|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has secured approximately HK$14 million in funding for three innovative projects as part of the 15th round of a local smart traffic initiative. These projects focus on improving road efficiency, enhancing safety, and addressing traffic congestion through cutting-edge technological solutions.
With a proven track record in intelligent transportation systems, the university has seen 21 of its projects funded under this scheme, out of a total of 59 projects since the initiative’s launch. This highlights the university’s leading role in smart traffic research. A representative from the university emphasised that the support for these projects reflects their commitment to advancing smart mobility.
These funds enable the institution to continue its work in developing intelligent transportation systems that enhance the quality of urban life, optimise transportation efficiency, and create a safer and smarter mobility environment.
The first of the three funded projects is aimed at optimising public transport routes to reduce congestion and improve road network efficiency. Led by a geo-informatics expert, this initiative involves developing a spatial-temporal environmental database to analyse public transport routes. The project focuses on identifying areas with overlapping transportation services, which leads to inefficiencies and congestion.
By reorganising routes in over-served areas, the project aims to streamline transportation and ease traffic flow. The use of advanced data analysis in this context is key to developing smart, adaptable urban transportation systems that better meet the needs of a growing population.
A second project centres on improving the safety of cross-border driving for vehicles travelling northbound from Hong Kong. An expert in aeronautical engineering is leading this effort, which focuses on creating a human-centric driver support system. The project collects and analyses neuropsychological data to identify potential human errors that contribute to driving accidents. Based on this data, a cross-border driving simulation and training program will be developed to help drivers mitigate risks.
This technology-driven approach to driver training aims to reduce accidents by addressing the root causes of human error, improving overall safety on the road. By focusing on cross-border travel, the project also addresses unique challenges associated with long-distance driving between regions.
The third project involves the integration of adaptive safety features into autonomous driving systems. This initiative, also led by an aeronautical engineering expert, seeks to create a configurable platform for autonomous vehicles using machine learning algorithms. The platform will allow autonomous systems to adjust to different safety requirements based on traffic conditions and vehicle dynamics, such as turning radiuses. The adaptability of this system is expected to significantly improve the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles, addressing one of the key challenges in the adoption of self-driving technology. By ensuring that autonomous systems can respond dynamically to different driving scenarios, this project contributes to the advancement of intelligent, autonomous mobility.
These three projects reflect the university’s commitment to using technology to solve urban transportation challenges. By optimising public transport routes, improving driver safety, and advancing autonomous vehicle performance, the institution contributes to the development of smarter, safer, and more efficient transportation systems. The integration of spatial-temporal data analysis, neuropsychological research, and machine learning platforms exemplifies how modern technology can be harnessed to transform mobility in urban environments.
The smart traffic initiative that supports these projects was designed to encourage local research and innovation aimed at improving commuting convenience, road network efficiency, and driving safety. The university’s consistent success in securing funding under this program underscores its leadership in the field. Through its innovative approaches, the institution is playing a key role in shaping the future of transportation, ensuring that urban mobility evolves in line with technological advancements.
