October 2012 - Teletimes

NEC provides Traffic Control Systemfor the Shin-Tomei ExpresswayBig data processed at 5 times the frequency,traffic information provided in real timeNEC Corporation (NEC; TSE:6701) is providing theCentral Nippon ExpresswayCompany Limited (NEXCOCentral) with traffic controlsystems for the Shin-TomeiExpressway that opened in April2012.NEC’s traffic control systemscontribute to the safety,security and comfort ofdrivers by providing them withroadway information fromsources that include sensorsand emergency telephonesand keeping them connectedto important instructions fromthe Expressway Control Center.This new system, installed atNEXCO Central’s Tokyo controlcenter, provides real timetraffic information by rapidlyprocessing large volumesof data (big data) collectedfrom roadway sensors atapproximately 1 minuteintervals, roughly 5 timesthe frequency processed byexisting systems. Moreover, IPnetworks efficiently transmitinformation from roadwaysensors to the control center,where traffic conditions canbe easily observed from largescale screens. Furthermore,this system is connected withthe Tomei Expressway andChuo Expressway systems,which enables effectiveresponses to large scaleemergencies.Key features of this systeminclude the following:1) High speed processing of bigdata enables up to the minuteinformation and imagesThe provision of real timetraffic information is enabledby the system’s improvedserver performance. Theservers support high speeddata processing of roadwayinformation from sensors,which arrives approximatelyevery minute, roughly 5 timesthe volume of informationprocessed by existing systems.In addition, the roadwaycontrol center features largescale displays of 46 x 64 inchesand 32 x 28 inches that allowthe observation of presentroadway conditions and enablestaff to share and confirmtraffic information with oneanother.Moreover, servers for the newsystem occupy approximately90% less space than those forexisting systems, which resultsin a significant reduction inpower consumption.2) Highly reliable, high speedcommunications networkAll 744 roadside accesspoints, featuring emergencytelephones and sensors, areconstructed with networkequipment. These accesspoints support the transitionfrom existing metal lines toIP’s high speed optical lines,which connect networks toaccess point sensors andemergency telephones. As aresult, emergency telephonecalls and big data receivedfrom roadside sensors, such astraffic counting devices, can berapidly processed.Ethernet ring protocol(*)enables local networks thatconnect between access networksto maintain high speedswitching (within approximately0.5 seconds) even when theoptical fiber fails.Furthermore, a wide areabackup configuration utilizingtrunk networks ensures thata highly reliable broadbandnetworks remain, regardlessof road damage or other suchbarriers.3) Emergency backup systemsThe backup sites for the trafficmanagement systems ofthe Shin-Tomei Expressway,Tomei Expressway andthe Chuo Expressway arein remote locations. Inthe event of a large scaleEliza Limemergency, this enablescommunications betweenbackup sites and roadsideequipment to continue, even ifcommunications from the mainsite have been disabled.These backup systems notonly allow business operationsto continue, they can alsocontribute as an emergencycommunications networkduring major emergencies.NEC is Japan’s top vendorof traffic control systems forexpressway operators. Thecompany began introducingthese systems in 1984 andhas since provided themfor roadways that includethe Meishin Expressway,Hokuriku Expressway, JobanExpressway, Shin-TomeiExpressway and the ChuoExpressway.NEC aims to capitalize on thisknow-how and technologyto provide advanced trafficcontrol systems to countriesthroughout the worldfeaturing the sophisticateddevelopment, construction andoperations it has gained fromnearly 30 years in the field.October 2012www.teletimesinternational.com55