Tokyo Traffic Control Center

We visit the Tokyo Traffic Control Center yesterday. It is a cool place to go. I got a lot of knowledge about the transportation control system for the big city like Tokyo.

Collect and analyze the information about traffic, supply the traffic information to public and control the traffic signals are the 3 major functions they have. All the information they gathered from radio, CCTV and cameras on road and spread the information out though electronic board on the road, TV, radio, and other personal devises. I was surprised that they use so many sophisticated technologies to make the whole transportation more efficient. The sensors can get the information about the specific cars such as ambulance and fire engines and make the traffic light green, so they can arrive their destinations in time. Also the traffic lights always show green to buses to reduce the time they waste on road. It is a way to make buses arrive on each station on time, and also it can encourage people choose to take public transactions but not drive their own cars. “We never delayed.” In addition, they have backup plans to deal with the emergency situation such as earthquake. “All the things we do are for the safe and pleasant traffic environment.”

Higuchi-san told me he also feel surprised that Japanese government would like to show this kind of facilities to the public, especially for foreigners like us. “It may because Japanese government are self-confident that their technology as well as control system are advanced so that they are proudly to show those to us. ” He said this with big smile.