Technological tools alert officials and suggest solutions San Antonio's advanced traffic management system, TransGuide, relies on technology to rapidly identify freeway accidents and incidents. High-resolution color video cameras equipped with remote zoom and focus features can zero in to visually investigate and evaluate incidents. At the heart of the TransGuide system is a mainframe computer that controls detection, analysis, and response. The mainframe database can search some 34,000 pre-programmed solutions to identify the most appropriate response to a given incident. In most cases, within 15 seconds of an alarm identification, traffic engineers can order the system to execute its suggested response.
Systems continue to monitor roadway data as an incident progresses and clears.
San Antonio's TransGuide slashes the time required to make these adjustments and synchronizes the changes to optimize traffic flow across the freeway system. In addition to reducing congestion, TransGuide's fast response will save lives. Within less than three minutes of an incident's occurrence, police or other specialized personnel are able to respond. Ten years from now, according to projections, the system is expected to deal with an average of 191 incidents per hour-one incident per mile per hour. Efficiency, coordination, and rapid response will be even more important-and TransGuide will be ready.