In Canada, drivers’ Bluetooth transmissions used for real-time congestion info

The City of Calgary is now trialling its Bluetooth traffic tracking program, harnessing data anonymously from drivers' cell phones.

Government innovations such as Egypt’s Cairo Transport App Challenge have seen the crowds tapped for solutions to traffic congestion. However, the City of Calgary is now making use of their citizens’ communication tools by trialling its Bluetooth traffic tracking program, harnessing data anonymously from drivers’ cell phones. The Canadian authority has installed the system along the Deerfoot Trail in Calgary, which picks up publicly available information from drivers passing through with the Bluetooth on their phones enabled. Using this data, the system determines how long it takes the average driver to travel down the trail, therefore providing real-time information on congestion, which is then broadcast on electronic signs located at the side of the road. According to the developers, the system is able to filter the transmissions given off by drivers from those by pedestrians. The system will be in operation between 6:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday for the duration of the trial. The system aims to help drivers make better decisions when traveling around Calgary, reducing congestion and motorist frustration. The information could also be used when planning new roadworks in the region. One for your part of the world? Spotted by: Smith Alan