Georgia DOT Variable Speed Limit Analytics Help Solve Traffic Congestion

When the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) wanted to optimize the use of big data and advanced analytics to gain insights into transportation, it worked with Teradata to develop a proof of concept evaluation of GDOT’s variable speed limit (VSL) pilot project.

The VSL concept has been adopted in many parts of the world, but is still relatively new in the U.S. As GDOT explains: “VSLs are speed limits that change based on road, traffic, and weather conditions. Electronic signs slow down traffic ahead of congestion or bad weather to smooth out flow, diminish stop-and-go conditions, and reduce crashes. This low-cost, cutting edge technology alerts drivers in real time to speed changes due to conditions down the road. More consistent speeds improve safety by helping to prevent rear-end and lane changing collisions due to sudden stops.”