Travelers passing by the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) will soon have a more seamless journey after the tollroad’s operator, SMC Infrastructure, announced the successful incorporation of Artificial Intelligence into its active toll gates.
SMC Infrastructure, a subsidiary of conglomerate San Miguel Corporation (SMC), said over the weekend that it has completed fitting all its active toll gates with 522 AI-enabled automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras which will pave the way for barrierless toll plazas across its expressway network.
The special cameras are designed to further improve vehicle throughput and serve as backup of the existing Autosweep radio frequency identification (RFID) electronic toll collection system. RFID antennas and tags will remain as the primary means to collect toll from motorists.
Vehicle information will then be sent to servers where AI will cross-match the information to ensure accuracy and enable faster throughput.
SMC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ramon Ang credited the success of the project to the company’s roster of software engineers and developers, saying that all SMC Infrastructure's expressway projects wll include ALPR cameras in their design.
Ang also noted that the entire 220-kilometer stretch of SLEX and the at-grade section of the Skyway System have begun initial testing of the AI system by implementing “barriers up” at toll plazas as early as last year, which has helped road decongestion.
“Our host LGUs had been seeking our help to reduce traffic congestion at entry points along SLEX. Through pilot-testing of the ALPR cameras, we have been able to address their concern. We’ve reduced the need for motorists to fully stop at toll plazas,” Ang said.
Ang acknowledged that there are still a number of key milestones that the government needs to reach before the full implementation of barrierless expressways.
“Our expressway network does not operate in a vacuum. They are part of our country’s wider road network. Congestion at toll roads can affect traffic on public roads, and vice versa. That is why it’s important that we continue to work with LGUs and all stakeholders,” he added.