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The first results of the Green Light project inspire optimism.
Traffic on some busy streets in Seattle has become a little easier thanks to Google's new experiment to optimize traffic lights. The company launched this program called Green Light in 2023 in Seattle and a number of other cities, including megacities such as Rio de Janeiro and Calcutta. The goal of the program is to reduce the waiting time at traffic lights and increase the flow of cars, which should help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The technology is based on machine learning and Google Maps data, which are used to suggest optimal traffic light settings. Local road services in test cities are already using these guidelines to regulate traffic. In Seattle, representatives of the Department of Transportation said that the system helps to identify bottlenecks on the roads and make specific recommendations for their elimination.
According to Google, preliminary results show that the system can reduce the number of stops by 30% and reduce emissions at intersections by up to 10% by reducing car downtime. In 2024, the company plans to expand the program to other cities.
However, the system does not claim to completely replace the human approach in traffic management. Green Light optimizes only one parameter-reducing the number of car stops at traffic lights. In some cases, as in Manchester and Seattle, the proposed changes were ineffective and were canceled.
Despite this, Google continues to develop its program, hoping that its application will help cities not only improve traffic, but also achieve environmental goals. However, experts point out that to significantly reduce emissions, it is necessary to comprehensively improve the infrastructure for public transport, cyclists and pedestrians, and not just optimize automobile traffic.
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Traffic on some busy streets in Seattle has become a little easier thanks to Google's new experiment to optimize traffic lights. The company launched this program called Green Light in 2023 in Seattle and a number of other cities, including megacities such as Rio de Janeiro and Calcutta. The goal of the program is to reduce the waiting time at traffic lights and increase the flow of cars, which should help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The technology is based on machine learning and Google Maps data, which are used to suggest optimal traffic light settings. Local road services in test cities are already using these guidelines to regulate traffic. In Seattle, representatives of the Department of Transportation said that the system helps to identify bottlenecks on the roads and make specific recommendations for their elimination.
According to Google, preliminary results show that the system can reduce the number of stops by 30% and reduce emissions at intersections by up to 10% by reducing car downtime. In 2024, the company plans to expand the program to other cities.
However, the system does not claim to completely replace the human approach in traffic management. Green Light optimizes only one parameter-reducing the number of car stops at traffic lights. In some cases, as in Manchester and Seattle, the proposed changes were ineffective and were canceled.
Despite this, Google continues to develop its program, hoping that its application will help cities not only improve traffic, but also achieve environmental goals. However, experts point out that to significantly reduce emissions, it is necessary to comprehensively improve the infrastructure for public transport, cyclists and pedestrians, and not just optimize automobile traffic.
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