Two new mobility innovations that aim to improve and ensure a smooth travel experience in Metro Manila and other regions have been revealed by the Department of Science and Technology.
Executive Director Dr. Enrico Paringit of the DOST- Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) disclosed the Council’s support to De La Salle University’s TITAN: Vision-based Traffic Information & Analysis and the Optimal Locations and Allocation of Personnel (OLAP) projects.
In an effort harness the power of science, technology, and innovations to provide efficient and intelligent mobility solutions, the projects aim to reduce traffic congestion in the Philippines by using shared network systems with ample data on roads and highways.
“As leader and partner in innovation, we are committed to bringing to Filipinos solutions and opportunities aimed at modernizing our transport systems and bolster the quality of life in the new normal. We will be relentless in looking for new ways to improve the movement of goods, services, and people especially in this time of the global pandemic,” Paringit said.
TITAN is the phase two of the Vision-Based Vehicle Counter for Traffic Monitoring or VEMON project of DLSU which is a web-interfaced platform that can process day-time traffic from roadside surveillance cameras, and generate useful traffic statistics, such as vehicular count, vehicular speed, and others.
In TITAN, vehicle counts are tweaked based on four scenarios: night-time or dim light scenarios, extreme lighting contrast, non-constant sampling rate; and up-stream and down-stream vehicular flows.
TITAN Project Leader Dr. Joel Ilao expressed optimism that their project can help ease up chokepoints in Metro Manila through smart technologies that provide data for traffic authorities.
OLAP Program Leader Dr. Alexis Fillone said the project will develop a public transport service route design for Metro Manila and a manual that can be applicable to any region of the country.
"Agile mobility is essential when our country is faced with emergency scenarios. Hence, proper allocation of checkpoints around Metro Manila is one measure to achieve seamless commute of people and goods,” Fillone said.