Traffic lights are a common source of frustration and contribute significantly to fuel emissions. Google Research has embarked on an innovative project to address this issue, aiming to mitigate climate impact through smarter traffic light management.
At the start of 2020, a team within Google Research was tasked with exploring new ideas for accelerating climate mitigation. Dotan Emanuel, a software engineer, shared these ideas with his family. His wife, Osnat, suggested tackling the inefficiency of traffic lights, a daily annoyance for many.
Road transportation is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, especially at city intersections where emissions can be significantly higher. The team realized that optimizing traffic light timing could reduce stop-and-go traffic, but traditional methods required expensive hardware and manual vehicle counts.
The team recognized the advantage of using over a decade of Google Maps driving trends. This data provided insights into traffic flow patterns, including start-stop behaviors and wait times at intersections. They developed an AI model to analyze this data and make recommendations for optimizing traffic light timings.
Project Green Light uses AI to suggest improvements such as adjusting red light durations during off-peak hours or synchronizing adjacent intersections. City engineers can review and implement these recommendations using existing infrastructure, making the process cost-effective and efficient.
Since the first pilot in 2021, Project Green Light has expanded to over 70 intersections in cities like Rio de Janeiro, Seattle, Bengaluru, and Boston. The team provides dedicated reports with tangible metrics, encouraging cities to adopt and expand the project to more intersections.
Early results indicate that Project Green Light can reduce stops by up to 30% and emissions at intersections by up to 10%. The team aims to scale the project to hundreds of cities and thousands of intersections in the coming years, enhancing the driving experience and reducing emissions worldwide.
Google's innovative approach to optimizing traffic lights through AI not only helps reduce fuel emissions but also aims to make daily commutes smoother and more enjoyable for drivers around the world.
Started my career in Automotive Journalism in 2015. Even though I'm a pharmacist, hanging around cars all the time has created a passion for the automotive industry since day 1.
Spectre Divide introduces the innovative Duality mechanic, allowing players to control two bodies simultaneously. This unique feature adds an extra layer of strategy, as each body can be equipped with different weapons and abilities. The complexity of managing both bodies during a match is what sets Spectre Divide apart from other tactical shooters, offering players a fresh and engaging experience.
In 2025, Xbox is set to bring back a collection of iconic fighting games with the release of MARVEL vs. CAPCOM® Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics and Capcom Fighting Collection™ 2. These two collections will offer players the chance to relive 15 classic fighting games, packed with new features and updates to enhance the gaming experience. This is a golden opportunity for fighting game enthusiasts to enjoy their favorite titles with a modern twist.
Fans of Japanese cars and racing are in for an exceptional experience that blends driving passion with Nissan's legendary brand. The recent licensing agreement between the JDM game and Nissan promises players the opportunity to explore the world of cars like never before. With iconic Nissan models set to appear in the game, players will get a taste of the performance and excitement that these vehicles are known for.
SHARE
