Dubai has built a smart tunnel. Are smart, accident-free highways next?

2017-10-13T10:46:26-04:00

The smart tunnel in Dubai was the prototype, which is extremely successful. This tunnel is all inclusive and safe. If tunnels can be made smart then, can we convert current highways into smart expressways to reduce travel time and accidents not due to negligence?

Response by CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana made Oct 13 at 2017 10:48 AM

2017-10-13T10:48:44-04:00

I agree Doc.

Response by Roberto Garcia made Oct 13 at 2017 11:33 AM

2017-10-13T11:33:29-04:00

That might be a good solution, but even though it seems counterintuitive it's actually better to have fewer roads and highways. If you give people fewer options you reduce accidents and travel time. The Briasse Paradox explains this and it has actually successfully been implemented in NYC when the city decided to get rid of traffic on Broadway in 2008, I think that traffic time improved by 7%. So maybe before making a huge investment in infrastructure for tunnels, it might be worth looking into getting rid of some roads.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Oct 13 at 2017 12:17 PM

2017-10-13T12:17:02-04:00

The technology to allow or enable smart expressways to reduce travel time and accidents not due to negligence is either already here or will be available soon IMO. The issue becomes an issue of scale versus technology. Something that is implemented on a small scale (one tunnel in a small country with limited adverse environmental conditions) may or may not be able to be implemented on a large scale (Continental United States with large square mileage, large population, diverse environmental and geographical conditions, required infrastructure, required vehicles, how to incorporate "smart" and "dumb" vehicles on the same network, etc).