Traffic congestion wastes time, gas and money. According to the most recent Urban Mobility Report by the Texas Transportation Institute, it cost US commuters 5.5 billion hours and 2.9 billion gallons of fuel in 2011 (all $121 billion worth), as well as an additional 56 billion pounds of carbon emissions. In Europe, congestion costs 1% of the GDP every year. Consequently, it’s no small relief no know that researchers at MIT have been developing a sophisticated algorithm to create traffic light patterns that keep traffic moving. The technology takes into account the complex interactions among all streets in a city, and calculates the impact on fuel efficiency and pollution. The model was tested in Lausanne, Switzerland, and is now focusing on Manhattan.
MIT develops an algorithm to solve traffic jams, saving time and carbon
More of Today's Solutions
Nations agree to fund nature in a breakthrough for biodiversity
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a rare display of unity amid global tensions, nations reached a landmark agreement to fund nature conservation. ...
Read MoreThriving in uncertainty: science-backed ways to build resilience
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a world increasingly defined by unpredictability, many of us would rather accept a negative outcome than face ...
Read MoreHow to have a conversation with someone you disagree with
Recent events in the United States underscore a deep trend towards polarization that is spreading throughout the country. As current events bring up strong ...
Read MoreYour future rooftop could be made out of easy-to-install solar shingles
The roofs of the future may be made entirely out of solar panels. At least that’s the goal of GAF Energy, which has recently ...
Read More
