Perak Introduces AI-Powered Traffic Lights To Its Streets, Expects 51% Smoother Traffic Flow

By Lara Kramer  •  30 Jun 2022 in News

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Distressing traffic jams are not limited to the busy capital city area.

The people of Ipoh face similar instances, but thanks to a collaborative effort between the Ipoh City Council (MBI) and Telekom Malaysia (TM), Perakians may be looking at a chance to have their traffic woes cut in half.

A service subscription agreement between the City Council and the local telecommunications company has resulted in the launch of the nation’s very first Smart Traffic Light powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Officially known as the Smart Traffic Light with an Intelligence Analytic (STARS) system, the hardware behind the new stoplights utilises high-definition cameras as well as video analytics to monitor and evaluate traffic movements.

This effort is in line with MBI’s objective of turning Ipoh into a low-carbon town by 2030.

Reports show that the technology can help ease vehicular traffic by up to 51% throughout peak times, saving road users not only time and expense, but also cutting emissions within Ipoh by up to 7,500 kg.

According to TM, STARS is a networked facility that improves current traffic management systems.

It provides authorities with centralised dashboards for higher traffic visibility, automated workflows based on the pre-defined triggers for heightened reactivity, and visualisation of data and predictive analysis for ongoing traffic management optimisation, all through a unified platform.

This enables city officials to remotely oversee street lights using real-time data, resulting in improved operating efficiency, service standards, and environmental safety.

To expedite resolution, the system notifies stakeholders, including engineers, contractors, and management of potential issues via a secure chat application.

It has also been confirmed that the intelligent traffic lights will ultimately be implanted statewide.

Khairul Shahril Mohamed, chairman of Perak youth and sports, communications and multimedia committee said that the STARS approach was tested at four crossing points across Jalan Sultan Idris Shah since last November.

Apart from from the command post, the town plans to add 98 more 5G spots in the Greater Ipoh region by October, with the ultimate aim of having 5G access spanning the entire state.

This is owed to the new Ipoh Integrated Command Centre (IIOC) which is capable of processing Big Data using AI and the Internet of Things.

Thanks to Digital National Berhad (DNB) and TM, Ipoh now stands the chance to become the first city in the northern province to have 5G access at a pace of 1GB per second (1GB/s).

However, Penang is also presently trialling a 5G network in select locations, with intentions for a broader buildout later this year, leaving it unclear which northern state will be the first to obtain provincial coverage.

Additionally, earlier this month, through the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the federal territories ministry had prohibited heavy vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes from entering the city centre during peak times.

The new regulation also outlaws traders from conducting business operations on pavement structures during peak hours and will remove or relocate trading sites on major road pavements in stages.

Find out more about how TM One Smart City aims to revolutionise societies and create liveable cities here.