Disruptive technology provider Parsons Corporation has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Verizon and CoMotion to launch its first Smart Cities Challenge, called Transforming Intersections.
The goal of the initiative is to increase mobility around cities and reduce the amount of time road users spend at red lights.
Using Parsons’ Intelligent Intersections technology, participating cities and counties can leverage existing data to provide automated traffic re-timing based on changing traffic patterns. In addition, connected vehicles can communicate with traffic signals, and traffic signal owners can provide priority to transit and emergency vehicles or automatically extend green cycles for pedestrians.
“Every year people spend more than a week and a half of their life sitting at red traffic lights,” said Chuck Harrington, Parsons Chairman and CEO. “By changing intersections through our Transforming Intersections challenge, we will not only revolutionise how cities move, but we’ll provide people with some of their valuable time back to do things other than sit at a traffic light.
“Our goal is to give cities the opportunity to increase their mobility, reduce their carbon footprint through reduced idling of vehicles, and keep their city moving.”
According to Parsons, more than four million hours of annual vehicle delays are caused by poor signal timing alone within the USA, and some 40% of all pedestrian accidents happen at intersections. Furthermore, Parsons claims drivers can reduce their fuel consumption by 20% with well-timed signals.
“cities and counties in the USA, Canada and beyond can apply to collaborate with us to use new mobility technologies to address the challenges their transportation networks face every day,” said Andrew Liu, Parsons’ SVP of Smart Cities. “The winner of the smart cities challenge will receive a free one-year trial of the Parsons Intelligent Intersections solution for their transportation corridor.”
