as they work not he symptoms and not the cause. 

Saksayam Chidchob, hopefully reading in copy, might be interested to take note of the following:

As far as highways/tollways are concerned: 
- expressways should not be manned with personnel but only with tag readers except one single gate for emergencies 

- no need for birth certificate, blood group test and family treee going back to the 16th century to BUY a tag reader. I had to bring copies of passport, visa, work permit and resident certification by the immigration in three original (for three cars) 
- top-up of tag readers should be facilitated by a phone app, a direct debit system or 7/11 (see low cost carrier payments) 
- tag discount over cash 5% as in the days of when you could buy booklets of highway tickets - today rather increase the cash over tag by 5%  

- strict enforcement of drive left (and not blocking middle or fast lanes as so commonly practiced all over the land) 
- introduce monthly/yearly tags or stickers (i.e. as seen in Switzerland. They have only yearly stickers at Baht 1'500 for unlimited free tollway access; getting caught without one will skin you alive = everyone has such a sticker) 


As far as the general traffic mess is concerned, tell the funny little men in helmets and too-tight-uniforms, sun glasses and mouth masks - walking around intersections like little men from Mars - to do the job they are paid for and not only ransack motorbikes for little handouts of 50 Baht. Caught cheating on the job = mandatory jail sentence of 24 months. 

Strict implementation of existing, common sense traffic laws.

But as said, Saksayam will fail completely - unless he would address the cause and not the symptoms - let's wait and see ???? 

[30la]

It would be better to invest all your energy to reduce road deaths!

[Thongkorn]

Change all you want bring in  A,i, But if Drivers dont observe the Law , its no point.

[djayz]

On 8/27/2019 at 10:38 AM, VocalNeal said:

Are we allowed to ask why they didn't design the system properly in the first place? 

Why you thing too mutch?!?!

[Artisi]

On 8/27/2019 at 1:00 PM, Srikcir said:

Why not just use a six-year old?

• Researchers who've developed an IQ test for artificial intelligence report that Google considerably outsmarts Siri and Bing -- but with an IQ that's less than a six-year-old's. According to researchers Feng Liu, Yong Shi, and Ying Liu, Google's AI has an IQ of 47.28 based on tests carried out throughout 2016. https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-ai-vs-siri-vs-bing-iq-tests-show-one-is-smartest-by-a-mile/

47.28, that makes it genius by Thai standards. 

[Artisi]

3 hours ago, 30la said:

It would be better to invest all your energy to reduce road deaths!

They are trying, slow /stop as much traffic as you can at as many places that you can..... 

[ratcatcher]

On 8/27/2019 at 10:27 AM, shady86 said:

They can blame AI when something goes wrong

Who the eff is Al?

[Artisi]

On 8/28/2019 at 8:51 PM, Sydebolle said:

Whoa, how glad am I that yet another "expert" on the traffic subject is heading the ministry. His predecessors, over the 30+ years I've been here, had all failed as they work not he symptoms and not the cause. 

Saksayam Chidchob, hopefully reading in copy, might be interested to take note of the following:

As far as highways/tollways are concerned: 
- expressways should not be manned with personnel but only with tag readers except one single gate for emergencies 

- no need for birth certificate, blood group test and family treee going back to the 16th century to BUY a tag reader. I had to bring copies of passport, visa, work permit and resident certification by the immigration in three original (for three cars) 
- top-up of tag readers should be facilitated by a phone app, a direct debit system or 7/11 (see low cost carrier payments) 
- tag discount over cash 5% as in the days of when you could buy booklets of highway tickets - today rather increase the cash over tag by 5%  

- strict enforcement of drive left (and not blocking middle or fast lanes as so commonly practiced all over the land) 
- introduce monthly/yearly tags or stickers (i.e. as seen in Switzerland. They have only yearly stickers at Baht 1'500 for unlimited free tollway access; getting caught without one will skin you alive = everyone has such a sticker) 


As far as the general traffic mess is concerned, tell the funny little men in helmets and too-tight-uniforms, sun glasses and mouth masks - walking around intersections like little men from Mars - to do the job they are paid for and not only ransack motorbikes for little handouts of 50 Baht. Caught cheating on the job = mandatory jail sentence of 24 months. 

Strict implementation of existing, common sense traffic laws.

But as said, Saksayam will fail completely - unless he would address the cause and not the symptoms - let's wait and see ???? 

You summed up the debacle very well, however nobody in authority gives a toss, just want to create more jobs for the boys and more powerful but useless computer games. 

[hawksway]

Poor Man, hasn't got a clue. He's just read about A.I and had a chat with his Advisors who in order to gain popularity have told him "what a good idea"

 

It will happen in the developed World once autonomous cars hit the Market but even then it will be another 20 years. Perhaps longer in Thailand where many Drivers have their own version of A.I where they make it up according to moods.

[mikebell]

On 8/27/2019 at 10:59 AM, bronzedude said:

Get some of those police from inactive posts out to the highways for traffic control. 

Get some of those police from active posts out on all roads and motorways: make them work nights & weekends until the daily death toll drops to that of a civilized country.