Boğaziçi Students Monitor Istanbul Traffic

Established by Boğaziçi University in collaboration with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the “Boğaziçi University Traffic Management Center” is now open! The Intelligent Transportation Systems lab established at Boğaziçi University as part of the “Traffic Management Center Project for Universities” is the first initiative in Turkey that aims to conduct basic and applied transportation studies based on global data and to train the transportation engineers of the future.With this intelligent transportation system, the labs will offer innovative solutions to Istanbul’s traffic problems.

The “Boğaziçi University Traffic Management Center” opened its doors as part of the “Traffic Management Center Laboratories for Universities” project, which the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) runs in collaboration with various universities.The labs are small-scale models of the Traffic Management Center the IMM Traffic Directorate uses to manage traffic via intelligent transportation systems, where faculty members and students develop traffic solutions and projects via applied tests, research studies, and academic studies.

Formally opened by Boğaziçi University President Gülay Barbarosoğlu and officials from the IMM Traffic Directorate, the lab is open to Boğaziçi University faculty members and students.The labs work in coordination with the Traffic Management Center and were established by support from the Istanbul Development Agency.

Student Volunteers Work at the Lab

Students and research assistants will volunteer at the lab established at Boğaziçi University’s South Campus with contributions from the IMM’s Istanbul Development Agency.Students will first be trained at the IMM’s Traffic Management Center, after which they will have the opportunity to use lab instruments for traffic analysis, modeling, and simulations.Research study topics will cover numerous Intelligent Transportation Systems applications, such as detection algorithms, lane control systems, dynamic speed limits, traffic signalization, and public transportation lanes.Students will send their projects and the studies they develop to relevant departments.

Other studies that will be carried out at the lab include researching and reporting on new technologies in transportation, directing traffic to alternative routes, accident warning systems, and traffic management systems in disasters.Students will have the chance to practice what they learned through applied training sessions while the studies and analyses they undertake at the lab will contribute to public work.

In an effort to generate solutions to problems in transportation and traffic, topics such as driver and pedestrian behavior, and the impact of traffic monitoring equipment on driver and pedestrian psychology, will also be investigated in addition to technical analyses and project development.

Asst. Prof. Ilgın Gökaşar said that the addition of the Boğaziçi University Traffic Management Center to the university premises would make it possible for engineering students to put their theoretical knowledge to practice, adding that the lab would both generate solutions to Istanbul’s traffic problem, and contribute to improved student outcomes.

Some of the Projects that will be Undertaken at the Lab:

  • To study and report on new technologies in transportation
  • Transportation duration, directing to alternative routes, accident warning systems
  • Traffic management systems in disasters
  • The impact of geometric road and intersection components and design on traffic flow
  • Transportation demand management applications
  • Applications related to traffic emissions and noise management
  • Studies on the energy efficiency of traffic monitoring equipment and alternative energy systems
  • Driver and pedestrian behavior
  • The impact of traffic monitoring equipment on driver and pedestrian psychology
  • The adaptation of various simulation programs and parameters to local traffic conditions
  • Data mining applications
  • Priority routes and system design for public transportation
  • The impact of geophysical conditions on local traffic
  • Vehicle count and classification via image processing technologies
  • Automatic accident detection systems
  • License plate recognition systems
  • New generation traffic measurement sensors and technologies