In New Zealand, device sensors help optimize traffic flow

BlipTrack is being used by New Zealand Transport Agency to create live-streamed traffic data for road works and motorists.

Denmark-based Blip Systems have used their sensor system to help airports passengers find out about queue wait times, and christmas markets understand shoppers and strategize retail spaces. The system BlipTrack, which works by detecting devices that have open wifi or Bluetooth, is now being used by New Zealand Transport Agency to help optimize traffic flow.

By placing the sensors along busy roads, the NZ Transport Agency can monitor traffic by detecting how quickly individual devices pass between points. This information is then live-streamed to a dedicated website, DriveLive, where users see shifting predicted journey times. Google Maps already has this function, which uses a similar sensor system that monitors the movement of smart devices, but this data will help measure infrastructure effectiveness for the transport agency, revealing problematic roads and help coordinate traffic light sequencing, as well as guide construction work to take place at the least disruptive times. The system was most recently used to monitor traffic flow prior to building one of the country’s biggest road building projects, the Waikato Expressway, and was able to demonstrate significant savings in journey times and yearly savings of NZD 7.6 million.

What will BlipTrack be used for next?