Computer controls 110 traffic lights
Computer controls 110 traffic lights
JAKARTA (JP): The capital now has a computerized area traffic control system regulating the changing of traffic lights at 110 intersections to help the police curb traffic congestion.
Abubakar, a staff member at the Area Traffic Control System center at City Hall said yesterday that there is no need for the police to adjust the traffic lights to regulate traffic flow because the computerized system automatically adjusts and changes the lights at the right time.
The Spanish-made devices installed at the intersections send in accurate data on the number of vehicles passing. "In this way we know if a given intersection is congested," he said.
The city has 468 intersections, but only 110 have the area traffic control systems.
Cameras
Twenty out of the 110 intersections are also equipped with cameras which record the traffic flow situation at the locations.
The 20 intersections are Jl. Gunung Sahari-Jayakarta, Gunung Sahari-Dr. Sutomo, Medan Merdeka Barat-Medan Merdeka Utara, Gunung Sahari-Martadinata, Pintu Besar Selatan-Jembatan Batu, Majapahit-Suryopranoto, Hasyim Ashari-Sangaji, Kyai Caringin- Biak, Medan Merdeka Barat-Medan Merdeka Selatan, Imam Bonjol- Cokroaminoto, MH Thamrin-Imam Bonjol, Diponegoro-Madiun, Diponegoro-Proklamasi, Jend. Sudirman-Setiabudi, Kramat Raya- Kwitang, Letjen Suprapto-Tanah Tinggi Barat, Menteng Raya-Kebon Sirih, Cikini Raya-Diponegoro, Salemba Raya-Diponegoro Matraman Raya-Pramuka.
The traffic system center at City Hall has six monitors to display the pictures sent in by the cameras. Six other monitors display data on the traffic flow at the various intersections.
Abubakar said the system is more sophisticated than the manual one. "Traffic policemen cannot change the traffic lights at all of the intersections at once," he said. "But, of course, the computerized system is more expensive."
Abubakar said the system cost US$10 million. Most of the money came from a soft loan from the Spanish government, with Rp 1.9 billion ($844,440) funded by the city budget.
The Spanish loan included the cost of training nine operators in Spain for one month, he said.
When asked why the new system was installed instead of upgrading the existing system, Abubakar said that improving the old system was more expensive than buying a new one. (yns)