Low-Latency Smart Traffic Control for Emergency Vehicles Using IoT and Edge Computing

Most conventional traffic signal systems at intersections provide little or no dynamic response given the fact that emergency vehicles often get delayed at these intersections. This paper describes the design of an IoT enabled Smart Traffic Management System that automatically real time adjusts traffic lights to prioritize emergency vehicles. GPS tracking, RFID based vehicle identification and wireless communication protocols are combined to detect emergency vehicles approaching, and clear signalling on their route in a coordinated manner. Incoming data from distributed sensors is processed by a centralized control unit, and these data are communicated to traffic signal controllers that assure uninterrupted passage. With the implementation of the proposed system, emergency services are shown to have substantial reductions in response time as well as improved efficiency of routes. On the one hand, this solution minimizes the delay and, on the other hand, it improves road safety and traffic flow, which means that it is a practical solution for the urban smart city development.