Revolutionising our roads: The imperative role of 5G in transport

25/01/2022 | CHRIS HOLMES

Chris Holmes, transport programme director at West Midlands 5G, explores the many ways in which connectivity can revolutionise our transport systems.

Following the disruption caused by the pandemic, we have seen a significant return to the roads, whether for a family day out or just the regular commute back into the office. According to the Department for Transport, by the end of May 2021 road traffic in the UK had returned to roughly the pre-pandemic levels.

With the world re-opening and the roads getting busier again, naturally congestion and pollution are on the rise. The transport sector produces more greenhouse gas emissions than any other – in 2019, 27% of the UK’s total emissions came from transport, 91% of which was produced directly by vehicles.

It’s clear that something needs to be done to reduce congestion and its impact on both the environment and individuals. The inconvenience and unpredictability of being stuck in traffic is an unwanted issue, wasting time and resources. INRIX has estimated that road congestion cost the UK economy £8bn in 2018.

So, what can be done and what is the role of connectivity in transport?

While technology has been used to plan routes and avoid peak times for a while now, advanced connectivity solutions like 5G are beginning to transform the way we travel.

By enhancing the connectivity of our transport systems – from road to rail – we have the capability to improve the accessibility, safety, efficiency, and quality of travel. Through its low latency, high capacity and reliability, 5G technology may be the key to increased visibility and control over transportation systems.

At West Midlands 5G (WM5G), our core challenge is to find solutions to ease traffic congestion, navigate the changing post-covid environment and make transport more attractive and accessible.

By delivering end-to-end connectivity solutions, 5G can support transport authorities by increasing their understanding of their systems and how people use their networks through tracking and reporting live data.

Advanced connectivity, whether it be vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-infrastructure, supports operational efficiency improvements of the overall system, and produces many benefits for travellers.

How can connectivity provide solutions in transport?

Our Transport Innovation Projects challenge the fundamental issues in transport across the West Midlands, with a mission to make transport more efficient, reliable, accessible, and enjoyable. As the central hub of the UK economy, it’s more important than ever that people are well connected within the region.

Our approach is to back many products and services, testing them in real-life environments and supporting implementation in the market, working closely with operators and local authorities.

Working closely with Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), we align our projects with local policy objectives to ensure we help to deliver the region’s strategy and create a happier, healthier, and better-connected place to live.

A major project currently being trialled is the road sensor network. Before the pandemic, a rapid increase in demand for travel in the region meant that 50% of road traffic was being carried on just 7% of the available road network, resulting in high levels of congestion, crowded public transport and long journey times.

WM5G and TfWM have developed what is thought to be the UK’s first 5G road sensor network, using cameras and emissions sensors at selected sites across the region’s key route network (KRN) to provide detailed insights on traffic movement and pollution.

This information, connected via 5G to the Regional Transport Coordination Centre (RTCC), will enable better road management - roadwork planning and incident management - and a healthier environment.

Alongside the road sensor network, WM5G has partnered with Blacc, Immense, One.Network and the University of Warwick to develop a road user simulation suite of tools (Capacity Manager). 

The project will dynamically monitor and predict capacity across the road network and help to plan for highly disruptive activities and events, leading to less disruption, improved journey times and increased travel reliability for network users.

This is especially important for the region given the ongoing construction of HS2 and the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games adding to the congestion burden.

Another road infrastructure product development is CURBS, a project that WM5G is funding with a partnership of Vortex, National Express and BT/EE, to enable effective mapping and monitoring of the road surface, kerbs, and various roadside infrastructure assets. This product will provide regular monitoring that will enable forecasting and trending of feature changes, a very valuable addition to the current infrequent asset monitoring process.

This will enable repairs and upgrades to be applied at the point of most need, improving safety through the application of science to the current infrastructure maintenance. It makes sure that the roads are fit for purpose for the potential autonomous cars of the future.

WM5G also recently concluded the Predikt project run by Appyway and Get Mapping. This product uses 5G-enabled kerbside imaging to supply up-to-the-minute parking availability along our urban streets. This will help to reduce the average eight minutes spent finding a parking space in urban centres and the estimated £373m spent each year in wasted time and fuel across the UK.

In addition to these infrastructure projects there are six products and services developments with WM5G which have either completed or are in progress, exploiting data and connectivity.

These products are aimed at improving the traveller experience of using public transport services which operate on the roads via buses and tram services. These range from helping partially sighted people to detecting the occupancy levels of public service vehicles, stations and venues across the region - all improving accessibility, operation and confidence in using public transport for everyone.

The future is now

Connectivity and data across transport systems hold the key to addressing issues in real-time and enabling greater efficiency. Improving our transport infrastructure supports better services and improved connections within communities, creating jobs and employment, and contributing to a better overall quality of life.

5G-connected smart cities are already playing a critical role in improving our transport systems. Trials of new or upgraded products and services we are supporting are proving that connectivity is making transport more accessible to residents, visitors, and businesses, and supporting the growth of the West Midlands as a thriving hub of the UK economy.

At WM5G, we are continuing to develop products and services to improve the decarbonisation and passenger first goals of the future, with the goal to implement solutions for the longer-term benefit of society.

If you’d like to find out more about WM5G’s transport projects, please visit us here .

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Principal Engineer – Structures Capital Delivery

£43,693 - £47,754
To act as one of the Agent's technical experts for highway structures schemes and related issues South Wales
Recruiter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Senior Engineer Programme Management

£36,124 - £39,513
To support the Principal Engineer ensuring effective co-ordination, programming and contract administration. South Wales
Recruiter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Highways Capital Lead

£47,754 - £50,788
To be responsible for management of the Regional Highway Capital Delivery Teams South Wales
Recruiter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Senior Engineer – Structures Delivery

£36,124 - £39,513
To support the Principal Engineer Structures (Capital Works) and deputise if necessary South Wales
Recruiter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Senior Engineer – Structures Condition

£36,124 - £39,513 plus circa £2500 - £4000 OT (variable)
To take the lead role on the Structures Principal and General Inspection programmes South Wales
Recruiter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Asset Development Manager

£44,111 per annum (pay award pending)
Do you want to work for an organisation that values you as an individual? West Yorkshire
Recruiter: West Yorkshire Combined Authority

Senior Development Management Engineer

£37,938 - £44,711
In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce Coventry, West Midlands
Recruiter: Coventry City Council

Senior Engineer (Consultancy)

£43,693 - £50,788 
In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce Coventry, West Midlands
Recruiter: Coventry City Council

Carbon and Net Zero Manager

£47,754 - £50,788
To lead and manage the carbon strategy for the Agent by developing a programme South Wales
Recruiter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Highways Engagement Officer - WMF1977e

£33,366 - £34,314
The role will provide specialist support within the Highways service Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Trunk Road Services – Senior Supervisor

Grade 9
South Wales Trunk Road Agent
Recruiter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Horticultural Operative

£25390.0000 - £26203.0000 per annum
Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Braintree Council to recruit a Horticultural Operative.To apply please click here
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Highway Asset Maintenance Assistant Engineer (CDC)

Grade 8, £32,662 - £36,239 (Pay award pending)
The City of Doncaster Council is a confident, ambitious organisation Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: City Of Doncaster Council

Engineer, Highways Asset Maintenance CDC

Grade 9, £38,653 - £42,728 (Pay award pending)
The City of Doncaster Council is a confident, ambitious organisation which puts improving the life of its residents at the centre of everything we do. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: City Of Doncaster Council

Street Cleansing Team Leader

£31,067.00 - £33,366.00, Grade 7, 37 hours, Permanent
An opportunity exists in the Council’s Street Scene Services for a Street Cleansing Team Leader Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Civil Enforcement Officers

£25,183- £26,409 plus weekend allowance
We’re looking for Civil Enforcement officers to join our parking services team. North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Career Grade Transport Planner (Carer Grade 6-8)

Grade 06 (£29,093 - £32,654) TO Grade 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
This is a fantastic opportunity to work for a forward thinking and dynamic transport authority located in the heart of the North West Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Principal Transport Planner

GRADE 10 (£47,754 - £50,787)
This is a fantastic opportunity to work for a forward thinking and dynamic transport authority located in the heart of the North West. Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Senior Technician - Highways Inspections

Grade 10 £34,324 - £37,529 per annum
This is an exciting time to join one of the country’s leading public sector in-house Highways Services Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Senior Technician - Asset Management

Grade 10 £34,324 - £37,529 per annum
The position provides an exciting opportunity to develop how all highway assets are managed in the future Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW