How IoT Can Revolutionize Traffic Management in Jakarta

It is known that one of the main problems Jakarta has is its choking traffic congestion. As of June 2019, Jakarta ranked 5th worldwide on Numbeo’s traffic index. The government has launched several programs in order to fix this long-running problem. With the start of the MRT, LRT, and the electronic road pricing (ERP) system, the Greater Jakarta Transportation Agency, (BPTJ) announced that the citizens of Jakarta will witness a “giant leap.” IoT, of course, will give said “leap” a bigger chance to happen.

IoT has the ability to solve many problems related to people’s day-to-day activities, including traffic congestion. Here are some of the examples IoT can provide to reduce traffic congestion in Jakarta.

Traffic Light/Vehicle Sensors

Real-time data helps traffic lights to smooth traffic loads. Sensors attached to traffic lights in strategic places can gather real-time data that is used to adjust light cycles according to traffic density. Apart from citizens, businesses can also benefit from the same technology. Telkomsel FleetSight, for example, enables businesses to have total visibility on driving speed, route traveled by each vehicle, violation, and more. If the technology becomes a standard for traffic CCTV companies and the automotive industry, this could greatly reduce traffic jam and improve the city’s overall vehicle flow. 

Smart Parking Technology

Studies have found that an estimated 30% of drivers on the road are actively looking for parking spaces, which significantly increases the amount of time spent by drivers on the road. Implementing smart parking technology can lower the risk of distracted driving and decreases driving time, thus reducing traffic volume in Jakarta. This technology can go beyond sensors and green/red indicator lights above parking spaces. Using IoT, we can synchronize those sensors to a cloud platform that sends the information into mobile apps or websites. So users can know which parking spaces are available and can reserve the space in real-time. The payment can be done electronically using e-money such as linkaja. This system is most suitable for mall and building owners, to reduce Jakarta’s traffic congestion by providing more efficient parking spaces than the usual ones.

Better Traffic Management

Considered as one of the biggest infrastructure challenges in many countries, smart cities are already implementing IoT, as well as Big Data to reduce traffic-related issues. For example, Los Angeles has plans to use a traffic data platform to collect traffic flow data, make comparative analysis, monitor the effectiveness of roadway operations and generate heat maps that highlight busy areas. By using a data-driven traffic system as such, Jakarta can achieve a better flow of vehicles and its officials can easily control specific areas of congestion. This can decrease the number of time drivers spent idling on the road, minimize accidents due to weather conditions, decrease carbon dioxide emissions that cause climate change and improve air quality for citizens. The solution can also provide a concrete rationale for future infrastructure plans and stakeholders like the government and Indonesian National Police.

A city’s livability level and efficiency status are determined crucially by its traffic. In Jakarta where the population keeps on surging, IoT and Big Data will play a key role in managing traffic and integrating public services and infrastructure. As time and city-improving technology go, it is possible for Jakarta to finally brush off the label as a city with the worst traffic in the world.